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Every living soul belongs to me. Ezekiel 18:4
Recent Entries
God? Who Needs Him?May 31, 2013
Self-sufficient humanism. Paul saw it coming – “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.”
Imago Dei
September 12, 2012
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
Why Can't I Pray?
August 18, 2012
The bible gives us several reasons, but according to Jeremy Taylor, a deceitful heart is at the root of prayerlessness.
It's Not Rocket Science
July 23, 2012
To keep in step with the Spirit should be our daily quest. And if we are successful at that, all of life falls into place.
Theological Steak
April 10, 2012
These words by P. T. Forsythe on the magnificence of Christ's work are to theology what Ruth's Chris is to a good steak.
Describing the Indescribable
February 11, 2012
What we have in Christ will take all eternity to describe. But for one segment of one sermon, a great preacher made a mighty attempt.
Making Sense Of It All
January 30, 2012
Where are things headed? Is there rhyme and reason to the endless cycle of summer, fall, winter and spring? Is there a plan in place, or is randomness the explanation?
Everybody Praise
July 7, 2008
What would you think would be the final thought in the book of Psalms? Keep up your Bible reading? Don't forget to go to church? Find an orphan to adopt or a widow to bless? Be sure you tithe? Those all have their place, but the final verse of this wonderful collection of thoughts on God simply says this - Let everything that has breath, praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. Psalm 150:6
Everything that has breath? That's so, well, comprehensive! It seems to leave no one out. Why is that? When Paul was in Lystra, the locals were so impressed with his ministry that they assumed he was Hermes - which they meant as a complement, viewing Paul as a messenger from the gods to humans. We get our word "hermenutics" from this source. Anyway, Paul was very disturbed at being called a god, and did his best to clarify just who was God and who wasn't.
"Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. In the past, he let all nations go their own way. Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy." Acts 14:15-17
Jesus said similar words, that the Father causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Matthew 5:45 No one who draws breath in this world does so exclusive of the kindness of God. Jesus, we are told according to Colossians 1:17, has the critical job of holding all of creation together, so that it doesn't just fall apart!
And this grace of God, this kindness, this blessing, this favor is a testimony, a sign of goodwill, a peace offering, that is meant to jumpstart a relationship with God, an encounter that ends up with us acknowledging his Lordship, his rule, and his unique Mediator - the One disignated by God to be the means by which we are accepted before him - the Lord Jesus Christ, who was dead and is now alive, seated on his throne in the heavenlies.
In actuality, this call to praise is like when your mom shouted upstairs - "SOUPS ON!!" You came running, because you were about to get your fill of good, satisfying kid food, and mom beamed as you devoured her labor of love. Most of the time though, we didn't stop and thank mom. Gratitude comes begrudgingly. But we must attempt to praise our God, no matter how feeble. Thanking God glorifies Him as the giver in all of life, and it does us a world of good in the process.
How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him! Psalm 147:1
Everything that has breath? That's so, well, comprehensive! It seems to leave no one out. Why is that? When Paul was in Lystra, the locals were so impressed with his ministry that they assumed he was Hermes - which they meant as a complement, viewing Paul as a messenger from the gods to humans. We get our word "hermenutics" from this source. Anyway, Paul was very disturbed at being called a god, and did his best to clarify just who was God and who wasn't.
"Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. In the past, he let all nations go their own way. Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy." Acts 14:15-17
Jesus said similar words, that the Father causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Matthew 5:45 No one who draws breath in this world does so exclusive of the kindness of God. Jesus, we are told according to Colossians 1:17, has the critical job of holding all of creation together, so that it doesn't just fall apart!
And this grace of God, this kindness, this blessing, this favor is a testimony, a sign of goodwill, a peace offering, that is meant to jumpstart a relationship with God, an encounter that ends up with us acknowledging his Lordship, his rule, and his unique Mediator - the One disignated by God to be the means by which we are accepted before him - the Lord Jesus Christ, who was dead and is now alive, seated on his throne in the heavenlies.
In actuality, this call to praise is like when your mom shouted upstairs - "SOUPS ON!!" You came running, because you were about to get your fill of good, satisfying kid food, and mom beamed as you devoured her labor of love. Most of the time though, we didn't stop and thank mom. Gratitude comes begrudgingly. But we must attempt to praise our God, no matter how feeble. Thanking God glorifies Him as the giver in all of life, and it does us a world of good in the process.
How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him! Psalm 147:1
