Head-dibs

I was deep in thought as I moved down the hallway. I was deep in thought when I pressed the button for the elevator. I was deep in thought when the door closed. I was deep in thought as I waited . . . . . . and waited . . . . . . and waited . . . . . . and waited . . . I was deep in thought when I looked for the door to open. I was deep in though when my foot moved forward . . . . . . and the door did not open. My thoughts vaporized as I stood there, looking at the closed door. My thoughts swirled as I noted how this elevator ride was different than other elevator rides: I did not sense the slight push of my feet against the floor. I had not heard the whirr of the motors and cables as I moved through the walls of the building. I had not felt the clunk of the box settling in place. I must have been deep in thought. Real deep. So deep that I had to discover that I had not moved! I had not pushed the button! The lesson came home to me quickly: I have enough irons in the fire to keep me ...

Princes persecute me without cause, But my heart stands in awe of Your words. I rejoice at Your word, As one who finds great spoil. I hate and despise falsehood, But I love Your law. Seven times a day I praise You, Because of Your righteous ordinances. Those who love Your law have great peace, And nothing causes them to stumble. I hope for Your salvation, O Lord, And do Your commandments. My soul keeps Your testimonies, And I love them exceedingly. I keep Your precepts and Your testimonies, For all my ways are before You.

A man I greatly admire observed, “The problem with man's wisdom is that it doesn't transform people. It doesn't forgive sin. It doesn't usher people into the presence of God. Human wisdom merely gives people an intellectual satisfaction that they can say seemingly impressive things. Yet, the world looks at the gospel and says, ‘How foolish.’ People don’t get changed lives from it, it doesn’t transform people, it doesn’t make new creatures, it doesn’t usher people into the presence of God, it doesn’t do anything like that. It gives people satisfaction by playing intellectual games, and builds their ego by telling people what they know.” [i] An even greater man was inspired to write: “ For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.’ Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is ...

[ For those who are just 'tuning in', this post is a response to a reader who began an conversation with me last Tuesday. See previous posts.] Oscar, thank you for clarifying your position in that what you mean by “no universal morality” you mean “there is not one unique moral code that fits all mankind’s needs.” You also state, “If this was so, the laws in all the states of the US would be the same, and so would be the laws around the globe.” When I asked if you considered yourself to be a “good person” you stated, “I behave accordingly to the moral code in my society because it's the natural thing to do as a social being, besides the fact that it just feels right to do what one thinks is, and is agreed upon is, right.” I am curious to know: Does the moral code of your society agree that people who tell lies are called “liars”? Does the moral code of your society agree that people that steal are called “thieves”? Does the moral code of your society agree that people can be...

Thank you for responding to my question, “would you consider yourself to be a good person?” You responded, basically, that there is no universal morality (despite what some religions claim) and are uncertain if there is a “good” answer to that question. If there was no universal morality, would I be correct to state that the things you do (you gave me a list) to “make them and myself feel good (without causing harm in the process, of course)” are really done for some other reason? Let’s do something. Let’s put the Bible aside and go to the courtroom. Ok? No “religion,” just law. How many things would one have to steal in order for the police to brand him a thief? Just one, right? Just like it takes one rape to make one a rapist, right? What about telling lies? Have you ever thought about what telling lies makes you? If I told you a lie I am certain you would file my face under the word “liar” in your dictionary, correct? I am certain you are able to construct a string of ca...

Oscar, Thank you for your good comments and questions in our discussion about the existence of God and "Can God make a rock so big He cannot lift it?" I will attempt to respond to your comments in turn and will conclude with one question for you. First, you replied: “ Omnipotent indeed means infinite power, that is, being able to do anything. So (according to what you say) either the bible overly vague (defective) in it's wording (read your dictionary) or the omnipotent idea of God is plain nonsense .” I agree with you in that Omnipotence means “all powerful” however, this is not an abstract concept. Omnipotence is connected to the person of God; therefore, God is all-powerful and able to do whatever He wills. To ask the question if God can make rocks so large that He cannot lift it does not ask if making such a rock is God’s will. What He did make was the Universe and all things in it and He upholds all things by the word of His power—why ask something so small about roc...

A visitor to my site posed a question to refute the existence of God, "Can God make a rock so big He cannot lift it?" Greg Koukl wrote the following response to this worn-out argument: This is known as a pseudo-question. It’s like asking, “Can God win an arm wrestling match against Himself?” or, “If God beat Himself up, who would win?” or, “Can God’s power defeat His own power?” The question is nonsense because it treats God as if He were two instead of one. The phrase “stronger than” can only be used when two subjects are in view, for example, Bill is stronger than Bob, my left arm is stronger than my right arm, etc. Since God is only one, and since He has no parts, it makes no sense to ask if He is stronger than Himself. That’s why this is a pseudo-question. It proves nothing about any deficiency in God because the question itself is incoherent. This pits one aspect of God’s ability against another--in this case, His creative ability against His ability...

Linus walked about with his eyes open as wide as possible. He just stared at Snoopy, glared at Sally, gaped at Charlie Brown. Lucy broke the silence by asking from sisterly irritation, “what are you doing?” Linus replied, “I’m practicing being a wide-eyed fanatic.” My pastor recently taught me that a fanatic is someone who redoubles his efforts after he has lost sight of his goals. So, how you are doing with your New Year’s Resolutions? Fanatical, I hope not. Resolutions indicate that we want to do better; however, intention is often mixed with emotion and the resolve we think we’ve mustered becomes an exercise in frustration. The changes we so enthusiastically desire are either abandoned or resurface with a vengeance and we embarrassingly make our way through the other 350 days of the year when we can anticipate rebooting our resolve with another set of emotionalized intentions. What did you set out to accomplish this year? Here are a few things that crossed my mind: 1. Live ...

"Holiness is not an attainment at all, it is the gift of God, and the pietistic tendency is the introspection which makes me worship my own earnestness and not the Lord seriously at all. It is a pious fraud that suits the natural man immensely. He makes holy, He sanctifies, He does it all. All I have to do is come as a spiritual pauper, not ashamed to beg, to let go of my right to myself and act on Romans 12:1-2. It is never, 'Do, do and you'll be' with the Lord, but "Be, be, and I will do through you.' It is a case of 'hands up' and letting go, and then entire reliance on Him." --Oswald Chambers, in a letter to a friend, 1901. McCasland, David. Oswald Chambers: Abandoned to God . Oswald Chambes Publications Associations: Thomas Nelson, 1993

How the Cross of Christ Corresponds to and Conquers Satan’s Work. by John Piper Satan’s work is not the chief peril dealt with in the death of Christ. God’s wrath is. God is opposed to us in his righteous wrath, and he is for us in his love. Therefore, in his great love, he sends his Son to endure his own wrath against us. In this way, his righteousness is upheld and his love is expressed. His wrath and curse and condemnation of our sin are endured for us by another—a substitute, Jesus Christ. Here are some of the texts that teach this: (read the rest here ).

ht: Krista

"When you pause to consider that God is infinitely strong and can do all that he pleases, and that he is infinitely righteous so that he only does what is right, and that he is infinitely good so that everything he does is perfectly good, and that he is infinitely wise so that he always knows perfectly what is right and good, and that he is infinitely loving so that in all his strength and righteousness and goodness and wisdom he raises the eternal joy of his loved ones as high as it can be raised—when you pause to consider this, then the lavish invitations of this God to ask him for good things, with the promise that he will give them, is unimaginably wonderful." John Piper, " Ask Your Father in Heaven ."

Ok, in one hand I have a diamond and in the other, a glass of water. Which would you choose? Alright, now you’ve been in the desert three days, the sun bearing down on you and the heat reflecting back up in your face and in one hand I have a diamond and in the other, a glass of water. Which would you choose? Psalm 42 opens with this scene likening the soul’s desire for God as a deer longing for water. I’ve often wondered what was on the writer’s mind to liken the soul to that deer in such a desperate position. Had he been watching something take place in the field and was inspired to liken the soul to what he saw? Had the deer been observed going about his daily routine of foraging and looking for water, perhaps observing the writer and his entourage (if any) as they passed by? Was the deer just thirsty? Perhaps the writer had observed the deer in a more desperate situation, such as eluding a hunting party or a lion and is now looking for replenishment now that danger is past. I am inc...

What, exactly, is a “resolution?” Resolutions could be thought of as disciplines toward change, steadfastness that requires courage, or the evidence of a made up mind. The reality is that when resolutions are made, a fresh start is the object of the endeavor. Pastor Greg Laurie mentions in a New Year’s devotional how people are making their resolutions. “Some are going to swear off alcohol or smoking or television or overeating. Others are going to try to change wicked habits like gossip or worry or losing their temper. Others are going to try to start new habits like getting in shape physically. We can develop disciplines in our lives that will build us up spiritually. This year can be an opportunity for a fresh start for us all.” These are worthy causes to pursue and one may set about with determination to accomplish one or more of these goals, but is the resolution itself the best idea? What is the resolution of the resolution? In other words: what plan will one enact to make their ...