If God is completely sovereign over the universe,then why do I need to live a holy life? If God really wanted me to, wouldn't He just "make it happen"?
Seven Surprises of the First Christmas
14 hours ago
Tuesday, April 27
Wednesday, April 21
To Rent or Buy?
Wondering whether you should rent or buy?
Here's a really neat tool that will show you which is better from a strictly monetary perspective. Of course there are many other considerations, other than monetary, when you're making this decision, but there aren't interactive graphs for those. :-)
Enjoy
Here's a really neat tool that will show you which is better from a strictly monetary perspective. Of course there are many other considerations, other than monetary, when you're making this decision, but there aren't interactive graphs for those. :-)
Enjoy
Tuesday, April 20
Powerful Truth
This is super powerful truth when dealing with the really hard times and circumstances in life.
If you can't see the video go here:
If you can't see the video go here:
Monday, April 19
My Conscience is Captive...
On April 17th, 1521, Martin Luther appeared before the Diet of Worms under the charge of heresy. A pile of his own writings was set before him, many written in critique of the Roman Catholic Church, and he was asked to either defend or revoke them.
Luther was uncertain about how to respond, so he asked for more time. It was granted. He would appear before the Diet again the next day.
Luther's differences with the Church of Rome had been the result of his own careful study of Scripture. He had read things in the Bible that were at odds with many of the doctrines and practices of the Church in his day, and his conscience under God had become burdened to speak about them.
So he wrote. He originally intended his writing to help return the Church to a more biblical form of Christianity, not cause a split. But few heard him that way. Instead, for most, at least among the religious and political leaders, his cries sounded more like the ringings of rebellion.
On April 18th, when Luther reappeared before the Diet to give his response, his examiner, Johann Eck, restated the question (with some prologue):
Martin, how can you assume that you are the only one to understand the sense of Scripture? Would you put your judgment above that of so many famous men and claim that you know more than they all?
You have no right to call into question the most holy orthodox faith, instituted by Christ the perfect law-giver, proclaimed throughout the world by the apostles, sealed by the red blood of the martyrs, confirmed by the sacred councils, defined by the Church in which all our fathers believed until death and gave to us as an inheritance, and which now we are forbidden by the pope and the emperor to discuss lest there be no end of debate.
I ask you, Martin—answer candidly and without horns—do you or do you not repudiate your books and the errors which they contain?
Luther had his response:
Since then Your Majesty and your lordships desire a simple reply, I will answer without horns and without teeth. Unless I am convicted by Scripture and plain reason—I do not accept the authority of popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other—my conscience is captive to the Word of God.
I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. God help me. Amen.
(Quotations from Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther by Roland Bainton. Paragraphing added.)
* * *
Luther was uncertain about how to respond, so he asked for more time. It was granted. He would appear before the Diet again the next day.
Luther's differences with the Church of Rome had been the result of his own careful study of Scripture. He had read things in the Bible that were at odds with many of the doctrines and practices of the Church in his day, and his conscience under God had become burdened to speak about them.
So he wrote. He originally intended his writing to help return the Church to a more biblical form of Christianity, not cause a split. But few heard him that way. Instead, for most, at least among the religious and political leaders, his cries sounded more like the ringings of rebellion.
On April 18th, when Luther reappeared before the Diet to give his response, his examiner, Johann Eck, restated the question (with some prologue):
Martin, how can you assume that you are the only one to understand the sense of Scripture? Would you put your judgment above that of so many famous men and claim that you know more than they all?
You have no right to call into question the most holy orthodox faith, instituted by Christ the perfect law-giver, proclaimed throughout the world by the apostles, sealed by the red blood of the martyrs, confirmed by the sacred councils, defined by the Church in which all our fathers believed until death and gave to us as an inheritance, and which now we are forbidden by the pope and the emperor to discuss lest there be no end of debate.
I ask you, Martin—answer candidly and without horns—do you or do you not repudiate your books and the errors which they contain?
Luther had his response:
Since then Your Majesty and your lordships desire a simple reply, I will answer without horns and without teeth. Unless I am convicted by Scripture and plain reason—I do not accept the authority of popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other—my conscience is captive to the Word of God.
I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. God help me. Amen.
(Quotations from Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther by Roland Bainton. Paragraphing added.)
* * *
Friday, April 16
Are divisions Biblically necessary?
1 Corinthians 11:18-19 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and in part I believe it. For there must also be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you.
I'm not at all suggesting that we try and create factions in the body of Christ, but rather, is it God's design that a church have a certain amount of divisions for the purpose of exposing false Christians? - Christians who may look (and even act) the part, but are not truly born again.
What do we cling to when divisions are evident among us? Where do we look for answers? Do we look solely to the Word for it's wisdom, or do we think that our wisdom and what we value, personally, has some say in the matter?
I've found it good to consider these verses.
I'm not at all suggesting that we try and create factions in the body of Christ, but rather, is it God's design that a church have a certain amount of divisions for the purpose of exposing false Christians? - Christians who may look (and even act) the part, but are not truly born again.
What do we cling to when divisions are evident among us? Where do we look for answers? Do we look solely to the Word for it's wisdom, or do we think that our wisdom and what we value, personally, has some say in the matter?
I've found it good to consider these verses.
Tuesday, April 6
Free Shipping
This is a pretty neat tool, if you buy much stuff from Amazon.
If you spend more than $25 on one order from Amazon, they'll give you free shipping. This website allows you to type in the dollar amount you need to spend to get your cart up to $25 and then shows you a list of things that are exactly that amount on Amazon.com
http://www.filleritem.com/
If you spend more than $25 on one order from Amazon, they'll give you free shipping. This website allows you to type in the dollar amount you need to spend to get your cart up to $25 and then shows you a list of things that are exactly that amount on Amazon.com
http://www.filleritem.com/
Thursday, April 1
Piper and Warren
Odd bedfellows? Perhaps not as much as you'd think.
A number of people have asked about John Piper's decision to invite Rick Warren to the national "Desiring God Conference". Here is a 12 minute clip from last night's "Ask Pastor John" session where he addresses that question and explains why he thinks it will be good for Rick to come.
If you can't see the video, you can check it out here, or here.
A number of people have asked about John Piper's decision to invite Rick Warren to the national "Desiring God Conference". Here is a 12 minute clip from last night's "Ask Pastor John" session where he addresses that question and explains why he thinks it will be good for Rick to come.
If you can't see the video, you can check it out here, or here.
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