Archive for the ‘General’ Category
Holy Spirit, part 5
Posted in General, God Thoughts, God's Word, tagged God Thoughts, God's Word, theology on June 27, 2013| 1 Comment »
V. Leading of the Spirit
2. As involves truth
3. The following verses speak of the filling of the Holy Spirit. When does it seem to be happening or should happen: all the time, special occasions, when we ask for it?
4. Is there a difference in being led by the Spirit and being
5. The following verses speak about the gifts of the Spirit
c. Based on I Corinthians 14:26-33, what do you think
d. What is the reason given by Paul for why prophets and
6. What are some results of being led by and filled with the
Holy Spirit, part 4
Posted in General, God Thoughts, God's Word, tagged God Thoughts, God's Word, theology on June 26, 2013| 1 Comment »
Let’s focus more detail on the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, what He does for us and in us, and how we are involved in His work.
IV. Sanctifying Work of the Spirit
A. Necessity
1. Galatians 3:1-18
2. Galatians 5:17
3. Romans 7:14-8:4
B. Transformative work of the Spirit
1. Galatians 5:22-23 2. Romans 8:13
C. How we are involved
1. Romans 6:11 2. I Corinthians 10:13
3. Philippians 4:8 4. Galatians 4:24,26
5. I Corinthians 6:18 6. II Corinthians 5:7
7. II Corinthians 5:14-15
Study Guide
IV. Sanctifying Work of the Spirit
1. In what ways do the following verses point out that
the work of the Spirit is necessary?
a. Galatians 3:1-18
b. Galatians 5:17
c. Romans 7:14-8:4
2a. Based on Galatians 5:22-23, who produces the fruits?
b. List the fruits and then indicate on which one(s) of the
following each one focuses: inward, outward, upward
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
3a. According to Romans 8:13 do we have a part in the
Spirit working in us? If so, what is it?
b. The following verses shed further light on the answer to
#3a. How do each of these verses say we may be involved?
1) Romans 6:11
2) I Corinthians 10:13
3) Philippians 4:8
4) Galatians 5:24,26
5) I Corinthians 6:18
6) II Corinthians 5:7
7) II Corinthians 5:14-15
Holy Spirit, part 3
Posted in General, God Thoughts, God's Word, tagged God Thoughts, God's Word, theology on June 25, 2013| 1 Comment »
The Divine Person of the Holy Spirit, as we have seen is evidenced by many characteristics of both divinity and personhood. Now we want to emphasize the aspect of this divine person’s work in the world and believers.
III. Work of the Holy Spirit
A. In the World
1. Creation Job 33:4
2. Inspiration of Scriptures II Peter 1:21
3. Miracles Matthew 12:28
4. Providence Psalm 104:30
5. Conviction John 16:7-9
B. In Believers
1. Regeneration Titus 3:5
a. Revealing and convicting of
1) sins 2) original sin (intentions)
3) failing of own works
b. Revealing of God
1) holiness 2) mercy
c. Revealing of Christ’s saving work
2. Sanctification
Salvation is a great gift
Thought by the Father above
Received by faith in the work
Bought by the Son here in love
In our hearts promoting change
Wrought by the Spirit, the Dove
3. Resurrection Romans 8:11
4. Teaches Luke 12:12
5. Commands Acts 13:2
6. Assurance Ephesians 1:13-14
7. Leading and filling
C. Our Response
1. Ephesians 4:3 2. II Timothy 2:15
3. Romans 8:16 4. Revelation 3:14,22
Study Guide
III. Work of the Holy Spirit
A. The H.S. has worked and is working in the world.
How is He at work in the following verses?
1. Job 33:4
2. II Peter 1:21
3. Matthew 12:28
4. Psalm 104:30
5. John 16:7-9
B. How is He working in believers ? Titus 3:5
6. Regeneration
a. What is the term in the verse for revealing problems in a
person’s heart in John 16:7-11?
1) sins 2) original sin (intentions) 3) failing of own works
b. What is being shown the sinner when he/she is convicted
of righteousness? What and/or who is being revealed?
1) holiness 2) mercy
c. God is just and sin must be judged. How is the saved
sinner’s sin judged?
7. Renewing (Sanctification) II Thessalonians 2:13-14
Salvation is a great gift
Thought by the Father above
Received by faith in the work
Bought by the Son here in love
In our hearts promoting change
Wrought by the Spirit, the Dove
8. What other important works of the Spirit are spoken of
in the following verses?
a. Romans 8:11
b. Luke 12:12
c. Acts 13:2
d. Ephesians 1:13-14
More on the following in the next days
e. Leading
f. Filling
Application.
9. Is God active in the world today? How?
10. Does the believer have a part in the work of Spirit or
should we get out of the way so He can work?
a. Ephesians 4:3
b. II Timothy 2:15
c. Romans 8:16
d. Revelation 3:14,22
Holy Spirit, Part 2
Posted in General, God Thoughts, God's Word, tagged God Thoughts, God's Word, theology on June 23, 2013| 1 Comment »
The Spirit is both divine and a person. Let us survey the evidence from Scripture that He is indeed both, not subordinate and not a mere force.
II. Divine Person of the Holy Spirit
A. Divine…not subordinate
1. Names
a. Named separate from Almighty God
1) Exodus 31:1-5 2) Psalm 51:1
b. Called God Acts 5:1-5
2. Divine Attributes
a. Omnipresence Psalm 139:7-8
b. Omniscience I Corinthians 2:10-11
c. Omnipotence Luke 1:35
d. Sovereignty I Corinthians 12:11
e. Eternity Hebrews 9:14
3. Works
4. Honors
a. Unpardonable Sin Matthew 12:31
b. In Trinity in position and action- I John 5:7
B. Person…not force
1. Name John 14:26
a. Comforter- KJV, ESV
b. Helper- NASB c. Advocate- NIV
2. Personal characteristics
a. Intelligence- teach John 14:26
b. Will- Acts 16:7
c. Affections- Isaiah 63:10
3. Actions of a Person
4. Stands as a separate Person
a. I Peter 1:1-2 b. II Corinthians 13:14
5. Separate from His power- I Corinthians 2:4
Study Guide
II. Divine Person of the Holy Spirit
1. What does the word divine mean?
2. Is He subordinate to anyone else?
The following are evidences that the Holy Spirit is divine.
He is named separate from Almighty God, distinct from Him.
3a. How is the Holy Spirit separated from God Almighty in
these verses?
1) Exodus 31:1-5
2) Psalm 51:10-11
b. How is the Holy Spirit declared divine in Acts 5:1-5?
4. The divine attributes mentioned in these verses point to
the Holy Spirit’s divinity. What do each of the following
say about Him and His divinity?
a. Psalm 139:7-8
b. I Corinthians 2:10-11
c. Luke 1:35
d. I Corinthians 12:11
e. Hebrews 9:14
5. If the Holy Spirit could do things only God could do,
would that give evidence that He is God?
6. Honors
a. Why is speaking against the Holy Spirit an unpardonable
sin? Matthew 12:24,28-31
b. In what ways is the Holy Spirit honored as part of the
Trinity in I John 5:7?
7. Various names are used for the Holy Spirit in John
14:26:
1) Comforter- KJV, ESV, 2) Helper- NASB,
3) Advocate- NIV. How do these point to the Holy Spirit
being a person instead of a force?
8. If the Holy Spirit has characteristics of a person that is
good evidence that He is a person. What personal
characteristic does each of the following verses point out?
a. John 14:26
b. Acts 16:7
c. Isaiah 63:10
9. Actions of a person would also give evidence that He is a person.
10. In what two ways does the H.S. stand as a separate
person in each of the following verses?
a. I Peter 1:1-2
b. II Corinthians 13:14
11. Why does the Spirit’s power in I Corinthians 2:4
indicate He is a person distinct from the God Almighty?
The Holy Spirit, Part 1
Posted in General, God Thoughts, God's Word, tagged God Thoughts, God's Word, theology on June 22, 2013| 1 Comment »
Is the Holy Spirit a person or a force, coequal or subordinate, active or passive, divine or not, real or imagined, Old Testament or New, available or aloof?
These are but a few of the questions I hope to answer in a Scripture based study of the Holy Spirit. I hope you will read along and look up the references for your own benefit. The five studies will be divided up in to two parts, an outline and a study guide. The topics are not exhaustive on Scripture about the Spirit but I do believe they are thorough.
Is the Holy Spirit a New Testament invention?
I. Trinity- One God, three Persons Deuteronomy 6:4
A. Does the Spirit show up in the Old Testament?
1. Use of plural
a. Genesis 1:26 b. Genesis 3:22
c. Genesis 11:7
2. God conversing within the Trinity
a. Psalm 45:6-7 b. Psalm 110:1
3. All three mentioned
a. Isaiah 48:16 b. Isaiah 42:1-4 Who is “My Servant”?
B. Spirit spoken of more clearly after Pentecost
1. Sent
a. John 15:26 b. John 3:34
2. Prophesied in the OT: Ezekiel 36:22-28
Study Guide
I. Trinity
*Is the Holy Spirit a New Testament invention?
1. What does Deuteronomy 6:4 say about God?
2. Does the Spirit show up in the Old Testament?
a. What about the following verses suggest the Holy Spirit?
1) Genesis 1:26 2) Genesis 3:22 3) Genesis 11:4
b. What is happening within God in the following verses
and what does it suggest about Him?
1) Psalm 45:6-7 2) Psalm 110:1
c. Who are the three persons referred to in these verses?
1) Isaiah 48:16 2) Isaiah 42:1-4 Who is “My Servant”?
3. Why is the Spirit spoken of more clearly after
Pentecost?
a. Because He is _______ a. John 15:26 b. John 3:34
b. In the OT this was ____________ Ezekiel 36:22-28
Application.
4. Since the Holy Spirit is God, how should you interact
with Him?
5. What are some ways you find out more about Him?
To Infinity and Beyond
Posted in General, God Thoughts, Random thoughts, Remembering, tagged God Thoughts, Random thoughts, Remembering, ultimate issues on June 19, 2013| 8 Comments »
No, I’m not Buzz Lightyear but I do have a story. I have trouble remembering my age when the following event occurred, eight or nine years old, but I can narrow it down because of the left over beginning writer’s paper I used. One day, probably a Saturday, my father was trimming the English Ivy that lined either side of our driveway and cascaded over the stone wall extending halfway across our front yard. My brother and I were cleaning it up as he cut the ivy, hauling it to the leaf pile in rear. I asked my father, “What is the biggest number that exists?” He replied, “It looks like an eight laid on its side.” That got him off the hook and me in a pickle. I now imagine him grinning to himself about what I would do with that. Afterall, I had expected a name: thousand, million, billion, and so on. It took me several years to realize he had described the symbol for infinity. So I decided to write to the biggest number I could on my leftover beginner’s writing paper from 1st grade, that tan colored paper with dashed lines for forming letters properly. I would write to each 100 on one side of a piece of paper. I vaguely remember knowing questions from my older brother or mother to the effect, “How long are you going to do that?” I remember that I made it to several hundred past ten thousand. I’ve always wanted to understand infinity.
Recently on a hike with my two youngest sons I asked the 19 year-old who is conversant in Calculus and particularly related to my question, limits, “Is it possible to have +∞ (there’s that silly sideways eight: read “infinity”)?”After some exchange back and forth, we agreed that it is mathematically possible. My son then added the insight that it is possible because “we created zero.” Immediately I saw that zero is the center of the mathematical universe. But the question persists: Is it possible to have +∞? Afterall, how is something infinite if it leaves out half of all that exists, namely -∞?
And this contrast is the difference between God’s eternality and our eternal life in Him. He is self-existent always (-∞ to +∞), period. We are finite, existing in Him, having a beginning, and if we be saved in Christ continuing forever to +∞, well past a few hundred over ten thousand.
The Ups and Downs of Gorging
Posted in Beauty, General, Outdoors, Photo, tagged Beauty, Outdoors, Photos on June 15, 2013| 2 Comments »
Gotcha! Thought I was going to talk about eating disorders didn’t you? No, I don’t think it is a laughing matter but at times our language is. I could have said, “What a gorgeous day,” which would at any rate be correct. My two youngest sons and I hiked about 10 miles in Linville Gorge today, and it was challenging, and it was beautiful.
For those of you who know the Gorge, the following description will make some sense. We parked at Spence Ridge Trailhead and walked the old forest service road to meet the Mountain-to-Sea Trail which heads alongside Table Rock and joins its trail so that we traversed the parking lot. Then we continued along the ridge toward the Chimneys. The picture of the bird is evidently a Junco, though I have never seen one with quite this coloring. The most interesting part to me was its black bill. Now guide or internet picture has one with a black bill. All of the feather coloring shows up in pictures but not in this combination. I thought I’d found a Linville Gorge variety, and perhaps I have. Boy, were the climbers out in force at TR and the Chimneys. We passed quite a few weekend backpackers, too. Out of the more crowded climes, we continued to Chimney Gap and then veered right onto a little known and unmaintained trail on the spur that runs between the Gap and Shortoff called Cambric Branch Trail. I had attempted it with two of my sons on a winter day with little daylight and missed. I was back to find it from the other end. We succeeded, flying down the narrow,brush grown trail. At the bottom we forded Linville River and headed upstream on the Gorge Trail. I had quite a fright when a water snake moved on a rock next to me. It was harmless. At various points upstream I saw driftwood at least 25 feet above the water level. The flood water must have been awesome to behold and loud. At this point I began to get weary given the frantic pace my youngin’s were laying down and the slight case of dehydration that was developing. It is nigh on to impossible to stay hydrated when you a sweating bullets. I began to think that the bridge had been washed out and I had missed it. Well, it had been washed out but the site was merely further upstream than my legs wanted to admit. The boys were there before me, and so was a crowd of swimmers and backpackers crossing, perhaps 20 people in the 30 minutes we hung out. I went for a swim in the river. Cold water always relieves tire muscles and cooled me below the temperature to need sweating out more moisture. My two sons were pretty chill but didn’t want to swim for some reason. The Spence Ridge Trail is steep but not excessively so we came out reasonably well. Wildflowers, wildlife, blue sky, time with the boys, wilderness, rock cliffs, trees, river, challenge to the body, and finding the trail I’d failed at before made for a good day for which I give thanks to the Creator of it all.
The Why
Posted in General, God Thoughts, Poem, Remembering, Why?!, Work of Jesus, tagged God Thoughts, internal strife, Poems, purpose in life, Remembering, ultimate issues, Why?!, work of christ on June 8, 2013| Leave a Comment »
The first poem I wrote this past week is the last one I am posting because I had to reflect on its content abit. It could so easily be seen as insensitive, or premature, but I consider it neither. I think it is just honest in a constructive kind of way. We have questions; we should voice them and find answers rather than silently or violently remaining agnostic about what is real and true. I offer this poem as a balm to many hurting loved ones who are truly asking. The eleven year old girl who died of leukemia and provoked my mind to write it has God’s best as I understand because she accepted God’s solution:
A purpose in life to glorify God
To enjoy His gifts, obey His commands
Accept hardships and the correcting rod
Challenge potential and all life’s demands
What’s the way forward when we’ve lost such life?
Then come tears and doubts and questions abound
Mind and heart struggle with internal strife
About ultimate issues, life profound
How is God good when there is so much bad?
God’s not the author of evil and wrong
Man disobeys, consequences are sad
Overtaking the ‘innocent’ and strong
God provides a way to overcome death
To have peace with Him and eternal rest
Bought by His Son, finished at His last breath
Now and forever have life and God’s best
But a Few of His Benefits
Posted in General, God Thoughts, Poem, Remembering, Sustaining, Work of Jesus, tagged God Thoughts, Poems, Remembering, Sustaining, work of christ on June 6, 2013| Leave a Comment »
It has been a good week for poetry. I end on an encouraging note. I owe all that I am, have, and will be to the gracious Lord Who enables me to serve Him. His Benefits are far more than I can tell. I want others to bask in His goodness by submitting to His Son. The benefits are eternal.
Father near, sovereign will
Chosen in Christ, what a thrill
Rest from work, all is done
‘It is finished’ by the Son
Peace with God, free from guilt
All because Christ’s blood was spilt
Strength to live, sin abate
His Spirit does motivate
Stress and strife, like a knife
Spirit purifies my life
Help in trials, answers prayers
God is gracious and He cares
Hardship here, glory there
Joy, comfort beyond compare
Tell good news, with you share
Eternal life here and there
Purpose now, glory then
Live for Him, soon free from sin
All that’s good, all that’s fair
Is found in Christ, jewel so rare
Come again, at the end
In His glory, sky will rend
Forever with Him then
Perfect in Him without sin
It Is a Moral Issue
Posted in Cultural commentary, General, Poem, tagged Cultural commentary, Poems on June 6, 2013| Leave a Comment »
The end of the school year is upon us. It is time for a little reflection and cultural commentary. Caution and disclaimer: This poem might make you mad, or conversely, you might shake your head sadly and say, ‘yes, it’s true’. If we do not take part in the last verse I fear we will not be tolerated very much longer. As one teacher said to me yesterday unprovoked, “We are not approaching crisis; we are in crisis.”
It is a moral issue
Lack of motivation
Rejecting what is true
Rules retaliation
Tolerance the only view
It is a moral issue
Say neither bad nor good
Be careful what you do
Even watch thoughts you should
Or we will certainly sue
It is a moral issue
Immodesty of dress
Crudeness of speech in lieu
Of more polite address
What I want to say and do
It is a moral issue
Lack of hygiene and care
Knowledge, no want or clue
All perversion laid bare
Gratification my due
It is a moral issue
Stealing what is not yours
Cheating and lying too
Coveting brings detours
Not earn what belongs to you
It is a moral issue
With rank and uniform
And age and gender too
Disrespect is the norm
Not even give God His due
It is a moral issue
Death is the focus now
Black the favorite hue
To dark stories they bow
Tattoos and piercings not few
It is a moral issue
Cry out to God, repent
Trust Christ the Savior Who
By grace from wraths relent
Our hope and nation renew
Salvation By Trinity
Posted in General, God Thoughts, Poem, Work of Jesus, tagged God Thoughts, Poems, salvation history, work of christ on May 31, 2013| Leave a Comment »
I can not find the source for “thought, bought, wrought” but I can by my simple poem point once again to God’s glorious salvation for all who will receive it by faith.
Salvation is a great gift Thought by the Father above Received by faith in the work Bought by the Son here in love In our hearts promoting change Wrought by the Spirit, the DoveThe word wrought means “to work by hand”. I well imagine the Holy Spirit toughening me up by a sanctifying work over so that I am hard and resilient like wrought iron rather than brittle like cast iron. “When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie, My grace all sufficient shall be thy supply. The flame shall not hurt thee, I only design, your dross to consume and your gold to refine,” says the old hymn. The trials are the fire and the hammer is the kind but firm work of the Holy Spirit to make us into the image of the Son.
Fervent Heat of II Peter 3
Posted in Creation Articles, General, God Thoughts, God's Word, Science, Work of Jesus, tagged Creation Articles, God's Word, Science, work of christ on May 18, 2013| 5 Comments »
I have thought about 2 Peter 3 extensively and even written about it (see “Four Singularities”). It is all amazing to me but verses 10-13 are just fascinating:
” But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.” (underlining mine)
Many of the words describing the demise of the created order as we now know it must certainly be metaphor. Indeed, they must be for our quantum mechanics and relativity still cannot fathom what God will do then. But our present understanding does align with what the Scriptures say and very possibly give us some insight into what God is saying through Peter. I am particularly interested as a student of science in the words I have underlined. I am fully aware that this passing away is not the main point of the passage but rather the certainty of judgment and the certainty of a future home where righteousness dwells and the result of compelling us to live for more permanent things. For these I am thankful. But I still muse on how God accomplishes His works. The word destroyed is variously translated as “destroyed” (NASB, NIV), “dissolved” (HCSB, ESV), and “melt” (KJV). The Greek (anytime I mention this it means I only have a dictionary to look it up in, not more knowledge than that) has the meaning of “loosed, released, dissolved”. “Intense heat” (NASB) is also rendered “burned up” (ESV), “fire” (NIV), “fervent heat” (KJV), and “burn” (HCSB). The word in Greek for “roar” means a “rushing sound”. The word rendered here as “elements” has the meaning of “in a row” as letters or bits of knowledge. These words strongly suggest to me properties of matter and energy. But since Einstein and E = mc2 matter and energy are really convenient descriptions of the same thing. E = m. Energy = matter. c, the speed of light in a vacuum is a constant that relates the two. Since speed of light is so large and squared in the equation, matter is seen to hold “crazy” amounts of energy. When matter is destroyed it becomes energy, and when energy is organized just so it is matter. I like to think of matter as “condensed” energy. That suggests that energy is the fundamental “stuff”. But here is where science becomes vague. What is energy? We know what energy does but we do not know what energy is. It is as Feynman said an abstract idea. Could it not be that our lack of understanding stems from viewing a spiritual matter rather than a totally physical one? The elements roar with intense heat and are released. That sounds like the destruction of all matter into energy to me. All of the particles of matter, discovered and undiscovered (muons, electrons, strange, flavors, and so on) becoming intense abstraction. But the abstraction is real, and what is it?
“By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
And by the breath of His mouth all their host.
He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap;
He lays up the deeps in storehouses.
Let all the earth fear the Lord;
Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
For He spoke, and it was done;
He commanded, and it stood fast.” (Psalm 33:6-9)
God spoke His word and it stood fast. Out of nothing, physically speaking, but out of a substantial word from God, everything. “In the beginning God created….Then God said,” (Genesis 1:1,3) His Word was condensed into physical creation and will one day soon be “melted” into His Word. When it happens will not this Scripture be fulfilled for Creation?
“So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11)
It, that is His Word, will return to Him in an intense flame out, not empty or simply annihilated, but fully complete in His intention and accomplishment. So all of the elements, atoms in fact, lined up in their orderly fashion, controlled and compelled by fundamental forces will dissolve or melt back into energy. Am I saying energy = God’s Word? Certainly not. But God’s Word accomplishes energy and all His works return after fully accomplishing what He set out for them. It is so with man’s spirit as well:
“For man goes to his eternal home while mourners go about in the street. Remember Him before the silver cord is broken and the golden bowl is crushed, the pitcher by the well is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is crushed; then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.” (Ecclesiastes 12:5-7)
So it is with all things. God gets ultimate glory because all things proceed from Him and all will return to Him and be assigned to the place He has ordained for them to be in His presence or excluded from it. In the meantime His Word holds all things together. Is not this the Grand Unified Theory, the Fundamental Force?
“For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” (Colosians 1:16-17)
The physical world will be destroyed by thermonuclear annihilation, coming unglued as it were:
“You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth,
And the heavens are the works of Your hands;
They will perish, but You remain;
And they all will become old like a garment,
And like a mantle You will roll them up;
Like a garment they will also be changed.
But You are the same,
And Your years will not come to an end.” (Hebrews 1:10-12)
These words are spoken of Jesus, God the Son, who will not end as the created order will end. He endures and so does His Word. So in the transience of the what seems so permanent I see the permanence of what I have I have seen to be transient. God’s Word is permanent.
Wow! Roar on to completion.
Technique Over Strength
Posted in Beauty, Climbing, General, Outdoors, Photo, tagged Beauty, Climbing, Outdoors, Photos on May 16, 2013| Leave a Comment »
I had a good day of bouldering on Tuesday with my son returned from college. I was just not strong enough to make the crux move on an otherwise easy problem. A stranger came along and told me to turn my hip in, dropping my knee. What seemed beyond my strength with my left hand so low suddenly seemed not very difficult. Technique won the day on this problem and two others.
It is so beautiful at this site in general but with the wildflowers and low humidity it was a sight to behold:
Painted Trillium (Trillium undulatum)
Table Rock, Hawksbill, Gingercake
Mount Mitchell through the Spruce
Practical Physics
Fiddleheads
May God be exalted and may He strengthen our newest grandchild for this life and the next. Thus, I say the following blessing over this young one.
Ian Stuart may you be blest In Christ’s salvation learn to rest For this vile world would destroy you Prepare by God’s grace for the test Ian, “God is gracious” for sure Enables to be strong and pure Ever cling to his sovereign grace Avoid temptation’s constant lure Stuart has been a royal name Carrying quite a bit of fame But stewards have a charge to keep Obeying their Lord without shame Francis, the name means you are free May God grant in every degree Your mind and frame from worldly foes And spirit ever God may see Take God’s armor ready to fight By the Spirit’s leading and might Deep knowledge of God’s Word and prayer Spiritual wisdom and insightFriend
Posted in General, Random thoughts, tagged Random thoughts, Relationship on April 28, 2013| Leave a Comment »
What does it mean to be a friend?
The word is used in a very wide range of ways from a first time acquaintance to an intimate, long-term active relationship. Friendship may be predicated upon a history of common interests or beliefs or based on current needs and interaction. It may have come about and be sustained by relatively shallow common ground like mutual interest in in sports or numerous hobbies or it may rest upon much deeper foundations of kindred spirit, shared goals and beliefs, or enjoyment of each other’s company.
What seems to be common to these ideas is sharing of something in common. There must be some level of agreement between friends. That agreement may even be to exclude certain conversations in order to preserve what is common, but that must result in a level of shallowness in the relationship. Deep friendship must involve an openness to discuss and express a full range of what is important to either person.
Scripture has numerous passages on friendship. Following are but a few that caught my attention:
“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is is born for adversity.” Proverbs 17:17
“For the despairing man there should be kindness from his friend; so that he does not forsake the fear of the Almighty.” Job 6:14
One who will abide in God’s tent does not “take up a reproach against his friend” Psalm 15:3c
“A man of too many friends comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24
From these ideas I saw that a friend to me is someone that acts in a certain way. I know that my ideas in this blog are far from complete but they do represent a good starting point for considering what friendship is and what we expect of it. I hope that a person who is my friend will have many of the following characteristics and I certainly want to strive to provide these actions for others:
A friend initiates, listens, confronts, encourages, remembers, takes time, cares, shares, confides, counsels, walks with, forgives, enjoys, endures, believes, advises, stays with a friend.
Feasts of God
Posted in General, Work of Jesus, tagged salvation history, second coming of christ, work of christ on April 9, 2013| Leave a Comment »
In God’s economy and calendar, the Spring is past, summer has come, and the Harvest fast approaches. He has laid out for us a a general calendar of His salvation history.
| 2012-2013 Julian Calendar | Jewish Day/Month | Feast | New Testament Fulfillment | Old/New Testament Passages |
| 3/26 | 14 Nisan | Passover | Cross | Exodus 12:1-13 I Corinthians 5:7 Luke 22:19-20 |
| 3/27 | 15 | Unleavened Bread | Tomb | Exodus 12:14-20 I Corinthians 5:8 I Peter 1:19 |
| 3/28 | 16 | First Fruits | Resurrection | Leviticus 23:9-14 I Corinthians 15:21-23 |
| 5/16 | 6 Sivan | Pentecost | Holy Spirit given | Deuteronomy 16:9-12 Acts 2:1-4, 16-18, 33 |
| 9/5 | 1 Tishri | Trumpets | Christ’s return | Leviticus 23:23-25 I Thessalonians 4:13-18 I Corinthians 15:50-56 |
| 9/14 | 10 | Atonement | Rescue from sin | Leviticus 23:26-32 Isaiah 49:5-8 Hebrews 9:11-28 |
| 9/19 | 15 | Tabernacles | Millennium | Leviticus 23:39-43 Zechariah 14:16-19 Revelation 20:4-6 |
Upward Connection
Posted in General, God's Word, Remembering, Work of Jesus, tagged God's Word, Remembering, salvation history, second coming of christ, work of christ on March 30, 2013| Leave a Comment »
The resurrection is the pinnacle of Jesus’ earthly ministry. He exhibits power over death and sin. But it is the beginning of a the great transition of the glorious Son of God. There is a definite connection made between resurrection , ascension, exaltation, and the Holy Spirit being given. Peter makes this progression quite clear to the Council of Sadducees and Pharisees in Acts 5:30-32,“The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross. He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.” As “Prince and Savior” He is both ruler of all and priest to all who believe. Again Peter is explaining the Scriptures about David’s descendant and says, “This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear.” (Act 2:32-33) We need the bodily resurrection to understand the power of Jesus and to validate it to the world, but it is only the beginning of His show of power. Paul expands our idea of His power in Ephesians 1: “ I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church.” Why do we not see this overwhelming power exhibited in the world today? Jesus is working out the details of His victory incrementally through the filling up of His sufferings in us (Colossians 1:24). As Peter takes great pains to establish in chapter 1 of his epistle, God has established our imperishable inheritance to strengthen our faith so that we “prepare our minds for action”(I Peter 1:13) against worldly lusts and intense suffering. Many great shows of power will come and for the saints bring great joy: “And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war”………Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years,”….. and…..“Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death” (Revelation 19:11; 20:6; 21:3-4). Yes, the resurrection demonstrates unsurpassed power overcoming death, but even as He is the first fruits of those from the dead so His resurrection power is a first fruits of His unsurpassed power in victory over death, the world, all creation, new creation. He worked at the cross to accomplish God’s plan; He marches in victory to complete all that plan reveals and enables. Let us follow in His train now as at His second coming!
Joy Today
Posted in General, God Thoughts, Poem, Sustaining, tagged God Thoughts, Poems, Sustaining on March 5, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Not from difficulty or frustration or pressure was my day in danger of preventing joy, but from excessively mundane and unwanted pursuit. One need not be bored nor down when the scope of all eternity, the God of the universe, dwells in the heart by grace through faith. So I asked and He provided:
Lord, please give me joy today The knowledge of Your presence with me Awareness of all that may Be fulfilled by Your Spirit in me Joy in Your salvation free Hilarity giving to the poor The Gospel that they may see Blessing now, in eternity more Joy come in, joy reaching out All God has and will do and nourish He is great I want to shout May His work in our time now flourish God’s peace in my heart to stay No regrets to repent or to act Clinging to Him, always pray Accepting His Word as ruling fact Joy in who I am in Him Happiness in the path He does give Contentment when hard trials ever trim Joy-robbing sin so I live Now may I sing a new song Of the blessing of knowing my Lord On Him and His works be long Raise voice as I praise affordHope-Keep Feedback Loop
Posted in General, God's Word, tagged God's Word, gospel project, Sustaining on February 17, 2013| Leave a Comment »
I realized when reading the following two questions in our Gospel Project lesson today that they lend well to a positive feedback loop in our lives:
“What role does hope play in our seeking to be faithful to God’s commands?
In what ways can we deepen ‘the roots’ of our hope in God’s promises?” (Winter 2012-13, p.111)
When hope is applied to our lives through the working of God’s Word we are enabled to keep His commands. The Holy Spirit is always enabling and He uses the truth. Keeping His commands will result in confidence and hope that God is active in our lives and the promises apply to us as we review God’s Word. It is a positive feedback loop in that each one increases the other and is life giving.
CreatorWorship 
Nothing Truly Random
Posted in Creation Articles, General, God Thoughts, Poem, Science, tagged Creation Articles, Cultural commentary, God Thoughts, Poems, Science on June 6, 2013| Leave a Comment »
My previous poem, “It Is a Moral Issue”, is in our society largely, I believe, the result of believing that chance, time, matter, and energy (CTME) are the cause of all that we observe. If CTME is our god we have no purpose and no responsibility. But the universe screams a different message:
Nothing random in the way the world works
Order and sequence the rule of the day
For observers consistency has perks
Cause and effect reveal the rules at play
What is the source of this order we see?
Of design in the cosmos’s scenery
Even random disorder follows laws
And beauty is objective and enthralls
Design points to an Architect with skill
Information an Intellect reveals
Beauty an Artist with canvas to fill
Order a Mathematician Who wills
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