Here’s a very good post from back in the day (April 2008) when my blog didn’t have any readers. The premise is that understanding Romans 8:28 is a lot like making biscuits. This is kinda’ like shopping for groceries; don’t read this if you’re already hungry.
“And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (ESV) Continue reading
UPDATE: A federal magistrate upheld a $66 mill. judgement against Tony Alamo last week. (9/14/2011) source: Washington Post
There are two items that have been getting a lot of press lately. I commented on another’s blog about Tony Alamo, and decided it was time to mention him myself. I read this AP report {no longer available; this post is now 3 years old} to get a little background. It’s a good little biography if you’ve never heard of this guy before. This is not his first 15 minutes, if you get what I’m saying. He’s been in and out of the news (and jail) for about 20 years now. Most recently the charges involve underage sex and marriage scandals, and once again he is defending his organization on the grounds that it is not a cult. Continue reading
The simple answer is yes. Jesus was radical in his ministry and teachings. He questioned the rulers of the Jewish faith, he threw people out of the temple, he pronounced woe to the scribes and Pharisees, he performed healings and miracles on the Sabbath, his disciples did not fast, and even ate without washing their hands. His whole Sermon on the Mount turned the Jewish traditions and laws seemingly upside down. The simple answer is that Jesus was a radical; however, I don’t believe it’s that simple. Continue reading
This is a real church sign located not far from Cleveland, Ohio. Mike Frizzell has been providing us with humorous and amusing church signs for some time in a regular bit he calls Signs of the Times. I couldn’t resist sharing this one also. The church says it is meant to be a “friendly” reminder to teens that the Bible doesn’t condone homosexuality. Many have misunderstood the sign’s meaning, or are unfamiliar with the pop song it is a reference to. Read the whole story here from Fox News.
I want to share with my friends and readers the different Bible studies I’m in right now, but don’t want to sound like I’m bragging. I work in full time ministry, so there’s lots of people leading many different activities all around us. I’m not trying to wave in anyone’s face how holy I am or anything like that.
I remember my dad teaching through the book of Matthew when I was in the 8th grade. We might do a few verses this week, or just one. Then we’d pick up next Sunday where we left off. It takes months sometimes to get through a book this way (or years) but it provides a thorough understanding. I seem to have wound up in several studies like that at the same time. The Sunday School class I attend is studying the book of Galatians. Anytime you study one of Paul’s letters you get some history of Paul, and often compare what he writes to one church with what is written to another.
Our Sunday a.m. text until advent begins is the book of Phillipians. The a.m. small group my wife and I lead is working through the Gospel of Mark. And our men’s morning devotional group is doing a verse by verse study of Nehemiah. That’s a total of 2 epistles, 1 gospel account, and one Old Testament book of history. I don’t always take enough time to study scripture on my own. This whole situation is a blessing to me because of the consistency.
No, I’m not saying that I hate theology. “I Hate Theology” is the title of an essay that has been reposted at Internet Monk, and I got the chance to read for the first time. This is a link to the original post, here is an excerpt that gets to the heart of the message:
I hate this, and I am not ashamed to say so. Christ didn’t call theologians, he called disciples. Let’s follow Jesus, not just talk about the two natures. He didn’t establish a seminary or a library, but a church, which is a pretty down and dirty business that does a lot more than just stare at its confessions in wondrous rapture and awe. He didn’t give the great debate assignment, but the great commission. We’re on mission with a God who is doing great things in history. Or are we? Some of us are theologizing about ministry so much that we appear to be undermining ministry itself. It’s a great commission to make disciples of all nations, not a great commotion about who can be more literal about the elements of the Lord’s Supper.
I’ve written a lot lately about being the salt and the light, and I’m probably not done yet. This is what iMonk is saying; you can debate and discuss all the things that ministry should be and do, but then someone still has to do them. Discussing the salt of the earth and being salty are not the same thing. Jesus actually mentions this. Telling someone to go their way and be fed is not the same as feeding them.
This is just one point iMonk makes in his essay. You really should read the whole thing, and don’t get mad too quickly. It might not be what you think it is (the whole book by its cover sort of thing). I listen to a lot of preachers, I read lots of blogs. Very few things you hear or read are worth putting into practice in your everyday life. I’m suggesting this is one of them.
Now go into the world in peace,
Have courage;
Hold on to what is good.
Strengthen the fainthearted;
support the weak;
help the suffering;
and share the gospel.
Love and serve the Lord in the power of the Holy Spirit.
And may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
Amen
In the first chapter of Mark (I happen to be leading a study of Mark) Jesus begins to call his first disciples. Jesus had many followers, but from those he called out 12 to be his “inner circle” if you will. In verses 16-20 he calls first Simon (Peter) and Andrew, then James and John. All 4 of these men were fishermen. This was not the most respected vocation in first century Israel. Fishermen worked long hours, spent a lot of time away from home and family, and they, well to be honest, stank. Fish stink, guys that spend a lot of time with them also stink. It was hard work, and while you could make a living at it, a fisherman would never really “be somebody.”
In Mark chp. 2 Jesus calls Levi (Matthew). He was a tax collector. He may have had more education than a fisherman, and would have definitely had more money. Most were crooked however, so he still would not have had a lot of friends. If he did, they were also crooks and/or tax collectors. We don’t know as much about some of the other disciples. Luke was not one of the 12, but he was obviously hanging around. Remember that Jesus had other followers and students besides the 12. If Luke was not following Jesus from place to place during his ministry, we know for sure that he was very much involved in the formation of the early church. Luke was physician. This was a guy that was not only educated, he would have been respected in the community. So what am I getting at?
God calls all types of people into his service. There is not a Christian type, but he invites all types to become Christian, then uses whatever they bring with them to the table to further his kingdom and spread the gospel. In Luke 8, we find out that many women were not only following Jesus, but supporting his ministry financially. Luke does not neglect to list some names for us. And just to top off the list, one of the first miracles performed by Jesus was healing Simon’s mother-in-law (Mark 1). There’s only one way to get a mother-in-law; it’s a small detail, but we learn that Simon was married. God calls into his service the educated and the illiterate; the single and the married; men and women; those respected by the community and those disrespected. God is not interested in our ability, but in our availability.
One more thing: Go back to Exodus chp 3 and see what happens when God calls someone who is not interested. After God speaks to Moses from the burning bush, Moses’ first response is “Who am I to go before Pharaoh?” God answers he will be with him. In chp 4 Moses questions if the people will believe God spoke to him. Moses complains he is not a good speaker. He finally comes right out and asks God to please send someone else. By this time God is angry with Moses. We are the body of Christ; he has already done the hard stuff. We need to be willing to respond when he calls us. And there is no one that he cannot use, no matter how many excuses we can come up with. Let’s be the salt and the light people.
We’re studying the Gospel of Mark in our Sunday morning small group, and my wife was fascinated by one of the stories in chapter one. As this person possessed by a demon is approached by Jesus, he identifies Jesus and asks why he is there. Jesus at once commands his silence, then casts out the unclean spirit. This event was early in his ministry, and Jesus didn’t want anyone blabbing out who he really was just yet. On at least one occasion, Jesus will instruct those just healed to tell no one what has happened. The interested thing, though, is that the demonic spirit knew immediately that Jesus was the Holy One of God when he saw him. Many people would listen to the sermons, see the signs and wonders, and still not believe. Jesus would read from the prophets, have long talks with leaders such as Nicodemus, and still people would walk away puzzled not knowing what to believe. But any demon or unclean spirit Jesus encountered at once knew who he was, and often questioned if they were to be punished before the time. We should not be surprised at their apparent knowledge.
Jesus exists from everlasting to everlasting with God. The Nicene Creed describes him as being the eternally begotten Son of God. Before their fall from grace, the angelic beings worshipped God (and his Son) in heaven. Consider also the temptation of Jesus by Satan in the wilderness. The devil can quote scripture, no doubt. And just why was he offering Jesus all this stuff anyway? He knew that by following God’s plan, Jesus could ruin all of his plans. Herod had tried to kill Jesus as an infant, now Satan would attempt to derail his ministry just as it was beginning. Just because someone believes in God or knows scripture doesn’t make them a true believer. This is illustrated by James 2:19 that says “…even the devils believe and shudder.” They know the scripture, the prophesies, and even the God that created them better than we do.
Paul wrote to the Galatians how astonished he was that they so quickly departed from the gospel that they were taught. Paul wrote to the Corinthian church that he wanted them to only know Christ and him crucified. Paul praised the church at Philippi for being partners with him in the gospel. And in what I think is the most obvious lesson of the importance of the gospel, in Mark chp. 1 Jesus preaches his first sermon, telling people to repent and believe the gospel.
Gal 1:6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
1 Cor. 2:1 And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
Phil. 1:3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.
Mark 1:14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
Jesus himself gave the example: the gospel is the most important thing that the world needs to hear. His earthly ministry was very short, and he had no time to waste. But in his very first sermon he preached the gospel (Greek for “good news” by the way). Recall the words of the Great Commission: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” His first and last words to an audience was the importance of the gospel.
The Apostle Paul wrote about two-thirds of what we call the New Testament. It is clear on several occassions that he believed sharing the gospel was the most important use of our time and energy. I’ve said this before: If I could talk to every preacher, I would say above all else, “Preach the gospel.” The world needs to hear more than anything else Christians have to say that Jesus saves! He is the way, the truth and the life. God doesn’t just judge the world, he provides escape from judgement. God doesn’t just hand out rules, he provides grace because he knows we will all fail at the rules anyway. Our God is an awesome God, and the only way to come to him is by believing in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Let’s make that what people see and hear when they listen to Christians or come into our churches, not all the other junk they see and hear and think we are about.
Be the salt, be the light, let’s cut the crap.
