Head-dibs

( Prayer, part 2 ) My father was the kind of man who didn’t think twice about leaving me and my mom. Sometimes, my dad would hit me. So, what do you think of my dad? Is he cruel? Mean? A deadbeat? I want you to know that my father did this every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (unless we were on vacation). My dad would leave me and my mom and go to work. When I disobeyed him or my mom I was punished with a spanking. Now what do you think of my dad? Many people do this to God, calling Him cruel and mean. They have this idea that God is vindictive, an ogre who just can’t wait to see what kind of pain He can bring to my life while He blesses the socks off of others. To many, God is an abusive or wayward father. Truth of the matter is the picture one has of God is often incomplete. People confuse their own conceptions of God with the true and living God. In Matthew 6, Jesus is moving us from the attitude of, “I’m going to give and pray religiously so I can feel good about m...

( Prayer, part 1 ) Prayer is the instrument through which He demonstrates Himself, the conversation wherein the Lord God receives humble submission to His sovereignty. In other words, prayer is not about us, the food we eat or the situation in which we stand; rather, prayer is all about God. Prayer is the life that gives God the room to do what He does, to be who He is. So what does God have to do with prayer? Everything: that we may align with who He is, that we would continue in subjection to Him as Lord. Love for God above all else drives one to pray. Prayer has become a soothing four-minute parley directed “out there” to some entity “beyond ourselves.” Some view prayer as a method through which one enlarges his vision; cultivates health, wealth and prosperity; discovers power in words and thought; consoles, inspires then perhaps lauds a little in the vernacular of praise and thanksgiving. Prayer is thought to be the means to an end, the way to make things happen, a calculated m...

Galatians 3:19–29 helps us understand that the law was given for purpose, “because of transgressions” (like crossing a boundary, or exceeding the speeding limit for example). The law was appointed through a mediator. Spurgeon helps us understand what mediator-ship means in that a mediator is not for one person alone; rather deals with two persons and is familiar with both their interests. In this case the persons are God and man. Also, a mediator is not for persons who agree with one another. In addition, a mediator comes “when there is a ground of difference which cannot be readily resolved.” Furthermore, there is no use for a mediator unless both parties are looking for reconciliation. Both sides must be ready to leave the matter in the hands of the mediator. We understand that as He mediates, Jesus pleads with both man and God. “He pleads with God for sinners, ‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.’ And then he turns round, and pleads with sinners for God, a...

By Ray Comfort When there is no visible sign of the law on a freeway, motorists often transgress the speed limit. Apparently each speedster says to himself that the law has forgotten to patrol his part of the freeway. He is transgressing the law by only 15 mph, and besides, he isn’t the only one doing it. Notice what happens when the law enters the fast lane, with red lights flashing. The speedster’s heart misses a beat. He is no longer secure in the fact that other motorists are also speeding. He knows that he is personally as guilty as the next guy, and he could be the one the law pulls over. The fact that there are other people doing it is irrelevant. Suddenly, his “mere” 15 mph transgression doesn’t seem such a small thing after all; it seems to abound. Romans 5:20 says, “ Moreover the law entered, that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound .” When sin abounds, grace “much more” abounds, and according to Scripture, the thing that makes sin abo...

A few weeks ago while I got a call from my wife that a friend of my daughters was in serious trouble and I might have to go get him. This friend had gotten into a fight with his roommate and his roommate beat him up badly, even kicked him in the head a couple of times. There were fears of a broken nose, etc.. I said I would swing by and take him to the ER . . . but I was quickly told that someone else was already on the way and our friend did not want to go the hospital. (Yeah, I scratched my head too). After some time after arriving home, I tried to get some details about what happened. It seems that insults were exchanged (that might or might not have included one’s mother) and then the fists started to fly. I asked if charges were going to be pressed. My daughters friend said, “no.” Looking for a springboard from which to witness, I casually said, “you know, it doesn’t take much to see what a person’s heart is really like. A person who is nice to your face but yells at the ...

"Redemption is indeed God's chief purpose toward this world. His nature demands it. God loved the world so much that He gave the ultimate gift. Unlike His church, He was not willing that any should perish." (Robertson McQuilkin) Pray for workers to be sent out to the harvest.

Heard this awesome speaker today. Did not take notes. Made me think. Here are my reflections in my own words: When Jesus was tempted by Satan, the whole affair occurred in the deepest of mystery: Creation took on Divinity. From the desert to the city, from the city to a mountain. Did it really happen? Was it figurative? Well, the danger of starvation was real. The danger of being smashed on stones was real. But is there a mountain from which all kingdoms can be seen? Deep mystery does not mean it was not real. The areas of temptation were not overtly sinful, so why call them “temptations?” Is it a sin to eat? Is it a sin to look to God for protection? Is it a sin to be Lord over all creation? When Jesus was baptized, the Father proclaimed the Sonship of Jesus as the Holy Spirit descended like a dove. When Satan tempted Jesus, he questioned, “If you are the Son of God . . .” as if to ignore God’s proclamation and thus cause Jesus to declare His Sonship on Satan’s terms. Jesus was tempte...

By Ray Comfort It's not often that someone from down-under is the lead story on primetime TV. The fact that presidents from other countries die is a big deal, but they don't get to head the news. Some don't even get the tail. But when Stephen Robert Irwin was suddenly killed on September 4th, 2006, he was number one. Steve Irwin was an Australian naturalist, wildlife expert, a well-known and colorful personality, and was best known for the television program "The Crocodile Hunter." But his death didn't come as a shock to most who knew of him. How he died, did. Like many others who had watched him get up close and personal with dangerous animals, I thought it was just a matter of time until he would be mortally attacked by a crocodile or bitten by a poisonous snake. But that didn't happen. Instead, he was tragically stabbed through the heart by a stingray that was apparently only trying to defend itself. His distraught manager and close friend said that he ...

If: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Is represented as: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Then: H-A-R-D-W-O-R- K 8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98% And: K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E 11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96% Check this out: L-O-V-E-O-F-G-O-D 12+15+22+5+15+6+7+15+4 = 101% While HARD WORK and KNOWLEDGE are only "close," it's the LOVE OF GOD that will put you over the top!

You MUST listen to this sermon by Paul Washer. Carve out an hour and don't let anything distract you, don't let Satan give you a reason not to listen to this. If you have time to watch a movie, you have time to listen to this . . . twice. Put it on your i-pod.

If Pluto is no longer a planet, what does that do to Astrology? Just asking.

“ Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven .” This is a summative statement of Jesus, introducing the subject of righteous action through the context of what kingdom living looks like: The citizen of the kingdom of heaven is not ostentatious. Herein Jesus contrasts true against false righteousness. The entire teaching of this text is built on the principle of the 1st commandment, giving God first place in every respect. The standard for all righteousness is God Himself, who sees what is done both in public and in secret, and is the rewarder of both right and hypocritical action (6:6). The difference is that (as C.S. Lewis pointed out) we are too easily satisfied—we want an advance on rewards. “Beware” (prosexete): be in a state of constant alert, play close attention to, be concerned. Of all commands of scripture, this is one of few that comes equipped with a warning bell. Red Alert! The com...