reputation.

We are not promised that we would have a good reputation for the sake of God's truth, in fact the complete opposite is promised.

The Corinthian church was obsessed with reputation. Paul had to call them out by being sarcastic with them comparing the apostles lives to their lives (and what they valued).

1 Corinthians 4:10-13

"We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world."

He contrasted what his and other apostles reputations were to that of the "noble" and "respected" Corinthians.
Look at what Jesus says regarding the reputation of his followers:

Luke 6:22-23

"Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets."

So, don't shun slander for the sake of the Son of Man, accept it as a blessing!

tranforming knowledge

Thanks Monica (and J.I. Packer) for a great reminder about how head knowledge, without action, is useless.

However, I would like to balance that thought with what I believe to be even a greater epidemic with Christians today. The epidemic that I speak of is... ignorance.

According to J.I. (and Monica's post) doctrine without action is useless. But there is a bigger problem... The sad truth is that most Christians don't even have any doctrine to start with. In fact, many Christians champion the fact that one doesn't need doctrine! He simply must live out biblical principles.

This thinking completely ignores scripture. Scripture teaches us that God transforms us by doctrine.
Jesus prayed to the Father...

John 17:17

"Sanctify them in your truth, your word is truth."

2 Corithians 3:18

"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."

We can't be changed without beholding God. How do we behold God? How does he reveal himself? His character?

In his word.

Sanctification starts with renewing our minds.

J.P. Moreland said: (thanks to my new friend Austin at Grace for introducing me to Moreland and the other pure philosophers)

“The mind is the soul’s primary vehicle for making contact with God. And it plays the foundational role in the process of maturation and spiritual formation...the mind.”

If we forget the mind and focus soley on the "do", then we become like Martha. Remember Mary and Martha when Jesus was over? Martha "doing, doing, doing". Mary sitting and listening. Who did Jesus commend? Mary, for listening.

Those who focus soley on the do without the constant beholding and learning are focused on law. It's similar to the pharisees - always focused on "do". Instead we focus on grace. The effectual grace that transforms us - santifying us by beholding God's glory through the deep truths of His character in scripture.

An excerpt from J.I Packer's Knowing God :
"...The question concerns our motives and intentions as students.We need to ask ourselves: what is my ultimate aim and object in occupying my mind with these things? What do I intend to do with my knowledge about God? for the fact that we have to face is this: If we pursue theological knowledge for its own sake, it is bound to go bad on us. It will make us proud and conceited. The very greatness of the subject matter will intoxicate us, and we shall come to see ourselves as a cut above other Christians because of our interest and grasp of it...For, as Paul said, " Knowledge puffs up... The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know" (1 Cor 8:1-2).
Our concern must be to enlarge our acquaintance, not simply with the doctrine of God's attributes, but with the living God whose attributes they are."

Fashion Police. Your'e under arrest.

Quick what is the most offensive thing someone at work can do?

Steal your stapler?

Show up 15 minutes late to a meeting?

Take credit for your work?

No silly, it’s showing up to work in a Hawaiian shirt.

I know business casual has not been clearly defined in the employee handbook but I c’mon that shirt is so errr…..uhhh…BRIGHT!




For arguments sakes it does have sleeves, collar, and it does button up, but c’mon it has flowers, tropical birds, and it’s so err…….BRIGHT! And on top of that it’s Wednesday couldn’t you have waited to wear it on Friday? Plus the fact that your blasting the best of Jimmy Buffet does not help your case.

Please someone talk to this guy. People are starting to file complaints at the HR office cause that shirt is so offensive.

Now telling someone that their shirt is ugly errr… I mean…uhh.. BRIGHT is not an easy task. Its has no other option that coming across as offensive. That’s why whoever tells him has to be as loving and tactful as possible to give him the uncompromised truth.

Evangelizing is very similar to this.

For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. …to the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. 1 Cor 9:19 and 22

I am a firm believer in the fact that it is possible to be both loving and bold in our gospel presentation.

Telling an unbeliever that they are living an offensive life and need a savior has no other option that coming across as offensive. So we have two options. Beat them over the head with the Bible. Or befriend them and serve them so that by all means with the divine intervention of God, save some.

That's why it is our duty as Christians, to be aware of others cultures, customs, and emotions so when we boldly yes... boldly present them with the Gospel it is only God's word that confronts and convicts them. People have never gotten into heaven through someones clever gospel presentation. But it is your personality, honesty, and love that God uses as tools to rely his message.

I’m sure there are more tactful ways of telling some who wears Hawaiian shirts on Wednesday that their shirt is so hideou……err I mean ….obnoxiou……err I mean …oops….I mean unsightl…….uhhh I mean …BRIGHT!

the honor of suffering

"At thirty-two [John G.] Paton accepted the call to missionary service in the New Hebrides in the South Pacific. In March of 1858 he married Mary Ann Robson, and on April 16 they sailed together for the cannibal island of Tanna. In less than a year they had built a home and Mary had given birth to a son. But on March 3, 1859, one year after their marriage, Mary died of the fever, and in three weeks the infant son died. John Paton buried them alone, and wrote, "But for Jesus... I'd have gone mad and died beside that lonely grave."

One of the gifts that Jesus had given him to sustain him in those days were the words his wife spoke before her death. She did not murmur against God in her final sickness, or resent her husband bringing her to the New Hebrides. Rather she spoke these incredible words: 'I do not regret leaving home and friends. If I had it to do over, I would do it with more pleasure, yes, with all my heart.' "

- The Pleasures Of God (by John Piper)

Philippians 1:29

"For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake..."

CHANGE ME

Change my heart, O God
May I be renewed
Change my heart, O God
Make me more like you

please God.
Whatever tribulation and trial come my way, Please God. Change me to be like Christ. Show me how you want me to be Father. Regenerate my heart, so that I may be wholly yours.

Amen.

I wonder what type of shoes we will wear in heaven?

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matt 6: 20-21

I’ve been trying to figure out a way to bring my huge CD collection and “swanky” sneakers into heaven. I really have! I’m stuck for the moment so I’ll blog.

2 years ago, from transition to living at my apartment in to my home I decided to live at a motel for a week. It was your typical run of the mill motel. It had its perks of room service and continental breakfast but for the most part the room was a dump. It had worn out carpets, old dressers, moldy smell…the works. To be honest it only took about a day before I wanted to rip out the carpets and install hardwood floors, install linoleum floors in the bathroom, and re- paint the walls just to brighten up the place.
But as common sense would have it I didn’t for three main reasons.

1) The stay was temporary.
2) I couldn’t take any of it with me.
3) I had a new home waiting for me.

Why spend all my time and resources into re modeling this motel when I could pour it into my home? My heart was elsewhere.

As obvious as the decision may have sounded we do the same in out Christian life. We cannot take earthly possessions with us into heaven no matter how much time and effort we put into obtaining it. But we put so much of our effort into doing it regardless.

Time, money, and health are gracious resources given to us by God. We can either do two things; use them to obtain earthly temporary things or use them to build up the eternal kingdom.

But I sure do wish we get to wear cool sneakers in heaven!

Where's The Love?

Yo, bro! How old is that picture? I know that Jeremy & Matt are laughing at it...the whole bottled water thing going on. Unbelieveable!

Anyway, on to a short post.

As a father, I have the awesome privilege of bringing my child up in the faith. Whilst only 5 years old, she is a sinner in need of a Savior. And I want her to know and treasure Christ. There's only one way to ensure that she knows Christ properly--I must teach her the Word of God.

So we have been moving through some of the main Old Testament stories. And I am making it a point to direct her to Christ regardless of where we find ourselves in Scripture. Recently we discussed the story of Joseph and how we was sold into slavery only to become a very prominent leader in Egypt.


(Not quite Joseph)

Among other things I shared with her God's promise to Abraham and how God would bless all nations through him. I reminded her that these people that had come to Joseph for food were the descendants of Abraham and God was going to bring Christ into the world through this bloodline. God was preserving his people so that Christ could come to save His people. Of course, I spoke to her in 5-year-old terms, but you get the point.

For a moment, I was tempted to title our discussion, "How to Survive a Famine,"---I kid, I kid. I say that jokingly because sometime we fail to remember that the Old Testament is not a collection of superhero stories. It's a revelation of God and how He is working out our salvation for His glory. This is what my little girl needs to hear as she is taught these sacred stories.

I pray that one day she'll come to know Christ and regard Him as the Supreme Treasure.

farewell and welcome. part 3.

Ruben Morales has joined in on the decision to depart from TALIA blog. Ruben has a huge passion for God's glory that spills over into a life of service. He is getting ready to finish up at UCLA, so be praying for the last leg of his time there.

Joshua Ritchie is the newest member of the TALIA fellowship. He is in the first year of a church plant in his home in the High Desert area (Victorville) He recently finished up a sermon series on the book of 1 John (which can be found here, which you can also add to your itunes podcast) He is currently working at Victorville Motors to support his family (wife, jenny and daughter, macy) and the new church.

Welcome to T.A.L.I.A.

Christian Radio

Imagine yourself in this terrible predicament:

You are without your IPOD which contains all your favorite sermons. You're stuck in traffic with nothing to do but wonder if you're going to be late for (fill in the blank). What do you do? May I suggest that you listen to:


The White Horse Inn: Los Angeles, KKLA (99.5 FM), Sundays, 9pm
Pastor Alistair Begg: Los Angeles, KKLA-FM (99.5 FM), Monday - Friday, 8:05am
Albert Mohler: XM 170, Family Talk, Monday - Friday, 5:00pm (ET)

More thoughts on persecution

The early church father, Tertullian, is quoted as saying - "The blood of the martyr's is the seed of the church."

Despite some questionable beliefs, I believe Tertullian hit the proverbial nail on the head with this quote. Persecution of the early Christians was one of the greatest tools God used in spreading the Good News. Check out what happened to some of the first believers:

Peter - Crucified...however, feeling unworthy to be killed in the same manner as His Lord, he was crucified upside down.

Andrew - Crucified on an x-shaped cross. Hung on the cross for two days, all the while preaching the gospel to passers by.

Bartholomew - Was skinned alive and then beheaded by the king of Babylon.

Thomas - The one who doubted most took the Gospel as far as India. He was killed with a spear.

Jude - Battered to death with a club and then beheaded.

Matthew - Murdered in Ethiopia.

James the Lesser - Thrown from the pinnacle of the temple in Jerusalem and then upon surviving the fall was beaten to death with clubs and stoned.

Simon the Zealot - Either crucified in Samaria or sawn in half in Sunair (depending on which accounts you read).

Mark - Died by being viciously dragged through the streets of Alexandria.

Luke - Hanged on an olive tree in Greece.

James the Greater - Beheaded. There are some accounts that say someone (accuser, soldier) realized, by James' actions, that the message of Christ was true and chose to be beheaded alongside James.

This has gone on throughout history all the way up until today. If you go on christianpersecution.info you will find stories of Christians in Iraq being crucified while their arms are set on fire, or Christians in China looking for places to meet because the government is bulldozing their homes, or in various Islamic countries where Christians are tortured, kidnapped, and killed.

God, how easy we have it here in this country. May I live a life that is worthy of persecution.

9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed. (Revelation 6:9-11)

Mmmm...the sweet smell of victory

I read that last post on the "king of all fruit" and it caused me to think. A couple years ago God blessed me with the opportunity to preach on the church in Smyrna found in Revelation 2:8-11:


8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write,
‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: 9 “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
11 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.”’

This church was not admonished for their lack of love or for being lukewarm. Instead Jesus tells them that there are some tough times coming their way (and that is an understatement). Satan himself was bent on torturing and persecuting this church until they would renounce their faith. They must have been doing something right. Better yet they must have believed in Someone right.

Now how is that for irony? Imagine that you are dying daily to your self and following in the footsteps of Jesus. You are growing in your faith, loving God more and more, loving other people. Sounds awesome right? Jesus comes and says guess what you reward is for obeying Me and loving Me...well, you're going to be tested like no other time in your life, you will spend some time in prison, and there's a high probability of death. Gee...thanks for the uplifting message. However, there is some good news. If you remain faithful...you will receive the crown of life and not be hurt by the second death. That's a pretty good deal since our lives are but a vapor in the big picture of eternity.

So how does this relate to smell? Glad you asked. As I studied this I found that Smyrna means "myrrh", a sweet smelling perfume that people wore and a fragrance used to anoint dead bodies. In order to extract this sweet smell, you had to crush the plant it came from and it would produce an aroma pleasant to the nose. What a great metaphor for the church located in Smyrna. They would be crushed down in persecution, all the while giving off a sweet smelling aroma pleasing to the Lord.

It's not about us...it's about God and His glory!

Its " O.K" because its literature.....

Today, in summer school, we began to read the play Death of a salesman. I have been assigned to read the part of the main character Willy Loman, who is ill tempered and likes to use common curse words that blaspheme the name of God. Long story short, whenever one of these words came up, i refused to say them and either the teacher said them for me, or I said the common alternative. After the second time of me refusing to say the word the teacher proclaimed something like; "Its ok to say it, its literature!"

I strongly dissagreed and continued on reading. yay me.

Proverbs 17:27
27 Whoever restrains his words has knowledge,
and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding

Where Is The Love?

Two commands: Love God with all that we are and love others as ourself. Its frustrating to see Christians talk so much about "loving others" and make big plans to do such big things to demonstrate that love, yet the smallest thing like getting to know someone, making a visitor feel welcome inside the church, a sincere "Hello, how are you?/Whats going on?", etc., are often neglected and are the toughest things to do...i myself constantly fail at this. The unbelieving world doesn't look at Christians and hear them say "We love everyone, trust me we do," and turn around and believe that 100%. I have family members who have heard all that talk before, but don't buy it...Love is actions-hence the name of this blog spot-Truth and LOVE in action. We can give everything we have away to the poor or feed the homeless in Santa Monica, or whatever, but we can't even show the same kind of love within the walls of the church or invest in one another or show a sincere love/care for those we are around all the time. Love doesn't have to be a big production; it is the smallest thing like going up to someone and saying hello or not slandering against someone or making fun of them or whatever else. As i said, i know i have a long ways to go in this and i don't want to just bring this topic up and think that i am in the clear when it comes to this. Let us love truly and sincerely and not think that if we love in a "big way", that we are really being "loving". But remember, we love others because we are falling more and more in love with God. LOVE IN ACTION.

farewell and welcome. part 2.

Unfortunately we have to once again say farewell to a member of the TALIA blog. Ernesto Diaz has contributed greatly to Truth and Love in Action, with his lyrical posts of praise and worship. we love you and will miss you.


Also, once again, with the departure of one comes the arrival of another.
Vince is a member of Grace Community Church. He is a talented and sought-after chef in Los Angeles, as well as a gifted musician who serves on the Foundry (Grace Fellowhship group)worship team playing bass. He loves sushi and he is a thrift store connoisseur. Most importantly he loves God's truth of scripture and is committed to the loving accountability of his church core group.



Hebrews 3:13

"But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called 'today,' that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin."

grace.

"God, command what thou wilst, and grant what thou command."

-augustine

It's nice to know that even though God is commanding us to stay on the coarse, he is also providing the "autopia" track along the way, for those who are his children.

Philippians 2:13

"for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure."

Reconciled

Colossians 1:19-22 states:

19For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

20And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

21And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

22In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

It is a sobering thought, this concept of reconciliation. Paul states that we were aliens and enemies not only in mind but in works. We were at war with the Creator. I was reading an excerpt from John MacArthur about this idea of being at peace with God. He brought up an interesting point, one I myself had never thought of - that not only were we at war with God before Christ, but God was at war with us. His wrath was completely upon us because of our sin, so much so that He was going to punish us for eternity in hell, and justifiably so. This was not contingent on whether or not we believed it to be so.

And whether you understand your war with Him or not, you ought to understand His war with you. Now, that puts it in a different light, doesn't it? You see, God is at war with the sinner. God is the enemy of the sinner. God fights against the sinner. God is the enemy of sin. God is the enemy of Satan. - John MacArthur (The Security of Salvation Part 1)

But thankfully for us it doesn't end there. Yes God is angry. Yes God is just. Yes He is holy. But He is also merciful, gracious, forgiving, and loving. And because God is perfect and complete in His Person He made a way to satisfy His wrath and still offer to us a peace treaty if you will. He did this by sending His own Son to sacrifice His blood so we didn't have to. How humble and grateful should this make us? The very Person whom we were at war with, the Person who was our chiefest enemy offered us reconciliation through the sacrifice of His own Son. We can now live as people who belong to Christ.

farewell and welcome.

Our Talian brothers paul and richie have decided to part ways with the TALIA Blog. We will miss them on here as they have been an enrouagement to the rest of us with their scripture references and prayer requests. We will continue to pray for them as I know that they will continue to pray for us as well.

With the departure of two comes the arrival of two.
Jeremy Neiditch and Matt Shilling have joined the TALIA blog. These men have both recently finished school at
Baptist Bible College in Boston. So hopefully we can glean a little bit of the godly wisdom that exudes from them. TALIA welcomes them.





Hebrews 10:24

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,"

bound.

O to grace how great a debtor, daily i'm constrained to be, let thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to thee. Prone to wander, Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love. Here's my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above.

-Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing
(Robert Robinson)

direction.

John 16:13

"When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come."

Do not be afraid to cry out to God for help!

DAVID DID!

Psalm 3

Save Me, O My God



A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.

1O LORD, how many are my foes!
Many are rising against me;
2many are saying of my soul,
(D) there is no salvation for him in God.
Selah

3But you, O LORD, are a shield about me,
my glory, and the lifter of my head.
4 cried aloud to the LORD,
and he answered me from his holy hill.
Selah

5I lay down and slept;
I woke again, for the LORD sustained me.
6I will not be afraid of many thousands of people
who have set themselves against me all around.

7 Arise, O LORD!
Save me, O my God!
For you strike all my enemies on the cheek;
you break the teeth of the wicked.

8 Salvation belongs to the LORD;
your blessing be on your people!
Selah

10 plagues.

Question:

What is the primary reason why God sent the plagues on Egypt?

Answer? :

To get Israel out of Egypt? No.

A direct assault on individual egyptian gods in the name of God's fame? YES!


Plague......................Egyptian god

Livestock.......................Hathor - Egyptian Cow goddess

Locusts.........................Osiris - god of vegetation

Nile to Blood...................Anuket - nile goddess

Frogs (getting stepped on)......Heket - frog goddess

Hail............................Min - sky god of rain for fertility of land

Flies/Beetles...................Kephri - beetle god

Boils...........................Anubis - healer god

Lice............................Bes - domestic god, protector against pests

Darkness........................Ra - sun god

Firstborn.......................Pharaoh, a god in human form

The last two plagues (darkness and firstborn) were direct attacks on the most important of the egyptian gods: ra (the chief god) and the pharaoh himself.

Egypt was seen by the rest of the world at that time as the greatest empire. The whole world was watching as God demonstrated his power.

Romans 9:17

For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."

Exodus 7:14

"Thus says the LORD, "By this you shall know that I am the LORD: behold, with the staff that is in my hand I will strike the water that is in the Nile, and it shall turn into blood."

Exodus 8:10

"And he said, 'Tomorrow.' Moses said, 'Be it as you say, so that you may know that there is no one like the LORD our God.'"

Exodus 9:14-16

"For this time I will send all my plagues on you yourself, and on your servants and your people, so that you may know that there is none like me in all the earth. For by now I could have put out my hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, and you would have been cut off from the earth. But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth."

This was the primary purpose for the plagues. In fact, many egyptians were impacted so greatly that they decided to join the israelites on their exodus!

Exodus 12:37-38

"That night the people of Israel left Rameses and started for Succoth. There were about 600,000 men,[a] plus all the women and children. A rabble of non-Israelites went with them, along with great flocks and herds of livestock."

Things to have...

1 Peter 3:8-12

Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. For "Whoever desires to love life and see good days,let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."

the battery.

So to expound on the topic of grace, i wanted to share another analogy of how I now view grace compared to how I used to view grace. I always thought of grace as a present (which it is). But that is the image that came into my mind. However more and more it is developing into much more than simply a gift. Grace is alot like a battery, giving (actually causing) me the ability to do things in which I would be unable to do on my own without it.

"Underlying this mistake is a misunderstanding of grace. Grace is not simply the leniency when we have sinned. Grace is the enabling gift of God not to sin. Grace is power, not just pardon. this is plain, for example in 1 Corinthians 15:10. Paul descibes grace as the enabling power of his work: "By the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward toward me did not prove vain; but I labored harder than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God which is in me." Grace is not simply the pardon of Paul's sins, it is the power to press on in obedience."

-John Piper

It's kind of like if the energizer bunny were to say: "Wow, I have so much stamina! Energizer should be lucky to have me in their commercials. I'm thankful that they've given me this job, so in return im going to give as much energy and endurance as possible to show my gratitude!"

1 Peter 4:11

"whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies--in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. "

Narrow Gate

Matthew 7:13-20

Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.
"For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
"Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
"You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?
"So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.
"A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.
"Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
"So then, you will know them by their fruits.

love.

Proverbs 17:17

"A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for adversity."

This verse is so simple, yet so deep and rich. Honestly, it has hit home and rung true recently for me. Thank you, to you guys for

1. LOVING me. True love. Not just a casual affection, but a genuine godly love.
2. Loving me AT ALL TIMES. Not just when you run into me or happen to see me. But seeking me out and inquiring and praying. I definately need you.

So thank you.

I love you.

gossip.

This is on my dad's refrigerator. It is a great reminder.
I've always heard it said, "If you are not part of the problem or the solution, then don't say anything."
Some use this rule liberally and jump at the chance to be part of the "solution".

If you think you can be a part of the solution... then please do so. But when participating in the solution, only talk to those involved and that means no outside "consultation" from others.

Psalm 101:5

"Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, him will I put to silence;
whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, him will I not endure."

Proverbs 17:9

"He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the
matter separates close friends."

Ephesians 4:29

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only
what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it
may benefit those who listen."

to reiterate.

"The Christian faith is not about the "things we do""

-Daniel Neiditch

So Daniel comes in with a bang.

It is actually ironic that he write on that topic, because it has been something that I've been meditating on alot lately. There is so much scriptural content to choose from that I don't know where to begin. So, I guess I'll start where Jesus started (which is something I posted on before):

Matthew 5:3

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Not, "Blessed are the righteous", but "poor". Poverty in spirit is coming to God with empty hands - spiritual bankruptcy.

Psalm 15:16-17

"You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise."

It's not the sacrifice that brings God pleasure.

Check out what Paul said about his obedience:

Philippians 3:7

"But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith"

Growing up, I had such a limited view of grace. I saw it simply as the gift of atonement if I wanted to accept it. But now, I am overwhelmed to vastness of grace. Not only does grace provide a subsitute punishment, but the grace which comes from the cross is sent forward to the future to each step that I take in my Christian walk. Each obedient step ISN'T a gift from ME TO GOD. Each obedient step that I take is a gift from GOD TO ME. Each step is grace... The grace of sanctification. This in not our own doing. We are NOT paying God back for Christ's work on the cross. IN FACT we are earning up MORE DEBT for each step!

So when Christians view their obedience as either a payback or even a gift to God. Their are actually mistaken, because we have nothing to offer God. And this goes back to what Daniel was saying. Christianity is not about "do, do, do".

John Piper says it this way (in his book, The Pleasures Of God) "to please God is to come to him to get and not to give... He is most glorified in us, when we are most satisfied in him."

and

"My hope as a desperate sinner, who lives in a Death Valley desert of unrighteousness, hangs on this biblical truth: that God is the kind of God who will be pleased with the one thing that I have to offer - my thirst."

It's not our grace given to God. It's His grace given to us.

So don't focus on the "do". Focus on the one who "did" for us. HOW? Study the character of God in scripture. Become satisfied with God, by getting to know who He is and how he works. HOW? read/study/meditate on the doctrine of scripture, and not just the application passages.

Random Thought

No picture, no verse, no quote. The Christian faith is not about the "things we do" or the "things we don't do". We are not super-spiritual just because we are doing so many "good things" and we are not super-spiritual just because we are not doing certain sins. It is easy to get caught up in a routine or system where it becomes all about "do, do, do" or "don't, don't, don't" and slowly forget about the One whom we are supposed to be glorifying. Our lives/walks should demonstrate a love for Christ and be centered around Him, not ourselves and our own accomplishments. This faith is a race and it is a struggle. We are being set apart by God for His own purpose. It is foolish to think that we can speed that process up by things that we do or won't do. Be active in the faith because we love Christ and want to glorify Him-not just because it is another thing to do. We cannot make the faith a list that simply gets checked off when things are/aren't done. Remain humble and know that we do mess up at times and experience trials, but that God is constantly in control and is changing us day by day to conform us more to His Son. It is not about us.

action.

C.J.Mahaney's final message at the New Attitude Conference. "Discerning How To Apply"
This was a great message dealing with "hearing" and "doing" of the Word, and sanctification vs. justification.

You can download it or simply listen online.

power.

Acts 1:8

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you..."

The greek word for "power" in this verse is dunamis, which is where we get the word dynamite.
Every Christian has the Holy Spirit within them. The question is, are we utilizing the power of the Holy Spirit? Are we allowing the Holy Spirit to work his power through us? Or are we doing what 1 Thessalonians 5:19 says not to do...

"Do not quench the spirit."

parasites.

Exodus 20:1-3

"And God spoke all these words, saying,
I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
You shall have no other gods before me."

Idols seem to attach themselves to us in spots where we aren't able to see.
They subtely drain us of the joy and passion we have for God's glory.


Here are some "X-ray questions" that David Powlison gives us (from his book"Seeing With New Eyes") to help identify if there are idols in our life.

*What am I preoccupied with?

*What is the first thing on my mind in the morning and the last thing on my mind at night?

*How would I complete this statement: “If only _____________, then I would be happy, fulfilled, and secure”?

*What do I want to preserve or avoid?

*Where do I put my trust?

*What do I fear?

*When a certain desire is not met, do I feel frustration, anxiety, resentment, bitterness, anger, or depression?

*Is there something I desire so much that I am willing to disappoint or hurt others in order to have it?

darkness.

The prince of darkness.
Accuser of the brethren.
Adversary.
Beelzebub.
Belial.
the deceiver of the whole world.
the great dragon.
the enemy.
the evil one.
the father of lies.
the god of this world.
a liar.
a murderer.
the prince of the power of the air.
the ruler of this world.
the ancient serpent.
the tempter.

Ephesians 6:12

"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."

1 Timothy 1:18-20

"This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme."

"And that's the way the warfare goes. Satan against God, focusing on the destruction of Christ and His work. And now he continues to fight against the work of Christ in His church. He will fight against Christ when He comes in His return. He will go on and on until finally he is bound forever in the pit of hell, the lake of fire." *

Job 1:12

Then the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him." So Satan departed from the presence of the LORD.

Although Satan has power... God is sovereign.

Revelation 12:17

"So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus."

"But Satan will attack the people of God in that time as he's always attacked the people of God. Just notice verse 17, "The people who keep the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ." So now the war has filtered...it started with God and Satan, it went down through the holy angels and the fallen angels and now it's down and it's a warfare against those who are the ones who know Jesus Christ...who keep the commandments of God." *

"And, folks, we don't see that but that's what's happening...that's what's happening. And as I said earlier, there are some people who go blissfully through their church experience as if there wasn't even a war. And I could wish that our eyes could be opened to see what's probably going on right in this room that we cannot now perceive. But it's here."

* - John MacArthur

The hymn "Am I a Soldier Of The Cross?" by Isaac Watts
(Author of "When I Survey The Wondrous Cross" and "Joy To The World")

Am I a soldier of the cross?
A follower of the Lamb?
And shall I fear to own His cause,
Or blush to speak His name?

Must I be carried to the skies,
On flowery beds of ease?
While others fought to win the prize,
And sailed through bloody seas?

Are there no foes for me to face?
Must I not stem the flood?
Is this vile world a friend to grace,
To help me on to God?

Sure I must fight, if I would reign;
Increase my courage, Lord;
I'll bear the toil, endure the pain,
Supported by Thy word.

The Power and Wisdom of God

1 Corinthians 1:17-2:5

For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.For the word of the cross is folly 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 discernment of the discerning I will thwart."

Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. Therefore, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."

And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

disconnected.

i like the way that "stephen the levite" (a christian hip hop m.c.) describes sanctification in a song off of his album "To die is gain":

"Disconnected. Perspective corrected. Mind no longer blind to the prime directive. Eyes open wide - yo I spy deception. With a plumb line the Bible is lie detection...

...Im in the world but I've been disconnected. I've parted ways with old friends - disconnected. I'm separate, I'll say it again - disconnected."

Ezekial 36:27

"And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules."

Philippians 2:13

"for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure."

my heart for Jesus...

Jesus
lover of my soul
Jesus
i will never let you go
you've taken me
from the miry clay
set my feet upon a rock
and now i know
i love you
i need you
though my world may fall
i'll never let you go
my savior
my closest friend
i will worship you
until the very end