tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46232583071631898622024-03-14T05:02:01.032-05:00Word For TodayJoeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07633411911997818765noreply@blogger.comBlogger775125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623258307163189862.post-69226636209456918832015-02-21T19:51:00.000-06:002015-02-21T19:54:43.597-06:00Quit Inviting People to Church<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 9pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I grew up in a church that had a planned “Invite a
Neighbor Sunday” and attended two others that had a “Pack the Pews” and “Plum
Full Sunday”. I don’t know if the latter was started by plum lovers or if it
just sounded more appropriate for a rural church. As best as I can remember they
were all great successes in filling up the building...for one Sunday. We put on
our best clothes, we had a potluck lunch, we spent a couple of weeks reminding
the membership we would have lots of people there and needed to be friendly. We
did it up right, got lots of people to show up, patted ourselves on the back
then came back the following week to the regular people doing the regular
things.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6zGGjrMifb1cRakH6rYXX3CYyHWqw1c373xQxe-G8SIIwnduj7ShsJpX2BcOjSUHCeOLHUGOgkM1ZPAEUqfektLUflW8_rZpUiJ1VBdLH_KVZDnW7P7kL6K2rtCTX-VdrlbWgnm3v39FS/s1600/invitation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6zGGjrMifb1cRakH6rYXX3CYyHWqw1c373xQxe-G8SIIwnduj7ShsJpX2BcOjSUHCeOLHUGOgkM1ZPAEUqfektLUflW8_rZpUiJ1VBdLH_KVZDnW7P7kL6K2rtCTX-VdrlbWgnm3v39FS/s1600/invitation.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I grew up with the gospel of attendance. “Do not
forsake the assembly.” Wow, if I had a nickel for every time I heard that
spoken as if it were the 11th command-ment. I was taught to be at“ church” but
somewhere along the way, the message got lost that I was supposed to BE THE CHURCH.
It’s as if someone has confused church, the body of believers, as church, the
big place where we focus on God for 3 services a week. In that time, we have
started inviting people to a somewhat organized, somewhat dysfunctional group
of people where the invited are supposed to find God. Is anyone else seeing the
fallacy of this?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Let’s try this. Invite people to encounter Christ.
Invite people to see what a disciple really looks like, what a disciple talks
like, what a disciple cares about, what a disciple puts their money and time
and energy towards. Invite people to meet the church that is looking back at
them, eye to eye, face to face. Jesus didn’t tell Peter he was going to erect a
building on a rock. He told Peter he was going to build the church on the
confession that Jesus is the Son of God. People don’t need to see how we do
worship. They MUST see our confession of faith lived out in our lives daily, consistently,
full of love and grace and compassion. People need to see the church Jesus wants
established, an active body reaching out, touching lives, pouring out what he
is wanting to pour into us. The gates of Hades will blow apart the building on
Main Street but it can do nothing to the soul focused on God, full of faith and
hope for the victory that belongs to those who are in Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I recently had a conversation with someone about a
friend of theirs who doesn’t like churchy people. Sadly, what the friend
doesn’t understand is that people who meet at a building and talk about those
who don’t show up are not churchy people. Churchy people should be the folks
who look like Jesus in the eyes of others because they are being the church and
acting like Christ to those around them. When Paul tells husbands to love their
wives like Christ loved the church, he didn’t mean they should love their wives
3 times a week. He meant, and even said, they should be ready to give their
lives (death to self) to their wives. We are all called to the same with the
people around us. We don’t love them when they are in a big building with us. No,
we love them when their lives are falling apart. We love them when they are
struggling with pornography. We love them when their spouse walked out on them,
when they’ve had an affair, when they are struggling with materialism, when
they are struggling with hatred, when they are struggling with drug abuse. We
love them in the middle of a messy life. That’s church! That’s the body of
believers showing their belief in a Christ who can heal the broken. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I encourage you as I encourage myself, don’t invite someone to church. Be the
church in their lives. Be a reflection of Christ in the middle of their mess,
their pain, their frailty. Be the church and people showing up to meet in a
building will take care of itself.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Grace and peace.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jeff Jones</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Decatur, Texas</span></div>
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Randy Daughertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11798021469693632788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623258307163189862.post-11520617241020161542015-02-13T20:30:00.000-06:002015-02-13T20:59:21.324-06:00The Unsedated Life<div class="MsoNormal">
A few days ago, I listened to a person describe their drinking problem. </div>
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Their story was similar to other stories I have heard. She said, “It started a little at time, but it increased over a short period of time.” As she shared out of deep emotion, the following comment caught my ear: “My drinking became more than “binge” moments. It became a <i>state of mind</i> that sent ripples through the other parts of my life. My binges weakened me in ways that I was not fully cognizant of at least initially. I slowly lost the capacity for thinking about things that really mattered. Things that used to get my attention – good things – lost their attraction. I became rather dim-witted. I was functional but mostly not present. Though not “under the influence” all the time, I was sedated in spirit to any real sense of God’s presence in my life.” </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKYOEEuVRt0t7Gn8jj5nibbET34JnvenFpLpUFEKO5-e1pyg6WY9En9bFdMgaJLXZKIGO9eMvpYoeG-zaZrMZJfjQ1h-ilUXLIluFSpXoS-n8soWY1kejzq84Wn2_F8lIo-hurhMP2sLuU/s1600/empty+chair.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKYOEEuVRt0t7Gn8jj5nibbET34JnvenFpLpUFEKO5-e1pyg6WY9En9bFdMgaJLXZKIGO9eMvpYoeG-zaZrMZJfjQ1h-ilUXLIluFSpXoS-n8soWY1kejzq84Wn2_F8lIo-hurhMP2sLuU/s1600/empty+chair.png" height="167" width="320" /></a></div>
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Her words jogged my memory about an article written by Dr. Keith Ablow entitled “<st1:place w:st="on">America</st1:place> is Drunk.” The article underscores the growing reality of how intoxicated people are becoming with everything from boos and drugs to celebrity culture to our total immersion in the surreal. He makes the eye-popping comment that an increasing number of Americans are choosing to be “non-present” for large segments of their life.
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Deeper into the article he lays bare the real issue with these various forms of drunkenness:</div>
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“The fact that we are doing this as a culture is the single most ominous psychological trend we have ever faced. I am not exaggerating. Unchecked, it will literally create an absentee nation, unable to summon real vision to confront real threats, unable to summon real courage to defeat real enemies.” <br />
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He continues:<br />
"Because drunks have no capacity to tolerate suffering or to see the future clearly or to summon extraordinary creativity from deep inside themselves or to stand up and double down with courage that resonates as so completely real, so entirely sober, that our adversaries buckle at their knees….See when you drug yourself five to ten percent of your life, that experience (or rather non-experience) can contaminate the rest of your life, too. <span style="color: #f9cb9c;">Because suppressing your truth – including your anxiety and your resolve – for one day in 7 days is enough to tip the balance of your thinking away from introspection, away from insight and away from real involvement with others and the world around you.” </span><br />
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I think most people are familiar with Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 6:14-18. But, we miss the trailing comments Paul makes in 2 Corinthians 7:1-2. </div>
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The English Standard Version reads: <i>Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body<b><sup> </sup></b>and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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The Message puts it this way: <i>With promises like this to pull us on, dear friends, let’s make a clean break with everything that defiles or distracts us, both within and without. Let’s make our entire lives fit and holy temples for the worship of God</i>.</div>
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At first glance the text reminds us that our bodies are mobile temples of the Holy Spirit. But it says a lot more! Paul makes the point that God is present and working in our lives not simply because we have been baptized into Christ, but because we are <i>opening space</i> in our lives for Him to work. </div>
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We can claim God’s gifts and promises but not separate ourselves for His purposes in the world. </div>
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Our lives can <i>fill up</i> with all sorts of things. While we may not get up in the morning thinking about pursuing sin, neither do we get up thinking about what it means to be an instrument of righteousness. We essentially function in a “non-present” kind of existence. And, Sunday morning assembly becomes the only “space” we have available for God. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibUnUZN6oogY7XhsuzPm6ihDiedYW4Eh4SezRf9zgJBANPVOsRUXdxSBsCQLyRjzb6wPb79yuwCACSrq_7B8YrT5JU1MfxItbCOI3NCYQz7MJ2FII0rwG55CwSCwflbzBSSKC88wFouUUn/s1600/distraction.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibUnUZN6oogY7XhsuzPm6ihDiedYW4Eh4SezRf9zgJBANPVOsRUXdxSBsCQLyRjzb6wPb79yuwCACSrq_7B8YrT5JU1MfxItbCOI3NCYQz7MJ2FII0rwG55CwSCwflbzBSSKC88wFouUUn/s320/distraction.jpg" height="259" width="320" /></a>We can live our lives “drunk” on a lot of things: self-medicating, experiences, money, travel, the surreal in any of its many forms. The idea of temple can become nothing more than a place we go once a week – similar to what Old Testament Jews thought about spirituality shortly before God handed them over to the Babylonians. </div>
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“<i>Cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit</i>.” </div>
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I think Paul’s words remind us that living in the Spirit is much more than a touch-feely sort of thing or an hour and fifteen minute assembly experience on Sundays. Walking in the Spirit is about giving ourselves over to the struggle to reach for “clarity and focus” and, evaluating what space we have available for Christ. Is there something that has me distracted? What is it exactly that has us in its power? What do we need to clean out…in our behavior, actions, or spirit that has us in a <i>perpetual state of sedation</i> to the things of God? </div>
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I think it was David who said in Psalm 139:23-24:</div>
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“Search me, O God, and know my heart!<br />
Try me and know my thoughts!<br />
<b><sup> </sup></b> And see if there be any grievous way in me,<br />
and lead me in the way everlasting<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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O Father, help us to live in a greater cognizance of your presence and calling. May our lives be your instruments for the manifestation of your reign in the earth. Help us to clean out what needs to be cleaned out. Awaken us from our sleep. Give us the strength to live in the struggle that is holiness. Our spirit is willing but our flesh is weak. Increase our faith. Amen.</div>
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Randy Daugherty</div>
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Stephenville, Texas</div>
Randy Daughertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11798021469693632788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623258307163189862.post-90261273997045917502015-01-26T20:18:00.002-06:002015-01-26T20:18:51.816-06:00Resisting Worldly Myths<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I am a Marriage and Family Therapist and
a Licensed Professional Counselor who sees many clients who have been involved
in an affair. Many of these clients are Christians who never intended to get
into this situation. In fact, they are shocked themselves that this could
happen. So, what does happen? All situations are not the same, of course, but
there are some patterns that I think we should be aware of.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ6Vgk91OhDPS_pMIn1Wi_B-cUUQtla8CmwzGnsXhiSVl0A8-gVuW9Vnf0qFW79juLizalfecQtve-Ppy_Gf1fVmAsl-INywmjWtuRk10NASuqAW5UdGPjBMJfaCizYKC1g2p9qfyZkP4c/s1600/myth+buster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ6Vgk91OhDPS_pMIn1Wi_B-cUUQtla8CmwzGnsXhiSVl0A8-gVuW9Vnf0qFW79juLizalfecQtve-Ppy_Gf1fVmAsl-INywmjWtuRk10NASuqAW5UdGPjBMJfaCizYKC1g2p9qfyZkP4c/s1600/myth+buster.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">First of all, there is generally a
distancing from God. Reading the Bible stops (if it ever existed). Praying
becomes less or very surface. Missing church is common. Hanging out with single
friends replaces friendships with married couples. Spending time with the
children, friends, work, sports, etc., leaves no time to focus on being with
the spouse. Conversation becomes routine and mundane or negative and critical.
One focuses on what one does NOT like about the spouse, instead of the
positives. Some myths come into play as well. Here are a few examples. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">1. “My kids are resilient, it won’t hurt
them.” (Children may carry the scars for years and often repeat the behavior.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">2. “We are just friends.” (If the person
pulls your emotional investment away from your spouse, he/she is NOT a friend.)
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">3. “What he/she doesn’t know won’t hurt
them, secrets remain secrets.” (It will be found out and it will hurt others.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">4. “I’m only ……texting, chatting on the
internet, calling him/her.” (Affairs generally begin with frequent conversation
that brings one emotionally closer to the “friend” than to the spouse.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> 5. “I just want to start over with a clean
slate.” (If children are involved, this is impossible.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">6. “I can make wise choices when I am
drinking.” (People frequently do things they would never do if they weren’t
under the influence of alcohol.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">7. “My situation is not like other
people’s situations.” (Adultery is not unique, it is WRONG.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">8. “Even though he/she cheated on
________they won’t cheat on me.” (Don’t count on it.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">9. “With this person, I leave my
problems behind.” (No. You get a new set of problems.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">10. “I know this is wrong, but it makes
me happy, and God wants me to be happy.” (No, God wants me to be HOLY, which
will bring me JOY. Doing wrong does not bring lasting happiness. God desires
OBEDIENCE!) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">11. “If I could just find the right
person, I’d be happy.” (Being the right person is more important.) Spend time
with your spouse! Find things that you enjoy doing together, and appreciate the
qualities you each bring to the marriage. Focus on pleasing God!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Susan Green </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Abilene, Texas<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Randy Daughertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11798021469693632788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623258307163189862.post-60878141724716510042015-01-22T10:14:00.000-06:002015-01-22T10:14:06.135-06:00When the Children Have Grown Up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY83heBGh7Xfk4XCoDFb4BjBvNaqqPp0HfB_n6M9xeJBUyB5Hbm1Mqn-86G2L9f4EmAatDoUVu1yCM88lJrbwfpZ4NZWdaDK1dW6KSxrwm4tUSwcS9Q8sxfLUeRc4JFS1QhWIla0yebzKk/s1600/child+-+muddy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY83heBGh7Xfk4XCoDFb4BjBvNaqqPp0HfB_n6M9xeJBUyB5Hbm1Mqn-86G2L9f4EmAatDoUVu1yCM88lJrbwfpZ4NZWdaDK1dW6KSxrwm4tUSwcS9Q8sxfLUeRc4JFS1QhWIla0yebzKk/s1600/child+-+muddy.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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One of these days
you’ll shout, “Why don’t you kids grow up and act your age?” And they will. Or, “You guys get outside and find something to do…and
don’t slam the door!” And they won’t. You’ll straighten up the boy’s bedroom neat and
tidy…bumper stickers discarded…spread tucked and smooth…toys displayed on the
shelves. Hangers in the closet…animals caged. And you’ll say out loud, “Now I want
it to stay that way.” And it will.</div>
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You’ll prepare a
perfect dinner with a salad that hasn’t been picked to death and a cake </div>
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with no finger traces in the icing and you’ll say, “Now,
there’s a meal for company.” And you’ll </div>
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eat it alone. You’ll say, “I want complete privacy on the
phone. No dancing around, no </div>
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pantomines, no demolition crews. Silence! Do you hear?” And
you’ll have it. No more plastic </div>
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tablecloths stained with spaghetti. No more bedspreads to
protect the sofa from the damp </div>
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bottoms. No more gates to stumble over at the top of the
basement steps. No more clothespins </div>
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under the sofa. No more anxious nights under a vaporizer
tent. No more sand on the sheets. No </div>
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more iron-on patches. No more knotted shoestrings, tight
boots or rubber bands for pony tails. </div>
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Imagine a lipstick with
a point on it. No baby sitter for New Year’s Eve. Washing only </div>
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once a week. No PTA meetings. No car pools. No one washing
her hair at 11 PM. Think about it! </div>
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No more Christmas presents out of toothpicks and library
paste. No more tooth fairy. No giggles </div>
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in the dark. No knees to heal, no responsibility. </div>
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Only a voice crying,
“Why don’t you grow up,” and the silence echoing, “I did!” </div>
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Author Unknown</div>
Randy Daughertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11798021469693632788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623258307163189862.post-90815241387544669662015-01-13T00:26:00.000-06:002015-01-13T00:27:32.254-06:00Start the Lawn Mower<div style="line-height: 14.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">"<i>For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.</i>" (Ephesians 2:14-17)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">A while back, I was studying the concept of peace. My study revealed an amazing truth. When biblical writers speak about peace between God and man they present peace as something that comes with a high price tag. Peace comes via Christ’s sacrifice. They use graphic language: death, his body of flesh, his shed blood. They never speak about it in a light-hearted way. One of my favorite professors at ACU often reminded his students, “When God makes peace, he bleeds.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">In our dealings with each other, do we view peace <em><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">like that</span></em>?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">In the movie <u>The Straight Story</u> Richard Farnsworth plays Alvin Straight. The script follows the true story of an event in the life of Alvin Straight, a 73 year old man living in Iowa. Alvin had been at odds with his brother for over 20 years. And, more than anything, he wants to set things right. But, failing eyesight and no driver’s license have taken away his driving privileges. His daughter offers to drive him to Wisconsin to see Lyle. “Nope”, he says. “I need to do it on my own steam.” So, Alvin goes to “Plan B”. He tunes up his riding lawn mower and sets off for Wisconsin. Almost 30 days and 320 miles later he finally reaches his destination. The last scene is a touching one. Lyle’s eyes widen with curiosity as he sees his estranged brother pull up to his house on a 1966 John Deere lawn mower! “You drive all the way up here on that?” Lyle queries. Alvin walks to the porch and extends his hand. “I figured it’d been too long since we talked and I didn’t like the way we talked the last time we wuz together. I wanted you to know that I was serious about patch’n things us.” What a story!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">A. J. Muste said, “There is no way to peace. Peace is the way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">It’s easy to argue, divide and bicker at one another. Got a family? Ever been to church? Served on a ministry committee or two? You know what I’m talking about. Sometimes in the name of what’s right we forget about “what’s right”. We forget that we are created in the image of God and for community.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Mother Teresa said, “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">In Ephesians 4:3 Paul says it is our responsibility to “keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Unity comes with our baptism into Christ and renewal through the Holy Spirit. The “peace keeping part” is our responsibility.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Jesus said “blessed are the peacemakers”. I confess that its easier to sit in a room with a concept than to imagine what it looks like put into action. Who among us hasn’t done that? Anybody can analyze peace. We can talk about it. We can load our minds up with scriptures about peace. But Jesus said “peacemaking” is where the real action is. It’s what really counts. The Hebrew writer says we are to “pursue peace” ( Hebrews 12:14). Why? I think it’s because forging the kind of ties within community that reflect the presence and reign of Christ is something you have to “<em><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">want</span></em>”.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAEzF2MUkI8q04ZuaISu4B70feRMYm6xF10p2QaMeLjXpHx3Ifb3Xa2FJmzUBQbXIx88inaMFWDWOQgEi4cZuS5JsLWU-xg74FgjSI8xz-F6CgAJ-6O4-jhGq_YGA_o20yjkLVL-FfBOt0/s1600/peace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAEzF2MUkI8q04ZuaISu4B70feRMYm6xF10p2QaMeLjXpHx3Ifb3Xa2FJmzUBQbXIx88inaMFWDWOQgEi4cZuS5JsLWU-xg74FgjSI8xz-F6CgAJ-6O4-jhGq_YGA_o20yjkLVL-FfBOt0/s1600/peace.jpg" height="142" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Jesus wanted to establish peace between us and God. So…he entered human experience. I think that’s the message of the text in Ephesians 2. “He came and preached peace.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Have you ever thought about what our lives, relationships and congregations would look like after thirty days of concerted efforts at “peacemaking”? What conversations are “out there” waiting on us? What breakthroughs are just around the corner? When we lay our lives in the context of the gospel story, we hear God's call to make our peace with living as conduits of peace. It sends us into the world and into our relationships with other believers as people “bent on making peace”.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Can’t find your car keys? No problem. Start the lawnmower.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">O Father, may the peace of Christ so rule in our hearts that we surrender our wills to your will, our view of people to your view of them. Awaken us to the expectation and promise of peacemaking as a way of life. Keep us from running from the hard tasks that come with making peace. Strengthen our hearts for the challenges that Satan puts in our way to keep us comfortable with thinking and habits that are less than what the gospel calls us to. Thank you for Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Amen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Randy Daugherty<br />Stephenville, Texas</span></div>
Randy Daughertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11798021469693632788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623258307163189862.post-49274372315110245172014-12-23T14:49:00.000-06:002014-12-23T22:22:03.019-06:00What is Your Hope?<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Be prepared to give an
answer for the hope that is within you with gentleness and reverence</i>” (1
Peter 3:15)</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If someone asked you to tell them about <i>hope</i> what would you say?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnQnIu3gRG_CEN5l2Uu-c2-y-R9z8SQMKf1L6nFjW5jyyYoVGw9PIBOuyqWnxKZcDZRKBJ7wItsjosgbIlOm_aDeGUKvZbz3TXmOGH_Bd3wI9Wn9l7c4-uJ5p_q49N-jNNT1aInBE6jP5B/s1600/hope+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnQnIu3gRG_CEN5l2Uu-c2-y-R9z8SQMKf1L6nFjW5jyyYoVGw9PIBOuyqWnxKZcDZRKBJ7wItsjosgbIlOm_aDeGUKvZbz3TXmOGH_Bd3wI9Wn9l7c4-uJ5p_q49N-jNNT1aInBE6jP5B/s1600/hope+3.jpg" height="244" width="320" /></a>Hope is a<i> forward looking</i> word. It anticipates something beyond this
world. But what? Paul talks about people who have hope and
those who don’t (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14). Jesus is described as the “hope
of glory” (Colossians 1:27).</div>
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Ask most any Christian about hope and why they have it and
they will quickly respond; “Jesus
died for the sins of all mankind (Romans 5:6-11)! He has set us free through his death in our
stead. He saved us!" Of
course, there are scores of texts that make that point. But, what does being saved mean?</div>
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But, let’s fast forward this conversation past the part
about Jesus' death as atonement for our sin to something else…something that has
often been missed in our discussions about hope. Jesus’ death is a critical piece of the
gospel story, but so is the resurrection.
In fact without the resurrection everything else falls flat. </div>
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Hope is not about going to heaven. It is about living for the resurrection. </div>
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Sound crazy? Odd? Heretical?</div>
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Truth is, we have more Plato in us than we would like to
admit. Ask most Christians and they will say something like, “We die, our
body decays, our soul goes to heaven and, after the judgment (whatever that is
and however it happens) we are with God in a blissful “spiritual” existence
forever. Most often the conversation about the afterlife is about “going”
to heaven and staying there. </div>
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Yet, isn’t it interesting that when the apostle Paul speaks
about the next life for the believer he speaks of heaven as a “weigh station”
of sorts. It’s a place we go for “a while” until our final destination
occurs. </div>
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The final destination for Paul is the <i>resurrection</i> and a new creation (Romans 8:19-24).</div>
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1 Corinthians chapter fifteen is a riveting and thorough
discussion about the resurrection. Paul lays out an exciting vision of
the life that is to come. Adam’s sin in the garden brought
death…literally…into our lives. Scripture emphasizes the fact that we are
mortal beings – not immortal. Only God possesses immortality (1 Timothy
6:16; Romans 8:9-11). Jesus brought life and immortality to light through
the gospel (2 Timothy 1:9-10). </div>
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Believers in the city of <st1:city w:st="on">Corinth</st1:city> were confused on this point.
They leaned more toward Plato and the concept of the soul (disembodied spirit)
than what Paul had taught them in the gospel, namely, the resurrection of the
body. In 1 Corinthians 15:35-57 Paul explains this in detail. Our
future as believers is the resurrection of the body although it will be
magnificently different in ways that Paul cannot describe. “We are
waiting to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven” (2 Corinthians 5:1-4).</div>
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Death is beaten on the very turf where it beat us…our
bodies. </div>
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Jesus’ resurrection was more than a show of divine
power. It serves as a precursor to what
is coming. Jesus is the first born from
among the dead ones (Ephesians 1:20-21; Colossians 1:16-18; 1 Corinthians
15:20-23). The angels said after his ascension that he would come in
“like manner as you beheld him going into heaven” (Acts 1:11). Paul says
the “dead in Christ will rise first” and then believers who are alive at
his coming will rise with them to meet him in the air (to welcome him!) when he
comes with his mighty angels (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Thessalonians
1:7-10). </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv7was-99YBtLuh9mz-4qA-_ibKC98YPREssuSIR4rYYW9xui-_MwT9YrWu8zyhPyA8hcDdN5VMAZ6UsQU1E3sTXV1lA80bTyHrsxNgvDlTrFek4TVvh5OEcChx9cnM6JxlJH_AVGsIPX5/s1600/resurrection+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv7was-99YBtLuh9mz-4qA-_ibKC98YPREssuSIR4rYYW9xui-_MwT9YrWu8zyhPyA8hcDdN5VMAZ6UsQU1E3sTXV1lA80bTyHrsxNgvDlTrFek4TVvh5OEcChx9cnM6JxlJH_AVGsIPX5/s1600/resurrection+1.jpg" height="112" width="200" /></a>The Jews in Jesus day, for the most part, held the belief of
the resurrection (John 11:20-25). Jesus said that a day would come when
all who are in the tombs will hear his voice. Some would come forth to a
resurrection of life (1 Cor. 15) and others would be raised to be judged and
destroyed (John 5:25-29). </div>
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When Jesus spoke about eternal life he did so with
resurrection in mind. </div>
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When someone asks us about our hope, we should tell them
what Jesus accomplished for us in his death for our sins. BUT, we should
also emphasize what he accomplished in his resurrection. He is the only
one who was raised from the dead and, as they say, “stayed up.” He has
the power to give us life…literally…in a new body…forever. His invitation
to join him in his kingdom now and forever is the most fascinating and exciting
experience we can participate in. Paul says that the sufferings of this
world are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us
(Romans 8:18). </div>
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Scripture doesn't spell out the particulars of what all “glory” means. Then again, we are given some small portholes in scripture that give us glimpses of what the resurrection world will be like. Scripture says, “Things which eye has not
seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered into the heart of man,
all that God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). </div>
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How we <i>envision</i>
what Jesus, Paul and others said about resurrection <i>matters</i>. And, it should be a major piece in our conversation
with people about what “hope” means. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5XLwPSDwpjyTxiB3wSesNFc7x9ia5gKthT7sTvaMzMDVh-qdWDMygGLK7DrEmlzYxqK4YRN22pGs6wC3-jEDXnxDS_zfFgm1TKpgyg3kwTZvF0ATINZh2BYbaJsOX0m6NdXgkzeOp8Nrs/s1600/resurrection.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5XLwPSDwpjyTxiB3wSesNFc7x9ia5gKthT7sTvaMzMDVh-qdWDMygGLK7DrEmlzYxqK4YRN22pGs6wC3-jEDXnxDS_zfFgm1TKpgyg3kwTZvF0ATINZh2BYbaJsOX0m6NdXgkzeOp8Nrs/s1600/resurrection.jpg" height="132" width="200" /></a>Choosing to be a Christian involves more than pleasing God
and proving our obedience to His will.
As much as these things matter – and they do! – there is more. </div>
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God is inviting us to be a <i>part of something</i>. That's the part that is undeveloped in our thinking
and sharing of the gospel. We are living, serving, suffering, and teaching the
gospel to ourselves and others <i>toward
something</i>. God will welcome us into a new creation. His kingdom will be full of surprises,
magnificence and adventure. </div>
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Assembling with other Christians, standing up under
pressure, standing our ground in the presence of evil and embracing the reign
of God <i>now</i> should be empowered by this great vision of what God
will do one day through the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9-11) <i>at the resurrection. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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Paul said, “If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation. The old things have passed away; behold new
things have come” (2 Corinthians 5:17).</div>
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Resurrection. New
things. I can only imagine. How bout you?</div>
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Randy Daugherty<br />
Stephenville<st1:state w:st="on">Texas</st1:state><br />
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Randy Daughertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11798021469693632788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623258307163189862.post-67058249126100960952014-12-08T21:49:00.000-06:002014-12-08T21:49:24.671-06:00I Don't Like the Cross<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Yes,
it’s true. I really don’t like the Cross. Mind you, I’m not talking about the
one<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">we
normally see in our “Christian culture.” You know the one of which I speak, the<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">cute
one we see on T-shirts and pendants. I’m pretty OK with that one. Occasionally<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I’ll
see one on a billboard as I drive down the highway – no problem. Crosses adorn<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">walls
of homes and offices – no issues here. I see them for sale all over the place…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">polished
wooden ones, roughhewn ones, iron crosses intended to look rustic, plastic<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">ones,
etc. Those don’t bother me in the least. Those crosses are decorations and<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">are
worn and displayed as a message to others. “I’m a good person” they say. “I’m a<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">‘Christian.’”
“I like Jesus.” There is nothing painful or offending about those crosses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I’m
not trying to be cynical or overly critical. I think most of the time people
use<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">these
things with good intentions. But allow me to be direct: they’re neither
offensive<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJKdQLZ5nHjhUEn68jCCSqHs2LyDE6sxcRHnnjn21eyrbvibmKxWNpG4knUCOIGYnNbijeIEfch-3X5NLcF1dQv_SHpM15I5NfWdeNb7MQXgRa5oZ4LCiemsnkNwu2cgqM2FSgOa5HysRI/s1600/cross.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJKdQLZ5nHjhUEn68jCCSqHs2LyDE6sxcRHnnjn21eyrbvibmKxWNpG4knUCOIGYnNbijeIEfch-3X5NLcF1dQv_SHpM15I5NfWdeNb7MQXgRa5oZ4LCiemsnkNwu2cgqM2FSgOa5HysRI/s1600/cross.jpg" height="236" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">nor
painful. How would the message be different if I displayed a picture of an </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">electric
chair on my wall? Or what if I showed up on Wednesday night wearing a T-shirt </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">with
a hangman’s noose prominently displayed on the front? Yes, that’s different, </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">isn’t
it? These things mean death in horrific ways. These machines of death are</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">offensive,
not quaint. They’re shocking, painful, and contrary to my life. This, </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">friends,
is the Cross I don’t like – and for the very same reason.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The
Cross I don’t like is the one upon which I must nail my Self. My Self is
offended<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">that
it must die. Death is neither quaint nor cute. I hate death, especially as it
applies<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">to
me. An aesthetically pleasing cross on a wall as a message to others about<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">who
I am isn’t painful or offensive, but an ugly cross shoved in the dirt of my
flesh<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">and
upon which my will, nature, and desires are harshly nailed until they writhe,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">gasp,
and finally, reluctantly die is a message to me about who God is… and that<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">message
is offensive to my Self. The cute cross that I like is about me and says I am<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">good.
The Cross I hate is about God and says I am corrupt. The Cross I hate casts a<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">dark
shadow that chills the warm feelings I get about how “good” I am in comparison<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">to
others. The Cross I hate offers scorn, ridicule, and embarrassment as my Self<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">is
displayed in all its naked, shameful ugliness. Nothing can hide when it’s
nailed to<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">a
Cross. Neither can anything live. I know that if I nail my Self to a Cross –
not the<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">cute
one, but the ugly one like Jesus had – it’s not coming down… it’s going to die<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">painfully.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The
Good News is that Jesus offers resurrection. Not for the old Self that died.
It,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">thankfully,
won’t return if it really died. The resurrection of Jesus offers a new self,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">one
that is dead to Self but alive to God. That’s the thing about resurrection… you<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">can’t
have it without death. And cute crosses don’t kill the Self; they keep it
alive. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">James
McGee </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Abilene,Texas
</span></div>
Randy Daughertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11798021469693632788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623258307163189862.post-58519980565498768532014-11-23T00:30:00.000-06:002014-11-23T00:30:01.911-06:00I've Been Set Free<div class="MsoNormal">
Often, early in my faith journey, I felt the burden of the
battle for my soul. God called me to
righteousness, which is what I desired, but Satan deceitfully convinced me I
could be “holy” on my own. This
self-reliant attitude created a cycle of joyful “mountain-top” experiences when
I performed well, followed by “valleys” of guilt’s imprisonment when I didn’t
measure up to expectations. Somehow, I had
come to believe God only loved me when I was good. In Romans 7:7-8:17, Paul gives a thorough
explanation for this struggle between good and evil. I share Paul’s appreciation for God’s answer
to this conflict,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-I3PSbdar5pDOnsjzPCtnQnAHZqlzvPmlzfAWFbqnEJm2aKfykveTFNQV2OSok0d_Iz_MJYgmXrjFpIS0tsFxpgAe9K0B8lLg-77VTaIDG-Vk_EeVKvYepD4k7h_2qEPT0hG78F3ekxx/s1600/freedom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-I3PSbdar5pDOnsjzPCtnQnAHZqlzvPmlzfAWFbqnEJm2aKfykveTFNQV2OSok0d_Iz_MJYgmXrjFpIS0tsFxpgAe9K0B8lLg-77VTaIDG-Vk_EeVKvYepD4k7h_2qEPT0hG78F3ekxx/s1600/freedom.jpg" height="204" width="320" /></a><i>Thanks be to God –
through Jesus Christ our Lord!<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>So then, I myself in
my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of
sin.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Therefore, there is
now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ
Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.</i> Romans 7:25-8:2<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Because of what has been done for me through Christ Jesus, I
am able to transform my thinking (see Romans 12:1-2). I am no longer naively open to accepting
Satan’s lies. Yes, I still struggle with
sin. But now, instead of self-reliance, I
humbly acknowledge my need for a savior.
The “law of the Spirit” gives me life.
I am no longer condemned. I am
redeemed.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Therefore, I feel victorious, not defeated. I have been forgiven. I choose to serve God out of a motivation of
joy and conviction, rather than guilt and merit. I choose to obey God… living in a way that
honors His name. I am confident and
hopeful of His saving grace. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve been
set free!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Carl Smith</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Stephenville, Texas</div>
Randy Daughertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11798021469693632788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623258307163189862.post-1401398946179611812014-11-21T00:30:00.000-06:002014-11-21T00:30:01.379-06:00Words Can Hurt You<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: justify;">A current insurance commercial
makes me chuckle. A cowboy riding off into the sunset is unexpectedly knocked
off his horse by "THE END" as he rides under (but not quite clear of)
those words on the screen. Words can really hurt you!</span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
Proverbs
16:28 "A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close
friends." NIV<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
Proverbs
16:28 "A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close
friends." ESV<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
In the same chapter of
Proverbs, the opposite result comes from encouragement:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
Proverbs
16:21 "The wise in heart are called discerning, and gracious words promote
instruction." NIV<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielRG-oVT88riTIiYNpCAk5rkbaWrX_qxoSiFew55GAsNiGD8d5bVI50rw5UIkE1NdjN2n9kG9FZvOjN6bvYxzOjBW8wHcx7yQrDuPLq3UKHNPvjIyIAlBJ4qgaIy8c1R8hsEnWjY6hsL1/s1600/words-matter.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielRG-oVT88riTIiYNpCAk5rkbaWrX_qxoSiFew55GAsNiGD8d5bVI50rw5UIkE1NdjN2n9kG9FZvOjN6bvYxzOjBW8wHcx7yQrDuPLq3UKHNPvjIyIAlBJ4qgaIy8c1R8hsEnWjY6hsL1/s1600/words-matter.gif" height="200" width="171" /></a>Proverbs
16:21 "The wise of heart is called discerning, and sweetness of speech
increases persuasiveness." ESV<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
In Children's Bible Hour we
listen to a song about gossip. The song was written by Keith Lancaster to
encourage young list<o:p></o:p></div>
eners to watch what they say behind someone's back. We all
need to think before we speak about someone without knowing facts. <br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><i>Don't
Be Talkin' 'Bout Friends<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
Words and music: Keith
Lancaster © 1989 Anthony K. Music (ASCAP).
The link below will let you listen to Acapella sing the song <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsG1mx9u8H0">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsG1mx9u8H0</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Lyrics:<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Of all the things to do to a friend<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>You hurt them by your tongue. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Relationships will fatally end<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Without a knife or gun.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Waitin' till you're back behind them,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Then you put them down<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>How could you be talkin' 'bout them<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>When they're not around?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Chorus:<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Don't be talkin' 'bout friends when they're not around <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Don't be cuttin' their hearts and puttin' them down.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Don't be temptin' the Lord and makin' Him frown, <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Don't be talkin' 'bout your friends when they're not around.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>How all the gossip falls on our ears<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>It doesn't make much sense,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>How we can cause the innocent tears,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Not helping their defense.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Listening, we all should fear it,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Listening is wrong.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>If there were no one to hear it<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>It could not go on.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Repeat Chorus<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Too many friendships have been broken<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>By just a simple, careless word spoken.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Repeat Chorus (x2)<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Don't be talkin' down, throwin' down, cuttin' down friends <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Why not treat them more like friends (when they're not around)?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Don't be saying lots of things, overlook the hurt it brings <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Don't be talkin' bout your friends (when they're not around).<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
Speak directly to someone
rather than about a person without knowing facts. Find the truth first.
Encourage, don't discourage and dishearten.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
Matthew 18:15
"If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you
and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother." ESV</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPvyVffHUi0BT652dBTOBHjgzU_0Tc1HeBlzEl9681R3CXZ8KUl3CgAyV8rKBNk23yL4SPOzWlTxRUXf_j9nre7FMQ3bE4X8uM5Ox5roUbm9T3zkmnFVXACtghpbM6smWqaMpndASqmtLV/s1600/words.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPvyVffHUi0BT652dBTOBHjgzU_0Tc1HeBlzEl9681R3CXZ8KUl3CgAyV8rKBNk23yL4SPOzWlTxRUXf_j9nre7FMQ3bE4X8uM5Ox5roUbm9T3zkmnFVXACtghpbM6smWqaMpndASqmtLV/s1600/words.png" height="156" width="200" /></a><o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
We may not recognize that we
are spreading gossip. What we say to others may be disguised as
"conversation" or "concern". If you have a concern about a
brother or sister, the directive from Matthew 18 should be followed. We cannot
build up the Church if we allow the evil one rein over our tongue rather than
the Spirit of God.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
Don't listen to gossip. It is
divisive. It will grow and morph as it spreads to others. Churches have split
over untruths. Guard your heart from the evil one through Christian love.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
Dear God, Please continue to
guide our thoughts and words. Help us to encourage others, and build them up.
We need your Spirit in us to prevent discord that festers and breaks apart our
Christian family.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
Sherilyn Svien<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: justify;">
Stephenville, TX<o:p></o:p></div>
Randy Daughertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11798021469693632788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623258307163189862.post-77757360294871779992014-11-18T18:00:00.000-06:002014-11-18T18:00:25.661-06:00The Courtyard<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB5xl-l3aIQIZr2UeIDC_LRBJrJecZZBOb4Jg5Pxp_0TT9s8GxTDV_aDVmuK2SXMDVWZmcZct0VcMtnXuUQ3F8lg5t4yozQ-r5LUSNszmQy_W7CM7svd4WKRFo35moCgCVwPoW8aVIz2vv/s1600/peter+in+courtyard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB5xl-l3aIQIZr2UeIDC_LRBJrJecZZBOb4Jg5Pxp_0TT9s8GxTDV_aDVmuK2SXMDVWZmcZct0VcMtnXuUQ3F8lg5t4yozQ-r5LUSNszmQy_W7CM7svd4WKRFo35moCgCVwPoW8aVIz2vv/s1600/peter+in+courtyard.jpg" height="201" width="320" /></a>Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him.
“You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said. Matthew 26: 69<br />
<br />
Only a few hours earlier, with Jesus and facing an angry mob Peter was ready to
fight. Now in the courtyard, the focus of the enemy is on Peter. If
Peter acknowledges he is a follower of Christ he faces death. He
has no time to think and nowhere to hide. A life or death moment, and he
falls.<br />
<br />
We don't get to choose the timing of these crucial faith moments. They
sneak up on us like a thief, catching us off guard. My moments have not
been life or death yet still they are the same. I either deny Christ or
confess Him by the choices I make. If in the small things I do not resist
the enemy there is no way I'll be ready when I am confronted with......
Even this is a scheme as I begin to categorize and rationalize my
"little" weaknesses with the false security that I would never fall
to a greater, more evil temptation; not realizing I am already
trapped. The danger is I am drawn away from the love and protection of
Christ by my own choosing, satisfying myself rather than allowing Christ to
satisfy me. It is my selfish, willful leaving accompanied by a loss
of self-awareness. And I lose sight of the wonder and joy of being with
Christ.<br />
<br />
Peter was ready the next time he was confronted by the enemy. He lives
from the direct experience of encountering firsthand the incredible mercy and
forgiveness of Jesus despite denying him 3 times. He's guilty, he knows
he deserves punishment and he is overwhelmed with shame and regret, yet Jesus
forgives and calls him back. With that experience and a new
understanding of the Kingdom Peter is a changed man. In Acts there are
multiple imprisonments and life or death encounters by Peter as he shares the
story of Jesus. There is no longer any fear or confusion in Peter in
claiming Christ. Ultimately history says Peter was crucified upside
down. He was ready, even to die for The One who had already saved
him.<br />
<br />
For so long my walk of faith was focused on the wrong things. Being
right, being good, doing, going and it was all about my kingdom. I
was in the courtyard like Peter, watching from a distance and not really with
Jesus. Just like Peter, and in my own life Jesus calls us back
with great love and incredible mercy. He never gives up on us and
He will do more than we can ask or imagine when we choose Him each day.<br />
<br />
Father, every day I face choices of staying at a distance in the courtyard or
being right at your side. Draw me ever nearer to you until I can
never let go. In Jesus name.<br />
<br />
Scotty Elston<br />
Shallowater, Tx<o:p></o:p></div>
Randy Daughertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11798021469693632788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623258307163189862.post-84719722643839297222014-11-15T00:30:00.000-06:002014-11-15T00:30:00.694-06:00You're Not Strong Enough<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You’re
Not Strong Enough<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Have
you ever been confronted with something so difficult that you did not know how
you could go on? It is in those times that often you will hear trite Christian
platitudes designed to make people feel better with bumper-sticker theology. But these quotes do little in the face of the
actual brokenness of the world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyt60OSdUiOofO_ptwXUA9u0xic03oTR_ypnV2gHRWQ96VK_8_iaWW0khhZ9hdbq9L5UX5teV-ntqvZCRHNZJ35gEa2nK5DDDh8mhaSagzlv4VEhlGC9lfFrsEQh45k0yUixkGb9iU2GK/s1600/eph6-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyt60OSdUiOofO_ptwXUA9u0xic03oTR_ypnV2gHRWQ96VK_8_iaWW0khhZ9hdbq9L5UX5teV-ntqvZCRHNZJ35gEa2nK5DDDh8mhaSagzlv4VEhlGC9lfFrsEQh45k0yUixkGb9iU2GK/s1600/eph6-10.jpg" height="230" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
have a friend who is currently going through one life-threatening struggle
after another. He has leaned on God all the way and God has strengthened him to
face each new day. The emotion of despair has not overtaken him. One day a
well-meaning Christian said to him, “God won’t give you more than you can
handle.” I am sure you have heard those words before.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A
limp, anemic statement such as that will not stand up in a broken world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
primary problem with the quote is that it is not in the Bible. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There
is, however, a statement that sounds like it. In 1 Corinthians 10:13 we
read, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humankind.
And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can
bear.” Notice that the verse is about temptation. That’s it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
Bible reveals quite another story when it comes to struggles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
apostle Paul faced many struggles in his life. He wrote, “For we do not want
you to be ignorant, brothers and sisters, of the affliction we experienced in
Asia. 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. But that was to make us rely not on
ourselves, but on God who raises the dead" (2 Cor. 1:8-9).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Take
note of these scriptures as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me.”
(2 Timothy 4:17). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I
can do all things thru Him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Fear
not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen
you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah
41:10).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When
you find yourself struggling and you have nothing left to give – when life’s
difficulties are beyond your capability to cope, it is in those times you must
rely on God. Approach Him with an
authentic faith that engages Him with the full brunt of your emotion and pain. Then, the strength of the God of resurrection
will be seen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dear
Heavenly Father, life is often difficult. We sometimes feel overwhelmed
and don’t understand why you choose to
leave us in the midst of the struggle. I hurt for my friend and his struggles,
but I thank you for giving him strength. He is courageous because you stand by
him! Thank you for our friendship and for showing me an unwavering strength in
the face of weakness. I ask that you continue to hold him up. In the name of
Jesus, Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Terry
Smith </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Stephenville,
TX</span></div>
</div>
Randy Daughertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11798021469693632788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623258307163189862.post-37633455115825912142014-11-13T21:26:00.000-06:002014-11-13T21:26:09.096-06:00Things That Are Not - But Are<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
"<i>As it is written, ‘I have made you a father
of many nations.’ He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed –
the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they
were</i>.” (Romans 4:17)</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Daily, every person believes. Even one
who scorns the idea of faith in the eternal God daily leans on faith. He believes the floor will support him as he
steps from his bed. He trusts the light
will come on as he touches the switch.
He is confident the water is safe as he brushes his teeth. He is convinced that his eyes accurately
assess reality that he sees. No person
lives without faith in something, or in someone.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZifRDw3dCuxOGtTOI4_HzOEeNK53GEZwCzKHijSagRiuJhGYysHoo3s2kIziYJTmk1Qp8lRvb423_SMHtl3-2-SDCVRD3GHWPius4mAc7WSmRirSghBw_b5T_LSe50ypgrlfPZwiEINt/s1600/promises+of+God.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZifRDw3dCuxOGtTOI4_HzOEeNK53GEZwCzKHijSagRiuJhGYysHoo3s2kIziYJTmk1Qp8lRvb423_SMHtl3-2-SDCVRD3GHWPius4mAc7WSmRirSghBw_b5T_LSe50ypgrlfPZwiEINt/s320/promises+of+God.jpg" width="320" /></a> Abraham was 75 years old when God
promised him a son by his 65 year-old wife, Sarah. (Genesis 12:1ff.) Twenty
four years later, the 99 year old Abraham and 89 year-old Sarah were yet childless. “…his body was as good as dead – since he was
about a hundred years old – and…Sarah’s womb was also dead.” (Romans
4:19.) A gambling spirit could sooner
win the Texas Lotto than this couple in history could have had a son – and
through him, beget “many nations”. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The Bible is not recording some boondoggling
myth. The Jews you know meet on the
street today came – ultimately, from Abraham’s body, “…as good as dead…and from
Sarah’s womb…also dead”! Such is the
reality of the history of God’s promise to them, and of its fulfillment in the
lives of today’s Jews we see with our very own eyes. Yet, we wonder, “How?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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“Against all hope, Abraham in hope
believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to
him, ‘So shall your seed be’…he did not waver through unbelief regarding the
promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being
fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.” (Vs. 18-21.) <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Therein lies the lesson, and
encouragement, for us. God has power to
do what He promises. The Bible records
such power at work in his raising his Son from the grave, and in his fulfilling
the promises He has since made to countless servants of Jesus our Lord. No wonder we indeed profit from daily Bible
reading, and meditation. Such reasonable
faith “comes from hearing the word of God.”. (Romans 10:17.) <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
--Ted
Kell<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Brownwood, Texas</div>
Randy Daughertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11798021469693632788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623258307163189862.post-25099544132598837812014-11-07T22:21:00.000-06:002014-11-07T22:21:09.750-06:00Jesus Changes Everything<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>And behold,
a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining
at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and
standing behind him at this feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her
tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed
them with the ointment.</i> Luke 7:38
(English Standard Version)</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVDA72q3xy6Xq8ilzVlHum-89wOYiQHCe2AOnNLc56lJl5mT4VaXMdmjT-wLB8OsXWlGMgp_9lOt1oseoSGLgUz_J6E_d83k5HV5Cf65RB1Tgev33AXsDeyd_mAg23Iqbq6Rj0LpjIBBaF/s1600/woman+with+jesus+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVDA72q3xy6Xq8ilzVlHum-89wOYiQHCe2AOnNLc56lJl5mT4VaXMdmjT-wLB8OsXWlGMgp_9lOt1oseoSGLgUz_J6E_d83k5HV5Cf65RB1Tgev33AXsDeyd_mAg23Iqbq6Rj0LpjIBBaF/s1600/woman+with+jesus+1.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a>Jesus was
not popular with the religious leaders of his day. They ridiculed him, lied about him, and
plotted to embarrass him. They would
ultimately murder him and call it capital punishment.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The above
scripture isn’t about the Pharisee who may have invited Jesus to his home to
entrap him. It’s about a prostitute who
had probably been among the crowds of people who heard Jesus preach. His words gave her hope. His message changed her. She
came to him a sinner; penitent, humble, heart overflowing with gratitude for
the way his unconditional love changed how she saw herself. Her tears say it all.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
God has
always taken disobedience seriously, but he is equally serious about his love
for us. We are his first priority. How amazing is that? <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Jesus did
nothing wrong yet he allowed himself to be executed for our lawlessness so we
could live. That act in itself elevates
the worst sinner to a kinship with the King.
Jesus changes hearts. He changes lifestyles,
and ultimately destinies. His life,
death, burial and resurrection changes everything.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Pray with
me:<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Father in
Heaven, like the woman with the alabaster flask of expensive ointment, I weep
with gratitude because of your priceless gift of salvation. I know you love all of me, strengths and
weaknesses. Because you love me as I am,
and because your arms are always open and welcoming, I want to give you my best
self every day. I love you back. Amen.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Sandra
Milholland – Abilene, Texas<o:p></o:p></div>
Randy Daughertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11798021469693632788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623258307163189862.post-6089626994899451362014-11-04T18:05:00.000-06:002014-11-04T18:05:13.485-06:00In Between<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5gUgEiz9KVemUprp7nCrKAuElykzRyvpzcg3ccOrqkRxloISpwME3d-E57DKJau4A_vC6yoD6MjCeFhFfYyIzU18TQtZKTkMYJyjvF8g2syUZb76OibopFcdk6NJYmTxTL68jXcBOHj5f/s1600/clocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5gUgEiz9KVemUprp7nCrKAuElykzRyvpzcg3ccOrqkRxloISpwME3d-E57DKJau4A_vC6yoD6MjCeFhFfYyIzU18TQtZKTkMYJyjvF8g2syUZb76OibopFcdk6NJYmTxTL68jXcBOHj5f/s1600/clocks.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a>I was
reading a fellow’s thoughts on I Peter, chapter 4. He brought up the idea that
between Jesus’ ascension and His return at the second coming is where we live.
This time He called “the between time”. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I like that!
The between time! Between the time when I was baptized and when I, too, ascend.
The between time between the time I was adopted into God’s family and when I go
home.<o:p></o:p></div>
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What happens
during these between times?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Peter says
you may suffer, but take heart. This is your time…the time you live as lights
in a dark world. The time you live in fleshly bodies but you also live in the
spirit of God.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This is your
time to demonstrate to the world that God is real. The Bible is true and Jesus
is coming back.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Angels would
love to have our job…to represent God to the world…to praise Him here…to live
lives of faith in this world.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So, what are
you going to do with your “between time?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Dear Father,
Here I am in between. In between birth and death...baptism and resurrection. I
have stumbled many times. I have wasted so much. But here I am…forgive me for
my sins. Help me to use what time I have left. I want to finish well. I must
finish well. Guide me. Guard me. Help me. Lay down every sin that besets me.
Help me to look to Jesus. Keep my feet from stumbling. Bring me home. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Paul Shero<o:p></o:p></div>
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San Angelo,
Texas<o:p></o:p></div>
Randy Daughertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11798021469693632788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623258307163189862.post-63565865675285990702014-10-28T00:15:00.000-05:002014-10-28T00:43:25.045-05:00Heart Checkup<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Confession time! A few weeks ago, I gave a lesson on the heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lessons about the heart were easier to give back in my twenties. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps it’s because I’ve become more aware of my own heart – both its joys and its flaws. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Texts about the heart have taken on a more practical edge for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Here is a sampling of some texts we reflected on.</div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Proverbs 4:23</i>:</span> “Watch over your heart with all diligence for from it flow the issues of life.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Matthew 5:8</i>:</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"> </span> </span>“Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">Jeremiah 17:9</span></i>: “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who can understand it?’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">Psalm 19:12:</span> </i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Who can discern his errors?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ffd966;">Psalm 139:23</span></i>:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Search me, O God, and know my anxious thoughts, and see if there is any hurtful way in me.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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As I thought through these and other texts and talked through them with our congregation, I was again reminded how often and easily I recited them when I was younger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the time drew nigh for me to share a lesson about “spiritual heart health”, I thought about how innocent (another confession) my appreciation of these texts had been in earlier years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of that comes with just being young and not yet battle tested.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also thought about how true it is that as we grow older we become more acquainted with our inclination for sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other words, we learn how volatile and impulsive our hearts can be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We reach, for example, for Proverbs 4:23 knowing that we live smack in the middle of the reality Jeremiah 17:9 describes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We encounter thoughts and impulses that can take us into dark places.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have you ever found yourself struggling with things you never thought would be on your radar?</div>
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Someone remarked to me a while back, “I look forward to getting on the other side of forty.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I said, “What’s on the other side of forty?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They quipped, “Less of the stuff I’m dealing with on this side of forty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just think life will be simpler and easier spiritually when I get on the other side.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had to think about that one for a minute.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Easier…?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hmmm.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remarked, “I think you are in for a surprise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you get to the other side of forty, I think you will discover that you are still ‘very human!’”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sin and its deceitfulness doesn’t stop with “more birthdays”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Our growth spiritually should certainly see us developing a resistance to s</span>ome of the things that used to “get at us” at an earlier point in our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, other spiritual challenges come along that search for new holes in our spirtual armor. Luke 4:11 says Satan left Jesus after the wilderness temptation experience, lying in wait for another opportunity! </div>
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Take David for example.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>David does some fantastic things in his life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He also faces some enormous life challenges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In his younger years he endures Saul’s antagonism – even his plots to destroy him – refusing to take Saul’s life when he had the opportunity on more than one occasion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He absorbs the blows on the way to becoming <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Israel</place></country-region>’s next king.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After Saul’s death, he composes a song about him and encourages every Israelite to learn it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pretty mature…right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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But later in life, David leaves <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Jerusalem</place></city> as a wounded king to protect the city from civil war at the hands of his son, Absalom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the way out of the city, a mean, hateful man named Shimei walks alongside him mocking him, cursing at him and throwing stones his direction (2 Samuel 16:5ff).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A member of David’s entourage wants to “fix the guy’s problem” but David begs him off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They walk away from the situation and travel on. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix58IGkhUVqlBh8lo1IM1LWvIHu746yTXldSoF5YgUKn0FBJLvSKmMbn1Ww0IQ45laLVQM7scOe8cK-NbJUJtAbA8SQzTiVmajJJZpn-GSJmluSSqpeuczWyvJ5I7Jwjzf5cfKSlddl5D9/s1600/focus+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix58IGkhUVqlBh8lo1IM1LWvIHu746yTXldSoF5YgUKn0FBJLvSKmMbn1Ww0IQ45laLVQM7scOe8cK-NbJUJtAbA8SQzTiVmajJJZpn-GSJmluSSqpeuczWyvJ5I7Jwjzf5cfKSlddl5D9/s320/focus+5.jpg" height="182" mda="true" width="320" /></a>Now, fast forward to the end of David’s life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As he lay upon his death bed (a dying king with a great memory can call attention to a lot of unfinished business!), he calls Solomon’s attention to what Shimei did a “long time ago”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Make sure he doesn’t die a natural death”, David says (2 Kings 2:8-9). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, that’s exactly what happened (2 Kings 2:36-46).</div>
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Pre-forty…post-forty…the battles come and go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They change form, type and degree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We live in strength in one moment but have to be vigilant for “Shimei” episodes in moments when we are frail. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One thing is certain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They keep coming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paul was right:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I have not arrived nor have I become perfect” (Philippians 3:12-14). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think our challenge and calling is to hear the wisdom of Proverbs 4:23 in the awareness of the frailty of our flesh mirrored in David’s cry in Psalm 19:12 knowing that we walk with the One who has passed every test this world could throw at him and who lives to make intercession for us as One who sympathizes with us (Hebrews 7:25; 4:15). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We live in the mix of all of that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, in that mix we exercise diligence in matters of the heart. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>.</div>
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Prayer: O God, save us from both the naiveté and the arrogance that seduce us into becoming less vigilant over our hearts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As your servant James said so we request that you help us “implant” your word into our hearts so that we might think rightly about our lives and detect the deceitfulness of sin in its many forms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know our hearts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heal us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Convict us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Encourage us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Restore us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Equip us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need your presence in our hearts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May the words of our mouth and the meditation of our heart be acceptable in your sight…now and always.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen. </div>
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Randy Daugherty<br />
Stephenville, <state w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Texas</place></state></div>
Randy Daughertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11798021469693632788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623258307163189862.post-58802999097240463212014-10-13T15:33:00.001-05:002014-10-13T18:42:22.532-05:00Just Expressing Myself<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
“<i>Life and
death are in the power of the tongue</i>.” – Proverbs 18:21</div>
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Words matter. They always
have. Take social media for instance.</div>
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A woman lamented, “We have never been so wounded
and hurt by anything…ever." </div>
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She and her family recently lived through a social
media “beating.” </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixE88kR7kDOFgEaJ6gPgjeMQjQFCRKc3y65mdB6LLCQUTyoIrWgEyP5uV3W6tJXTNP_h_I7OGIRH85TDowEAA_OcAuCBG_loJMRrsuZ2a4b9DB-LP9fqPbBWWbo9gLN2fUCvZ5CbFYw-Rk/s1600/social+media.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixE88kR7kDOFgEaJ6gPgjeMQjQFCRKc3y65mdB6LLCQUTyoIrWgEyP5uV3W6tJXTNP_h_I7OGIRH85TDowEAA_OcAuCBG_loJMRrsuZ2a4b9DB-LP9fqPbBWWbo9gLN2fUCvZ5CbFYw-Rk/s1600/social+media.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a>To be fair, social media has some upsides. But, the downsides are destructive to say the
least. </div>
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One of the things that is often overlooked in the angst
about social media is the connection between ethics and speech. To be short….there is one!</div>
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Our culture’s penchant for drama and our unwillingness to
self-regulate has turned everything from twitter, to yik yak, to texting to
facebook into a Darwinian jungle. Only
the fittest survive! Unfortunately, the casualty rate is climbing especially among teenagers. Adults are a close second.</div>
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What's happening? In a nutshell, there is no recognition of boundaries. Human dignity is being abandoned in a window of literally seconds in
favor of "my freedom" to say whatever I want to say or text or tweet. Don’t
like it. Don’t read it. Is it that simple? I don’t think so.</div>
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If you are mad, spray a page, a tweet or a text with
rancorous speech. Don’t worry. You can re-tweet it later. </div>
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Don’t like something down at church…vomit on facebook. If you have screened your friends just right,
there is a strong probability you will get some “likes.” </div>
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But, there is a big difference - albeit a fine line - between “expressing
a viewpoint” and attacking people and groups in the name of free speech. </div>
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In fact, free speech can become a cover for hateful
discourse and slander of every kind. Speech
and expressing yourself still matters on an ethical level. Jesus said so.
So did Paul. Ephesians 4:30 says
that words can grieve the Holy Spirit regardless of the disclaimers and
emoticons that enclose what is said.</div>
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Much more could be said. But think about the following:</div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="color: cyan;">You are free but not really.</span>
1 Peter 2:16 says, "Act as free men but do not use your freedom as
a covering for evil, but use it as bond slaves of Jesus Christ." We
are free in <st1:country-region w:st="on">America</st1:country-region>
to do a lot of things. But, the Lordship of Christ should interpret how
we exercise every kind of freedom the law gives us (1 Corinthians 6:12-14).
Paul says that we are free to serve Christ (Romans 6:12-14). Our bodies, and that includes our fingers and
mouths, belong to the Lord. </li>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li><span style="color: cyan;">Think!</span><span style="color: #b45f06;"> </span> Think before
you write, post, tweet, text, and speak. Proverbs 12:18 says, “There is one
who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, but the tongue of the wise
brings healing.”</li>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li><span style="color: cyan;">Haste makes
waste!</span><span style="color: #b45f06;"> </span> If you are angry it’s better to
get control of your emotions before you say something that is way off the mark!
James says the anger of man does not work the righteousness of God (James
1:20). He says in verse 19, "Be quick to hear, slow to speak, and
slow to anger." </li>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li><span style="color: cyan;">Is this helpful?</span> Ask yourself, "How am I helping
"good" (whatever it is) move forward in this conversation or with
this person? Hebrews 10:24 says we should "consider how to stir one
another to love and good works." In other words, "think on
it...deliberate it." How does this honor what the Spirit is trying
to do in this moment? If you have a taste for drama Hebrews 10:24 could
be just what the doctor ordered!</li>
</ul>
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“He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed”
(Proverbs 11:25). Imagine a week of
social media governed by those words. What
a blessing! </div>
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Father, may the words of our mouth and the meditation of our
hearts be acceptable in your sight, our rock and our redeemer. Amen.</div>
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Randy Daugherty</div>
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<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Stephenville</st1:city>,
<st1:state w:st="on">Texas</st1:state></st1:place></div>
Randy Daughertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11798021469693632788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623258307163189862.post-57696792728049428482014-09-29T00:30:00.000-05:002014-09-29T18:45:12.625-05:00"Lettuce" in Hebrews?<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
My first serious study of the Book of Hebrews was at the feet of Dr. Neil Lightfoot a professor at <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Abilene</placename> <placename w:st="on">Christian</placename> <placename w:st="on">University</placename></place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His lectures were always stimulating to say the least.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked forward to every class!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWuD56sPdNqXUe9HRf2051XH58D28HoOdne-vxgms80Rit2m32v55Gs6DlLF2EToXM8xPRlc4kj7-OYF67GE934MOsOLBPNqGJooOs_r9-8v_w4CjER0ysIlITWBgka9jhcgnLWyWgpkVv/s1600/lettuce.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWuD56sPdNqXUe9HRf2051XH58D28HoOdne-vxgms80Rit2m32v55Gs6DlLF2EToXM8xPRlc4kj7-OYF67GE934MOsOLBPNqGJooOs_r9-8v_w4CjER0ysIlITWBgka9jhcgnLWyWgpkVv/s320/lettuce.jpg" height="238" width="320" xaa="true" /></a>I remember him adding a touch of humor to a lecture one day. He asked, “Can anyone name the most popular vegetable in the book of Hebrews?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We knew there was a catch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He waited patiently and then, with a sheepish smile, said, “It’s lettuce.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, then he took us on a journey through several texts in the book that had two simple but very powerful words:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“let us”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said, “This vegetable is never served by itself. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is always accompanied by other nourishing things.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His point was well taken! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
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As we started our exploration of the “let us” texts we discovered something new in each one. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More importantly, we discovered that <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“let us” is always calling us to “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">do something</i>”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Want some great meditation texts for the upcoming week? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Read through these powerful texts and let the Holy Spirit guide your heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Insights for faith and living are sprinkled across each one!</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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4:1 – Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: yellow;">let us</span></i> <u>fear </u>lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it.</div>
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4:11 – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: yellow;">Let us</span></i> therefore <u>strive to enter</u> that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.</div>
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4:14 – Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: yellow;">let us</span></i> <u>hold fast</u> our confession</div>
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4:16 – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: yellow;">Let us</span></i> then with <u>confidence draw near</u> to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.</div>
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6:1 – Therefore <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: yellow;">let us</span></i> <u>leave the elementary doctrine</u> of Christ and <u>go on to maturity</u>, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God.</div>
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10:21 – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: yellow;">Let us</span></i> <u>draw near with a true heart</u> in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. </div>
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10:23 – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: yellow;">Let us</span></i> <u>hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering</u>, for he who promised is faithful.</div>
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10:24 – And <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: yellow;">let us</span></i> <u>consider how to stir up</u> one another to love and good works,</div>
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12:1 – Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: yellow;">let us</span></i> also <u>lay aside</u> <u>every weight, and sin which clings</u> so closely, and <span style="color: yellow;">let us</span> <u>run with endurance</u> the race that is set before us…</div>
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12:28 – Therefore <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: yellow;">let us</span></i> <u>be grateful</u> for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: yellow;">let us</span></i> <u>offer to God acceptable worship</u>, with reverence and awe</div>
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Father, thank you for these special reminders about how to live out our faith in the One who is the same today, yesterday, yes and forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.</div>
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Randy Daugherty</div>
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<place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Stephenville</city>, <state w:st="on">Texas</state></place></div>
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Randy Daughertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11798021469693632788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623258307163189862.post-17049960794199648072014-09-23T10:38:00.000-05:002014-09-23T10:38:19.397-05:00Everybody’s Scratch’n but Where’s the Itch?<div class="MsoNormal">
Someone remarked the
other day, “Church right now reminds me of a dog on a front porch scratch’n
every ten minutes. The dog can’t do what
dogs normally do because he has to stop and scratch all the time. Scratch’n has become his purpose for existing.” Did I hear a chuckle? </div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMhIRgEUXfyB_rmSCIzcEr1r4ptaMS2b1GhJdkvvHRYpsViT32B19begpDBeEcSZFzgeF14rTZfZM0aLky-k5Tex4IF6oQg6OiN7ntepKMypFTHMJTa34exz5NJqq6EiuxfBE1ZNGEZX7D/s1600/dog+scratching.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMhIRgEUXfyB_rmSCIzcEr1r4ptaMS2b1GhJdkvvHRYpsViT32B19begpDBeEcSZFzgeF14rTZfZM0aLky-k5Tex4IF6oQg6OiN7ntepKMypFTHMJTa34exz5NJqq6EiuxfBE1ZNGEZX7D/s1600/dog+scratching.jpg" height="161" width="200" /></a>A dog’s life is
about more than fleas…I hope. And,
church life should be about more than the collective anxiety that envelopes us and dictates our every move. But how easy it is to just settle for scratch’n
and howling about all the things – usually in a general way – that plague us. </div>
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Living in the traffic circle of endless lament about why "this or that" is not happening has become normative in too many situations. Healthy diagnosis
of “this and that” is often a critical but missing piece in our anxious
conversations about where we are as a congregation and what we should do next. And, let it be said, "This isn't simple or easy for anybody." Getting the conversation and the questions right
on the front end is easier said than done. Mix in some congregational history and personality differences, ratchet up the anxiety in any system and you have a recipe for compounding our ability to converse meaningfully and reasonably about most anything. <o:p></o:p></div>
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As you serve in your time and place, perhaps the following can be of service to you. I stumbled across it a few days ago. Perhaps it will be helpful toward our efforts to come to terms with the
reality a lot of Christians and churches are living in at the moment. Meditate on it and share your thoughts here or with someone else.</div>
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Hopefully, it will
help us find the the right conversational roads and contribute something to rediscovering the
adventure that is the good news of Jesus Christ as the centerpiece of church life. Peace. –Randy
Daugherty</div>
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<a href="http://thomrainer.us4.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=e900691004213b8049094abdb&id=bb1f5f7b6c&e=f87a42b994" target="_blank">12 Reasons Why Churches Don’t Address Decline</a></div>
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By Chuck Lawless</div>
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I have never met a church leader who said to me, “I really
want my church to die. I’m not that concerned that we haven’t grown in years.”
At the same time, though, most churches in <st1:place w:st="on">North America</st1:place>
are plateaued or in decline. Many of those churches have been in that state for
years, if not decades—sometimes under the same leadership.</div>
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Why do churches wait so long to address decline? Here are
twelve reasons I’ve seen in my church consulting work.</div>
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<i><span style="color: #ff6600;">Nobody is counting the numbers</span></i>. I realize
numbers are only one means to evaluate growth, but they are an important means.
If no one is keeping a record of growth and attendance patterns, few leaders
recognize the first signs of decline. No one is monitoring health, and disease
sets in.</div>
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<i><span style="color: #ff6600;">Leaders in “growing” churches don’t always recognize
decline</span></i>. This situation especially occurs when a church is
experiencing additions, but the back door is even more wide open. The
congregation sees people join often, but they fail to see the greater numbers
of people leaving. The decline may be slow, but it’s still real.</div>
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<i><span style="color: #ff6600;">Members live in their own relational bubble</span></i>.
That is, most members have only few persons with whom they build strong
relationships. As long as their friends are still present, they don’t get too
concerned about others leaving.</div>
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<i><span style="color: #ff6600;">Leaders have given up on growth</span></i>. Maybe the
community is changing. Perhaps the young people have already left. It might be
the leaders are just tired after unsuccessfully striving for growth for years.
The need for rest trumps the call to reach others.</div>
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<i><span style="color: #ff6600;">Members love their pastor</span></i>. Sure, they realize
the church is declining – but their pastor has been good to them. Their lives
are marked by his care and concern. No one would ever want to hurt him.
Consequently, they remain loyal to him even as the church dies around him.</div>
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<i><span style="color: #ff6600;">The leaders don’t know what steps to take.</span></i>
They know how to parse verbs and formulate theological positions, but they do
not know how to redirect an organization. They are captains who don’t know how
to steer the ship into the right channels. Efforts end in failure, and failures
become discouragement.</div>
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<i><span style="color: #ff6600;">The church still has a sufficient number to survive</span></i>.
The larger the church was in its heyday, the more likely this situation occurs.
The church that averaged 300 five years ago may still appear to be comfortably
full at 200 now. The crowds are large enough to ignore the decline, at least
for now.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5T2VIwRkPPoPFnIf23RFwMcu-vSYSl_HlAf0Aqt_YJk7SHkSns-fQ0Q2OSPMQgcSZpVWPdxZhGAdDJlj-q5SQF-KgKNqLQREXrq6QzLOtwyDEAaiKWJv-DT8lGeGw8tJMB6647hdxOnNZ/s1600/light+bulf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5T2VIwRkPPoPFnIf23RFwMcu-vSYSl_HlAf0Aqt_YJk7SHkSns-fQ0Q2OSPMQgcSZpVWPdxZhGAdDJlj-q5SQF-KgKNqLQREXrq6QzLOtwyDEAaiKWJv-DT8lGeGw8tJMB6647hdxOnNZ/s1600/light+bulf.jpg" height="219" width="320" /></a><i><span style="color: #ff6600;">Leaders over-spiritualize the situation</span></i>. If
you’ve read my posts before, you know how much I care about prayer – but “we’re
just praying right now” can be a copout for leaders who fail to strategize.
“God’s just reducing us to His remnant” may be true, or it may also be
theological jargon to avoid taking responsibility for poor leadership.</div>
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<i><span style="color: #ff6600;">The church has money in the bank</span></i>. As long as
the bills are being paid, lower attendance numbers don’t matter as much. If the
church has a strong reserve account, that’s even better.</div>
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<i><span style="color: #ff6600;">The congregation equates activity with life</span></i>.
Programs continue. Somebody gathers in the church building most nights of the
week. The weekly bulletin is filled with events. The website carries current
announcements. If all of these activities are going on, surely the church
cannot be in decline.</div>
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<i><span style="color: #ff6600;">Ministries are siloed in the church</span></i>.
Individual ministries may be doing well. Some small groups really enjoy their
fellowship and teaching. The choir or praise team is prepared every Sunday.
Members cocoon themselves in a few successful ministries, and few people see
the overall church decline.</div>
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<i><span style="color: #ff6600;">Even Christian leaders are filled with pride</span></i>.
That’s a primary reason leaders won’t seek guidance when the churches they lead
are declining. “Surely,” the leader thinks, “I can come up with the solution.
After all, I’m called. I’m trained.” And, ultimately, he may find himself alone
because of his unwillingness to pursue help from others.</div>
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What other reasons would you add to this list?</div>
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Randy Daughertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11798021469693632788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623258307163189862.post-62831788425279780312014-09-04T22:23:00.002-05:002014-09-06T01:16:21.932-05:00Real Heroes<div class="MsoNormal">
I was reading a story recently about someone who was deemed a hero
because of something he had done. Talk
shows and the media snatched up the story.
It was front page news. A few
days later we learned that the story wasn’t <i>the story</i> and the real story was “elsewhere.” It was disappointing. It again reminded us of how quickly the media
likes to report things for pure scintillation.
I couldn’t help but think about the hundreds of other stories that
happen on a daily basis that are inspiring to say the least but never get a
headline because they don’t come package with celebrity of some kind. Do we know what a hero is…really?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTG3AkXTs98IFZeCV4cMs3_NAZxvzsSiuMQyzZFzSCx7_5bV1QSbvZQ3apC8XTadKac6GJ-I8FBDhQSCZaW8ByGoE3P9vqIcXiUVUKlS7sKabM9979mGf69-XD6jcvIBxLJyMbQ7OSGX6L/s1600/legacy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTG3AkXTs98IFZeCV4cMs3_NAZxvzsSiuMQyzZFzSCx7_5bV1QSbvZQ3apC8XTadKac6GJ-I8FBDhQSCZaW8ByGoE3P9vqIcXiUVUKlS7sKabM9979mGf69-XD6jcvIBxLJyMbQ7OSGX6L/s1600/legacy.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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A recent poll of 9-12 year old boys and girls in metropolitan
Indianapolis revealed that ordinary people don’t rank high on their list of
heroes. The top spots belonged to sports
figures, business moguls and celebrities of different stripes. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “A hero is no braver than an ordinary man,
but he is brave five minutes longer."
Not exactly what our culture puts forth as the definition of a hero is
it? <o:p></o:p></div>
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Who we choose as heroes tells as much about us as it does about the
heroes we choose.<o:p></o:p></div>
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When the writer of the letter we know as “Hebrews” selected people to
inspire his readers toward courageous faith, he chose ordinary people who
responded to the call of God in their everyday moments.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Hebrews chapter eleven is one story after another of people living “by
faith.” No cameras. No microphones. No newspaper coverage. No talk show circuit to ride. Just people living in their moments according
to what God asked of them. Did they
struggle? Yes. And that is a big piece of the story. They weren’t special people. They were people living out their lives to
the beat of God’s drum…by faith!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Hebrews
11:35-38 says:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were
tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better
life. 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains
and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they
were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats,
destitute, afflicted, mistreated— 38 of whom the world was not
worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the
earth.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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We need people like that in our lives.
We need their stories of faith.
Why? Because they show us what is
possible. They remind us how to live in
our moments “by faith.” They teach us
how to struggle, fall, get up and keep going.
Crawling sometimes. Running at other
times. </div>
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Who do you have in <i>your life now
or from your past</i> who speaks to you about walking with God? <o:p></o:p><br />
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“<i>Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God.
Consider the outcome of their way of life, and<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>imitate their faith</i>.”
(Hebrews 13:7)</div>
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Father, thank you for people who show us how to live as disciples of
Jesus. May our lives be markers for
someone in days to come. Thank you for
Jesus who is our greatest marker. Amen.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
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Randy Daugherty<o:p></o:p></div>
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Stephenville, Texas</div>
Randy Daughertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11798021469693632788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623258307163189862.post-25821011747912440602014-08-13T12:16:00.000-05:002014-08-13T12:16:20.521-05:00Bounty Hunting<i>“…God was in
Christ, reconciling the world unto himself…and hath committed unto us the
word of reconciliation."</i> - 2 Corinthians 5:19<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe_9Co0aBz6Yy7qC5Pz3xCYh778WH4SPiOtgfPh0f8vAYR6pQiLd66j_6DXsCXtP64IEpy56AGZlCjmKsXeqUk3w_wrT9MRwvxjKzNP8nC6V-CV1ZyILmCYiw2k-cPDlmlUtmO3LNWI6Hi/s1600/bounty+hunter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe_9Co0aBz6Yy7qC5Pz3xCYh778WH4SPiOtgfPh0f8vAYR6pQiLd66j_6DXsCXtP64IEpy56AGZlCjmKsXeqUk3w_wrT9MRwvxjKzNP8nC6V-CV1ZyILmCYiw2k-cPDlmlUtmO3LNWI6Hi/s1600/bounty+hunter.jpg" height="320" width="220" /></a>The Old West, so
legend has it, was dotted with ‘bounty hunters’. These motley characters,
while not lawmen in an official sense, made their living by tracking down fugitives for the price on their heads.
The victims were brought either to justice or an untimely
end.<br />
<br />
Recently, while my
mind was rambling, I wondered, “What if a bounty for the gospel was placed on the head of every lost sinner?
How would
Christians react to their desperate plight then? As it now stands, most of us have not turned the world
upside down, nor caused much of a tremor in a quest for lost souls.<br />
<br />
But let’s put a bounty on their heads! Let’s offer $10 for
every visitor brought to Bible class, $25 for evry bible study we have with people and, $100 for every baptism. "But the whole thing’s wrong!" You protest. "How could we serve the Lord out of such a self-serving motive? Besides, how many of these baptisms would
express real ‘conversion’? Why, such a
practice would be reprehensible! And think of the
corruption it would breed! How could you even
suggest such a
thing?”<br />
<br />
Okay, I'm sorry. Let's not put a bounty on souls. Let's just seek and save them because we love them and the Lord, and because our soul is worth more than the whole world.<br />
<br />
"That's better" you say. Why, I never heard of such a preposterous idea in my entire life. Now, be off and let me get back to my leisure."<br />
<br />
And, suddenly it's Sunday morning and pious voices are lifted to God in praise.<br />
<okay a="" and="" are="" back="" be="" because="" better="" bounty="" christian="" div="" entire="" get="" god:="" hat="" heard="" hy="" i="" in="" is="" it="" just="" leisure.="" let="" life.="" lifted="" lord="" love="" m="" me="" more="" morning="" my="" never="" not="" notion="" now="" of="" off="" on="" our="" pious="" praise="" preposterous="" put="" s="" save="" say.="" seek="" sorry="" soul="" souls="" such="" suddenly="" sunday="" than="" the="" them="" to="" voices="" we="" whole="" world.="" worth="" you=""><br /></okay>
<okay a="" and="" are="" back="" be="" because="" better="" bounty="" christian="" div="" entire="" get="" god:="" hat="" heard="" hy="" i="" in="" is="" it="" just="" leisure.="" let="" life.="" lifted="" lord="" love="" m="" me="" more="" morning="" my="" never="" not="" notion="" now="" of="" off="" on="" our="" pious="" praise="" preposterous="" put="" s="" save="" say.="" seek="" sorry="" soul="" souls="" such="" suddenly="" sunday="" than="" the="" them="" to="" voices="" we="" whole="" world.="" worth="" you="">I want to be a
soul winner for Jesus every day; He’s done so much for me…”</okay><br />
<okay a="" and="" are="" back="" be="" because="" better="" bounty="" christian="" div="" entire="" get="" god:="" hat="" heard="" hy="" i="" in="" is="" it="" just="" leisure.="" let="" life.="" lifted="" lord="" love="" m="" me="" more="" morning="" my="" never="" not="" notion="" now="" of="" off="" on="" our="" pious="" praise="" preposterous="" put="" s="" save="" say.="" seek="" sorry="" soul="" souls="" such="" suddenly="" sunday="" than="" the="" them="" to="" voices="" we="" whole="" world.="" worth="" you=""><br /></okay>
<okay a="" and="" are="" back="" be="" because="" better="" bounty="" christian="" div="" entire="" get="" god:="" hat="" heard="" hy="" i="" in="" is="" it="" just="" leisure.="" let="" life.="" lifted="" lord="" love="" m="" me="" more="" morning="" my="" never="" not="" notion="" now="" of="" off="" on="" our="" pious="" praise="" preposterous="" put="" s="" save="" say.="" seek="" sorry="" soul="" souls="" such="" suddenly="" sunday="" than="" the="" them="" to="" voices="" we="" whole="" world.="" worth="" you="">Larry Fluitt</okay><br />
<okay a="" and="" are="" back="" be="" because="" better="" bounty="" christian="" div="" entire="" get="" god:="" hat="" heard="" hy="" i="" in="" is="" it="" just="" leisure.="" let="" life.="" lifted="" lord="" love="" m="" me="" more="" morning="" my="" never="" not="" notion="" now="" of="" off="" on="" our="" pious="" praise="" preposterous="" put="" s="" save="" say.="" seek="" sorry="" soul="" souls="" such="" suddenly="" sunday="" than="" the="" them="" to="" voices="" we="" whole="" world.="" worth="" you="">San Angelo, Texas</okay>Randy Daughertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11798021469693632788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623258307163189862.post-63213463154916720962014-08-02T00:30:00.000-05:002014-08-02T00:30:01.308-05:00A Fire in My Bones<div class="MsoNormal">
Have you ever had a job that ‘you hated’? While I was at ACC, I sold Bibles for the
Southwestern Company for five summers. My
first summer, I was in Lafayette, Indiana and I HATED MY <st1:stockticker w:st="on">JOB</st1:stockticker>. Some
mornings, I cried as I drove to my first door-knocking assignment.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 8.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jeremiah sometimes hated his job as God’s spokesman. Jeremiah has been called ‘the weeping
prophet’. Some of his words from
Lamentations help us understand this designation. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAz1x83ciVx-upJwKnNGMCsIrz5uZ3N2wE_SHLj-klfZ12SEJNGAbq_fTRVSlTISp8B5nzMSgqQduby2eQU_VH0qoMKqcr-6qAUJOszVqg3m646qvOwlVCUBHJ7JTYZ2z28yOq_aynOYky/s1600/jeremiah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAz1x83ciVx-upJwKnNGMCsIrz5uZ3N2wE_SHLj-klfZ12SEJNGAbq_fTRVSlTISp8B5nzMSgqQduby2eQU_VH0qoMKqcr-6qAUJOszVqg3m646qvOwlVCUBHJ7JTYZ2z28yOq_aynOYky/s1600/jeremiah.jpg" height="232" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lamentations 2:11 <i>My eyes fail from weeping, I am in
torment within; my heart is poured out on the ground because my people are
destroyed, because children and infants faint in the streets of the city.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lamentations
3:19 <i>I remember my affliction and my
wandering, the bitterness and the gall.
20 I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lamentations 3:48 <i>Streams of tears flow from my eyes because
my people are destroyed. 49 My eyes
will flow unceasingly, without relief.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The reason Jeremiah
‘wept’ was his task from God was burdensome. Listen to these words from Jeremiah. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jeremiah 15:10 <i>Alas, my mother, that you gave me birth, a man with whom the whole land strives and
contends! I have neither lent nor
borrowed, yet everyone curses me. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jeremiah<i> </i>20:14<i> Cursed be the day I was born! May the day my mother
bore me not be blessed! 15 Cursed be the man who brought my father the
news, who made him very glad, saying, “A child is born to you—a son!” 16 May
that man be like the towns the Lord overthrew without pity. May he hear wailing in the morning, a battle
cry at noon. 17 For he did not kill me in the womb, with my mother as
my grave, her womb enlarged forever. 18 Why did I ever come out of the womb to see trouble and sorrow and to end my days in shame?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i> </i><i><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -9.0pt;">
Jeremiah wept and he expressed his frustration because God gave him a
burdensome task. His own people cursed
him and persecuted him. So, why didn’t
Jeremiah quit? If it was so hard, why
didn’t he say ‘I resign, that’s it!’ His
own answer is found in Jeremiah 20:9, If I say, “<i>I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name</i>,” <i>his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary
of holding it in; indeed, I cannot. </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -9.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -9.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">There was an inner necessity, a drivenness, a
compulsion in Jeremiah. He must do what
God called him to do. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -9.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -9.0pt;">
Do you have that kind of compulsion for
serving Christ? Is there an inner
necessity, a drivenness within you that
causes you to be faithful in serving Jesus?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -9.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -9.0pt;">
Prayer:
God, help us to be strong like Jeremiah.
Help us to stand for you when it is hard. Help us be faithful when the going gets
tough. Through Jesus we pray. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -9.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -9.0pt;">
Terry Brown</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -9.0pt;">
Abilene, Texas</div>
Randy Daughertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11798021469693632788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623258307163189862.post-55928044649966127882014-07-31T00:30:00.000-05:002014-07-31T00:30:01.498-05:00The Power of a Word<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="text-align: center;">A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” Proverbs 25:11</i></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Oh, the power of a word! How
scarcely do we comprehend the might of the spoken message:
to set ablaze a heart with zeal, or reduce a reputation to
ashes…to bolster the spirits of the weak or destroy the will of the strong...to
commend or condemn…to praise or put down…to encourage or inhibit...to heal or
wound…to reconcile or alienate…to inspire or inflame! Such is the <i>power of the tongue</i>. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsUycdexNdxHqbtXpRRNFbj3Ic5VC54D8jHeWLVmPeUMWt_hkLSXIIJUMYk4DU2DEALD7g0zjsbRnWhA7RF3P0YY2lHM0ENlND2ti34jWt3rjt6M4AFvo1W_eG7uKcCPIm05-L0iq4a2qo/s1600/encourage+one+another.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsUycdexNdxHqbtXpRRNFbj3Ic5VC54D8jHeWLVmPeUMWt_hkLSXIIJUMYk4DU2DEALD7g0zjsbRnWhA7RF3P0YY2lHM0ENlND2ti34jWt3rjt6M4AFvo1W_eG7uKcCPIm05-L0iq4a2qo/s1600/encourage+one+another.jpg" height="154" width="200" /></a></div>
It may be that among
the sins of the tongue, ranking right along with abuse in the sight of God<i>, is neglect</i>. Perhaps it is as much what
we fail to say that we ought as what we say that we ought not that displeases
the Lord. A word uttered at the appropriate time can be of surpassing value in
providing comfort, inspiration or determination. We may sin against others when
we <i>withhold from them the legitimate
praise</i> that would strengthen their hearts and hands for the challenges and
crises of the day. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Someone has
written the following verses that fit the thought perfectly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
If you hear a kind word spoken<o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
Of some worthy soul you know,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
It may fill his heart with sunshine <o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
If you’d only tell him so.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
If a deed, however humble,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
Helps you on your way to do,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
Seek the one whose hand has helped you, <o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
Seek him out and tell him so.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
If your heart is touched and tendered<o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
Toward a sinner lost and low<o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
It might help him to do better <o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
If you’d only tell him so.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
Larry Fluitt</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
San Angelo, Texas</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Randy Daughertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11798021469693632788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623258307163189862.post-60468213050405190162014-07-28T00:30:00.000-05:002014-07-28T00:30:02.907-05:00Whose Side Are We On?<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Accept one another then, just as Christ
accepted you, in order to bring praise to God</i>. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
- Romans 15:7</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
When the
apostle Paul wrote these words to the Christians in Rome, Jew and Gentile
believers were spiritually united as one, but they were all over the map
theologically. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Baptism <u>did</u>
level the playing field. They were of
one heart, sinners saved by grace, equal heirs of the kingdom, and empowered by
the Holy Spirit. Baptism did <u>not</u> wash
away their human weaknesses or erase their religious, cultural and familial
memories. They brought those with them
into communion with each other and disagreed on how to be a “church.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivWuVevCOwLEULarvIGtygvd-Pl937pzrziGHMlsN70TPaTAAmsnkAtEFOlSJze3RCLvXJi4NjT1peW6H2bN6WC57Tk8pwUuAU8HB37gv3Z-jDX0ws11Hs1pIUMHoejCaK15_T3C2uyhsK/s1600/accept+one+another.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivWuVevCOwLEULarvIGtygvd-Pl937pzrziGHMlsN70TPaTAAmsnkAtEFOlSJze3RCLvXJi4NjT1peW6H2bN6WC57Tk8pwUuAU8HB37gv3Z-jDX0ws11Hs1pIUMHoejCaK15_T3C2uyhsK/s1600/accept+one+another.jpg" height="74" width="200" /></a>Paul’s
letter is addressed to “All in Rome who are loved by God and called to be
saints.” When his letter was read in the
house churches, they understood better than we can that Paul was not taking
sides where they were concerned. The
last thing those beloved ones needed was divisive language!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
[James
Walters’ Chapter on Romans in <u>The Transforming Word</u>, ACU Press, 2009, is
an excellent resource for further study].
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
A “zinger” comes
in Chapter 15 verse 7 where Paul tells them whose side to be on collectively
and how to do it. “Accept one another,
just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” In
other words, each member of the body is to be on the side of God. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
One of my
favorite resources is a small yet highly informative book by Stanley J. Grenz
& Roger E. Olson entitled <u>Who Needs Theology</u>? <u>An Invitation to
the Study of God</u> (Intervarsity Press Academic (1996). In it they describe three categories of
Christian beliefs and how those categories evolved over the centuries. (Due to limited space I must summarize more
simply than I wish but the book is well worth reading.) <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The first
category is <i>dogma</i> – beliefs
considered essential to the gospel. Dogma
was first determined by Christian church leaders at Nicea I in 325 AD. Denial of these beliefs was considered denial
of Jesus the Christ and, hence, apostasy.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The second category
is <i>doctrine</i> - beliefs considered
important but not essential to the gospel.
A Christian church or denomination may consider doctrinal beliefs “a
test of fellowship without claiming that its denial is necessarily outright
apostasy.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The third
category is<i> opinion</i> – beliefs that
are, “interesting, but relatively unimportant to the faith of the church.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The question
I invite you to ponder with me is this:
When we find ourselves disagreeing over how to be a “church,” could it
be that we have accepted opinions as doctrine, and doctrine for dogma? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Father, give
us a spirit of unity through Christ, amen.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Sandra
Milholland<br />
Abilene,
Texas<o:p></o:p></div>
Randy Daughertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11798021469693632788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623258307163189862.post-90754039133157610352014-07-26T00:30:00.000-05:002014-07-26T00:30:01.625-05:00On the Beach with Jesus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHsGOQnbjqYU2blTBpze_e9C0t65cECcZsaxHBlbWN-Gn8_WP_o9aPsAiCtKHIIGWMsakEYdiMMCAN7Ys0kGzvBZWUiWH7yA_73tbBsyOWCpvE3dSlMJ31w9flFTZfzDNUTPRr8uWORRer/s1600/beach.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHsGOQnbjqYU2blTBpze_e9C0t65cECcZsaxHBlbWN-Gn8_WP_o9aPsAiCtKHIIGWMsakEYdiMMCAN7Ys0kGzvBZWUiWH7yA_73tbBsyOWCpvE3dSlMJ31w9flFTZfzDNUTPRr8uWORRer/s1600/beach.png" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While strolling down the beach early in the day, it was calm
and peaceful. The constant lapping of
the waves soothes the soul. Thoughts of
Jesus preparing breakfast on the beach for seven of His apostles played over in
my mind.<o:p></o:p></div>
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He greatly blessed their nets with multiple fish. <o:p></o:p></div>
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He met the need of their hunger by feeding them. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Next He would question Peter.</div>
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Three times Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love Me?” – Jesus
knew the answer before asking. Some have
suggested maybe to counter the three times Peter had denied Him. Jesus saw the benefit for Peter to verbalize
his devotion to the LORD. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Three times Peter confirmed His love for Jesus. Jesus responded to him with statements
concerning the care of His flock. Jesus
actions and instructions reassured Peter he had been forgiven and was ready to
serve in His name.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In our lifetime, Jesus presents the same questions of
devotion to each of us. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Do you love Me? <o:p></o:p></div>
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Love your neighbor as yourself & keep my commands.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Will you choose to serve in My kingdom? <o:p></o:p></div>
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Serve one another in love.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Will you share the good news of the gospel? <o:p></o:p></div>
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Go & make
disciples of all nations-baptizing and teaching them.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKKc6h30ugWrNVkuvv-VArxsFxS4N_xHJWOe6sMQEf_GQKPm8DQ9YwbKat4VCvbMy59vzYZD9IGmb_o9vSfVNw15ORWvlYZOpWvH1RiYeGvHlYh7mviHwCyHZMG_MMCcdHSKGiDEqTon4X/s1600/beach+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKKc6h30ugWrNVkuvv-VArxsFxS4N_xHJWOe6sMQEf_GQKPm8DQ9YwbKat4VCvbMy59vzYZD9IGmb_o9vSfVNw15ORWvlYZOpWvH1RiYeGvHlYh7mviHwCyHZMG_MMCcdHSKGiDEqTon4X/s1600/beach+1.jpg" height="272" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+13:35&version=NIV">John
13:35</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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By this everyone will know that you are my disciples,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
if you love one
another.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14:15&version=NIV">John
14:15</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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If you love me,
keep my commands.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+15:12&version=NIV">John
15:12</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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My command is this: Love each other as I
have loved you.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+15:17&version=NIV">John
15:17</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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This is my command: Love each other.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John+4:21&version=NIV">1
John 4:21</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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And he has given us this command: <o:p></o:p></div>
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Anyone who loves God must also <o:p></o:p></div>
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love their brother and sister.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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A children’s song speaks of “peace like a river, joy like a
fountain, love like the ocean.” Is our love
like the ocean? Deep, constant and
powerful. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Majestic, Almighty God,<o:p></o:p></div>
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How magnificent are the creations of Your Hand. Thank you for the beauty you fashioned
throughout the world, it refreshes the soul.
The peace we find in Your Son, Jesus, restores our hope. Reshape our hearts with the power of Your
truth & love like the power of winds & waves reshape the shoreline. Thank You, Father, for the grace and goodness
You extend to us over and over.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In the name of Your Son, Jesus - Amen <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mischelle Oliver, Stephenville<o:p></o:p></div>
Randy Daughertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11798021469693632788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4623258307163189862.post-73228624983296894622014-07-23T00:30:00.000-05:002014-07-23T00:30:01.798-05:00Sin's Forgiveness...and Consequences<div class="MsoNormal">
“<i>Now, therefore, the
sword will never depart from your house…The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. But because by doing this you have made the
enemies of the Lord show utter contempt, the son born to you will die</i>.” (2 Samuel
12:10, 13, 14.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_yf5RbbPzki1AfiDRYO2c6nhbW3FQGEunSalYSlJdCz1AVwyH-dNIr8T4L7vH0up9Zgb446MlbE6lu96x-NpBLwTE_Hq9NbyHcTi6u3eqbRWmFApcpRt69a0WlX5Z_gr_5mTfi9f0F1c/s1600/signpost.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_yf5RbbPzki1AfiDRYO2c6nhbW3FQGEunSalYSlJdCz1AVwyH-dNIr8T4L7vH0up9Zgb446MlbE6lu96x-NpBLwTE_Hq9NbyHcTi6u3eqbRWmFApcpRt69a0WlX5Z_gr_5mTfi9f0F1c/s1600/signpost.jpg" height="320" width="255" /></a>Sin’s wages are high. They are deadly. (Romans 6:23.) “…when it is full-grown, (sin) gives birth to
death.” (James 1:13-15.) Nor is there
any bargaining with the price that sin extorts for its fleeting pleasures. King David learned this painful reality in
the aftermath of his taking another man’s wife to bed with him. <o:p></o:p></div>
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David was a man after God’s own heart. (1 Samuel
13:14.) But Satan gained entrance into,
and control over, David’s heart through lust, greed, and power. Does this sound familiar? As a result, Bathsheba’s purity was stained,
her husband, Uriah, was murdered at David’s order, and the king’s heart was
hardened in denial for a year – while his enemies held God’s holy name in
contempt. During this time David’s heart
was in agony from the guilt he would not acknowledge, nor confess. Such is painfully described in a number of
his psalms “of penitence”. (E.g. Psalms
6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143.) <o:p></o:p></div>
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After Bathsheba bears David’s “love child” (?), The Lord
sends his prophet Nathan to confront David. (2 Samuel 12:1ff.) Finally the king sees from God’s perspective,
the evil he has done. “Then David said
to Nathan, <i>‘I have sinned against the
Lord’</i>”. (v. 13.) There is no more
denial. There is no blaming of
others. There is no equivocation. “Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did
not cover up my iniquity. I s said, ‘I
will confess my transgression to the Lord’ – and you forgave the guilt of my
sin.” (Psalm 32:5.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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God “forgave the guilt” of David’s sin. Still, “the sword” of painful <i>consequences</i> never departed from David’s
house. His son dies. A son rapes a daughter, and is killed by another
son, who then seeks to assassinate David his father in an attempt to seize his
throne. That son dies, hanging from a
tree, during battle. (2 Samuel 11-18.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sin’s guilt will destroy. Sin’s consequences will
torture. Only God, by the merit of his
Son’s atoning death, can forgive the guilt, and add his mercy as we deal with
the consequences. This is a painful, but
life-preserving, lesson. David, having
learned from his agonizing sins, offers God’s blessed assurance through the
apostle Paul’s inspired commentary:<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as
a gift, but as an obligation. However,
to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith
is credited as righteousness. David says
the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits
righteousness apart from works: ‘Blessed
are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is
the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.’”(Romans 4:4-8.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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And
that is GOOD NEWS!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Ted Kell<o:p></o:p></div>
Brownwood,
Texas<o:p></o:p>
Randy Daughertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11798021469693632788noreply@blogger.com0