Another Bright Message

By your own tradition, you nullify the direct commandment of God (Matthew 15:6, NLT).

Dear friends:

I love tradition and the old ways of doing things. However, if we are not careful, we can allow tradition to quench the work of the Holy Spirit.

Can you imagine church members protesting an invitation to receive Christ after an evangelistic sermon? Christian History, Volume III, says they did so in 1825. Not only did church members object to an invitation, but so did many of the ministers.

There was a new evangelist in town. Charles Finney had come on to the religious scene in America and by 1825 had become quite popular. He was reaching many Americans with the gospel by implementing what grumbling critics were calling "new measures."

Among these intolerable changes and new measures were: praying for people by name, having an invitation after the sermon, sharing the gospel by visiting in homes, allowing women to pray and testify, holding services on days other than the usual times for worship, and preaching in an informal manner that appealed to those who attended his services. By the way, these services were another outlandish idea he called "revival services."

Finney was perceived as a radical troublemaker, but his "wrong" approach introduced hundreds of thousands, if not millions, to Christ. He became one of the greatest evangelists in history, now widely respected.

Tradition just for the sake of tradition can be a bondage. Change is usually threatening yet its results can often be tremendous. Can you imagine the opposition there would be in Finny's day to the gospel being proclaimed via radio, television and films? Yet God has used these media to bring millions of souls into the Kingdom.

God is our great Creator. He conceived of and created more than 100 billion galaxies and innumerable creatures. Creativity is one of His attributes. He also gives creativity to His servants as they help to fulfill the Great Commission and seek Him for wisdom in performing the task in a changing world.

For example, in 1945 He put the idea of a film on the life of Christ on my heart. Approximately 33 years later, He enabled us to do a full-length movie on the life of our Lord, taken directly from the Gospel of Luke. Since its use began in 1980, there have more than 5.5 billion exposures to the gospel through this film, now seen in 236 countries and translated into over 827 languages. After viewing it, many hundreds of millions have indicated salvation decisions to trust and follow Christ.

Yours for fulfilling the Great Commission each year until our Lord returns,

Bill Bright

Bird Moonwalk

Coolest bird EVER.

Breathe

Here's another great message from Bill Bright.

Restore to me again the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you (Psalm 51:12, NLT).


Dear friends:

Jackie had been a Christian for several years, yet she was frustrated.

"I feel like I am on a spiritual roller coaster," she said. "For awhile I feel close to the Lord and excited about serving Him; then I give in to temptation and sin, and then I feel complacent and distant from God."

Jackie was describing a problem that plagues many Christians today -- how to live a more consistent, victorious life for our Lord Jesus Christ.

Let me ask you: Have you been troubled by inconsistency, discouragement and defeat in your Christian life? Well, I have good news for you. You can get off that spiritual roller coaster and enjoy a victorious, consistent walk with the Lord Jesus.

Here is the secret: Keep short accounts with God through an exercise I call "spiritual breathing."

Think for a moment on how your body needs to breathe. When you exhale, you are ridding your lungs of carbon dioxide and other impurities that would cause disease if they stayed in your system. Then, when you inhale, you breathe in the oxygen that is crucial to maintaining a healthy body.

So it is with spiritual life. When we sin, our fellowship with God is broken. That is why we feel distant from God, and become complacent and discouraged.

Several days after Jackie learned how to breathe spiritually, she experienced hateful thoughts toward a neighbor. As soon as she realized what she was doing, Jackie "exhaled" by praying, "Lord Jesus, I have taken over the throne of my life through sin. I acknowledge to you my hatefulness for my neighbor. Thank you that you died for my sin. I repent of it and I give back to you the control of the throne of my life. Fill me afresh with your Holy Spirit of love."

Then, by faith, she "inhaled" a fresh infilling of the Holt Spirit. And by keeping a short account with God, Jackie's joy was restored within moments.

From the beginning of my Christian life, God gave me a strong desire to live a holy life and become a fruitful witness for our Lord Jesus Christ. Yet, the harder I tried the more frustrated I became.

One day God graciously showed me the answer. It was through this concept of spiritual breathing. I know from many years of experience -- it works.

Yours for fulfilling the Great Commission each year until our Lord returns,

Bill Bright

Eternity

Did you ever think about the fact that, if your a Christian, you're currently living your "eternal life". Eternity doesn't suddenly start when you get to heaven. Eternity is already here, and the moment you're saved you begin.

What an amazing God we serve!

All Numbers Are Equal

Theorem: All numbers are equal.

Proof: Choose arbitrary a and b, and
let t = a + b. Thena + b = t

(a + b)(a - b) = t(a - b)

a^2 - b^2 = ta - tb

a^2 - ta = b^2 - tb

a^2 - ta + (t^2)/4 = b^2 - tb + (t^2)/4

(a - t/2)^2 = (b - t/2)^2

a - t/2 = b - t/2

a = bNow, we know that all numbers are not equal. So, can you figure out where this proof breaks down?

Falling

Fall is in the air, and I like it. There's just something special about being able to take a deep breathe of 45 degree morning air. It's exhilarating.

Plus I like the word exhilarating.

I'm pretty sure fall is the best season ever.

Why do we listen?

Why do we listen when we know they are lies?John 8:44
...[Satan] was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.Why are we so quick to trade long term joy for immediate satisfaction?Philippians 3:13-14
...forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Col 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Why do circumstances in this life tend to drag us down when they are so insignificant in the eternal scheme of things?Col 3:2
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.Why do we struggle to keep that eternal perspective of the day to day?Php 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

How it should've ended

Here's how Lord of the Rings should've ended. I got a kick out of this.

Wonderful Lunch

Community parks are a great way to spend the taxpayer's money. Especially on sunny days with a high of 75 degrees.

The Roles of the Holy Spirit

I did some studying on the Holy Spirit this morning, and I thought I'd share some of what I found.

This is a small sample of what the Word has regarding the Holy Spirit, or Holy Ghost. One thing I noticed is ,when studying the Spirit, you have to make sure and differentiate between the spirit and the Spirit. The word "spirit" has many definitions. I think only the capitalized one is used in reference to the proper noun of the Holy Spirit. See the Strongs definitions for clarifications.

First off, I was encouraged by the word to beginning praying for the Spirit to fill me each and everyday.

Lu 11:13 - If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?I was also reminded, in Romans 5, that when people see the love of God in us, that it's important that we remember that it's not us, but it's the Spirit which shineth through us. We deserve no credit for our goodness, it is only by the righteousness of Christ that we do any good thing. Romans 5:1-5
1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

In John 16:13, we see the Spirit of Truth as our teacher:

“Howbeit 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.”In John 14:26, we learn that the Holy Spirit is our Comforter, Counselor, and teacher:“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”*note here that the "bring all things to your remembrance" is in reference to the Word of God, not necessarily work material, or school stuff...not that the Spirit couldn't do those things too, but just realize that that's not what Christ is saying in this particular passage.

In Romans 8:26, we learn that the Holy Spirit is there for us in times of weakness and prayer as our intercessor:

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”The Spirit also has a role in our sanctification and justification.1 Corinthians 6:11 - And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.The Spirit is our teacher/guide (guides by teaching from His Word), comforter, and intercessor. He also works in our sanctification and justification.

In closing, I found this verse really encouraging and great summary of why Christ came. So often I forget - lose sight of - the simplicity of Christ's purpose. I get caught up in the daily grind, and in my own problems which can seem so large. I need to remember that I'm the carrier of the best news the world has ever recieved!Lu 4:18
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

Be encouraged New Believer. It will take time as you die to self and allow the Spirit to fill you completely, but God has some amazing promises for you in His Word. You've accepted Christ and have been set at Liberty!! Praise Him!

In Christ,
Luke

Engaging Culture

I've copied this from the STR blog.

Engaging Culture
A new Pew poll about religion and Christianity in the U.S. has soon good news and some bad news no matter who you are. Here are my thoughts on some of the responses in the poll.

I'm very glad to see that Americans can perceive the effort of to remove Christianity from the public square, and that it's not a matter of Christians inappropriately intruding in the public realm. All religions have a right to participate in the public square and it's contrary to a pluralistic society to try to vacate some or all religions from the public discussion.

Christians aren't trying to "impose" their views - they are vocally participating in the public square and the democratic process, like every other citizen and group with a stake in this country. It's really impossible to impose a view view the democratic process. After all, all candidates and propositions are up for vote for everyone to weigh in on. Some silly fears about imposing an American theocracy have appeared in print recently, but that is not at all what Christians are doing. They are doing what every American can and should do in the democratic process.

On most of the contentious and controversial social issues, Christians are on the defense not the offense. Christians are defending the status quo or the historically status quo from radical social change, very often being applied through the courts rather than the vote. Abortion, same-sex marriage, much going on in education are examples where proponents are aggressively advancing their views. Christians have not introduced "attacks" on homosexuals. They are responding to and defending the what has been the accepted norm in America.

Anytime a question involves "taking the Bible literally" it's unhelpful because different people read "literally" differently. This is often a way of phrasing it to make Christians look like back-woods ignoramuses against the modern world. We take the Bible as literally as the text indicates. The Bible has different kinds of literature - history, poetry, analogy, etc. - and it has to be interpreted as the author intended. The author and intent is the key to literalism.

Christians aren't imposing the will of God or the Bible on society. Those influence our values and views that we then exercise through our right to vote and engage in society. Every other citizen has background sources that influence their values and views that they also then use to inform how they vote.

Christians do need to exercise wisdom and charity because Christianity is not a political position, though it should influence our worldview and values that work out in our politics. But it's hardly a straight line all of the time. Thus different Christians have different political views. No one is trying to establish a church-state. We always have to be aware that these are two separate spheres, but they do interact in the real world.

God's Mercy

And once again I look upon the cross where you died.
I'm humbled by your mercy, and I'm broken inside.
Once again I thank you.
Once again I pour out my life.

I pour out my life.

Lamentations 2:19
...in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord:...

How Long O Lord?

I'm not perfect, and I don't have it all together.

Psalm 6:1-9

The Law

I just read Mark's post over at theothermarkmiller.blogspot.com. It's a great analogy, and I strongly recommend you take the time to jump over there and read it.

Good stuff.

Somedays

Somedays I just don't know. Ya know?

1Co 2:2
For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

That's Paul talking to the Corinthians.

How much else do I think I know?

Sometimes our wretchedness is very apparent.

What do you know?

Washed

...But ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of God.

Next time someone asks you how you are doing tell them, "I'm washed,I'm sanctified, and I'm justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of God." See what kind of reactions you receive. :) Can you picture it?

So often life's circumstances conspire to drag us down. Satan's trying to pull us back to that post we were once chained too. We forget the promise of this verse.

Hold fast to the promises.

Labor Day Weekend

Well, it's Saturday morning at 7:15am and I'm waiting on my parents to pick me up. We're heading to Taylor this weekend with the entire family. My parents, their kids, their grandkids, and their one great-grandkid are all going to spend the long weekend at the lake I grew up on. The weathers supposed to be very mild, so I doubt we'll too much swimming, but I hoping to get some good fishing time in. I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend (or had depending on when you're reading this I suppose).