dick@mulhern.org

Sin kills --> Not the Law [Rom 7]

2010-09-24T18:10:00.000-07:00

SIN is the problem. Not individual sin but the power of SIN in our lives. The Law just exposes sin for what it is. So the Law is not bad - on the contrary it is good and just and righteous. We realize that sin is sin when we are exposed to the LAW. Notes on [rom 7:7-12] 88, 89, 90 <-- Enjoy!

Out of the Office

2010-09-21T16:26:00.000-07:00

Although I have not been able to upload my notes for the last couple weeks - I have been listening away. It's obvious that I won't finish my goal since I am only on 88 and I have 116 to go. So it looks like it could take 2 years to complete my goal. It's well worth it and I can't wait to dig in each day. Here are the note on the last 9 sermons: 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87 <-- ENJOY!

Are you "under law" or "under grace" {Rom 6}

2010-09-04T05:27:00.000-07:00

This is a crucial question that Paul begins to answer in Romans 6. Being "under law" = thinking that something you do adds to your acceptance before God. Being "under grace" = knowing that NOTHING we do - adds to the righteousness [Christ's righteousness (+R)] earned over a life time of faithfulness to God ending in his gruesome death on the cross] that was imputed to us at salvation. An act of God NOT any act on my behalf. NOTES

Wage War on SIN [Rom 6]

2010-09-01T10:04:00.000-07:00

"...Reckon yourself..." <-- That's the key. We may not have arrived but the promises are sure! We need to battle sin with TRUTH. Christ died for you --> You died in Him --> You are united w/Him --> You are justified in Him ---->>> These are the truths that we need to tell ourselves when the temptation of sin takes captive of a member of our body and uses that to convince us that the fleeting pleasures of sin are greater the the promises of God. NOTES, NOTES, NOTES

Romans 6 - Sanctification section from Romans 10-88-00

2010-08-27T08:49:00.000-07:00

We have died with Christ so we are to RECKON ourselves as dead in Christ. He died in a unique way - for all the sins of the world and so our death in Christ in LIKE his death but not his death. Christ became a sinner the way we became saved. He never sinned and yet the sins of the world were placed in his account. We are sinners through in through yet we are righteous before God because Christ righteousness (+R) was placed in our account. NOTES

Romans 6 - Sanctification section from Romans

2010-08-25T07:40:00.000-07:00

Romans 6 is the beginning of Paul's discussion on sanctification. Up to this point Paul has been focusing on justification. Now comes the fun part. NOTES

I forgot to upload these notes last week NOTES

McNeff & Piper - United with Christ in LIFE & DEATH 9-24-00

2010-08-23T07:54:00.000-07:00

We are united with Christ in his death and in his life. As we died with Christ we shall also be risen with Christ. Roman 6 begins the building of the foundation of this life with Christ --> SANCTIFICATION! NOTES

I am also including the sermon notes on Dave McNeff's study of Ephesians. Dave is the pastor of Eaton & Ault Congregational Church. We have been going through Ephesians for almost 2 years and it looks like another 2 years before we'll be done. NOTES

Santification [Rom 6-8] 9-3&10-00

2010-08-11T08:29:00.000-07:00

Chapters 1-5 basically talk about JUSTIFICATION through GRACE by FAITH apart from works. Now we start on SANCTIFICATION which is progressive.

Paul ended chapter 5 with a dangerous statement that could lead one to say, "Why not keep on sinning as it makes grace abound." Paul's answer to that thought takes the next 3 chapters. A simple answer is-->NO! Dead men can't sin. So is perfection attainable as a Christian? --> NOT really, as we know, but Paul tells us to RECKON ourselves dead to sin and alive in Christ.
NOTES, NOTES

Adam, Christ & Justification [Rom 5:12-21] 8-27-2000

2010-08-06T06:53:00.000-07:00

So far we have been going through the positive points of the text but now we look at the negative aspects of [Rom 5:12-21]. This is a study of the doctrine of "Original Sin." The bottom line is our condemnation before God is based on Adam's sin - we all DIE in Adam. The parallel in this passage is that our being made right with God [Justification] is based on accepting what Christ did for us on the cross and then receiving what he imputes to us --> HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS (+R). So...we who believe are now ALIVE in Christ. NOTES

Christ, Adam & Justification [Rom 5:12-19] 08-2000

2010-08-04T07:02:00.000-07:00

The message of this text is SINNER COME! You that have killed, you that have lied, you that have committed sexual sins...COME! God wants you to be FREE. Believe with faith and accept what Christ has done on your behalf. Your sins will be wiped away and you will be right with God <-- JUSTIFIED!

Your sins are not the reason that you have lost favor with God - the sin of Adam is what has already condemned you. So if the reason for condemnation is not your fault then the FREE GIFT of God - salvation through Christ [which you had nothing to do with] is a fitting solution to the dilemma you face. NOTES

Christ, Adam & Justification [Rom 5:12-21] 06-2000

2010-08-03T06:38:00.000-07:00

These passages bring out further the GLORY due our God in the justification of the sinners. We all die due to Adams sin - which doesn't seem fair. Those who believe and accept what Christ has done on their behalf receive eternal life - which is way beyond fair - it's something that is GLORIOUS and should be the foundation of our life. NOTES, NOTES, NOTES

Exult in God - [Rom 5:11] 12-19-99

2010-07-27T16:27:00.000-07:00

Liz and I have been traveling and so I haven't been able to read, meditate, scan and publish my notes to the web. This week we will be home so I should have more time to continue this quest to listen to all the sermons on Romans by Dr. Piper. So here are the NOTES.

ALSO I'm going to start putting out the photos I've been taking around the world with a short explanation of picture - if I can remember...

This photo is from Bulbula, Ethiopia. This is one of the sponsor children from ATS Cares. She doesn't have a father but her Uncle has stepped up to the plate and provides for her, her sisters and her mother. He has 5 children of his own and also takes care of his mother in law.

MUCH MORE... [Rom 5:9-11] 12-12-99

2010-07-16T08:43:00.000-07:00

If God is willing to do the hard thing - send his son to die for my sins to provide a way for me to escape his WRATH. Then it makes since that he is willing to do the easy thing - day to day tribulations - for me. NOTES

God Pours out his love on us - Rom 5:5

2010-07-15T09:25:00.000-07:00

When you compare [Rom 5:5] with [Rom 5:8] you see that God has poured out his love on us and that the experience we have is induced by the Holy Spirit but it's foundation is in the knowledge of what Christ has done on our behalf. NOTES

Back from Phoenix...

2010-07-12T15:02:00.000-07:00

Liz and I actually had a 3 day break from everything in Crested Butte, Colorado after our extended time in Phoenix. It was an unbelievable place to hike. We will plan on going back there as the town is not to overpriced for a Colorado Ski town.

I kept up on my sermons but didn't have a scanner so here are my notes:
9-26-99: [Rom 4:16-23] - NOTES
10-03-99 [Rom 4:22-25] - NOTES
10-10-99 [above cont.] - NOTES
10-17-99 [Rom 4:22] - NOTES
10-24-99 [Rom 5:1-2] - NOTES
11-07-99 [Rom 15: ] - NOTES
11-14-99 [Rom 5:3-5] - NOTES
And the last one, which I did today: 11-28-99 [Rom 5-8] - NOTES

Back from Haiti - Piper 9-12-99

2010-06-16T09:11:00.000-07:00

This is a Haitian child who is attending the Food for the Hungry "Child Friendly Spaces" program. The children have tutoring, crafts, singing, games etc that fill most of the day-light hours during the week. We will eventually establish 62 of these places and currently we have 16 up and running.

The sermon today was on the topic of believers being "...heirs of the world..." [Rom 4:13]. If we get this concept, truly get it, we will live radically different lives knowing that we are heir to all the world through Christ. We should see Christians risking their security and comfort to work for the kingdom of God RIGHT NOW! Notes

Out of Africa - back to work

2010-06-01T06:47:00.000-07:00

This child was in Chawell, Sudan on the backs of a tributary of the Nile. She was sweet as could be as most Sudanese children are. The value her life is based on her being made in the image of God. We both have valued based on the same thing and thus she needs to learn to read so the Bible can become real for her. It felt great to dig into [Rom 4:13-15] this morning and I hope that I can get a few sermons in before I head to Haiti for 10 days. Enjoy the notes on Rom 4. Note#1 , Note#2

Paul's concern [Rom 4:9-11] 8-22-99

2010-05-13T06:19:00.000-07:00

This will be my last post for awhile as I am leaving tomorrow for Ethiopia and Sudan. I doubt that I'll have time or internet connection to write on this blog. Also I won't be able to scan my notes and put them up. I will continue to read and if you want to follow my travels you can go to my website: www.mulhern.org and click on "Travel Blog." The sermon today was focused on Paul's obsession with Justification in faith alone apart from works. We are tempted to say, "We get it Paul!" but it is so crucial to him as it opens up this good news --> GOSPEL to all mankind. NOTES

Several Sermons

2010-05-11T07:21:00.000-07:00

I have been enjoying my time each morning in Romans. In it is the GOOD NEWS of the Gospel. The "Great Exchange" - our sins for God's perfect righteousness. I will post the notes for the last 4 sermon study in [Romans 4:1-8] 1st NOTES, 2nd NOTES, 3rd NOTES and 4th NOTES.

Justification by FAITH [Rom 3:27-31] 5-30 & 6-6-99

2010-04-30T05:39:00.000-07:00

Piper is finishing up Romans 3 with the last two sermons I listened to. He hits home on justification. I especially was blessed on the first sermon - on why faith is the only way to God that eliminates boasting. The second sermon was harder for me to follow but I still get it. I also used the "pulse" pen that captures what you write and then turns it into a pdf. It also captures audio. I've been waiting for a long time for this technology to finally arrive. Check out the results of the "pulse": Sermon #1 & Sermon #2

God demonstrates His (+R) [Rom 3:35-26] 5-23-99

2010-04-20T05:50:00.000-07:00

William Cowper suffered from severe and manic depression, and although he found refuge in a fervent evangelical Christianity, the inspiration behind his much-loved hymns, he often experienced doubt and feared that he was doomed to eternal damnation. It wasn't until he read [Romans 3:25-26] that he truly understood that he was included in the action of God on his behalf. These two passages are the HEART of the meaning of the cross NOTES.

God demonstrates His (+R) [Rom 3:21] 5-16-99

2010-04-08T05:35:00.000-07:00

When asked by anyone, "What is at the center of your life? We as believers should say, "The redemption of Christ Jesus. Which frees up God the Father to accept me --> sinner that I am!" NOTES

God demonstrates His (+R) [Rom 3:21] 5-6-99

2010-04-07T06:10:00.000-07:00

Laugh at the future even in your guilt because our God sees our casting ourselves on Jesus as perfect righteousness because he has already poured his wrath out on his son. NOTES

Paul is done with SIN {Rom 2:28-29] 3-28-99

2010-03-24T07:37:00.000-07:00

Paul has finally finished his dissertation on SIN. We are all sinners and unless God steps forward with his righteousness --> We will all parish under God's WRATH. To appreciate all that God has done for us it is important to understand just how lost we are. But now as we enter into Easter week we can begin to hear the promises of God for Believers! NOTES

We are under SIN [Rom 3:9-18] 3-21-99

2010-03-17T07:49:00.000-07:00

So, at last, we are at the end of Paul's long argument that all mankind is under sin. But the good news is coming. The gospel of Christianity.
It's God moving upon a people to bring them to the point where they will HEAR the offer from Him to provide his RIGHTEOUSNESS to them <--Freely! They respond with thoughts like:
"I'm done with trying to save myself"
"I'm done saying I a pretty good person"
"I will now look to Jesus who bore my unrighteousness on his body at the cross. I will now embrace him and trust him and receive that (+R) from God. I know that the wrath that is coming [which I deserve] will not destroy me. I will pass through it and spend eternity with my Lord - who loves me much more then anyone else I know. NOTES

Hard Passage in the Bible [Rom 3:1-8] 3-14-99

2010-03-15T08:55:00.000-07:00

Why did God inspire Paul to write hard to understand passages in the Bible? Four reasons:
1) It would drive us to desperation - we need to rely on God to help us understand what's being written.
2) It drives us to supplication - we go to God in prayer and ask Him to reveal the correct meaning of the text.
3) We next go to cogitation - 1. the act of meditation or contemplation. 2. the faculty of thinking.
3. a thought; a design or plan.
4) Education - to understand the Bible we need training which started education in the world.
NOTES

Judgement for Sinners [Rom 3:1-8] 3-7-99

2010-03-13T11:44:00.000-07:00

God will judge our sins and even the Jews want Him to. They want to see all the Gentile sinners suffer in Hell. The argument that Paul addresses in [Rom 3:1-8] is the objection that he may have heard as he taught or the objection he knew would arise from the first part of his letter. The thinking of the Jews was that God's judgment on sin showed his holiness, righteousness and thus His GLORY. Since they were God's chosen there sins would not be judged because it highlighted God's glory. Paul shuts them down with his argument in these verses. NOTES

Who is the TRUE Jew - 2/21&28-99 [Rom 2:29]

2010-03-12T09:08:00.000-07:00

Blogging has added to much time to my daily reading so I will only give a thought or comment when I have time. I write about 2 pages of notes for each sermon and have already compiled a large number of pages to review. I may also try putting the notes up as PDFs for anyone that is interested in a topic.

The thought from these to sermons is that it is important to be a "grafted" into Judaism so we can share in the rich promises God made to the Jews. The Jews are the "mother" and Christians are the "daughter." We seem to think that 2000+ years of Christianity has reversed those roles but it not a biblical truth.

Here are the notes on this sermon.

The Heart of the Law [Rom 2:11-24] 2-14-99

2010-02-23T08:15:00.000-07:00

We have trouble recognizing sin in our lives. We have great "self-esteem" but very little "self-awareness". We feel bad about things but we seldom feel convicted of sin. We minimize it with statements like, "I know I'm a sinner - like everyone else..." These are all indications that we take sinning lightly in North America. What Paul is shooting for is that we are:
- BROKEN
- HUMBLED before our God.
This is the state we need to be in during our life. Paul shows us that the Jews just don't get it. The question is, "What are they not getting?" The answer is found later in Romans [Rom 9:30-31] "What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; 31 but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law." <-- the Jews didn't get it...Why?
[Rom 9:32] "Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works..." The LAW is about FAITH - trusting God, approaching God in humbleness. The Jews had an external religion, very visible for all to see, "...as if it were based on works." And when we practice Christianity this way [ie works based] we ROB GOD of His GLORY!
[Rom 10:2-3] "For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness." They know about Gods righteousness BUT choose to establish their own righteousness based on works. They would rather perform works then humbly submit to God.
WE are THEY - unfortunately [Rom 2:11-24] describes many Christians today. BE BROKEN & HUMBLED before God!

What is Evil [Rom 2:17-24] 2-7-99

2010-02-22T07:40:00.000-07:00

What is Evil?
[A] Evil is feeling, thinking or acting in a way that treats God as less then infinitely valuable and satisfying. In essence - falling short of the glory of God.
[Rom 1:23] "...they exchanged the glory of God for images..."
[Rom 2:23] "...they dishonored God through the breaking of their Law."
[Rom 3:23] "...fall short of the glory of God."
Our response to EVIL - [Jer 2:12-13] "BE APPALLED..."
- forsaking ME - the fountain of living water
- creating cisterns thay can hold no water - exchanging the all satisfying God for things of this world.
So Evil is:
- to walk away from God who is infinitely valuable & satisfying
- turn to man made things to be satisfied - to value highly
And yet the things we turn to do not satisfy, do not fulfill our hopes, do not contain our longings. They always let you down especially at the moment of death!

No partiality with God [Rom 2:11-16] 1-31-99

2010-02-21T16:08:00.000-07:00

[vs13] "...the doers of the law will be justified" This statement should bring a shutter to us. The problem that in North America church is LIGHT and thus we read this and move on to the next verse. We don't give it the proper emotional response.
Only DOERS of the law will be acquitted at the judgement seat of Christ. Is does not say, "by doing works of the law you will be justified." The grounding of our acquittal is not based on dong the law. THE KEY:
- Christ died for our sins
- He provided us a perfect "alien" righteousness
- Which will bring us through the judgment - sinners thou we be.
- So that we might fulfill the law IN OUR WALK. So if we don't see this in our walk --> maybe you don't really believe. We need to seriously think about this:
- Judgment is coming and you will stand alone before God to give an account of the life you lived.
- The Good News: * Christ came to save sinners * He lived a perfect live on my behalf * He died and bore my sins on the cross * He is raised, He reigns and is our ADVOCATE before God.
- This is the same Jesus that will someday be our JUDGE. Imaging a defense attorney making a case for you then jumping behind the bench to judge us <-- comforting thought!
If we believe the above we have FAITH in the above --> our life will produce:
- love
- obedience
- worship
And if it doesn't - it is NO FAITH AT ALL.
James calls this "dead faith" and Paul calls it "if you believe in vain" It's never to late to begin true FAITH!

The Final Divide [Rom 2:7] 12-13-98

2010-02-17T06:55:00.000-07:00

What does Paul mean to seek God's GLORY?
[A] Seek God's GLORY.
- Savor it
- Treasure it
- Delight in it
- Know it
- be Satisfied in it
[Rom 5:2] "...rejoice in hope of the glory of God."
Share in God's GLORY.
[Rom 8:17] "...in order that we may also be glorified with him." We will be different, we will shine like the sun. So - we are to seek our GLORIFICATION which will be to KNOW, DISPLAY and ENJOY God's Glory. How do we seek it? [A] 1) Look to Christ
[2 Cor 4:4] "...the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."
[2 Cor 3:18a] "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."
Our glorification begins now.
2) Don't miss the value of your SUFFERING.
[2 Cor 4:16] "So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day."
I especially feel this as I approach 60. I can't see as good as I once could. My mind isn't as sharp - this is all natural BUT...
[2 Cor 4:17] "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison," Also
[Rom 8:127] "...provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him." Suffering is a means to GLORY!

Eternal Life - Enteral Wrath [Rom 2:6-8] 12-6-98

2010-02-16T16:13:00.000-07:00

So far we've learned that we are under the power of SIN and we suppress this knowledge with all sorts of distractions. Bottom line --> we need the GOSPEL.
[vs6] - the criteria for judgements is DEEDS? How does "works" fit in with "faith" as the criteria for salvation? Romans teaches --> Justification BY FAITH
- [Rom 3:28] "For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law."
- [Rom 4:5] "And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly..."
- [Rom 5:1] "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith..."
* [Rom 8:33] "Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.
Paul also says, "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling." I'm confused - which is it, WORKS or FAITH? Galatians helps us understand this balance. [Gal 6:8] "For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption,..."
- This describes someone constently pursing the things of the flesh - result: - death - Hell - wallow in sin.

...but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life."
- This is a person constently pursing the things of the Spirit - result: ETERNAL LIFE

Some would say that the nothing hangs on the Christian life - it all hangs on that one moment that you made a profession of faith, walked the isle, signed a card. But there is a step between justification and glorification --> SANCTIFICATION - how we grow in Christ from J to G. So here's how it plays out. At the judgment seat God will have 2 books. One with names others with deeds we did during our life. The Father will see our name in the 1st book and brush aside all the failures in our life from the2nd book. Then He'll lift up the action we did during our sanctification on earth and say to all around.
"This is the work of my spirit giving evidence that this person put their faith in my son who has now procured their entrance into GLORY!"
The entrance has not been earned by, merited by, based on --> the deeds he is holding up. It is EVIDENCE that we truly did believe.

Final Divide: Heaven or Hell [Rom 2:6-10] 11-29-98

2010-02-15T06:53:00.000-07:00

Two options await all of us at our last breath --> eternal pleasure or torture. These verses address this issue. Our North American culture is geared towards entertainment. We describe things as "fun" verses:
- meaningful
- worthwhile
- enriching
- valuable
- God exulting
These verses can help us to break free of our culture of triviality and our mindset of Safety first and Security second. We were not created for this --> we were created to suffer and die for King Jesus.
[Rom 2:7-10] describe the judgment that God [vs6] "...WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS" [vs7 & 10] Positive judgment [vs8 & 9] Negative judgment. The key question is:
"Is judgment according to works a hypothetical situation. Set up to show us no one can perform and thus everyone needs the gospel?
OR
"Is judgment according to works the way it really going to be. The pathway to heaven is OBEDIENCE and the pathway to hell UNRIGHTEOUSNESS?
"Is this a contradiction of GRACE?"
OR
"If we are saved by GRACE do we now walk in obedience which flows naturally our of our new state of being a "new creation in Christ" and if we practice sin are we really not saved?
These are the questions that will be answered in the next few sermons - stay tuned.

Judgement & Kindness [Rom 2:1-5] 11-22-98

2010-02-13T21:37:00.000-07:00

The very heart of the Gospel - the thing that makes us Christians is when we stop trying to be righteous in ourselves. We stop trying to win Gods approval and embrace - by faith - the gift of another persons righteousness --> Jesus righteousness purchased for us at the cross. You may ask, "Why do we need so much focus on sin in Romans [Rom 1:18-3:20]? [A] We have become complacent about sin saying, "I'm not perfect - nobodies perfect!" This section of Romans get us where we need to be --> Desperate for God. Paul ends chapter one with a list of sins that leaves out no one and yet some of us are smug or self-righteous saying, "You tell em Paul!" So now Paul deals with US. [Rom 2:1] "Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things." God has two responses to HYPOCRISY 1) Judgment - because God is JUST, thus we have no excuse. 2) Kindness - God is merciful and kind.[Rom 2:4] "Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?" God hangs in there with us because as we see his kindness it leads us to repentance!

The Hope of [Rom 1:32] 11-15-98

2010-02-11T06:45:00.000-07:00

The first chapter of Romans ends with this [vs28] "Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them." This doesn't sound hopeful but their is a truth that has emerged from Romans 1.
1) From [vs 18,19,32] we know 3 things:
- All humans know God
- They all know that he has laws & ordinances
- They also know that to break them can bring about the wrath of God.
2) This knowledge leaves us with NO EXCUSE.
3) Their is a knowledge beyond conscious knowledge. It can be suppressed with any number of distractions (ie drink, drugs, videos, sports, work, etc) but God has placed this knowledge on their hearts. As Charles Hodge, professor at Princeton, stated, "The most reprobate sinner carry about within him a knowledge of his just exposure to the wrath of God." This should give us confidence as we speak to others about Christ. God has gone before us and placed the knowledge of himself inside of them. Our approach with love may bring the suppressed thought to the forefront of their minds. We can say with confidence that if they are troubled from within --> NOT because of my words or the Bible - to at least look for a remedy that can be found in the GOSPEL.

The result of the Exchange [Rom 1:28-32] 11-8-98

2010-02-09T06:55:00.000-07:00

Paul gives us a list of 21 sins that are played out in the lives of men & women that exchange the GLORY of God ---> for ANYTHING. It's not just the sin of homosexuality which he dealt with in [vs27-28] it all the sins list. We takes away any finger pointing from our lives. The list in not exhaustive to let us know that all sins are included in the list. Paul's assessment of our situation:
1) the root problem is ---> we do not want God in our knowledge [Rom 1:28a] "And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God..." As evidenced by how little time we spend on God.
2) So --> God withdraws His common restraints and we sink into our disordered passion - whatever it may be. This withdrawing of restraint by God is the beginning of God's judgment against SIN. The final judgment comes after our death.
3) EFFECT ---> we get a depraved mind. As the heart goes - so goes the mind.
4) It yields at least 21 kinds of evil. When we are at this point - we need to have 3 thing reversed:
* reversal of God wrath for God's righteousness - [Rom 1:17] - gospel reveals God's righteousness.
* reversal of God handing us over to sin - [Rom 6:17] "But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness."
* reversal of our depraved mind for a renewed mind - [Rom 12:2] "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind..."
God can turn these terrible situations around for us!

Our dark exchange [Rom 1:24-28] 10-11-98

2010-02-05T06:55:00.000-07:00

We approach the topic of homosexuality humbly as we know that we are all justified sinners. This results in walking along side our brothers and sisters with love - knowing that our exchange of the GLORY of God for the creature has resulted in terrible sin in our lives. We can not point a finger at any sinner because we are all sinners. In [vs23-28] we see a pattern that emerges - 3 steps.
1) [vs23] "and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things." We make an exchange.
2) [vs24] "Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts..." God gives us over.
3) [vs24] "...to the dishonoring of their bodies..." We act out our exchange. You see this pattern played out 2 more times in [vs25-28]. Our deepest problem in the terrible exchange we have made. That being treasuring anything above God. The healing for the homosexual or the heterosexual is the same --> Restoration of God to His proper place in our lives. Treasuring God above all other things. The result will be victory over or through our "acting out" and final victory when we are united with Christ.

Exchange of GLORY [Rom 1:21-23] 10-4-98

2010-02-04T07:12:00.000-07:00

This is about exchanging something of great value for something that is of no value and perishable:

This is what mankind does all the time. [vs23] "and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things."
SIN = trading the GLORY of God for anything. Paul sees 4 observations about this exchange:
1) It creates futility [= empty, vain] in our lives - [vs21] "...they became futile in their thinking..."
2) It brings darkness into our hearts - [vs21] "... their foolish hearts were darkened." We were designed to have light in our lives. [2 Cor 4:6] "For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." We can only get that light in us from an outside source --> The GLORY of God.
3) Mankind things this exchange is WISE - [vs22] "Claiming to be wise..." They think that they are being independent - in control. YET...
4) [vs22] "...they became fools, " It's foolish because of the great disparity in the value of the exchange. Like the pictures above - would you exchange an Heirloom Diamond for a bunch of rotten bananas? I think not! [vs23] "and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things." The literal translation is:
they exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for a likeness of an image of corruptible man. What it is saying is that we get a copy of a copy of a copy [3x]. It's like trading the Mona Lisa for a copy of a copy of a copy. It would be a faded, blurry mess. Not much of an exchange!

No Excuses [Rom 1:19-21] 9-27-98

2010-02-03T07:16:00.001-07:00

(1) God acted
- God made himself evident to all mankind
- God designed and put his fingerprint throughout all creation
[Rom 1:19] "For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them."
(2) All mankind know God [vs21] "For although they knew God,..."
- Yet they suppress God
- Don't acknowledge God
- Don't give him credit as "designer"

Richard Dawkins, "Biology is the study of complicated things that give the appearance of having been designed for a purpose."

Francis Crick, "Biologists must constently keep in mind that what they see has not been designed but rather evolved."

[vs18] "...who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth."
- they see it
- they deny it
Because if they accepted God as designer they would have to acknowledge Him. They would have to give him the credit for the design. They would loose the glory as it went to God.

(3) No one glorifies God as we should. [vs21] "...they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him,.."

(4) "So they are without excuse." [vs20]
This understanding should arise compassion for the lost. We know what they need --> GOSPEL
[vs16] "...for it is the power of God for salvation..."
So the problems we face in our society:
- drug addiction
- homelessness
- crime
- unemployment
Are really NOT the problem --> the PROBLEM is:
- people suppress the truth
- people don't glorify God
- people live thankless lives
Salvation is one response of God to this problem:
- He'll provide His Righteousness - impute it on you
- Resulting in God's wrath being averted from you
- He will bring healing in your life
- He will bring you home to GLORY

Use your God given GIFT [Rom 12:1-8] 9-20-98

2010-02-02T07:31:00.000-07:00

Piper jumped to [Rom 12:1-8] to encourage his people to find your God given Gift and use it in a small group to be a channel of blessing to others. What is a spiritual gift? [A]

- a peculiar capacity

- unique to you - exercised with your personality, language, feelings etc

- that is a CHANNEL of GRACE to another.

The Key is to: 1) embrace your gift 2) exercise your gift <-- Both are a work of grace

[Rom 12:3] - So don't get "puffed-up" because it's all a work of God. Yet we must work hard at our gift and not just sit around waiting for God to use it. Paul is our model for that: [1 Cor 15:10]

"But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. "

God does not work INSTEAD of you working - God works THROUGH your work.

The Wrath of God II [Rom 1:18] - 9-13-98

2010-02-01T08:10:00.000-07:00

How relevant this verse is today. We have all become "spin doctors" which highlight our strengths and compare them with our enemies weaknesses. This pertains to all of us [Rom 3:10] "...None is righteous, no, not one:..." We are all truth evaders by nature and we often blame others for our mistakes.
What is the truth that is being suppressed?
[A] Truth about God!
As Christians we have 2 main purposes (this is what's being suppressed):
1) Display the GLORY of God to others
2) Contently give our gratitude to God for all the good things he has provided.
Why do we suppress the truth? [A] Because we love SIN <--unrighteousness [John 3:19] Jesus speaking, "And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil."
a) Truth is offered to us through:
- General revelation - Nature
- DNA - the image of God stamped on all mankind
- Specific revelation - Bible
b) We see it
c) We:
- reject it
- distort it
- suppress it
- believe only 1/2 of it <-- the stuff we like
WHY? [A] Because our heart is in love with our particular sin, ourselves, self-determination, etc
d) We don't want the LIGHT in our lives. So we:
- stop reading the Bible
- stop all fellowship with other believers
- stop thinking about God
The revelations that we see in the paper everyday should be taken as a parable that this is true. Like Tiger Woods or John Edwards or Haggard or.... Walk in humbleness, don't point a finger at these men - we are NO DIFFERENT. Lastly - remember God's other response to SIN --> to SAVE us by faith through GRACE [Rom 1:16-17].

Wrath of God I [Rom 1:18] 8-30-98

2010-02-01T07:44:00.000-07:00

I was in Steamboat Springs this weekend so I didn't have access to the internet but I was able to listen to 2 sermons. Since [Rom 1:18] begins a series of thoughts on man's condition (that ends at [Rom 3:21] ) you have to ask yourself, "Who wants to spend so much time talking about sin?"
Three reasons:
1) A right diagnosis (about our sinful condition) brings about a right cure.
2) Understanding this condition can make you a wiser "sage" for others looking for help.
3) When you understand God's hatred of sin and the WRATH that will be poured out on sinners - you'll strongly desire an escape from that wrath.
The "wrath" is being revealed to us now in 3 ways:
1) The universal experience of DEATH - a condition brought about by Adams sin
[Rom 5:15a] "...For if many died through one man's trespass..."
[Rom 5:16] "...For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation..."
2) FUTILITY in misery & suffering.
[rom 8:18]
"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." We all face suffering which seems pointless. Even when we are walking in obedience. This shows God's hatred for ALL SIN <-- Not a specific sin in your life.
3) Human degrigation
[Rom 1:24] "Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves,"
[Rom 1:26] "For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions..."
[Rom 1:28] "...God gave them up to a debased mind..."
Keep in mind that this is NOT the only way God responds to sin. [vs1:17] <-- He also responds with saving GRACE! God warns us with wrath and woes us with grace.

How does the gospel SAVE III [Rom 1:17] 8-23-98

2010-01-29T09:13:00.002-07:00

The gospel saves believers because the gospel keeps believers --> BELIEVING! Because of this truth we can have HOPE. We see all the commands in the Bible and we become discouraged when we understand that God demands perfect righteousness - Our response can be:
"I not going to make it!"
"I have to DO MORE for God"
"Otherwise I'm a GONER!"
OR...we can say to oursleves:
"Because God gave me His Righteousness (freely)"
"Because God already acquitted me in the courts of heaven"
"Because God has forgiven me all my sins - past, present and to come"
"Therefore I KNOW he's for me, He will strengthen me."
"So I will cast myself on that HELP and do what he calls me to do <-- as God enables me."
This is the Christian life - the other response is LEGALISM - which all mankind is "hard wired" to do. Your SECURITY doesn't lie within you - it lies in the righteousness that God imputed on you when you accepted what Christ had done on your behalf! <-- That's extremely GOOD NEWS!

How does the Gospel SAVE us? [Rom 1:17] 8-9-98

2010-01-28T07:27:00.000-07:00

We have to receive God's righteousness NOT our own. We realize that God demands perfect people in heaven and that we can not produce that perfection/righteousness. So we are at a "deal breaker" and we have to turn to God for a solution. That solution is:
the righteousness that God demands He freely gives us.
The only way to be right with God is if God freely makes you right. So what is this "righteousness" that God gives us? It is an IMPUTED righteousness that God gives to us at the moment we accept what Christ has done on our behalf. It is the "righteousness of God" that God sees in us when he looks at us. We are all born "wired legalist" believing that we have to contently be doing MORE THINGS FOR GOD. This is wrong thinking. Believers must embrace this truth:
[vs17] "For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
- the gospel is the power of God to save believers [vs16]
- because in it we see a display of God's righteousness being credited/imputed to OUR ACCOUNT.
So the key is to live with this reality even though we are sinners - is to believe:
- You are acquitted in the courtroom of heaven
- You are accepted as a friend of God
- You will be brought through the wrath of God to an ever-increasing JOY in heaven.

Think of it like a fireman's coat. He puts it on and is able to walk into a burning building without being burned. We have to wear God's righteousness daily.

How does the Gospel SAVE us? [Rom 1:17] 8-9-98

2010-01-27T07:09:00.001-07:00

[vs16] The GOSPEL is the power of God to rescue sinners from the WRATH of God. How does [vs17] get us through the wrath of God at the judgment seat of Christ?
- We have a Holy God.
- He demands from you a sinner a perfect righteousness.
- He's angry because we are so corrupt that we can't produce this righteousness that he is demanding.
- Then in mercy God devises a way [at the cost of the life of His son].
- To give you the righteousness he demands from you.
- Through FAITH in what Christ has done on your behalf.
This is Good News! This is the type of knowledge that you need at the end of your life to sustain you as you leave this world and enter into the next. This is what we need to through in the face of Satan when he puts doubts in our mind, "Are you really saved?" The answer is YES because we can face God because we know what he demands and we know that he has provided it - IF we have truly accepted what Christ did on our behalf.

The Jew FIRST [Rom 1:16] 7-5-98

2010-01-26T06:31:00.000-07:00

Why did Paul end versed 16 with, "...to the Jews first and also the Greeks" He's saying to all of us that the gospel is for EVERYONE and the knowledge that God:
1) Chose the Jews - offends Gentiles
2) Gives all the advantages of the Jews to the "dogs" <-- Gentiles - offends Jews. Leaving all people humbled before God. This statement cuts away any ethnocentrism in all mankind. There is no advantage to:
- your family name
- your heritage
- your race
- your education
- your wealth
All of the above fall flat when we stand before God. What God is saying to the Jews is, "Every Promise you cherish, all your knowledge of God, all the advantages you felt were yours alone are now given to the Gentiles!'
To the Gentile God is saying, "You've hated the Jew long enough, I love the Jews, I chose them from all the people on the earth, I came to earth as a Jew, all my disciples were Jewish...LOVE the Jew and accept the Jewishness of your salvation!" This is not politically correct in the age we live making this a hard sell in the Gentile world. And the Jewishness of this salvation becomes a hard sell in the Arab world. Yet the result of this statement is that it kills the PRIDE in both Jews and Gentiles [which encompasses all people]. We all have common footing in - Christ's act on the cross.

Power of God unto Salvation [Rom 1:16] 6-21-98

2010-01-25T08:01:00.000-07:00

[vs16] "...for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes." The gospel can be "tweaked" so no one is offended by it. YET the Bible can be offensive to unbelievers.
[1 Cor 1:18] "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."
The question is - does "salvation" here refer to conversation of sanctification? Two arguments to point us towards Sanctification.
(1) Because it is a argument for why we should not be ashamed.
(2) Because elsewhere in Paul's writings (and other NT writers) "for/unto salvation" refers to future salvation or ultimate end of salvation with Christ in eternity.
[2 Thes 2:13] "But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth."
[Heb 9:28] "so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him."
Christ will appear to those who believer - TO SAVE.
You don't have to be ashamed of the gospel because it is the power that will bring you through to the END --> To GLORY
!!! We must daily feed in the Word!!!

I am NOT ashamed of the Gospel [Rom1:16] 6-14-98

2010-01-22T07:46:00.002-07:00

You will be shamed for the gospel but you do not have to be ashamed of the Gospel. Jesus was shamed for the gospel all his life. He was:
- mocked
- beaten
- spit on
- cursed
YET - he was not ashamed of the gospel. How did he put up with this shame? [Heb 12:2] "looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."
When he was shamed he said to himself, "I despise you shame. I will not yield to you. I will not give in to you. Do what you will - you will not control. I will not let you rule me." We need to adopt this same resolve when we are shamed by others for our belief in the Bible. Today we are shamed in believing in absolute truths or TRUTH at all. And what was it that motivated Jesus? [A] "the joy set before him" <-- The future in eternity - sitting at the right hand of the Father. We also have a future with Jesus and the Father in eternity - "set before us"

Another good point is that we are debtors to the unbelievers - to those who shame us. We can't look at Christopher Hitchens with disgust even though he spends his life trying to shame us for our beliefs. Instead we should say to ourselves, " I owe this man grace. I'm in debt to Christopher Hitchens." Even though he may never want what we have to offer.

We are in Debit to others [Rom 1"8-15] 6-7-98

2010-01-20T07:42:00.000-07:00

Paul (and you & I) are debtors to everyone else because of the free gift of GRACE that we have received. To see someone else as
- "not qualified" to receive grace in me
- Thus I will not grace them
What you are saying to God in essence is, "I qualified for the gift of GRACE but they didn't"
- because they have tatoos
- because they pierced their body
- becuase they have long hair, no hair, purple hair
you get the idea. This is the END OF GRACE in your life.

So what do we pay those to whom we are in debit? [A] GRACE
How? [A] Through the manifold gifts God has given you!
[1 Peter 4:10] "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:"
Look at ALL people as people worthy to receive GRACE from you.

The Treasure of Faith [R0m 1:8-15] 5-31-98

2010-01-18T21:44:00.000-07:00

Paul's life mission - over arching purpose:
"to bring about obedience of faith for the sake of Christ name among all the nations" Summary of verse [8-13]
1) [vs8] Paul thanks God for the FAITH of the Believers in Rome.
- God gets the Glory for their faith
2) [vs9-12] Paul continues to pray for the Romans
- To help established them in faith
3) [vs13] Paul assures them that he has planned several times to come to them but was hindered. The reason that Paul wants to be with them is to be a blessing to them and be blessed by them.

Beloved of God [Rom 1:7] 5-24-98

2010-01-16T13:56:00.000-07:00

This is the call of God - who we are in Christ [2 Cor 4:4-6]
"In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
[vs4] Native un-belief + Satan = BLIND people who can not see the GLORY of God.
[vs5] We must become bond-servants of Christ
[vs6] Christ, the creator, put LIGHT in us where once there was nothing
RESULT: The Bible is now Life, Beauty, Joy <-- all of which were overlooked before. The Bible is no longer foolish, weird, religious "mumbo jumbo"
God's word is powerful - with 3 words he rose the dead, "Lazara come forth" We can issue a call for converstion - only God can issue a converting call. Believers have all recieved this converting call. We receive that deeper love as believers.
[Rom 1:7] - of all the people of Rome I am writing to those people who are loved of God. We get Covenant Love:
[Jer 32:40] "I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me."
1) God will not turn back from doing us good - true good
2) Put the fear/love of Him in our hearts
3) Result is that we will never leave Him - Eternal life with Christ
[Rom 8:35] "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?"
Nothing can separate us from the love of God - the covenant love can not be broken. So cherish this covenant love, thank God for it, be in awe of it despite our naturally rebellious nature.

Called of God - 5-17-98 [Rom 1:6-7]

2010-01-14T08:05:00.001-07:00

Paul is letting us know that what we do is ~~not~~ the main thing - What God does IS THE MAIN THING! Think about it:
- 1 rabbi from a small group of people in a small corner of the world
- written in 55AD when the world population was small
- writing a short letter to a small audience.
AND YET - this letter has rocked the world and changed the lives of millions throughout history.
[vs6] "called to belong to Jesus Christ..." In America it's hard to awed by the word, "called." We are so independent, rights driven, equality driven. We need to understand how desperately sinful we are. As John's father said to him many times, "The hard thing is ~~not~~ getting people saved - it's getting people lost"
We will be looking at 3 points:
1) God does the calling
2) Not everyone is called - only some are called
3) the call is effective - it creates what it commands

#(1) God does the calling [vs6] - we are called by God to belong to Jesus Christ.
[1 Cor 1:9] "God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."
#(2) This call is not for everyone.
[Rom 8:28] "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."
a) you must love God
b) you must be called of God
??? - Why do you come to Christ?
[1 Cor 1:23-24] "For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. " To these people Jesus becomes beautiful, desirable, trustworthy, worthy of our devotion & worship. No more foolishness, No more a stumbling block!
[2 Cor 4:4] "In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." God changes in our life. That's what happen to me in my Sophomore year in college in the basement apartment near campus. Suddenly Christ became BEAUTIFUL to me - and still is to this day.

By His Grace, For His Name [Rom 1:1-5] 5/10/98

2010-01-12T07:42:00.001-07:00

This sermon deals with [vs 5] and 3 phrases will be examined:
1) "grace and apostleship" - The nature of grace
2) "obedience of faith" - The effect of grace
3) "for His namesake" - The goal of grace
If you don't get GRACE you won't get Romans. We need to understand God's meaning of grace not what we may commonly associate with the word (i.e. a Princes, an ice skater, words said before a meal, etc.)
1) Paul received his apostleship by grace - an undeserved power that we use for ministry. So in this case grace is a "freely given enablement for the purpose of ministry". Paul received this role on the way to kill Christians. God does not work with people moving in his direction. God saves those
- going to kill someone
- heading towards a brothel
- on their way to the bar
God does not help those who help themselves <-- that phrase is not in the Bible. So this first point is:
- Grace is power for ministry
- Grace is free and undeserved
- Faith is the means by which we receive GRACE.
2) "obedience of faith" - If you want to be an obedient person, work on your FAITH not your actions.
3) "for His namesake" - I exist that the name of Christ may be exulted in my life.
[Rom 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.”
Pharaoh was used of God to make know his name to the people of the earth. Knowing God's name is the most important thing in life.
[1 Peter 4:11] "whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."
This is our theology of the Christian life. "whoever.." <-- that's you and me! We need to understand that we need to be powered by God's strength not our own. If we let God work through us - He gets the GLORY and we get the HELP.
Is this a loving way to do things? God demanding that He gets the glory in all things?
YES - If God were not "God-Centered" he would not be loving.
[Rom 10:13] For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
This is our only hope - that we know God and accept what He has done on our behalf. We should rejoice that God is not "humble" about all that He's done for us. We should be glad that God powers men and women to exult His name to all the peoples. So what are we saved for?
- eternal golf?
- meet our loved ones in heaven?
NO - We are saved to exult in the GLORY OF OUR GOD! To 1) see it, 2) savor it, 3) to treasure it, 4) to love it etc. - this is our main goal in life and if God does not make His name know - He is NOT LOVING!

The Gosple of GOD - 5/3/98 - [Rom 1:1-7]

2010-01-10T07:27:00.003-07:00

Paul is out to please God - NOT men and his task is powered by God
[Rom 15:18] "For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed,"
This book is about the gospel of God.

1) It was planned [vs2] "which he planned before hand"
- Not a new religion - a fulfillment of an old religion <-- Judaism
- God keeps his promise - the Messiah has come and the new promises made toward us He will also keep.
- this is a "Holy" book - not written by man but by God's Holy Spirit

2) Concerns God's Son - the good news is about the son of God
- Jesus was pre-existent - God did not chose a man to become God.
- Jesus is God [Col 2:9] "For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,"

Some of the people at Bethlehem felt that going through Romans may be detrimental to the Church as it drug out to long. John related the story of WA Criswell - pastor at a Baptist Church in Dallas TX. Early in his call to the church he announced that he would teach through the entire Bible. It took him 17 years and 8 months - beginning the sermon in the AM service and finishing in the PM service. So today it would take 34 years. During that period the church grew from a small congregation to 22,000 members. So spending 7 years on Romans doesn't sound so bad (and in my case 1 year). Criswell went on to serve the church 55 years and you can listen to his sermons on the web today.

3) Born of the line of David <-- AS PROMISED

Here's what the Jews of that time expected:

[Jer 23:5] “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land."

Also [Isa 11:10] "In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious."

[vs3] is a fulfillment - without conclusion - of those promises. The fulfillment will come when Christ returns. We live in the age between the coming and the second coming.

[vs4] let's us know that Jesus was raised by a "spirit of holiness" unlike the occultist evil practice of trying to raise someone from the dead. He is now the "...Son of God IN POWER..." in that before the resurrection he was vulnerable - he got cold, felt hunger, felt pain, got tired - not any more. He now sits at the right hand of the Father reigning over all - even Satan who need permission to act against us.

Romans 1:1-7 - Whoes we are NOT who we are...

2010-01-08T07:39:00.007-07:00

I know that I am going to enjoy this year of listening through Romans. I sit back and enjoy as Pastor John begins this journey down the greatest theological letter ever written in the history of mankind.

I plan on listening to 18-20 sermons per month and maybe some will take 2 days to digest. This first one is such a sermon. Romans helps us to understand what took place in our life when we began our walk with Christ - when we accepted what he did on our behalf.
1) All have sinned and fallen short
2) The wages of sin is DEATH
3) God demonstrates his LOVE for us by sending his son to die on our behalf
4) Rom. 10:9 - "because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
This is what happened to us - whether or not you can remember the moment.

The question: "How could a man like Paul create such a letter as Romans?"
- A Pharisee
- A hater of Christ and the Cause
He answers it in the first verse: "Paul, a a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,"
It's not WHO Paul is...It's WHOS Paul is!
That's the big question we have to answer in life - Who do we belong to? Do we belong to Christ or are we owned by the distraction of this world.
Paul was:
1) A bond servant of Christ
2) called as an apostle
3) set apart for the gospel of God
This letter is not about the genius of Paul - it's about Paul and his OWNER, RULER, GOD! Already in verse 1 we see the amazing way God works and how Paul can conclude this book with [Rom 11:33] "Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!"
If God can forgive and use a man who hated the church and Christ for 30+ years...he can forgive me and use me.

John suggests that a good read during this series is Leon Morris' book, "The Epistle to the Romans" pictured above.

2010 Challenge

2010-01-07T08:35:00.003-07:00

I recently saw the movie, "Julia and Julie". If you haven't seen it - it's about a young women who decides to cook all the recipes of Julia Childs in one year. I think there were 400+ recipes in, "Mastering the Art of French Cooking". She ends up blogging each day about the successes and failures of each cooking event. Of course the blog becomes extremely popular and raises to the top blog site in no time. The blog becomes a book which eventually becomes a movie.

All that to say that I thought I would do a similar thing. Not cooking...but listening. I plan to listen to all the sermons on Romans that pastor John Piper of Bethlehem Baptist preached from 1998 to 2006 (224 messages).

I met John and Noel in Munich Germany in the early 70s when he was working on his doctorate in NT studies at the University of Munich. He taught a Friday night Bible study that became the center of my life at the time. I couldn't understand enough German to attend any local church so the study became my main source of growth. I had become a Christian about a year before I left for Europe and was just beginning my Christian walk. I had been raised Catholic and had received a good base as a faithful member of the church but didn't accept what Christ had done on my behalf until my 2nd year at UNC. I dropped out of school after my 3rd year and worked to raise the money to go to Europe for a 6 week trip. I ended up getting a job in Munich and stayed for 2 years. I found the Bible study a couple of weeks after getting settled into my new job and sat under John's teaching until he graduated and took a teaching position at Bethel College in Minneapolis.

We have stayed in touch over the years and I see John and Noel at the Annual Desiring God Conference. John and Noel have continued to impact my life and the lives of my sons - especially Thomas who is a youth pastor in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

I plan to write comments on each session as I listen so you can join me in this year long journey by listening also (via the web) or just comment on my comments if you feel like doing so...

God gives us a NEW HEART

2007-11-21T06:47:00.000-07:00

Who are we to answer back to God. We are but mere mortals and he is the creator of the universe.
[Job 13:15] Though he slay me, I will hope in him;
Even if things don't go as we wish - I will continue to trust in him.

God initiates our actions towards him. He puts it on our heart to love him - the seeker discovers that he has been sought all along.
[Eze 36:26-27] And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.
"I will…" says God and man is deceived if he thinks that he is the initiator of all things - or anything!
[Eze 37:14] And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the Lord.”
Rejoice in this fact rather then resent this fact.

We see that our actions towards the needy show our heart.
[1 John 3:17-18] But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
Talk is cheap but action is the key. We in America do have the WORLD'S GOODS and we have the communications to SEE HIS BROTHER IN NEED…are we going to act or talk?

2007-11-20T06:11:00.000-07:00

Grandma and Grandpa are missing NOAH! He's growing up so quickly. We hope to sneak away sometime between Christmas and New Years, weather permitting to get up to see Thomas, Malora and Noah. What a joy they are to us!

The people of Jesus day had it figured out. Either Jesus was who he said he was or he was INSANE.
[John 10:19-21] There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. 20 Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?” 21 Others said, “These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
It was clear to them. No one said, "This is a wise teacher who thinks he is God, but we should listen to what he says." No, they either accepted that he was God sent to earth or that he thought he was god sent to earth and was thus DELUDED.

God is in control of all things - a wise man figures that out.
[Job 12:9-10] Who among all these does not know
that the hand of the Lord has done this?
10 In his hand is the life of every living thing
and the breath of all mankind.
God allow Satan to create suffering in Jobs life. Satan was not able to touch him without God's permission. We should take comfort in that but also we should understand that the question, "Why not me?" is as valid as "Why did that happen to them?" God is sovereign and his decisions for our life lead only to good! Eternal Good!

Are we responsible to God for the people we DON'T TALK TO that he has set in our path?
[Eze 33:6] But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman's hand.
The watchman man was responsible for not warning the people. The people died and did not even know that danger was upon them. Is this so different today. People wander through life oblivious to the eternal danger and we watch them without a word. The simple solution is to share sincerely with them and then the onus is on there shoulders.
[Eze 33:2-4] “Son of man, speak to your people and say to them, If I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from among them, and make him their watchman, 3 and if he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows the trumpet and warns the people, 4 then if anyone who hears the sound of the trumpet does not take warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.

I appreciate the Bible being clear when it comes to defining who is or isn't a believer.
[1 John 3:10] By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
We need not be confused about these issues. It can't be much more straight forward then lines like this. If we keep on sinning - making a practice of sinning - we are not of God. But if we are fighting sin, admitting sin and confessing sin we are striving to be like God.

Uncle Bill - a last link to our past...

2007-11-17T09:40:00.001-07:00

We went to Steve Mulhern's for a brunch last Sunday and had a great time talking with all the relations. Uncle Bill is in good spirits at 80 and always fun to talk to. He will be joining all the AZ Mulherns for Thanksgiving Dinner.

Jesus came to give us ABUNDANT LIFE.
[John 10:10b] ...I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
At times I feel like I am living that abundant life and at other times… I pray that I would live the life Christ has for me and not look back!

The abundant life does not include the sin of the old life. We need to continually fight the sin of the flesh to live the life Christ has for us. To turn back to the old way of life is a disaster!
[2 Peter 2:20-21] For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 21 For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.
It would be better never to have know the truth then to lapse back into the sinful life we lived before Christ. This is the battle we all face in life.

2007-10-22T10:16:00.001-07:00

We're back in Arizona for a week or so and as you can see I was visited by the State Bird today - a road runner. You don't see them vary often but this one wondered into the inner court while I was doing my Bible study this am so I caught him before he took off...

Be careful of what you think about.

[Ecc 10:20] Even in your thoughts, do not curse the king,

nor in your bedroom curse the rich,

for a bird of the air will carry your voice,

or some winged creature tell the matter.

Be glad for this life and don't worry about those around you. Make the best of all situations and guard your thoughts. We think we are so wise - so smart but in reality we know so little compared to our God.

[Ecc 11:5] As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.

Men and Women were waiting and watching for the Savior at the time of Christ and even though the religious leaders of the time rejected Christ these seekers DID NOT.

[1 Peter 1:10-12] Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

If man is truly wanting to find God - God will open his eyes and their happiness will be compete.

Leslie Goode Memorial Service

2007-10-05T04:22:00.001-07:00

Tomorrow we will have a memorial service for Leslie Goode. Her life was full of evidence of her faith it Jesus and the last act of a life does not nullify your life. We will spend time together remembering Leslie.

What is the best thing we can do - enjoy the life that God has given us.

[Ecc 3:22] So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot. Who can bring him to see what will be after him?

Instead of wishing for something else or regretting what could have (should have) been - enjoy your life.

God tells us what he desires:

[Jer 9:23-24] Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, 24 but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”

Boast only in the fact that you know the LORD of Hosts - not in any thing else.

Faith apart from works is dead.

[James 2:14-17] What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Going to church, reading the Bible daily, praying constantly - these are all evidence that your faith is in God. Action is evidence that Jesus can use before the Father to show that we truly put our faith in Jesus. Faith without evidence of that faith is dead.

Mike's coming to visit

2007-09-26T06:20:00.000-07:00

Mike's coming today for a few days. He will be attending his 40th High School reunion and doing some research for his project in Tempe. It will be great to have him around for a few days.

Jesus Christ is the same today as he was 2000 years ago.

[Heb 13:8] Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

We think that what Jesus said 2000 years ago has a different meaning today but we are mistaken. We water down his words and teachings but we are mistaken. We deceive ourselves and distract ourselves but we are mistaken - Nothing has changed in the words of Jesus and we will be held accountable to our response to those words. God help us!

Spencer Cousin Party

2007-09-24T09:19:00.000-07:00

We had all of Liz's cousins over for dinner on Sunday - what a blast. We only had 3 or 4 cousins missing. It was a test run for the Spencer Christmas party. Above we have Todd his wife and Michelle.

What is a worthy cause - a reason to live…

[Isa 58:10] if you pour yourself out for the hungry

and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,

then shall your light rise in the darkness

and your gloom be as the noonday.

And what is the result of this action...

[Isa 58:11-12] And the Lord will guide you continually

and satisfy your desire in scorched places

and make your bones strong;

and you shall be like a watered garden,

like a spring of water,

whose waters do not fail.

12 And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;

you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;

you shall be called the repairer of the breach,

the restorer of streets to dwell in.

Why do we get so distracted? Why do we not take the promises of the God that created the universe and structure our life around those statutes? Grab on to the power of God to live this life!

On this note from Hebrews…

[Heb 12:2-4] looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

Look to Jesus - we have not even begun to resist the temptation of sin that distracts us. Let us look to Jesus as an example of resistance and rely on his power to deliver us!

2007-09-23T05:37:00.000-07:00

I have recently gotten together with the DeJongs - Hank basically put me through college by letting me work on his dairy and live on the property. The friendship is a very meaningful one in my life and I cherish it.

Man thinks that he is so wise and yet the gap between God and man is unfathomable.

[Isa 55:8-9] For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

We are so deceived into thinking that man is the center of the universe and yet reality will be had by all mankind at the moment of death.

It's amazing what people have accomplished through FAITH!

[Heb 11:33-34] who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.

And yet we today have a greater hope.

[Heb 11:39-40a] And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us...

We have the Son who has revealed all things to us - at least what we need to know. And yet we seldom do great things by faith. God have patients with us and like the man who spoke to Jesus, "I believe, help my unbelief" - Help us also that we may believe and give you the honor you deserve.

Proper Perspective

2007-09-22T05:40:00.001-07:00

My sister-in-law Jane Keirnes took this picture when we were in South Africa last year at this time and I put it in a picture frame that I found in a FH document. I'm volunteering with FH putting together briefs of projects they are involved in and I used this picture as a placeholder till I received the site pics.

I like this line from Isaiah -

[Isa 52:12-13a] “I, I am he who comforts you;

who are you that you are afraid of man who dies,

of the son of man who is made like grass,

13 and have forgotten the Lord, your Maker,

who stretched out the heavens

and laid the foundations of the earth...

We fear the wrong things. We fear man who is made just like us and yet we give no honor to God the creator of everything. We have created so many distraction that God no longer has a place in our life - and yet we constantly blame him when some calamity hits say, " What kind of a God would allow this to happen?" We are pitiful creatures. Without God in our lives.

In contrast we have the actions of men and women of FAITH.

[Heb 11:23-26] By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king's edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.

Moses parents did not fear the Pharaoh but instead honored God. Moses chose the right way instead of being distracted by the "fleeting" pleasures of this world. So we see the difference between the man with God in his life and a non-believer.

Estes in the Fall...

2007-09-17T05:32:00.001-07:00

Yesterday Liz and I took Jennifer Hendrix and Kathleen Mildrum up to Estes for the day. It was a perfect day with sunshine and rain. This is a picture of Liz and I on the balcony of the historical Stanley Hotel.

The supremacy of God in the lives of men is paramount.

[Isa 42:5-6]Thus says God, the Lord,

who created the heavens and stretched them out,

who spread out the earth and what comes from it,

who gives breath to the people on it

and spirit to those who walk in it:

6 “I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness;

I will take you by the hand and keep you;

I will give you as a covenant for the people,

a light for the nations,

God gives of breath, God gives us spirit, God takes us by the hand…we think we're in control but we are deceiving ourselves. God is in complete control and we are here for his purpose only - not our own agenda.

[Isa 43:13] Also henceforth I am he;

there is none who can deliver from my hand;

I work, and who can turn it back?”

No one...

The great promise for today is from Hebrews…

[Heb 9:28] so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

We are the people who are eagerly awaiting Christ's return!

Fall at the Farm...

2007-09-15T06:42:00.001-07:00

This the lane that leads up to our house. This time of year it is ablaze with golden colors.

Hebrews is full of promises that delight the heart of the believer. The new covenant which the believers today live under - are blessed beyond belief.

[Heb 8:10-12] For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel

after those days, declares the Lord:

I will put my laws into their minds,

and write them on their hearts,

and I will be their God,

and they shall be my people.

11 And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor

and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’

for they shall all know me,

from the least of them to the greatest.

12 For I will be merciful toward their iniquities,

and I will remember their sins no more.”

God is faithful even though we are unfaithful. That is why we should continue to thank the LORD for all that he has done. He lives through us and we get the privilege of being a vessel that is used of God. But best of all - because he remembers our sins no more we escape the coming WRATH of God which we so much deserve. Any blessing beyond that is a plus and any calamity is minimized almost to nothing.

An anchor to the soul...

2007-09-11T08:08:00.001-07:00

In this life it is sometimes hard to believe and hold fast to the promises but God has been faithful and given us promises. His promises are like none other.

[Heb 6:17-19] So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. 19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain,

God can not lie and his promises are SURE. We can take his promises and hold on to them for they are like no other promise we have received. As the passage says they become, "sure and steadfast anchor of the soul".

This is a picture of Patricia at the baptism of one of my sisters or brothers with mom in the background.

2007-09-10T07:27:00.001-07:00

This is the table Liz set for our dinner with Chis & Bonnie Thomas - The company was even more delightful then the meal...

God has given us a motivator to work hard to learn a skill and become proficient at it.

[Pro 22:29] Do you see a man skillful in his work?

He will stand before kings;

he will not stand before obscure men.

Continue to pursue your skill and be the best you can be in it - your reward will be that you will stand before important people who will marvel at your talent.

Here is a great promise:

[Isa 26:3] You keep him in perfect peace

whose mind is stayed on you,

because he trusts in you.

Peace is what we all desire and yet in this world it is so hard to attain. Here is the formula for perfect peace - keep you mind focus on God.

The Christian walk is not a "cake walk". We must strive each day - all our lives.

[Heb 6:11-12] And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

The inheritance is not just give to us - we gain it through FAITH and PATIENCE - to the vary last day of our lives. These are demonstration of our belief not the cause of our salvation.

Enter God's rest...

2007-09-07T06:09:00.000-07:00

It's so apparent that God is in control of everything.

[Pro. 21:31] The horse is made ready for the day of battle,

but the victory belongs to the Lord.

In almost every reading you see that God directs the steps of man and that man is here to do God's bidding. We are his creatures designed to show the GLORY of GOD!

Jesus also knows and controls the future.

[Luke 21:10-13] He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters 11 and tell the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 12 And he will show you a large upper room furnished; prepare it there.” 13 And they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.

Nothing is a mystery to our God. I take comfort in the thought that God controls everything. I may not see it all as good but I know that it all works for good in the long run. My comfort is that I am spared from the deserved coming wrath of God - anything, absolutely anything good is icing on the cake.

[Heb 4:11] Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.

The word "strive" means to work hard at. So God is warning us to work hard to fight disobedience or sin because the reward is REST, true rest in the comfort of our God - icing on the cake!

Small town Eaton - Community Days

2007-07-19T06:59:00.001-07:00

We just celebrated Eaton Community Days - a forgotten tradition of this country. A community coming together to celebrate the establishment. We had a friend from Phoenix who couldn't believe the crowd of people at the street dance and sitting on the front lawn of one of Liz's childhood friends and watching the fireworks last night is something I will not soon forget. This is the country I see fading away. The picture is of Greg Steer speaking at the worship service in the park.

What a great passage:

[1 Thess 5:9-10] For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.

This is our main comfort in life - We are going to avoid the deserved coming WRATH of God. We may get cancer, sorrows, poverty or heartache but that is of no concern because in the end we are covered by the blood of Jesus as the children of Israel were protected by the blood on there door posts from the death angle.

It was 30 years ago today...

2007-07-10T07:05:00.000-07:00

Liz and I celebrated our 30th Anniversary and my 57th Birthday yesterday. We didn't do anything out of the ordinary but we did think about what happen 30 years ago throughout the day. I am a fortunate man to have such a wonderful wife and a great family. We received flowers from our sons & daughters which made the day all that much more special. It was also nice hearing from our grandson Noah.

When I consider all the blessing that God has showered upon me throughout my 57 years and realize that they are a mere pittance compared to the blessing to come…I stand in awe.

Notes from my daily Bible reading:

[Ps 135:6] Whatever the Lord pleases, he does,

in heaven and on earth,

in the seas and all deeps.

This is the definition of SOVERIGN - doing whatever you please whenever you please. We should be thankful that this power is only in the hands of a good and powerful God.

[1 Thess 1:10] and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

This is my main comfort in life. Come what may, poverty, bad health, misfortune, whatever - I hold this close to my heart. I am spared from the deserved coming wrath of God by the blood of Jesus. It has nothing to do with me or any action that I took - IT'S ALL A ACT OF GRACE on the part of God. If I should avoid one of the above disasters it's just icing on the cake and if I don't avoid them - so be it - the one thing I desire most in in place - to be with God forever.

2007-06-01T06:10:00.001-07:00

In 1961 the ambiance was not as important as getting into the water!

2 Sam 23-24: We have no fear of falling into the hands of the living God.

[2 Sam 14] Then David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Let us fall into the hand of the Lord, for his mercy is great; but let me not fall into the hand of man.”

God is merciful and man is ruthless. Even when things don't go as we plan - continue to trust in the LORD for his mercy is GREAT.

Psalm 118: We must learn to trust God over man.

[8-9] It is better to take refuge in the Lord

than to trust in man.

9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord

than to trust in princes.

Because we see man and the power of man we tend to trust in that strong arm but this is a false security. Trust in God and delight in him and security will fill you.

[14-15] The Lord is my strength and my song;

he has become my salvation.

15 Glad songs of salvation

are in the tents of the righteous:

“The right hand of the Lord does valiantly,

God is our STRENGTH and our SONG - our SECURITY and our DELIGHT.

Mark 16: I love to read the responses of people in the Bible to the acts of God.

[8] And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

Trembling, Fear, Astonishment - these are the words that are constantly used to describe the acts of God. These are FEELINGS not just knowledge. Unless we feel emotions towards the LORD and the promises he made I fear that we will miss out. If all we have is head knowledge and no DELIGHT I fear that we will hear the LORD say, "Be gone from me, I never knew you"

Gal 6: Mike Tessendorf has helped me to understand the importance of this passage.

[10] So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Do not ignore those brothers and sisters who suffer on the other side of the world. We are not bound by geography to do good. Just because suffering is happening a half a world away - we need to see it as if it were next door. Help us LORD - open our eyes!

Walk by the Spirit of God

2007-05-31T05:41:00.000-07:00

Gal 5:13-26: The key to successfully fighting sin in your life is to walk by the Spirit.

[25] If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

The result of walking by the spirit is the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT.

[22-23] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

If we see this fruit in our lives we will know that we are walking by the Spirit of God and that we are controlled by God. It is God who makes us great or nothing.

We were made for FREEDOM!

2007-05-30T06:13:00.001-07:00

Gal 5:1-12: Here is a worthy versus to meditate on today…

[1] For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

Whatever that slavery may be - sin or the law. God has given us a way to be FREE! Sin and law keeping only serve as masters over us but FAITH in God brings freedom without restraints.

Psalm 116: The psalms are always so beautifully worded. They are my morning prayer each day.

[5-7] Gracious is the Lord, and righteous;

our God is merciful.

6 The Lord preserves the simple;

when I was brought low, he saved me.

7 Return, O my soul, to your rest;

for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.

It is a blessing to be simple - like a child. God preserves the simple.

Mark 15:33-41: Even the heathen gentiles who thoughtlessly crucified Jesus realized that he was not just another man.

[9] And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

He was God and all of mankind will someday know this to be true.

Grace Graduated!

2007-05-28T06:38:00.000-07:00

We celebrated Grace's Graduation in a big way last week. It was great to see all the family and [as they say in the "The Weld Hearld"], "a good time was had by all"

2 Sam 16-17: I like the way David leaves everything in the hands of God even any annoying man that curses him.

[2 Sam 16:10] But the king said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the Lord has said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’”

David and his men could have easily put this man to death but David reasoned that if his own son wished him dead what was so wrong for this relation of Saul to want him dead. God lifts up and puts down.

[2 Sam 16:12] It may be that the Lord will look on the wrong done to me, and that the Lord will repay me with good for his cursing today.”

David left it up to future Grace of God instead of taking action on his behalf and God was faithful to King David.

[2 Sam 17:14] And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel.” For the Lord had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the Lord might bring harm upon Absalom.

God is sovereign and his will be done on earth as it is in heaven. God desired to bring king David back into power and to kill Absalom and it will come about as the LORD desires.

Psalm 114: Fear God!

[7-8] Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord,

at the presence of the God of Jacob,

8 who turns the rock into a pool of water,

the flint into a spring of water.

For God is able to bring you eternal life or eternal torment.

Mark 15:1-15: What a role in history Pilot played.

[14-15] And Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him.” 15 So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

His weak leadership shown in his action of putting to death and innocent man - to please the crowd - will forever be his legacy.

Gal 4:1-20: The reality of what God has done on our behalf is mind blowing.

[4-7] But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

We are no longer slaves to sin but now are part of the family of God. Heirs to the kingdom with Jesus - whatever life brings beyond that is icing on the cake!

Happy Birthday to LIZ!

2007-05-27T06:15:00.000-07:00

Liz looks and feels like she did in this shot when she was 23 years old. I love her more today and each day with her is a gift from God.

2 Sam 14-15: David had lost his kingdom because of the evil deed he had done and yet he trusted the LORD and knew that if it be God's desire he would yet again be King in Jerusalem - if it be the LORD desire.

[2 Sam 15:25-26] Then the king said to Zadok, “Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me back and let me see both it and his dwelling place. 26 But if he says, ‘I have no pleasure in you,’ behold, here I am, let him do to me what seems good to him.”

Why do we hang on to things instead of letting them slip through our hands and know that the LORD's will can not be thwarted.

Psalm 113: Here's a good day…

[2-3] Blessed be the name of the Lord

from this time forth and forevermore!

3 From the rising of the sun to its setting,

the name of the Lord is to be praised!

We do not give the LORD the attention he deserves.

Gal 3:15-29: FAITH in is what life is all about.

[26] for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.

Whether it be bygone faith with the resulting blessings we received or future Grace that we hold fast - it's all about FAITH. In this all mankind is equal!

[27-28] For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

The world tries to legislate equality but this is true equality - we are all ONE IN CHRIST.

The mowed pasture - with a lawn mower.

2007-05-25T07:16:00.000-07:00

That's right - I mowed the pasture with a LAWN MOWER. It took me two days and Liz thought I was CRAZY. Cece kind of likes it but that may be the last time I do that.

2 Sam 13: Deceit, Rape, Death - this chapter has it all. Out of the hearts of men comes no good! Brother rapes sister...

[14] But he would not listen to her, and being stronger than she, he violated her and lay with her.

And then Brother kills brother..

[28] Then Absalom commanded his servants, “Mark when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon,’ then kill him. Do not fear; have I not commanded you? Be courageous and be valiant.”

Father begins to see the results of his own sin.

[37] But Absalom fled and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son day after day.

So goes the life of men.

Psalm 112: The description of the righteous man is delightful.

[1-3] Praise the Lord!

Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,

who greatly delights in his commandments!

2 His offspring will be mighty in the land;

the generation of the upright will be blessed.

3 Wealth and riches are in his house,

and his righteousness endures forever.

The wicked are continuously envious of the righteous.

[10] The wicked man sees it and is angry;

he gnashes his teeth and melts away;

the desire of the wicked will perish!

That is the difference between a man with a heart turned to flesh by the LORD and a man who's heart remains STONE!

Mark 14:66-72: What is the right response to sin - remorse and repentance.

[72] And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

The last step is to accept God's forgiveness after we confess and move on in life - as Peter did and Judas was not able to do.

2 Cor 3:1-14: We get our sufficiency for life through CHRIST!

[ 5-6] Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

That's why Paul can say, "We can do ALL THING through him who strengthen us". What a great life we are allowed to life through Christ!

The creation of God is as MAGNIFICENT as the plan of God

2007-05-24T05:57:00.000-07:00

Sam 11-12: What a great example we have in David - when we sin we must confess our sins.

[2 Sam 12:13] David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.

And immediately the LORD put away his sin and yet he had consequences of that sin.

[2Sam 12:14] Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child who is born to you shall die.”

David understood that all sin is against the LORD - his sin had "scorned" the LORD. All sin is an abomination to our God and it shows contempt for our God to the whole world.

Psalm 111: God has set before us the thoughts of his mind and we can except them or ignore them. What man seeks is WISDOM!

[10] The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;

all those who practice it have a good understanding.

His praise endures forever!

If God can create this marvelous world and all the heavens - Is it not possible to get his thoughts into the hands of man. Does it not make sense that God would reveal himself to mankind? Of course it does and this plan of God is as marvelous as the creation of God.

Gal 2: FAITH is the key to the Christian walk.

[16] yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

How to we live by FAITH? Christ lives in us to that end!

[20] I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Christ lives the life of faith through us. See what I said - the plan of God is as magnificent as the creation of God!

It's great sleeping weather here in Colorado

2007-05-22T05:06:00.000-07:00

The evening are cool and the breeze flows through the window all night. It's hard to get out of bed this time of year and you begin to look forward to sleep as the sun goes down. I had forgotten how nice this climate can be here in Colorado.

2 Sam 8-10 : What is the constant theme in David's life…

[2 Sam 8: 14b]...And the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went.

It was by the LORD's strength that David was successful and it is by God's strength that we walk the Christian walk and are successful. I have always loved the story of David's kindness to Saul's grandson who was lame in both his feet. Me

[2 Sam 9:8] And he paid homage and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I?”

This was Mephibosheth response to David when he saw his kindness. He understood that David could have killed him as a threat to his throne but instead David restored all the lands of his Grandfather and had him dine with him every day. That's GRACE.

Psalm 110: The coming desired WRATH of God will be a terrible sight.

[5-6] The Lord is at your right hand;

he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath.

6 He will execute judgment among the nations,

filling them with corpses;

he will shatter chiefs

over the wide earth.

The mighty will be cut short and those who have humbled themselves before the LORD will be thankful that the desired wrath did not fall on them. This is enough in life - to know that the deserved wrath of God will not consume us thanks to the act of Jesus on our behalf. Any other blessing in life is icing on the cake.

Mark 14:32-42: Jesus felt the frustration of the sinful world we lived in and sought to escape the pain of it all.

[36] And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

But in the end it was the will of his Father that he desired more then escaping the pains of this life - even death. This is the example that we should follow in life. Not our security and comfort - God's will be done in our lives.

Gal 1: Paul describes the conversion experience…

[15-16] But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone;

We were selected by God before time began and then in a point in time he opened our eyes to see the precious gift he had provided - his son's death on our behalf. Now we see that we have escaped the coming WRATH of God and we have a life/eternity with God ahead. What more do we need? That knowledge is all we need to live this short life with complete JOY come what may.

Life on the farm...

2007-05-21T06:00:00.001-07:00

2 Sam 5-7: David figured it out - we perform before an audience of ONE.

[2 Sam 6:21-22] And David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me as prince over Israel, the people of the Lord—and I will make merry before the Lord. 22 I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in your eyes. But by the female servants of whom you have spoken, by them I shall be held in honor.”

When rebuked by his wife he let her know that he will honor God and be made the fool in the eyes of man. He knew that it was God that had established him and he was humbled by that fact.

[2 Sam 7:18-19] Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and said, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? 19 And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord God. You have spoken also of your servant's house for a great while to come, and this is instruction for mankind, O Lord God!

It was God who made him GREAT - not his strength. It was God who chose him and the thought that the creator of the universe would select David [or us] is mind blowing!

Psalm 109: May our lives be a testimony of the LORD we serve!

[26-28] Help me, O Lord my God!

Save me according to your steadfast love!

27 Let them know that this is your hand;

you, O Lord, have done it!

28 Let them curse, but you will bless!

They arise and are put to shame, but your servant will be glad!

When people look at our life may they see this great God that has created us and chosen us to be part of the family of God. "To live is Christ and to die is GAIN"

Mark 14:12-21: What is worse then not being born? Being born and then facing an eternity in everlasting torment! Speaking of Judas…

[21] For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”

This is the reason that we must never sway from those in our lives - to continually share the good news with them.

2 Cor 13: What does Paul admonish us to do?

[11-12] Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss.

To live with each other in peace and his peace will settle upon us.

2007-05-20T06:40:00.001-07:00

2 Sam 3-4: David believed that God could do his own bidding when it came to killing Saul or any family member of Saul. When two brothers killed Saul's son, who was the sworn enemy of David, and brought the head to David - this was his response:

[2 Sam 4:10-11] when one told me, ‘Behold, Saul is dead,’ and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and killed him at Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his news. 11 How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous man in his own house on his bed, shall I not now require his blood at your hand and destroy you from the earth?”

Not exactly the reward they were hoping for.

Ps 108: Man's plan for salvation is useless:

[10-13] Who will bring me to the fortified city?

Who will lead me to Edom?

11 Have you not rejected us, O God?

You do not go out, O God, with our armies.

12 Oh grant us help against the foe,

for vain is the salvation of man!

13 With God we shall do valiantly;

it is he who will tread down our foes.

Only God's plan for the salvation of mankind is worth anything.

Mark 14:1-11: Judas thought Jesus was being PROUD when he declared that he was special. The problem is that when mankind boasts of being special - it's the sin of PRIDE. When Jesus who was special boasts it is the TRUE. Judas response:

[10-11] Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. 11 And when they heard it, they were glad and promised to give him money. And he sought an opportunity to betray him.

In this short passage one person is remembered for a deed of kindness and another reviled for his evil act - for all time and eternity.

Grandma Kathy

2007-05-17T05:53:00.000-07:00

This is my sister Kathy Mulhern who is now a grandmother to 2. She was always an animal person and this is just one of the many pets we had and she took care of.

1 Sam 29-31: Before David would take a step in any direction he would consult the LORD.

[1 Sam 30: 8] And David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I pursue after this band? Shall I overtake them?” He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake and shall surely rescue.”

He was successful in his campaign even though he was out numbered because God fought for him and he recovered all that was taken from him. He also showed compassion on the men who were to weary to fight and waited by the baggage.

[1 Sam 30:22-23] Then all the wicked and worthless fellows among the men who had gone with David said, “Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except that each man may lead away his wife and children, and depart.” 23 But David said, “You shall not do so, my brothers, with what the Lord has given us. He has preserved us and given into our hand the band that came against us.

You can see there point and yet David was see the provisions the LORD can provide and wasn't afraid to share the spoils because he knew the LORD would provide all their needs.

Psalm 106:24-48: This psalm is the story of faithless mankind and faithful God. This is the story of the Old Testament - a story of failure on mans part.

[40-41] Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against his people,

and he abhorred his heritage;

41 he gave them into the hand of the nations,

so that those who hated them ruled over them.

And a story on the faithfulness of God on his part.

[43-45] Many times he delivered them,

but they were rebellious in their purposes

and were brought low through their iniquity.

44 Nevertheless, he looked upon their distress,

when he heard their cry.

45 For their sake he remembered his covenant,

and relented according to the abundance of his steadfast love.

The New Testament is where we see victory for mankind - a God given victory over sin found only in faith in Jesus Christ.

Mark 13:14-31: Christ will return in VICTORY and if we are the generation to see the signs we will also witness his return.

[26-27] And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

No man will question the existence of God at that point - he will either lift his hands to God or fall low to the ground in regret.

2 Cor 11:16-33: Paul knows that it is not by the deeds of man that he is saved but he also knows that mankind only understands deeds as proof of allegiance.

[23-24] Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one.

Yet Paul knows that strength in the Christian walk is found in our utter weakness and dependence on Christ.

[30] If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.

This is the secret of the Christian walk - UTTER DEPENDENCE ON GOD for all things in life. This is the point that caused the failure of mankind in the Old Testament - they did not grasp this concept.

Timberline Lodge

2007-04-27T05:51:00.000-07:00

We spent a lot of time up at Timberline this winter - it was a great season and I'm already looking forward to next ski season.

1 Sam 1-2: As the Bible shows over and over - God is in control:

[1 Sam2:6-8] The Lord kills and brings to life;

he brings down to Sheol and raises up.

7 The Lord makes poor and makes rich;

he brings low and he exalts.

8 He raises up the poor from the dust;

he lifts the needy from the ash heap

to make them sit with princes

and inherit a seat of honor.

For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's,

and on them he has set the world.

God lifts up and God brings down. We are the creatures that God does as he wishes with. We are not in control. We are here to show the glory of this great God and enjoy his grace and mercy.

Psalm 95: What is the sweetest thing in life? To enter God's rest

[10-11] For forty years I loathed that generation

and said, “They are a people who go astray in their heart,

and they have not known my ways.”

11 Therefore I swore in my wrath,

“They shall not enter my rest.”

The first generation missed out on God's rest and we can also - seek to be in God's rest all the days of your life.

Mark 9:33-50: Because sin is so blatant in our society we see it as trivial - that is not the case in the eyes of God.

[43-47] And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. 45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell,

God knows the consequences of sin and is warning us to avoid sin at all cost. These strong words are meant to make the point - AVOID SIN. Not to literally cut off our hand.

2 Cor 1:1-11: The Christian life is about sorrowful comfort.

[5] For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.

We are comforted in the promises of God - even when afflicted. We are comforted by the grace and mercy shown to us in this life - even when we are nothing in the eyes of this world. Live in that comfort!

God is one...

2007-04-15T07:25:00.000-07:00

Josh 22-24: A misunderstanding occurred between the 10 tribes in Israel and the 2 tribes across the Jordon. Instead of presupposing that Ruben and Gad were doing wrong – the 10 tribes went and found out for themselves.
[22:28-29] And we thought, If this should be said to us or to our descendants in time to come, we should say, ‘Behold, the copy of the altar of the Lord, which our fathers made, not for burnt offerings, nor for sacrifice, but to be a witness between us and you.’ 29 Far be it from us that we should rebel against the Lord and turn away this day from following the Lord by building an altar for burnt offering, grain offering, or sacrifice, other than the altar of the Lord our God that stands before his tabernacle!”
Disaster averted! This is definitely one way to solve a crisis – DEPLOMACY! God is complete faithful and has shown him self to be good for his promises.
[23:14] “And now I am about to go the way of all the earth, and you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed.
God will also be faithful to the curses he will bring upon those who do not treasure God as he deserves.
[23:16] if you transgress the covenant of the Lord your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them. Then the anger of the Lord will be kindled against you, and you shall perish quickly from off the good land that he has given to you.”
We have no excuse for not hold God as the supreme value of our lives. We have been warned – over and over. Joshua comes up with this great line.
[24:15] And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Psalm 80-81: We have but one God.
[9-10] There shall be no strange god among you;you shall not bow down to a foreign god.10 I am the Lord your God,who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.
But we are people that ignore our God and treasure other things above him.
[11-12] “But my people did not listen to my voice;Israel would not submit to me.12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts,to follow their own counsels.
But what is God’s desire?
[13-14] Oh, that my people would listen to me,that Israel would walk in my ways!14 I would soon subdue their enemiesand turn my hand against their foes.
That we would listen to him and walk in his ways – that is the only path to true joy in this life and eternal joy in the next.

Mark 4: Jesus is describing American Christians today.
[18-19] And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, 19 but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.
We must turn COMPLETELY to the LORD – not letting the distractions of this nation we live in replaces God as the treasure of our life.

1 Cor 7:17-40,8: We must be careful in all we do, not to be a bad example by mistake.
[8:13] Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
If one believes that drinking wine is bad – don’t drink wine in there presence. That’s a pretty simple rule.

2007-04-13T05:58:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of my oldest son David with his first cousin, Molly. These two haven't seen each other for many years. Marcie is in the lower left and now is the mother of 5 kids [4 beautiful girls that look just like their mother and a handsome son]. Marcie lives about 5 miles east of us.

Josh 20-21: God has a great track record of keeping his promises.

[21:43-45] Thus the Lord gave to Israel all the land that he swore to give to their fathers. And they took possession of it, and they settled there. 44 And the Lord gave them rest on every side just as he had sworn to their fathers. Not one of all their enemies had withstood them, for the Lord had given all their enemies into their hands. 45 Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.

So if God has been faithful in the pass with the promises that he made to men - is it not logical that he will continue to make good on his promises? We have such little faith and we are so short sighted that we miss the faithfulness of the LORD.

Psalm 79: As we live our lives we are to recount to those around us the glories and words of our God. We are to disciple them and let them know that we serve the one true God - creator of all things.

[13] But we your people, the sheep of your pasture,

will give thanks to you forever;

from generation to generation we will recount your praise.

What a privilege to know the one true God and to have a heart that treasures God above all else. A heart that God gave us - replacing our heart of stone that ignored God.

Mark 32:20-35: It's a freighting thing to think that there is a sin that can not be forgiven.

[28-29] “Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”—

To say that Jesus was from Satan - and believe it - was an unforgiveable sin. To be a follower of Jesus we need to treasure him above all else in life.

[34] And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”

Jesus was our model - our family is the family of God and that family is of great value to us.

1 Cor 7:1-15: The Bible answers the question we all have in life.

[4] For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.

We are not our own in this life. We are God's we are our wife's we are servants to all.

Dinner with Mom and Dad

2007-04-12T06:59:00.000-07:00

We seldom ate a meal with my mom and dad so when we did it was PICTURE TIME. This is my brother Mike, myself and my sister Elizabeth. This would have been around 62-63.

Josh 18-19: The people finished dividing the land.

[19:51] These are the inheritances that Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun and the heads of the fathers' houses of the tribes of the people of Israel distributed by lot at Shiloh before the Lord, at the entrance of the tent of meeting. So they finished dividing the land.

Finally - this is a hard portion to follow as I have no concept of the places the Bible is talking about.

Psalm 78:40-72: Man ignores God despite all the good gifts he gives us. We demand a perfect life and when we experience that life we don't thank our God.

[40-42] How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness

and grieved him in the desert!

41 They tested God again and again

and provoked the Holy One of Israel.

42 They did not remember his power

or the day when he redeemed them from the foe,

How quickly we forget the good gifts God has provided. When life doesn't provide the very best - we curse God and ask why he has forsaken us. The offense can be as simple as not getting a parking place close to the front door of the store. Yet God is faithful even when we aren't.

[72] With upright heart he shepherded them

and guided them with his skillful hand.

God provide David to lead them and he still provides to the faithful to this day.

Mark 3:1-19: When God hardens a heart, no circumstance can bring forth compassion.

[4-6] And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. 5 And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 6 The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.

Even when Jesus did a wonderful thing the religious people hated him. Even to the point of working with their enemies to help them stop Jesus. When God selects - he does so based on his good will - NOT MANS.

[13] And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him.

Jesus chose those HE DESIRED as he does with all mankind. To be chosen is a cause for a lifetime of celebration and praise to God.

1 Cor 6:12-20: We are not our own. We are owned by our creator.

[19] Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,

Because we are not our own we need to flee from immorality since our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. That is why Satan uses the body to allure us into sin. Meditate on the above scripture and remember the great future that awaits us. Forsake the momentary pleasure for the eternal pleasure.

2007-04-10T05:34:00.000-07:00

This is a shot from the MPB minstrel that was probably performed about 1963. I know that the girl that played Dorothy was Mary Francis Teska and the guy combing his hair is Greg Hodges but that's about it. Amazing that we can remember names of people that we knew 30-40 years ago but forget someone that we see once a week.

Josh 15-17: A road map of the land the people of Israel possessed - These people were truly a blessed people.

Psalm 78:1-39: God does wondrous deeds and we are to share our knowledge of God with the next generation.

[4] We will not hide them from their children,

but tell to the coming generation

the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might,

and the wonders that he has done.

And yet despite all that we know and see - we still do not treasure God as we should. We can only be thankful that God knows mankind.

[38-39] Yet he, being compassionate,

atoned for their iniquity

and did not destroy them;

he restrained his anger often

and did not stir up all his wrath.

39 He remembered that they were but flesh,

a wind that passes and comes not again.

We see the grace of our God towards us throughout the Bible and we stand in awe. We ask God to forgive us and yet if we treat a person of honor as we treat God we never forgive them.

Mark 2:18-28: The religious are so concerned about rules - so much so that they forget the purposes of God.

[27] And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”

Our weekly Sabbath is a gift from God to be used to relax and take time to focus on our God. It's not about rules and regs - does and do not's. Do not miss out on the LORD's Sabbath.

1 Cor 6:1-11: If we continue to sin openly we need to question whether we believe at all.

[9-10] Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

When God takes control of your heart he opens your mind to the awesomeness of his glory. His words come alive and you find yourself awe struck by the wonders of our God and creator. If we don't value him above all else we should question if we value him at all.

Easter - He has risen indeed!

2007-04-09T05:58:00.000-07:00

What a wonder celebration we had yesterday with family and friends. After lunch with Jack and Kris we came back to our house to have an evening celebration with Gayle and Clay and Jennifer and Scott and their kids, Catlin and Nick. It snowed during the day but that did not hamper our spirits.

Joshua 13-14: God is the provider of all things to mankind.

[14:10-11] And now, behold, the Lord has kept me alive, just as he said, these forty-five years since the time that the Lord spoke this word to Moses, while Israel walked in the wilderness. And now, behold, I am this day eighty-five years old. 11 I am still as strong today as I was in the day that Moses sent me; my strength now is as my strength was then, for war and for going and coming.

Caleb, the other faithful spy, was 85 years old and yet the LORD had kept him fit for war. He may have been living a healthy life but he attributed his health to the LORD. As I say often, we are saved from the coming deserved wrath of God - but not from health issues. If we live a healthy life that is the icing on the cake.

Psalm 77: When we get discouraged we need to focus on our God.

[ 11-14] I will remember the deeds of the Lord;

yes, I will remember your wonders of old.

12 I will ponder all your work,

and meditate on your mighty deeds.

13 Your way, O God, is holy.

What god is great like our God?

14 You are the God who works wonders;

you have made known your might among the peoples.

God has made himself know to mankind through the might works of nature. He has also give us this Book that we may know and understand that our God is the creator and we are the creature. He has put in our hands these life giving words that we may understand that treasuring God is what life is all about.

Mark 2:13-17: Jesus was truly a rebel whom we would have had trouble understanding because he broke the tradition of the RELIGIOUS people.

[16-17] And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

This would be like hanging out in the bad part of town with…well… the same crowd - prostitutes and con-men. Most church people would turn up there nose to a man who would hang out with those people.

[17] And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

We can never feel superior to any man as we are all the same - sinners in need of deliverance from the chaos of our lives. This happen be embracing the chaos of the kingdom of God.

I Cor 5: Jesus hung out with sinners and so we also are to hang out with sinners - but we are not to have among as people who claim to be believers and yet boast of sins.

[9-11] I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.

When you are a follower of Christ you should not openly sin and yet continue to call yourself a believer. If you truly treasure Christ you will not continue to sin without remorse. We never stop sinning but our sin only cause to see our need for Christ and see him as our only hope to escape the coming WRATH of God - which we so deserve.

Happy 16th Charles!!!

2007-04-06T06:09:00.000-07:00

What a great family we are part of...just another blessing from our God. We celebrated Charles 16th birthday by sharing a meal together in Fort Collins and then ending the evening with cake at our house. May you have many more Charles!

Josh 10-12: When the LORD fights for you - it's really not a fair fight.

[10:11] And as they fled before Israel, while they were going down the ascent of Beth-horon, the Lord threw down large stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died because of the hailstones than the sons of Israel killed with the sword.

The battle for the promised land was not Israel's - it was the LORD's

[10:42] And Joshua captured all these kings and their land at one time, because the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel.

Joshua did as the LORD commanded.

[11:21b]...Joshua devoted them to destruction with their cities.

The result of this devotion to destruction?

[11:23] So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the Lord had spoken to Moses. And Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal allotments. And the land had rest from war.

The land became there's and they lived in PEACE.

Psalm 76: God is to be feared in this life.

[7-9] But you, you are to be feared!

Who can stand before you

when once your anger is roused?

8 From the heavens you uttered judgment;

the earth feared and was still,

9 when God arose to establish judgment,

to save all the humble of the earth.

We fear the deserved WRATH of God upon us because we have not honored God as creator. We put other things above him and we are weak in our devotion. Our only hope is God's graciousness. That is why God came to save the HUMBLE of the earth - those who fear God.

Mark 2:1-12: Jesus wanted to leave no doubt in the minds of mankind that he was claiming to be God and that his action proved that he was God.

[8b-11]...“Why do you question these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— 11 “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.”

All our sins are against God and only God can forgive our offenses against him - Jesus is God and is able to forgive all sin. The crowd reaction should be our reaction.

[12] And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

Have you ever seen a paralyzed man get up and walk on the command of a man? Was Christopher Reeves able to get up and walk at the command of his doctors? NO and only by the power of God are men healed. So be AMAZED with these people that God was among us and 2000+ years later we still have this testimony.

1 Cor 3: All that we have comes from God.

[7] For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?

We have no reason to boast about anything for God has given us all that we have. We should rejoice in the blessing that God has given us. But not so much FOR the blessing but for the PROVIDER of the blessings.

God causes GROWTH

2007-04-05T05:48:00.000-07:00

1 Cor 3: We need to be careful not to hold up our favorite Christian writer above others as it is God who causes GROWTH in our Christian walk.

[5-7] What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.

These writers are not anything to be praised [in the wrong way] but to be thanked as helping us to better understand our God and cause us to treasure him more.

Josh 8-9: Success in battle came for Israel from the LORD and when they had completely defeated Ai and burned it to a rubble - They read the word of the LORD.

[8:34-35] And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessing and the curse, according to all that is written in the Book of the Law. 35 There was not a word of all that Moses commanded that Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel, and the women, and the little ones, and the sojourners who lived among them.

Everyone in the camp heard the word of the LORD. We learn from this passage that we are to take all things before the LORD and not be lead by our eyes and puny minds.

[9:14-15] So the men took some of their provisions, but did not ask counsel from the Lord. 15 And Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore to them.

Israel was tricked by the cunningness of the people around them and thus were bound by an oath to let them live - against the command of the LORD - all because they did not consult the LORD before taking action.

Psalm 75: Our God is sovereign in all he does.

[7] but it is God who executes judgment,

putting down one and lifting up another.

God lifts one man up above another and God puts one man below another. It is God that directs our lives and yet we don’t take the time to honor and worship this God who created us for himself that we may treasure him above all else.

Mark 1:35-45: Jesus saw the crowds and even though they were relentless he look on them with compassion.

[40-41] And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” 41 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.”

We need to have the eyes of Jesus and see the hurting in our world with compassion. They have no options and they have no hope. We have been blessed beyond belief and it is our God who wants to use the rich to help the poor.

God has opened our minds to him.

2007-04-04T05:35:00.000-07:00

1 Cor 2: God has revealed to us the wisdom that was hidden from the beginning of time and we now have it in our possession.

[7] But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory.

What is this wisdom? It is the very mind of God.

[16] “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

This wisdom is give to us by the spirit of God that dwells in us and the spirit knows exactly what's on God's mind and in his heart.

[10-11] these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

Astonishing! Amazing! We have in our hands the thoughts of the creator of the universe. We the creatures get to comprehend what the creator wants us to understand.

Josh 6-7: Is fame what you crave in life? Then follow the LORD in all that he commands.

[6:27] So the Lord was with Joshua, and his fame was in all the land.

He will lift you up before men and the fear of the LORD will be upon them concerning you. Why is it that we treat sin as if it were nothing. We see the effect of ONE sin in this passage.

[7:11] Israel has sinned; they have transgressed my covenant that I commanded them; they have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen and lied and put them among their own belongings.

Because of the sin one man, Achan, the army of Israel ran in defeat and 36 men were killed. We commit sin after sin and God feel no differently about our sin. Our sins effect those in our life just as Achan's caused his whole family to die.

Psalm 74: We need to look at all that God has created and see the miracle of this life we are allowed to live.

[15-17] You split open springs and brooks;

you dried up ever-flowing streams.

16 Yours is the day, yours also the night;

you have established the heavenly lights and the sun.

17 You have fixed all the boundaries of the earth;

you have made summer and winter.

We take for granted all that God has done. We should stand back in awe at what the LORD has created. He is the one that set all this world in motion and sustains it to the end - which he has set and no one can change.

Mark 1:21-34: The reaction of people to Jesus is one of my favorite topics to write about because it is so consistent.

[22] And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.

ASTONISHED!

[27] And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.”

AMAZED! Should we be any less astonished or amazed? Of course not for we are seeing the only man in history that was God and man at the same time. We have in our hands the words that can effect our eternal life - as well as our days on earth - Astonishing, Amazing!

The LORD's Army fights for his people...

2007-04-03T06:57:00.000-07:00

Josh 3-5: As Jonathan Edwards is purporting in his study. "The End for which the World was Created" - this earth is here for one reason - To show the GLORY of God.

[4:23-24] For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over, 24 so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever.”

The result of viewing the miracle of this world should be FEAR of the LORD FOREVER! God shows us how he fights for his chosen people - the people he chose out of all the earth.

[5:13-14] When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” 14 And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?”

God has an army that he commands and they fight for his people. They are commanded by God not man so they serve and go to fight on his command. To be chosen by God - what a privilege and an honor.

Psalm 73: We sometimes wonder why the rich live such a life of ease and our life seems so full of troubles.

[2-3] But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled,

my steps had nearly slipped.

3 For I was envious of the arrogant

when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

In the end they stumble and fall and they separate themselves from God. Upon further consideration we come to the truth.

[23-26] Nevertheless, I am continually with you;

you hold my right hand.

24 You guide me with your counsel,

and afterward you will receive me to glory.

25 Whom have I in heaven but you?

And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.

26 My flesh and my heart may fail,

but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

What do we have to hold on to in life except our God - everything else will pass away and yet God will receive those he has chosen into his GLORY. As I often say, "We are saved from the coming wrath of God". As the last line indicates - we are not saved to perfect health, wealth or happiness - or even a heart attack. Escaping the deserved coming wrath is enough for me!

Mark 1:9-20: Jesus begins his ministry with an exciting announcement.

[14-15] Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

History had entered a new stage and we are living in that new era - the end is near! And the LORD has given man the good news of how to escape the coming wrath - accept what his son has done on your behalf.

1 Cor 1:18-31: Where is the wisdom of this world.

[20] 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?

God chose the weak minded of this world so that mankind would know that God is behind salvation not the most brilliant minds.

[27-29] 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; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

Even those brilliant minds that have been chosen realize how superior the mind of God is to mans mind.

[25] For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

We just stand in awe and praise God for his abundant grace!

Precious in God's sight are the poor & needy

2007-04-02T05:52:00.000-07:00

Psalm 72: We know what God cares for - the needy.

[12-14] For he delivers the needy when he calls,

the poor and him who has no helper.

13 He has pity on the weak and the needy,

and saves the lives of the needy.

14 From oppression and violence he redeems their life,

and precious is their blood in his sight.

We don't need to ask God to bless a ministry that cares for the poor and needy because he has told us that they are precious in his sight. You may be concerned about a biker ministry or an aerobics for Christ ministry - etc.

Josh 1-2: Now hear the promise that the people of Israel made to Joshua before they crossed the Jordon to take possession of the land.

[1:16-17a] And they answered Joshua, “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. 17 Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you.

That wouldn't have been very comforting to me if I were Joshua - ahh do you think you can do a little better then how you obeyed Moses? The Lord had promised the land and victory but he required that they remain COURAGES.

[1:9] Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

THAT would have been a lot more comforting to me then the promise from the people. Another comforting report would have been the message the spies brought back.

[2:10-11] For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction. 11 And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the Lord your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath.

God was fighting for them - melting the hearts of the fighting men.

Mark 1:1-8: Mark lets us know from line one that his gospel is about Jesus - the son of God.

[1] The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Jesus came to give us what no man can give - God in us!

[8] I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

This spirit inside of you is God inside of you - the director of your actions for God. We are privileged to by used by the God, creator of all things, for his purposes. What could be more exciting then that?

1 Cor 1:1-17: Paul asks a question that should be asked again today.

[13] Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

The Christian community seems so fragmented by points of doctrine that divide instead of unite. No wonder the world looks at the church and is confused. This world is so lost and within the Christian community we seem just as lost at times. Only by the grace of God will we remain "in Christ" to the end.

Final word from Paul to the Romans...

2007-04-01T04:49:00.000-07:00

Rom 16: What is Paul's final warning?

[17-18] I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. 18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.

Watch out for those who cause division - who teach contrary to the gospel. You will know them by their "smooth talk". Paul's final blessing - doxology:

[25-27] Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— 27 to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

AMEN!

Duet 33-34: How is that a living God creator of all things should take note of a people - any people?

[33:29] Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you,

a people saved by the Lord,

the shield of your help,

and the sword of your triumph!

Your enemies shall come fawning to you,

and you shall tread upon their backs.”

That God takes note of anyone is amazing to me because he is so superior to us that it would seem that we are nothing to trifle with. There is none like Moses.

[34:10-11] And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, 11 none like him for all the signs and the wonders that the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land,

To live on this earth and yet speak face to face with God - what a privilege. The most we can hope for is that at the end of our life we will be like Moses.

[34:7] Moses was 120 years old when he died. His eye was undimmed, and his vigor unabated.

That our eyes will not be dim and our vigor unabted!

Psalm 71: Who is like our God?

[17-19] O God, from my youth you have taught me,

and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.

18 So even to old age and gray hairs,

O God, do not forsake me,

until I proclaim your might to another generation,

your power to all those to come.

19 Your righteousness, O God,

reaches the high heavens.

You who have done great things,

O God, who is like you?

NONE! I have sought God since my youth and now with old age and gray hairs I still seek him and I pray that I will continue to my last breath - seeking God.

Mt: 28:11-20: So why would we serve Jesus?

[18] And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Now I ask - Why would we NOT serve Jesus if ALL the authority is in him? And what is it that God desires for us to do?

[19-20] Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Spread this good news that those chosen would begin there walk with God and delight in him through out this life and the next.

Eternal reward is being with God forever...

2007-03-31T07:09:00.000-07:00

Deut 32: Moses taught his people a song of praise to God. The message of the song is that our God is SOVERIGN.

[39] “‘See now that I, even I, am he,

and there is no god beside me;

I kill and I make alive;

I wound and I heal;

and there is none that can deliver out of my hand.

The words God shares to us are more then just words.

[46-47] he said to them, “Take to heart all the words by which I am warning you today, that you may command them to your children, that they may be careful to do all the words of this law. 47 For it is no empty word for you, but your very life, and by this word you shall live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess.”

These words are our VERY LIFE.

Psalm 70: We have only one help in life.

[4-5] May all who seek you

rejoice and be glad in you!

May those who love your salvation

say evermore, “God is great!”

5 But I am poor and needy;

hasten to me, O God!

You are my help and my deliverer;

O Lord, do not delay!

We have only one deliverer in life - it is the LORD our God who is our treasure and supreme value in this life and the next.

Mt. 28:1-10: The sight of a real angle of the LORD is a fearful thing.

[2-3] And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men.

We have a risen LORD - who has been risen from the dead never to die again? Only Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

[ 5-6] But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.

Praise our God above all!

Rom 15:14-33: Our pride in life should consist of what God has done through us.

[17-18] In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God. 18 For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed,

This is our whole purpose in life - to be empty vessels that the LORD fills up for his purposes. Our reward is life eternal with Christ - a joy that can not be fathomed in this life.

God is our only HOPE

2007-03-29T05:45:00.000-07:00

Deut 29-31: God opens the eyes of men - as he wills.

[29:4] But to this day the Lord has not given you a heart to understand or eyes to see or ears to hear.

Even those these people had seen the power of the living God and yet they did not believe. Man is born with a heart of stone and it is only God who changes our hearts to hearts of flesh. God has revealed all that he desired for man to know but he has kept many mysteries covered - only to be revealed when we are with the LORD.

[29:29] “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.

We speculate on so much and yet we don't even hold on to what we have and know. What God requires of man is not so burdensome.

[30:11 & 14] “For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. 14 But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.

And what is that command?

[30:19-20a] I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, 20 loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days,

So God offers man LIFE or DEATH - so choose life and you will if God stirs your heart.

Psalm 69:19-36: Life is about PRAISING the LIVING God!

[33-34] For the Lord hears the needy

and does not despise his own people who are prisoners.

34 Let heaven and earth praise him,

the seas and everything that moves in them.

Everything that moves PRAISE THE LORD!

Rom 15:1-13: We are not hear to live a life of leisure - to focus on our needs and wants.

[1-3] We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.”

Let Christ be our example - He lived his life for all mankind and forsook the world of LEISURE. God has given us a promise that we should treasure above everything else in life.

[12-13] And again Isaiah says,

“The root of Jesse will come,

even he who arises to rule the Gentiles;

in him will the Gentiles hope.”

13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

HOPE that is what the world desire above all else and here is the promise of hope for the non-Jew. Praise God for his offer - he is our treasure and of supreme value.

The treasure of life - our God!

2007-03-28T05:46:00.000-07:00

Deut 27-28: For some reason I don't remember the CURSES of Deut.

[27:18-19] “‘Cursed be anyone who misleads a blind man on the road.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

19 “‘Cursed be anyone who perverts the justice due to the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

It's like the 10 commands stated in a negative way. God promises a BLESSED life if we obey the words of the LORD.

[28:2] And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God. 3 Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field.

The result of all these blessings will be…

[28:10-11] And all the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they shall be afraid of you. 11 And the Lord will make you abound in prosperity, in the fruit of your womb and in the fruit of your livestock and in the fruit of your ground, within the land that the Lord swore to your fathers to give you.

The people of the world will see a difference and fear you. It's seems that they will also envy you and want to destroy you. But what will bring destruction to God's chosen people?

[28:15] “But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord your God or be careful to do all his commandments and his statutes that I command you today, then all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you.

The curses go on the rest of the chapter and the results are terrible for IGNORING him.

[28:58] “If you are not careful to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name, the Lord your God,

Psalm 69:1-18: We are taught from some that salvation mean salvation from everything - poverty, sickness, loneliness - I don't believe this is true especially if you read the psalms.

[5-6] O God, you know my folly;

the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you.

6 Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me,

O Lord God of hosts;

let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me,

O God of Israel.

David was called a man after God's own heart and yet he constantly cried out to God in time of trouble. Obviously he was not saved from the things of this world. We are saved from the coming wrath of God which we so deserve - all the of the blessing - good health, a nice house, a descent car - all icing on the cake and if we find ourselves with cancer or bankrupt we can still rejoice because our treasure in life remains - eternal life with our God.

Mt. 27:57-66: You can not squelch the plans of God - no matter what man does.

[65-66] Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.

Even though the religious leaders had all the power and were able to secure the tomb of Jesus with guards - they were not able to keep Jesus from rising from the dead.

Rom 14: Don't pass judgment - we have an audience of ONE - God.

[4-5] Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

We will all be held accountable before God.

[10-12] Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; 11 for it is written,

“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,

and every tongue shall confess to God.”

12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

That is why we must live our lives humbly before our God and fight sin at every turn. Focus on the supreme value of our God and the promise of eternal life with God to come and the pleasures of this world will pale in comparison.

We IGNOR our God in America

2007-03-26T06:02:00.000-07:00

Deut 22-26: We have so ignored the voice of God that we now blatantly sin and no one is offended.

[22:5] “A woman shall not wear a man's garment, nor shall a man put on a woman's cloak, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord your God.

Now men not only wear women's clothing's - they become women with the help of a doctor. Another way we ignore God in our society is to accept and approve of infidelity.

[22:22] “If a man is found lying with the wife of another man, both of them shall die, the man who lay with the woman, and the woman. So you shall purge the evil from Israel.

We have gotten so far from our God - we just outright ignore him altogether. God has such a heart for the poor.

[24:14-15] “You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether he is one of your brothers or one of the sojourners who are in your land within your towns. 15 You shall give him his wages on the same day, before the sun sets (for he is poor and counts on it), lest he cry against you to the Lord, and you be guilty of sin.

He loves the poor and cares for them by blessing others to take care of them. As we treasure God he treasures us.

[26:19] and that he will set you in praise and in fame and in honor high above all nations that he has made, and that you shall be a people holy to the Lord your God, as he promised.”

He doesn't treasure us above himself as he alone is worthy above all things.

Psalm 68: Our God sustains us and lifts us up when we fall. He is our hope in times of trouble and the promises he has made to us allows us to put the troubles we face into perspective.

[19-20] Blessed be the Lord,

who daily bears us up;

God is our salvation. Selah

20 Our God is a God of salvation,

and to God, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.

This is the greatest of all promises - that the LORD delivers us from DEATH. He is our salvation because his sacrifice will deliver us from the coming wrath of God which we so deserve.

Mt. 27:27-34: God was made the fool for us.

[29] and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”

He never said a word although had he desired he could have become the all and powerful God at any moment and destroyed these soldiers and all of mankind. Even though he saw how faithless mankind was HE STILL DEID FOR US.

Rom 13: We must be care not to be so appalled at our government that we do not give them the respect due them.

[5-7] Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

God has granted them power and we owe them the respect due the office they hold. Nancy Pelosi is speaker of the House and I must upholder her, pray for her and give her honor for the position he holds. Thank you God for this word which always brings PEACE.