Clayton Hall

A Birth Announcement

2011-12-16T10:38:00.001-06:00

Long before magi followed a star toward Bethlehem, before angels presented themselves to shepherds, before the dreams of Joseph, and before Mary's magnificant, an announcement was made of the birth of Jesus. 700 years prior to the coming of the Savior, the prophet Isaiah proclaimed his birth.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
(Isaiah 9:6)

#1 The Incarnation

That Jesus would be a child born unto us, is a significant and succinct expression of the incarnation. The Christ was brought forth human. While humanity had been created in the image of God, rarely since the garden has one caught a glimpse of the Creator through the stains of sin and scars of mankind's disobedience. Even so, or rather because of that fact God came to man as one of us, born unto us.

While some today question his Deity, few question his humanness. Jesus was indeed like us. Think about that. Consider the human experience. It includes laughter, tears, growing, walking, tripping, and running. There are deep breaths, sneezes, stumped toes. Jesus experienced humanity as humanity among humanity. Childhood, adolecense, puberty, being a teenager and young adulthood; Jesus went through it. His novelty was not in his experiences - they were much like and man in his day, but that he navigated those experiences without leaving the path God had set, even for a step. He faced the same troubles and temptations as anyone but was yet without sin.

It is that kinship that allows Jesus to stand in for us, to be our representative before God, to accept our debt as his own, to cover it with his blood. Because in that he was born unto us, he was like us.

#2 The Grace of God

When God chose to save man, he didn't phone it in. He didn't send a letter. He didn't shoot us a text message. He didn't write it on Facebook. He sent His Son. He gave His Son. John 3:16 says God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son.

As it glorified God for Him to give His Son, it further glorified God for the son to give himself. And he gave himself a sacrifice for us for many.

[Jesus] ...gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: (Galatians 1:4)
[Jesus] ...gave himself a ransom for all... (1 Timothy 2:6)
[Jesus] gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. (Titus 2:14)

Of all the gifts ever given, the jewelry and and hunting rifles and ipods, iphones, ipads, the "i-dont-cares" - nothing compares to the gift of God usward. He gave us Jesus. The gift of God... the grace of God gives us power to be children of God.

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12)

Suppose you got your wife a pair of diamond earrings. You wrapped them up in a little box, put a bow on it, put her name on the tag with the note, "I love you." and you placed it on the table in front of her. And she picked up the box.... looked at it... shook it... and sat it back down and wandered off. How would you feel? Disappointed? Don't you think God is disappointed, when look into the gift He's given us, and walk away from it?

#3 The Government

Do you have opinions on government? Most people do. Its the most popular soap opera in the country. Personally, I find too much government in Washington. I am a liberal - not liberal in the sense that I thing the state should liberally confiscate your income and then liberally spend that money in such a way as to coerce and force the people into what the most gifted among us thing is right.

I mean liberal in the classical sense - that people should be at liberty - free to make their own choices - to take their own risks - to enjoy their rewards - to stand before God as their conscience dictates. They are free so long as they don't infringe on the liberty of others. And where two liberties collide the government steps in to restore order.

What is wrong with such a setup? It leaves people free to make bad choices. Free to do the wrong thing. Children are born out of wedlock, minds are clouded by drugs and alcohol, people tell lies, people hate one another. The solution - more government and less liberty, right?

The solution is a different government. A better government. One that does not force people to conform outwardly to a rigid set of rules, but one that inwardly rules the heart. The government of Christ. The Kingdom of God. As part of his kingdom, we are finally free to do the right thing.

#4 Wonderful

Jesus is wonderful! He did amazing things.

...the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did...(Matthew 21:15)
...the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel. (Matthew 15:31)
[After Jesus had walked on water]...they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered. (Mark 6:51)

But the most wonderful thing Jesus ever did was what he did for you and me.

Tony had been walking home the same route for months. And he noticed that every day as he passed the fish market, there was a man watching him. Staring at him. So one day he stopped by and made a point to talk to the fish-man.

As the conversation progressed, the man explained how he had always noticed Tony, and the spring in his step and his cheery demeanor. And he always wondered what Tony was so happy about. Tony saw this as an opportunity to tell the fish-man about Jesus. - "Its Jesus," he said. "Jesus is wonderful. Tell me, what do you know about Jesus?"

"Not much, I guess," replied the fish-man.

Tony proceeded to tell the man about Christ - and as he was explaining the Gospel he started speaking, "And Jesus died...."

The fish-man cut him off, "died? that doesn't sound too wonderful."

"Let me continue, Jesus died on the cross," he could see in the fish-man's eyes that he was unsure, so he explained to him the cruelty of the crucifixion.

"Still doesn't sound too wonderful to me...," fish-man said.

"He died for me, because of my sins...He was paying my sin debt, making me right with God," said Tony.

"So then, it was your fault? Again, how is that wonderful?" said fishman.

Tony quickened his pace, "...thats right, it was my fault, and your fault too." Fishman's eyes opened wide, "but the good news, what makes it wonderful is this - that God raised him from dead and is in the presence of God. And because I trust him, I know I will be raised up just as he was. I will spend eternity with God. And you can too."

Fishman's eyes twinkled as he thought, looking into space. "That is wonderful."

Friend - have you experience the wonder of Christ. The personal confidence that you will be reconciled to God for eternity?

#5 Counselor

That Jesus is our counselor, is that he is our advisor. Counsellors are important, the Bible says:

Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established. (Proverbs 15:22)

I personally have people I go to when I have to make decisions that are hard for me. People I trust. People I consider wise. I talk it over. I get their opinions. Then ultimately I choose to either follow their counsel or go against it.

Jesus comes to his children to guide and direct them. To comfort them.

I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. (John 14:18)

He comes to us as the indwelling Holy Spirit. He comforts us. His advice gives us the ability to make the right decisions.

...when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. (John 16:13)

Jesus dwells with and deals with right-teaching churches in a special way. But how is a sin-tarnished man to know how to find a right-teaching church? He must hear his counselor!

Have you ever known someone who refuses to hear wise counsel? A lot of Christians are just that way. Many simply don't hear it at all. They don't look into God's Word. They don't hear it proclaimed at church. They spend little to no time in prayer.

And then there are others - who hear, they read, they pray - then they go their own way. Let us yield to the counsel of Jesus Christ!

#6 Mighty God
Too often Jesus' meekness is confused for weakness. The scripture is clear that he made himself low so that he might be exalted. Friends, we will find his power in that same sort of lowliness.

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. (Ephesians 6:10)

Jesus is the power behind the resurrection.

And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:40)
No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:44)

Trust in the power of his might!

#7 Everlasting Father

There is a distinction to be made between the Father and the Son. They are distinct and different persons of the Trinity. But they are God. And in that the Father and the Son are the same in essense. What the Father is, the Son is. What the Son is, the Father is. Or as Jesus said,

I and my Father are one. (John 10:30)

Jesus gives eternal life. Something temporary can not produced something eternal.

And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (John 10:28)

#8 Prince of Peace

No one is neutral with God. You are either with him or against him. You are a child of God or a child of the devil. You are his enemy or you are his friend. The natural state of man is the enemy of God.

For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. (Romans 5:10)

But we have peace - by faith in Jesus Christ.

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1)

I want to announce this morning - the coming of Christ!

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
(Isaiah 9:6)

DISCIPLE

2011-02-08T09:41:00.002-06:00

di-si'-p'-l:
(1) Usually a substantive (mathetes, "a learner," from manthano, "to learn"; Latin discipulus, "a scholar"): The word is found in the Bible only in the Gospels and Acts. But it is good Greek, in use from Herodotus down, and always means the pupil of someone, in contrast to the master or teacher (didaskalos). See Mt 10:24; Lk 6:40. In all cases it implies that the person not only accepts the views of the teacher, but that he is also in practice an adherent. The word has several applications. In the widest sense it refers to those who accept the teachings of anyone, not only in belief but in life. Thus the disciples of John the Baptist (Mt 9:14; Lk 7:18; Jn 3:25); also of the Pharisees (Mt 22:16; Mk 2:18; Lk 5:33); of Moses (Jn 9:28). But its most common use is to designate the adherents of Jesus. (a) In the widest sense (Mt 10:42; Lk 6:17; Jn 6:66, and often). It is the only name for Christ's followers in the Gospels. But (b) especially the Twelve Apostles, even when they are called simply the disciples (Mt 10:1; 11:1; 12:1, et al.). In the Acts, after the death and ascension of Jesus, disciples are those who confess Him as the Messiah, Christians (Acts 6:1,2,7; 9:36 (feminine, mathetria); Acts 11:26, "The disciples were called Christians"). Even half-instructed be-lievers who had been baptized only with the baptism of John are disciples (Acts 19:1-4).
(2) We have also the verb, matheteuo, "Jesus' disciple" (literally, "was discipled to Jesus," Mt 27:57); "Make disciples of all the nations" (the King James Version "teach," Mt 28:19); "had made many disciples" (the King James Version "taught many," Acts 14:21); "every scribe who hath been made a disciple to the kingdom of heaven" (the King James Version "instructed," Mt 13:52). The disciple of Christ today may be described in the words of Farrar, as "one who believes His doctrines, rests upon His sacrifice, imbibes His spirit, and imitates His example."
The Old Testament has neither the term nor the exact idea, though there is a difference between teacher and scholar among David's singers (1 Ch 25:8), and among the prophetic guilds the distinction between the rank and file and the leader (1 Sam 19:20; 2 Ki 6:5).
G. H. Trever

(taken from International Standard Bible Encyclopedia)

New Books

2011-01-18T22:18:00.002-06:00

I got two new books today.... Southern Baptist Identity (Bro. Ashcraft has been reviewing it chapter by chapter via the mailing list) and Total Recall -

The latter considers the almost inevitable future where blogs/web browsing history/emails/audio/video/facebook posts become a sort of "E-Memory", allowing us to review and reconstruct our past like never before.... Intriguing....

Response from Senator Blanche Lincoln

2010-03-23T18:29:00.006-05:00

This is a the response I got from my Senator when I wrote her begging her not to pass the Health Care Bill. I thought I would have a little fun and reply to her response.

Dear Mr. Hall:

This is how the actual introduction is in the email... couldn't their tech guys mail-merge my name in the same font?

Thank you for contacting me regarding health care reform legislation in the United States Senate.

I would prefer your acting on behalf of your constituents to your thanks, but "You Are Welcome!"

In November, the Senate brought the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (HR 3590) up for debate on the floor. This legislation is the combined product of bills passed after many months of work by the Senate Health, Labor, Education and Pensions (HELP) Committee and the Senate Finance Committee, of which I am a member. For almost a month, the full Senate held an open, public debate on this bill and made substantial modifications and improvements.

I'm glad this 2700 page monstrosity is an "improved and modified"... kind of like my Tide w/ Bleach....

While the legislation before us is complex, it does not reinvent the wheel, nor move us to a single-payer, government-run health care system. I believe that we can build on what works, keep the insurance companies honest and restore the faith of most Americans in government's ability to do the right thing.

Unconstitutionally forcing Americans to purchase health insurance whether they want it or not, and fining them if they don't doesn't restore my confidence in the government's ability to do the right thing.... but then again, I am not "most Americans."

I supported the revised Senate health care plan because it would curb rising health care costs over the long term, expand access to quality, affordable, health insurance plans to more than 400,000 uninsured Arkansans, and reduce the federal deficit by $132 billion in the next 10 years-all without a new government-run insurance plan, also known as the public option, that places taxpayers at risk.

Thank goodness Congress is doing the difficult job of manipulating the cost of health care as specified by the constitution. By the way, how exactly do you make an MRI cheaper? A technological advance in production of these machines? Oh.... and wouldn't making a bunch of extra insured people likely drive up usage/demand for medical services.... doesn't an increase in demand increase cost? I knew I should have paid attention in Macroeconomics....

This final Senate bill also would change the way insurance companies do business. Plans sold through the new health insurance exchanges will no longer be able to deny coverage because of a pre-existing condition, nor will they be able to raise your rates or drop you because you get sick. Insurers will be penalized for unfair rate hikes and must tell consumers how much they spend on medical care versus how much they spend on administrative overhead, including marketing and profit. We must put an end to the unfair practices that are symptomatic of market conditions that allow for little true choice or competition, and we must ensure that patients and their physicians are allowed to make treatment decisions based on the best science available to them and the individual needs of the patient. Bureaucrats, either in the government or private insurance companies, should not be allowed to interfere in care decisions. These are thoughtful, practical provisions contained in HR 3590 that I support and believe can make real progress toward expanding access to coverage and improving our health care system.

I actually agree with the part about "market conditions that allow for little true choice or competition" being the problem. But, how does setting up a public option that does not have to rationally react to market forces but can instead assume insane amounts of debt increase choice and competition? It won't. And with their profits being monitored by the "fairness police", there will be less incentive fore existing insurance companies to be in the market, much less new providers.

Additionally, Arkansans will be able to access health insurance coverage under the Senate bill is based on legislation I first introduced in 2004. Small businesses, the self-employed, their families, and other individuals will be able to shop for coverage from a range of quality, affordable, private insurance plans through the health insurance exchange to be established in Arkansas. Furthermore, I successfully pushed for an additional $14 billion in tax relief for our small businesses, for a total of $38 billion. Small businesses across the country will now get the help they need to access coverage, placing them at the competitive advantage large corporations have enjoyed. Approximately 50,000 small businesses in Arkansas, with 260,000 workers, will be eligible for the small business tax credit that I authored. I also

Perhaps this inexplicable gap in the paragraph was put there by the same competent team that couldn't mail merge my name in the same font.

successfully pushed to ensure there would be no mandate on small business to purchase coverage. This means that Arkansas small businesses with fewer than 50 employees will not be required to cover their employees. In my conversations with Arkansas small business owners, I learned that while many small businesses wanted to provide coverage for their workers, they simply could not find affordable options.

A tax credit. Excellent. Lets make all small businesses government subsidized!

The lack of insurance market competition has only added to the problems of rising costs and dwindling benefits. In at least 17 states, including Arkansas, only one insurance company controls more than half the insurance market, and in at least 22 states still only two carriers control half the market or more. That is why I worked to ensure health reform will bring new competitors into states like ours. Based on the bill I authored in 2004, the health insurance exchanges would include insurance plans, including at least one non-profit plan, that are sold in all 50 states, with the Federal Office of Personnel Management negotiating rates to keep premiums affordable as they currently do for federal employees.

That's awesome. Everyone knows that government oversight fosters competition.... except for when it stifles it....

The health care reform process has been complex, and there is an incredible amount of misinformation circulating on what is or is not contained in the bills currently under consideration. I can state clearly that I have not and will not support legislation that makes illegal immigrants eligible for any federal benefits or subsidies for health insurance, and the current bill includes clear safeguards that prohibit illegal immigrants from accessing such benefits. I have also worked hard to ensure that provisions in health care reform legislation would neither expand nor limit current law regarding abortion, and I support provisions in the bill that prohibit federal dollars from funding elective abortions.

But what if all the illegal immigrants were suddenly legal.... ala amnesty.... guess what I see in my crystal ball?

I have worked hard in this bill to ensure seniors will not see a reduction in the Medicare coverage and benefits they have always relied upon. I believe in the promise our government made to working Americans - that if we work hard, Medicare will be there to help us in our golden years. Medicare has made a healthy and secure retirement possible for tens of millions of Americans, and I am committed to ensuring that it continues to serve America's senior citizens.

I'm glad you brought up Medicare. What about the health care providers that are refusing new medicare patients seeing that the mandated yet unfunded reforms are going to devastate their business? How does that help Arkansas' seniors again?

However, there were aspects of the legislation that I do not support. Specifically, I do not support greatly enhanced Medicaid funding for certain states, like Nebraska.

You tell them Blanche! Only our pork is important. To heck with Nebraska and their pork!

At a time when states across the country are struggling with budget reductions and shortfalls, I do not believe it is appropriate to provide such special assistance to only a handful of states. I have strongly expressed this opinion to President Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and encouraged that these provisions be removed before the legislation is brought up for final passage. Instead, we should work to provide more Medicaid assistance for all states to assist them with newly eligible individuals.

Pork for everybody!!!!!!

Throughout this process, I have pushed to ensure the Senate is conducting this debate in a public and transparent manner. Americans across the country and certainly many Arkansans have been actively engaged in this debate, and I encourage you to remain engaged. That is why I have worked to ensure that the public has had access to the bill language, amendments, and supporting materials before votes have occurred. For instance, before I would vote to allow HR 3590 to be brought up for debate, I called on Majority Leader Harry Reid to make the full text of the legislation available online for at least 72 hours before the vote, and it was. I also built a "Health Care Resources Page" on my web site at www.lincoln.senate.gov where anybody can access the bill text, as well as the full text of any amendments brought up for debate. There are also links to reports and cost analysis from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).

When congress is working on the weekend, you can be sure they are up to something. And its not transparency. 72 hours to read a 2700 page bill. Thanks Blanche, you are precious.... I'm sure that you spent that 72 hours re-reading it so you would know exactly what you were signing. You know, just in case you missed a few words the first time you read it... You did read it, didn't you?

I believe that Arkansans and other Americans deserve an honest and open debate on how to best achieve commonsense reform, and this includes disclosure of any changes adopted as differences between the House and Senate bills are resolved. I strongly believe that any changes to the Senate bill must be approved through regular order, and I am opposed to budget reconciliation tactics that require a lower vote threshold in the Senate. I have successfully fought for transparency throughout Senate deliberations on health care, and I will continue to do so. I will not accept any last-minute efforts to force changes to health insurance reform issues through budget reconciliation. We have worked too long and too hard on this reform effort - we need to get it right.

No last minute changes, for sure. All trillion dollar legislation that takes over 1/6 of the economy should be reflected on for a full 72 hours...

The concerns that I hear from Arkansans continue to guide my decisions on health insurance reform. Congress has now reached a critical juncture, and I believe the only way to proceed is deliberately and thoughtfully.

What about those who were concerned about the loss of their freedom? I guess maybe you had something in your ears. Or maybe your head was stuck in Obama's echo chamber.

If the House chooses not to pass the Senate bill as is, then I will work with my colleagues, both Democrats and Republicans, to identify the basic reforms that we can agree upon. I hope that our efforts going forward will be truly bipartisan, because the high-pitched, partisan tone in Washington is not creating jobs, nor is it solving the health care challenges facing every American, whether they be cost or access. My primary goals remain the same as when we started this process, to expand access to millions of uninsured Americans, change the way insurance companies do business, provide stability for those who have insurance and ensure seniors can receive quality Medicare benefits for years to come-and to do all of this without adding to our nation's deficit and placing taxpayers at risk due to an unnecessary expansion of government.

The problem in Washington is the Democrats and Republicans. I don't need you squabbling on the best way to limit my liberty. It shouldn't be done. Period. It is wrong.

In the meantime, Congress also has other important work to do to put our economy back on track. My number one priority is to rebuild our nation's economy and put people back to work. We can do this by providing the tools and incentives to the private sector to create new jobs and create a more favorable economic climate for the American people to prosper.

Blanche, this administration is not going to rebuild any economy. They only thing growing is the government.

These are complex challenges with no easy solutions, and I have heard from thousands of Arkansans who have expressed to me their passionate views on the best way to achieve positive changes in health care as well as their concerns with existing proposals. I remain optimistic that we can preserve and achieve the responsible, forward-looking reforms of the Senate bill. However, regardless of how the final stages of this process unfold, my first priority remains the people of Arkansas and not any political party or partisan organization, and I will not support legislation that does not serve the best interests of our great state. I am committed to continuing to work with my colleagues on these issues to shape legislation that benefits Arkansas.

This legislation doesn't serve the best interest of anyone except progressive government expansionists.

Thank you again for contacting me. To learn more about my work in Congress, I encourage you to visit my online office and sign up for my e-newsletter at http://www.lincoln.senate.gov. I am proud to serve the citizens of Arkansas in the United States Senate and hope you will not hesitate to let me know whenever I may be of assistance to you.

Sincerely,

Again, you are welcome. I am afraid that learning more about your work would be a wasted effort since it will coming to an end in the very near future. And then your twin, Mark will be next.

Blanche L. Lincoln

BLL:mc

Bus Ministry Woes

2010-03-21T20:27:00.002-05:00

I am not convinced of the benefits of our bus ministry here at Temple. If it bears evil fruit, should it be hewn down and cast into the fire?

Case in point. We picked up a young man for the 1st time the other night on our way to the youth rally. I spoke to him. He seemed personable and from a good home. That night someone carved his name into a pew. I spoke to him and his parents, but I can't be sure if anything will be done about it.

These things only seem to come from pickups, not children of the membership. Sigh... how can I prevent this kind of behavior?

Temple Missionary Baptist Church

2010-02-17T08:57:00.002-06:00

Last night I created a website for the Church. I was able to reuse several pages from another website that I had done and I got a great logo from www.logomaker.com. (Its a site from HP)

There are still several pages that I need to complete, but the basic framework seems solid. One of the things I want to add is the ability to easily upload and manage mp3s and pictures/videos.

But for now we have a good "sign post" site up and working.

Isaiah 1:1-9

2010-01-04T15:28:00.005-06:00

Isa 1:1 The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

Isa 1:2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth:

God is calling heaven and earth to attention. he is about to layout the charges against Israel.

for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.

Charge #1 - Rebellion

Isa 1:3 The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.

Charge #2 - Without Understanding

Isa 1:4 Ah sinful nation,

They should have been a Holy Nation, God's chosen people

a people laden with iniquity,

They had agreed to a covenant and had a system of sacrifices for atoning for error.

a seed of evildoers,

Not just one generation deep. God previously described them as his own children.

children that are corrupters:

They were to testify and bring Glory to God. Instead of sanctifying other, they corrupted them.

they have forsaken the LORD,

left God

they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger,

despised, blashphemed, rejected

they are gone away backward.

turned away

Isa 1:5 Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.
Isa 1:6 From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.

Great news, Jesus bears this for us:
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
(Isaiah 53:4-6)

Isa 1:7 Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.
Isa 1:8 And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.

Isa 1:9 Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.

Thank God, he preserves a remnant. And you can be part of it by faith.
And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha. What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
(Romans 9:29-33)

Going Rogue

2009-12-25T06:58:00.003-06:00

I just got Sarah Palin's book, "Going Rogue." To tell the truth, I am a Sarah fan. But so far, the book is absolutely dreadful. I suppose I was expecting a book of ideas, but instead I get an infomercial.

Sure, we get it. You are a no-nonsense outsider who doesn't play ball like the good ole boys. I know these politician types use ghost writers and such, but I anticipated better. Maybe it will get better, but so far..... disappointing......

Mounting ISO from Windows 7

2009-12-16T10:02:00.001-06:00

If you want to mount an ISO from windows 7, I've had great luck with MagicISO Virtual CD/DVD Manager!

http://www.magiciso.com/

Installing SQL 2008 SSMS

2009-12-16T09:22:00.002-06:00

When I tried to install SSMS, I received the error:

A previous release of Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 is installed on this computer. Upgrade Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 to the SP1 before installing SQL Server 2008.

So I installs SP1 ... to no avail.

So I uninstalled and reinstalled SQL 2008 ... no help.

So I uninstalled SQL AND Visual Studio, so I could install SQL first.... Same Error!!!!

Finally I stumbled accross this piece of wisdom: http://blogs.lessthandot.com/index.php/DataMgmt/?blog=3&title=rule-previous-releases-of-microsoft-visu&disp=single&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1
namely: setup.exe /ACTION=install /SkipRules=VSShellInstalledRule

So I installed SSMS with the switch and it worked! (Then I had to reinstall Visual Studio :)

Thanks Mark!

Opening SQL 2000 DTS Packages from SSMS

2009-12-16T09:16:00.000-06:00

I got my DTS tools working on SQL2008 SSMS. Here is how I did it.

1. I Installed the following from the appropriate links: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=536FD7D5-013F-49BC-9FC7-77DEDE4BB075&displaylang=en#filelist

Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Backward Compatibility Components
Microsoft SQL Server 2000 DTS Designer Components

2. Then I had to modify my path as described in this article: http://blogs.msdn.com/ramoji/archive/2008/10/16/how-to-open-dts-packages-in-sql-server-2008.aspx

“Update the PATH environment variable in such a way that the path “C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\80\Tools\Binn\” appears before the “C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\...” paths.”

Personal Discipline

2009-12-12T13:44:00.002-06:00

Ok. I'm making a committment. Or at least trying too. I have long desired to write regularly. So, I intend this blog to be my venue. I would like to write here every day... or very nearly every day.
Write my thoughts.
Write reflections on the day's study.
Write ideas
Write questions.

Unfortunately, I have tried this before. And my previous discipline in this are has met with limited success.

I expect that daily writing will aid in sermon preparation and bulletins articles, etc.

Ok... here goes... will this be a lonely post, or the first of many?

Wed Night Lesson - 1 Corinthians 6:1-20

2009-09-16T14:14:00.000-05:00

1 Corinthians 6:1-20

Disagreements among believers

(v1) Were they so bold as to do this?

Lawsuits ... perhaps Criminal Charges?
Secular courts -

the unjust = the unjustified, the defiled
the saints - in contrast to the cleaned and pure
Truly just judgment is less likely to come from secular courts.

(v2) Saints qualified to Judge

Promise of God is that we will Rule and Reign with him for 1000 years
Judge the world, why not day to day grievances
(v3) Judge angels

Even more so, earthly judgment

(v4) Considering the Christian's qualifications

2 Possible interpretations

Its a Question - Why do you choose people the church doesn't even spiritually respect(ie, secular judges)
Its a Command - Even the least respected church member would be a better judge than a secular court

(v5) The corinthians should be ashamed of their behavior

Is it possble there is none wise among them (Remember how wise they considered themselves in Ch 1, 2, 3?
Did they look among themselves and see noone qualified?

(v6) Instead of behaving properly they were "going to law against each other.

Done in plain view of the lost

What would they think of these bickering Corinthian Christians?
Who would Jesus sue?

Who is at fault?

(v7) The victims

Not for being victimized, but for taking their brethren to court
Better to

Take wrong
Be defrauded

1 Peter 2:18-25

(v8) The Perpetrators

defraud who???? Your own brethren?

(v9) These are not the traits of a saved person! Whats up?

Not the unrighteous, but he regenerated will inherit Kingdom of God
Very similar to the list of people he referred to in Ch5 - brothers not to associate with.

fornicators - sexually immoral
idolaters - image worshippers
adulterers - unfaithful
effeminate - men acting like women (assume vice versa)
abusers... - homosexuals
(v10) thieves
covetous - fraudsters
drunkards
revilers - abusive
extortioners - swindlers

(v11) Aren't even saved people guilty of these things?

But the saved have been changed

washed
sanctified - purified, set apart
justified - declared righteous before God

All in the name of Jesus Christ

What about Liberty?

(v12) lawful

Where can I go, what can I eat, what can I drink, who can I hang out with? These are questions of Liberty
The short answer is like Paul - all these things are "lawful"

not expedient

Not useful
In fact, they could be dowright harmful to the individual and to his testimony

under the power

Anything that was going to limit Paul's ability to carry out the mission God had set before him, Paul excluded

(v13) Natural use

Some might make the argument they are only doing what is natural

Paul points out that because something is natural does not spare it God's judgment/ destruction

Our bodies are not made for fornication ( the fulfillment of the body's desires)

Parallel phrase

Our bodies are made to serve God
God is the only source of Life for our bodies

(v14) God's completed work in Christ

God's future work in our own resurrection

(v15) members of Christ

Many times the "body" analogies are used to describe Church

Here it is used to describe an individual's relationship w/ Jesus

Shocking proposition - make Jesus members (body parts) one with a prostitute ??!?!?!?

God Forbid - May it never be!

(v16) consider the facts - joined w/ a harlot the two become one flesh
(v17) When we are joined to the Lord we share God's spirit.

(v18) Flee fornication

Joseph and Potiphar's wife
Hurting our own bodies

(v19) temple of the Holy Ghost

Holy Ghost is in every believer
God given
God owned

(v20) Glorify God

his purchased posession
purchased with a price - the blood of Christ
Give God your body as well as your spirit, they both belong to God!
Our body belongs to God, why

So, who's the extremists?!?!?!

2009-09-11T13:12:00.001-05:00

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hwZPeWIWZShG8yCcn9lbA1yXg6JQ

Wed Night Lesson - 1 Corinthians 5:1-13

2009-09-09T13:17:00.002-05:00

1 Corinthians 5:1-13 - Church Purity

Principal Applied

(v1) The Member's Sin - (Sexual Sin)

The Corinthian Church has accepted it

Common Knowledge
Not something that had gone on in secret

Not named among the Gentiles

This was not a common practice even among their pagan neighbors

Incest

Have his father's wife
Legally it were as if it were his own mother
Lev 18:8, Deu 22:30

(v2) The Church's Reaction

What it was

Arrogance

Not necessarily proud of what had been done, but their pride prevented them from acting accordingly.

Imagine if he were family, or a friend

What it should have been

Should have Felt - Mourning
Should have Done - Removal of the offender (Exclusion from fellowship)

(3-5) The Apostolic Judgment

Truly, Certainly

Physically Absent (Paul was in Ephesus when he wrote 1 Corinthians)
Present in Spirit - figurative - this was his word and he stood by it.

Judged... as though I were present

Some situations cause the judge to seek out more information.
Paul had all the info he needed

The individual involved in the sexual sin
In Jesus name
During a regular church meeting
my Spirit - again lends his name, apostolic authority, support

power of our Lord Jesus Christ - not a wishy washy human decision, but one backed up w/ the authority the Lord gave his churches -

keys to the kingdom
bound/loose on earth bound/loose in heaven

Let the natural affects of Sin take their course (Turn him over

ravaging of sin produces "destruction of the flesh"
despite the fact that sin may actually produce physical death in the individual, his spirit is in the hands of Jesus

Principal Illustrated

(v6) No need for arrogance

The Corinthians were vain in what they considered their spirituality

but apparently none had sought to rectify this awful situation

(v6) Illustrated w/ leaven

The danger

Refusing to address this type of behavior in their midst was dangerous

What about their children?
What about outsiders?
What about new believers?
It would end up affecting everybody. Callousness and acceptance of sin.

(v7) The solution

Purge - get rid of it.

It could not do the lump any good
new lump - ie - a body of believers exhibiting the characterstics of Christ
unleavened - cleansed of sin

(v8) Illustrated w/ the Passover

(v8) Passover - Christ is our passover lamb. His blood assures that God will passover us

Just as the Israelites put out the Egyption leaven when they observed the first passover
Just as they carried none of it out of egypt with them.

Let us also, "keep the feast" in Christ

w/o Old leaven = malice & wickedness
w/ unleavened = sincerity & truth

Principal Explained

(v9) Not to keep company w/ fornicators (those caught up in sexual sin)

This is in Church capacity

(v10) Not referring to the world at large

Such as

fornicators - sexually immoral
covetous - greedy, defrauder
extortioners - swindlers, cons, thieves
idolater - image worshipper

Would mean the impossible - leaving the world

In the world but not of the world

(v11) called a brother

Fellow Christians, particularly Church members

Includes two that weren't in the prev list

railer = abusive
drunkard

Not to keep company with - associate w/
Not to eat

Lord's supper.

If the Church has the authority to exclude, obviously it is the responsibility to include.
How can a church do that any more responsibly than by practicing Closed communion?

(v12) Church's authority is over its membership

Not those "without"

Sometimes churches expect lost people to act like church members all the while some church members are acting lost people

them... within

That was the Corinthian CHurch's responsibility

(v13) Action

Leave the outside world up to God. He will judge them.

The lost man will be judged at the Great White Throne
The saved individuals (such as the man mentioned before) will be judged in this life by the destruction of the flesh.

Right judgment means to "put away" the wicked from the church's midst.

Wed Night Lesson - 1 Corinthians 4:1-21

2009-09-02T13:34:00.001-05:00

1 Corinthians 4 - How to Serve

Serve Faithfully (1-5)

(v1)

Servants of Christ
Stewards (managers/overseers) of God's Mysteries (unseen things)

(v2) Qualities of a Steward

faithfulness

"found" - perceived/obtained

Paul's goal in ministry (as should be all ours is to be found faithful.) No amount of labor or good deeds offers a counterweight to lack of faith.

(v3) Judgment lacked importance - Paul was not trying to please men.

Judgment of the Corinthian Church
Judgment of the World
His own Judgment

(v4) The Judgment that mattered

Paul felt like he was doing as the Lord would have him do.

That didn't mean that he was.

He trusted God for righteous judgement more than his own flawed judgment.

(v5) So then

Because of the previously mentioned facts

All God's people are servants (v1)
Faithfulness is our goal in ministry (v2)
Only God's judgment matters (v3&4)

Don't waste your time evaluating who is getting what in God's kingdom

Wait until the Lord comes
He'll shed light on unknown things (things we may be scarcely aware of)
Our Heart's motives will be revealed.

Then

You'll have God's praise
(What good is the praise of men anyway? Self praise, etc...)

Serve Humbly (6-13)

(v6) Applied (transferred in a figure)

For the Corinthians sakes (for our sakes too)
Not to elevate men too highly (Even Paul and Apollos)
Not to become arrogant with each other

(v7) We're all sinners saved by grace

How are we different than each other? Saved the exact same way.
Do you have anything that you didn't receive from God? The right answer is "no"?
Why view yourself as a "self-made man." Be careful not to take credit for God's blessings and gifts.

(v8) The Church had been affected by haughtiness

fullness - perhaps they felt they had no more to learn... that they could not be any more spiritual
wealth - Corinth was an affluent city. Problem of 'haves' lording over 'have nots'
rule - had assumed a system of mock authority over one another.
Sarcastic? If the church members at Corinth were wealthy kings, shouldn't Paul and Apollos be as well?

(v9) The Corinthians Method stood in stark contrast to God's method

Apostles held the "last" place.
Men condemned/doomed to death.
spectacle unto - God was using them to tell the story of his redemptive Love. This was his theatre.

the world
angels
men

(v10) Contrasting the difference between the Apostle sand the COrinthians

Wisdom

Paul had become a "fool" to the world.
The Corinthians had maintained "wise" status

Strength

Paul was weak. He didn't go around twisting arms.
They felt they were strong.

Honor

In and out of prison. Persecuted. Even stoned and left for dead. Paul had not enjoyed "honor" from men. Instead he was despised
They were hanging on to their dignity.

(v11-12a) The Apostles Lifestyle

The Apostles Lifestyle - Their Conditions
Hunger
Thirst
Beaten
Homeless
Labor

(v12b-13a) The Apostles Lifestyle - Their Responses

Reviled (vilified) - responded with blessings
persecuted - they endured
defamed/insulted/slandered - try to make peace

(v13b) The Apostles Lifestyle - Their Status

filth - think soap scum
offscouring - the scrapings

Serve as you are taught

(v14) Paul's reason

Not to shame - "Why do I want to go to Church to hear about how bad a sinner I am?"
To warn - there were going to be consequences
Loving warning to a child - why do you tell them not to play in traffic?

(v15) Paul's History w/ them

Apparently many had assumed the position of teacher - how many were qualified?
Only one "father" ie person who communicated the Gospel to them and brought them to the faith

(v16) Paul's request

beseech - request, implore
followers of me - Teach what Paul taught - (1Co 11:1) Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

(v17) How they could do this

Paul sent Timothy for this reason
Timothy had been taught and trained by Paul. Christainity God's way.
Faithful to the Lord. Strong inthe faith.
Remember Paul's teachings (apparently there had been some forgetting and some contradictory teaching)

We have the Bible to to appeal to.

(v18) The opposition

Others had siezed the reigns of leadership, supposing Paul would never all them on it.

(v19-20) Paul's intention

Let the Power of God handle it.
God would sift the error from the truth.
Were these false teachers prepared to be measured by God's measuring stick?

(v21) What was the Corinthians Desire?

Did they want to clean their own house?
Or let Paul take care of it w/ Apostolic authority

Wed Night Lesson - 1 Corinthians 3:1-23

2009-08-26T14:38:00.000-05:00

Spiritual Growth
1 Corinthians 1:1-23

Human Growth Process

could not

Paul was limited in what he was able to teach the Corinthians.

as unto spiritual

Paul longed to share with them a great many spiritual truths.

as unto carnal

These were saved individuals, but their minds still tended to the worldly - carnal nature that is common in all people.

babes in Christ

They had not reached maturity.

fed you with milk,

Certainly they were being fed spiritual truths, but they were only the most basic teachings of the Christian faith.

and not with meat

Meat = solid food.
They were straying before getting far down the road.
Some of these "basics" Paul touches on throughout the letter:

Their salvation was in Christ, not the preacher.
Immorality was not acceptable practice.
There were expectations and consequences among the membership.
Spiritual gifts were to be used properly.
The Lord's supper was to be taken properly.
They should care and concern themselves for each other.
The resurrection was a fact of their faith.

were not able/ are ye able

Until they got these basics in order, they wouldn't be able to dig deeper.

yet carnal

They were still acting in accordance with sinful flesh.

envying, strife, divisions

Their problems with the basics of Christianity hearkened back to these old sins

are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

An honest assessment of their situation proved Paul's point. Considering the evidence, they would reach his conclusion.

are ye not carnal

Reflects back on previously cited problem of flocking to a particular individuals ministry. Again, the facts prove the point.

Who is Paul... Apollos

Paul minimizes the importance of the person and personality of the minister.
Does it really matter who delivers the mail as long as the bring the same letter?

but ministers

They had exactly the same job. Personal preference didn't make one better than the other.

as the Lord gave to every man

God provided the perfect sacrifice to every person on the planet. In Jesus every single person has access to the saving work of God. Ministers can only deliver the message of God's completed work.

Agriculture

I planted

Paul had established the Church at Corinth during his X missionary journey. (Acts 18)

Apollos watered

Apollos came to Corinth from Ephesus (Acts 18:27) and had a powerful ministry among the Corinthians.

God gave the increase

Paul gave God the credit for the Corinthian Converts.
The work of Salvation was completed by God in the person of Jesus Christ.
Jhn 6:44 KJV - No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

he that planteth...he that watereth

God uses human actors to carry out his Divine story. The planter and the waterer play their part, but its still God's story of Love, Redemption, and Glory.

God...giveth the increase

So, when this is the Church successful? When we have a bunch of converts? No. Rather we are successful when we plant and water. Then we patiently rely on God for the increase.

James uses a similar metaphor to teach patience

Jam 5:7-8 KJV - Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

are one

In subject (task and goal) they are united.
In quality, they may differ.

his own reward

2Cr 5:10 KJV - For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things [done] in [his] body, according to that he hath done, whether [it be] good or bad.

3:9a

we are laborers together

When we transform our will into God's will we make our goals and objectives the same as God's.
We are working toward the same end.

ye are God's husbandry

field, garden

Construction

3:9b

God's building

Similar to Peter's analogy - spiritual stones

3:10

According to the grace

Paul was explicit not to make this about Paul
Are you doing the work God has given you the grace to do?

as a wise master builder

Wouldn't the wisest builder lay the best foundation?

laid the foundation

The foundation comes first.
The foundation is fundamental.
A weakness in the foundation will cause the rest of the building, no matter how spectacular to fail.

another buildeth thereupon

After the foundation is laid, great things can be built upon it.
It will support varied structures.

take heed how he buildeth

It is not enough to build on a firm foundation. It is still important what is built.

3:11

other foundation

The foundation can not be relaid.
The foundation can not be substituted.

which is Jesus Christ

The entirety of our corporate labor must be built on Jesus!

3:12

gold, silver, precious stones

The right things
God's way

wood, hay, stubble

The wrong things
Our way

3:13

made manifest

become evident
be seen

the day

The day Jesus Judges his saints for rewards. The Day of the Lord.

revealed by fire

The righteous judgment of Jesus

what sort it is

There are gonna be folks who feel like they have built a pretty good building, but in the end it was paper mache.

3:14

work abide...reward

Some men will tell you exactly what our heavenly rewards will be like
They seem to know more than the Bible reveals.
Know this: Jesus Christ the Righteous will be handing out the rewards. Noone will be able to argue "thats not right"

3:15

work...burned... suffer loss

Again... it will be RIGHT!

he himself shall be saved

This judgment of rewards does not diminish his relationship with Christ.

as so by fire

his works shall vanish in the flame, but he is still saved.
Some people describe this person as "barely saved" or getting to heaven by the "skin of his teeth"

Every believer where's the righteousness of Christ. The gates of heaven are open wide for the righteousness of Christ.
No one is saved by the skin of their teeth, but by the precious blood of Jesus.

Temple

3:16

ye are the temple of God

Temple is the place where God dwells.

dwelleth in you

God dwelled in every Corinthian believer as he dwells in every believer to day.

3:17

defile the temple of God

That is defile his body through sin.

shall God destroy

God is longsuffering and patient with us
He will forgive our sins
But We can expect chastisement even to the point of Death. There is a Sin unto death....

temple... is holy, which ...ye are

Right now, in this body, we are God's temple.
We are separated from the world. God sees us differently. As children, not strangers. As friends, not enemies.

Wisdom

3:18

deceive himself

Self deception can be very dangerous.

seemeth to be wise... become a fool... that he may be wise

Recognize God's wisdom as superior to our own.
In comparison to God, all men are fools.
Acknowledging these fact.. that the Bible is true .. that God is true ... whether I understand it or not... is key to true wisdom.

3:19

wisdom... is foolishness

What the world considers wise, God considers foolish.

...taketh the wise in their own craftiness

Smart people who's smartness caught up w/ them?

Bernard Maddoff - Billion dollar ponzi scheme
how many others?

3:20

they are vain

Great thoughts that amount to nothing

3:21

glory in men

Put confidence in God, not men.
Recognize the greatness of God, not men.

all things

Think about what we have

Presence of Christ

1Th 4:16-17 KJV - For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Power of Christ -

Rev 20:6 KJV - Blessed and holy [is] he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

3:22

all are yours

Our mind has a hard time grasping the extent to which we will enjoy God's glory

3:23

ye are Christ's

We belong to Jesus.
He paid a high price to have us.

Christ is God's

It is through Jesus we are reconciled to the father.

Wed Night Lesson - 1 Corinthians 2:1-16

2009-08-18T22:28:00.002-05:00

1 Corinthians 2:1-16

Spiritual Approach (v1-5)

Paul describes how he approached the Corinthians with the good news of Jesus and why.

(v1) When he came to Corinth – Acts 18

Not an Eloquent Approach. (Excellency of Speech)

Paul was not a smooth talker.

He was no Barak Obama.
He did not have the polished rhetorical style of the Greeks.

Not a Scientific Approach. (Wisdom)

Paul did not rely on

the science of the day
human reasoning

With God's Word

declared – simply stated/preached/taught it.
God's testimony – what God has revealed about himself.

(v2) Sufficiency of Christ

Paul did not try to “out Corinthian” the Corinthians.

Their souls would not be won by the rhythm of Paul's words or the logic of Paul's argument.
They needed to know about Jesus and the crucifixion.

The Gospel is relevant.

(v3) Paul's State – Scared?!?!?!?

weakness (feebleness, frailty) Paul was not a physically powerful man. If his thorn in the flesh was chronic vision problems it might have made him seem all the more weak.
fear (φοβω – phobo) – terror, fright
trembling (τρομω – tromo) – tremors, quaking

(v4) speech and preaching

not enticing (persuasive) – think Billy Mays persuasive pitchman
demonstration (manifestation)

Spirit – God is present when His word is preached.
power – The word of God created the cosmos – it is a powerful thing.

(v5) Roots of faith

If planted in the wisdom of men, faith is doomed to failure.
Successful faith holds deep in the power of God

Spiritual Wisdom (v6-8)

Paul explains how what seems like foolishness to the corrupt world, is actually the wisdom of God.

(v6) perfect - mature

Those who are mature Christians realize just how wise the teachings of the Bible are

(v7) mystery - hidden or secret thing. Not obvious.

In Christ, the purpose and reason for everything floods our mind.

We see death decimated.
We see the grave ground to powder.
We see the glory and the grace of God.
The world just doesn't make sense w/o Jesus.

Jesus is our glory too!

Romans 8:16-17

(v8) princes of this world - World Leaders

The potential of insight

They have the best intelligence.
They have the most influence.
They have the greatest resources.
They should be the wisest according to all reason. But too often they miss the fact that this is God's world and that no matter what, he will be glorified by his world.

The proof of blindness

They crucified the Lord of Glory.
Pilate thought he was being smart. The Jews thought they were being smart. Even Judas thought he was making a shrewd decision.
They didn't know what God knew.

Spiritual Discernment (v9-16)

Paul explains the God given ability to understand and appreciate spiritual things.

(v9) from Isaiah 64:4
(v10) We understand what we understand about God because he has revealed it.

In fact w/o the guiding hand of the Holy Spirit the Bible is just a book of stories.

(v11)

We understand things in context. Women understand things other women say better than men sometimes. Mechanics can talk about harmonic balancers and torque wrenches because they share experience and lingo.
The only way we can know (perceive) things of God...

(v12) We have received the Holy Spirit

Indwells the believer upon faith.
The Holy Spirit doesn't just lie dormant

Allows us to Know (perceive) all the great things God has given us.
How did Paul sing when he was thrown in the filthy Philippian jail? He perceived the spiritual reality around him.

(v13) Thus - what we understand, so also we speak.

We should not try to translate spiritual things into physical things.

(v14) natural man

He can read the same Bible and listen to the same sermon, but until the Holy Spirit takes up residence, he can't accept what he is hearing.
It sounds foolish to his carnal mind.
In fact, he is absolutely incapable of accepting it. (discern = judge/estimate/investigate)

(v15) The Carnal can not judge the Spiritual.

They try, but they will always measure by Carnal means.

(v16) They can't judge spiritual things, because they don't know Spiritual things. God isn't instructing them because they are foreign to God.

Saved individuals have the mind of Christ. We can understand. God can and will instruct us.

Me

2009-08-13T08:37:00.002-05:00

For those who are concerned, there have been some changes in my situation recently. Here's the low-down:
1. On Wednesday, July 22nd I accepted the call to serve as Pastor of Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Bald Knob, AR.
2. My first Sunday as Pastor was August 2nd.
3. On Friday, August 7th we moved into the parsonage next door to the Church in Bald Knob.
4. On Thursday, October 1st I will begin doing my secular job remotely from on location in Bald Knob. A typical day will be scheduled like this:

6:00am - 12:30pm - Secular Work
12:30pm - 1:00pm - Lunch
1:00pm - 5pm - Church Work

Thoughts on Malachi

2009-07-06T08:09:00.004-05:00

God's Abiding Love (1:1-5)
Jacob didn't deserve it.
Esau can't succeed without it
The whole world is blessed because of it.

Appropriate Service (1:6-14)
Giving the Best
Standing for Righteousness
Future Glory
Curse

Standard of Leadership (2:1-9)
Based on God's promises
... to be continued

Motivated For Ministry

2009-05-13T20:31:00.008-05:00

Sermon Prep in Progress....

Romans 1:8-17

Subject: What Paul's motivation was in visiting the Church at Rome.

Complement: Paul sought to accomplish mutual encouragement, his duty to the Greeks and the Barbarians, and exercise the power of the Gospel among the Romans.

Proposition: The hearers should enjoy the faith of others and by the power of the Gospel seek to see more people come to faith.

Mutual Encouragement

Exegetical Idea: Paul sought to strengthen and encourage Roman believers as well as being encouraged by them.

Applicable Idea: Believers should look to one another for their own encouragement and opportunities to encourage other believers.

Thanking
1. Paul thanked God for the Roman believers themselves.
2. Paul thanked God for the fame of the faith of the Roman believers.
Praying
1. Paul prayed for the believers in Rome.
2. Paul prayed that he might according to God's will have occasion to visit the Church at Rome.
Longing
1. Paul longed to edify the Church at Rome spiritually.
2. Paul longed to receive comfort from the Roman believers on account of the faith they shared.

(v8) Thankfulness for The Fame of their Faith.
(v9) Paul considered them a tool in evangelizing and edifying others.
(v10) Consistently, prayerfully desired to visit them
(v11) Wanted to strengthen them spiritually
(v12) Restatement - Paul sought mutual encouragement. Faith building faith in one another

Mission Accomplishment
Task set before him....

Purpose
Debt
Ready

(v13) Previous challenges had prevented Paul from visiting.
(v13) His purpose was the productive work of God.
(v14) Paul considered himself in debted to these people though he didn't owe them anything in the common sense of the word.
(v15) Thus, he was ready to preach the gospel

Message Omnipotent
The tool at Paul''s disposal

(v16) He felt no shame in it. After all, it is the very power of God. It produces salvation to everyone.
(v17) righteousness of God is all about faith. Starts with faith and ends with faith. ...THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.

Introduction to the Book of Romans

2009-04-26T09:05:00.004-05:00

Paul begins the letter to the Romans with a theologically robust introduction. Far beyond the "Dear So & So" of modern letters, Paul prefixes the epistle with a brief but complete description of who he (Paul) is to Christ, of who Christ is in general, and of who Christ is to the believer.

Who are You to Christ?

Bondservant
It is interesting that Paul didn't credential himself when addresses the saints at Rome. Surely with his education and experience, he could have made mention of his pre-conversion education. But instead, he describes himself only in terms of his relationship to the Lord.

Immediately, he makes himself low. He is a "bond-servant" to Jesus Christ. Make no mistake, among the Romans this was the role of a slave. The Greek δουλος may happily be translated "bond-slave". The Roman empire was an empire built on slavery, so the hearers of this letter would certainly be aware of the social status and responsibilities of the bond-servant. The bond-servant was an individual who's daily goal was not to do what he desired, but to accomplish the desires of his lord. Paul had made fulfilling the desires of Jesus the main focus of his life. Paul didn't wake up each morning and ask, "What do I want to do today?" Instead, he found focus asking, "What does my Lord Jesus Christ want me to do today?"

As born-again believers, we should follow the example of Paul and live our lives as bond-servants to Jesus. He is our Lord and Master and we are bound to his will. We should be willing to assume the humble position of a slave, and not let our own concerns compete with the accomplishment of God's will in our lives.

Guilt by Association

2009-04-15T21:03:00.004-05:00

I am an associational Baptist. That means I believe that the Baptist church to which I belong can and should participate with other churches of like faith and order in fellowship and outreach. Of course all this associational effort is "at will" of each individual church.

For the last 12 years, I have belonged to churches that associate with other churches under the name of the American Baptist Association. I am very fond of the association and for the most part consider myself an ABA'er. But I do struggle with the idea that I am beholden to this association. Jesus established the Church as an institution, not an association. Those who participate in ABA works would certianly agree with me on that point.

Now, just to be clear, I am a Landmark Baptist. I believe that there are certain characteristics that make the Lord's churches distinct from other religious societies and I believe that most churches that associate with the American Baptist Association, the Baptist Missionary Association, and the Southern Baptist Convention bear these marks. Also many independent Baptist churches (though they don't formally associate) can be recognized by these distinctions.

So the question follows that if the Lord's churches exist outside the bounds of the ABA (which they certainly do), then should the Lord's minister feel timidity about service outside that association? The short (and easy) answer is that the man of God should do whatever God wills for him. That said, there are real consequences. Some churches in the ABA might be wary of a preacher who had been preaching outside of the association.

To bring the point home, I am currently not pastoring a church. It was mentioned to me that the Southern Baptist Church down the road was without a preacher by someone who visits there. I assume an invitation to preach might have followed had I showed any interest, but I didn't. I basically never turn down opportunities to preach. So why do it here? I recognize them as a valid New Testament Church. (As far as I know, they may very well do closed communion), but I dismissed it based on associational lines. And out of fear. Fear of being looked at funny by my brethren. Fear of "tainting" my name by crossing those lines.

I'm not saying I agree with the Southern Baptist Convention at every point (I'm not a universalist, I reject open communion, I reject alien immersion - all things that are seemingly "creeping in" to SBC), but why should a church that I (and most ABA churches) would gladly accept a letter from be without preaching based on fear?

2009-04-10T11:07:00.003-05:00

I signed up for LinkedIn. Its definitely my speed when it comes to social sites. My profile is here.