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Tuesday, June 30, 2009
A poem I found from my stash, "without You"
Without you, my sun doesn't shine like before
Without you, my sea isn't calm anymore
living without you is like a bird living without its wings
with you there, it's as if the bird sings
without you, my clouds are always dark
without you, there's always rain in the park
living without you is like a guitar without strings
Monday, June 29, 2009
another song titled, "Do You know?"
Do you know what you're doing?
Do you know what you've done?
You took an ordinary child,
and you treat him as your son?
Do you know what I'm thinking?
Do you know where I'm from?
You found me by the wayside,
without doubt, you brought me in.
All of my life
I sought and I searched
To find an answer
to my living quest
I came from the East
to settle in the West
only to realize
that my journey ends in dust.
You taught me how to love
You told me to show
that you are the Father
that everyone should know
You taught me how to work
You watched me as I grow
and you're always beside me
Not once you did let go
Saturday, June 27, 2009
As I was recently doing some organizing, I came upon some songs I had written. This one is titled "GRACE"
I lay at night, I write this song.
For the one I've been, waiting for.
I have waited a little too long,
but my heart keeps waiting, some more.
Please Lord, can you just save me,
from the troubles that I've worn?
Take away all of the struggles.
don't let them come back any more.
She is all that I've wanted,
maybe more than I would ever need.
She takes away, all of my suffering,
she takes away all unseen.
I have helped, and I have struggled.
I have kept things going on.
Now I can't hide my feeling,
of all the love, I feel inside.
She is walking down the river,
I see her, walking up the stream.
She leads me through the dark valleys,
She helps to keep away the pain.
Monday, June 22, 2009
John Piper responds concerning the song of solomon controversy. If you know what this is about, check out this audio. If you don't, don't fret about it.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
I am not sure who said this(I lost the attribution), but it is profound nevertheless.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
1Corinthians 10:31-33 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.
1Co 11:1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
I agree with most all commentators when they say that verse 1 of Chapter 11, "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ" belongs together with the last part of Chapter 10. That verse, though it is separated by chapters in the English translations, belongs together with the other verses. Using this verse by itself causes many to use it out of context and not the way Paul here wants us to be imitators.
The questions we must ask are, "Why and how should we imitate Paul?" Should we also imitate other godly men in the way they live their lives. The answer is a resounding YES. So why should we imitate them?
We should emulate them since they are more mature in the faith. We should strive to learn from their maturity. We can learn from their leadership. We can learn how to love people better. By emulating someone who has been through various life trials, you can learn to properly use your strengths and work on your weaknesses as you learn from their lessons.
Now we should only imitate someone as far as they are imitating Christ. You do do not imitate evil or join along with them in sin and idleness. Imitate their good characteristics, their faith. Are they a hard worker? Are they separated from the world? Do they have a disciplined spiritual life? Are they hospitable? Then imitate those things.
Paul says to imitate him in giving complete glory to Christ. He wants us to imitate him by not seeking our own advantage but to look out for the interest of others. He wants us to be all things to all men, that is, he wants us to imitate his humility in giving up all rights to self so that we do not put forth any kind of a stumbling block to others. He does not want to cause anyone's conscience to be bound because of his freedom. He gives up his freedom at times so that he can please all people. That is a high call, a mature call. We must imitate our brothers in doing good and giving up rights to self. For by doing so, you would have imitated Christ, who gave up all rights to bear your penalty.
Monday, June 15, 2009
John 5:17,18 But Jesus answered them, "My Father is working until now, and I am working." This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
This is a remarkable statement on the part of the Jews. They were saying that Jesus, by saying that God Jehovah was his father, Christ was in fact saying that he was equal to his father. Now, let's think about this passage. If Christ was sinless, and telling the truth then he had to be God, since he was making this claim. In fact he never denied this claim. However, if he lied in this situation or was holding back the truth, then he could not have been sinless and therefore cannot be the substitution for any of our sins, since a spotless lamb had to die. Therefore if Christ isn't God, we are still in our sins and we might as well start weeping now, because we cannot claim salvation apart from Christ's righteousness, which he would not possess if he was not God.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Alistair Begg explains why there only needs to be two things on a church stage. A pulpit & a table. (Ignore the caption on the video)
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Friday, June 12, 2009
Hebrews 13:1Let brotherly love continue.
After 12 chapters of talking about Christ and his glory, the author of Hebrews, in the final chapter turns to us and says, "Let brotherly love continue." This statement is a command. It is an imperative. It is basically saying, Christ is far greater than anything you can think of, THEREFORE, love your brothers. This statement is a commendation. It is a praise. Brotherly love cannot continue unless it was already present. The author is stating that the current state of affairs is beneficial to the group and THEREFORE it should stay in place. This statement is about community. It is relational. John Owen says, "A love has its foundation in relation. Where there is a relation, there is love, or there ought to be; and where there is no relation, there can be no love." Without community, there can be no experience of love. In fact, there is a relationship even between the Godhead. What then is the effect of not loving?
Hebrews 12:29 for our God is a consuming fire.
The verse from the end of the previous chapter belongs in the same thought as our text. It shows us that we must strive for brotherly love because our God is a consuming fire. 1John 3:14 says, "We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death." Remain in love, resulting in life so that you do not remain in hatred, which results in death. Please, love your brothers. If you do so, understand why you do, so that brotherly love will continue. We love because he first loved us.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
What is the central truth of Christianity? Justification By Faith Alone, better known as Sola Fide. John Piper explains in this video why justification by Faith alone is such an essential doctrine.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Luk 14:13,14 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you..."
When you do a good deed for a person, do it in a way in which you do not expect anything in return from them. If you expect things in return, then it is no longer Christ-like, who gave himself for those that could not return the favor. Christ's death on the cross was truly altruistic. He gave all and he expected nothing from you, since he knew you couldn't do anything for him. Your part in this whole ordeal is to believe in Christ and his saving work on the cross. This is important to comprehend because all other religions are proclaiming a self-justification. Christianity is the only religion where God is the one declaring people righteous, not based on what they have done, but based on Christ's death, burial, and resurrection as a sacrifice for your sins. So go paint a house, feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, raise some orphans, but do it out of a pure heart, not expecting a return on your investment.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Acts 20:26,27 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.
Paul states in this passage that since he preached the whole counsel of God, he is therefore innocent of their blood. What he means is that his proclamation of the gospel included preaching about the grace of God, the love of God, the mercy of God, the forbearance of God, but it also included preaching on man's depravity, judgment of people, wrath of God for those that do not believe, and so on. He was inclined to not leave anything behind in his presentation of the gospel. Therefore, he washed his hands clean regarding the people he preached to. He had laid a burden upon their back, through the preaching of the Scriptures that they could not get rid of unless they repent, turn from sin, and look to Christ for salvation. Basically, what he was saying is that if they do not turn, there will be bloodshed, and it will be theirs if they do not listen to God's good news of salvation through Jesus Christ's redemptive, blood-drenched sacrificial work on the cross. Jesus shed his blood on the cross, taking upon himself the wrath of God so that you don't have to bear that burden. Look unto him!
Thursday, June 4, 2009
John Piper is on twitter? What is going on? I'll be honest, I never thought Piper would ever join the twitter bandwagon. The reason? He will not be able to say what he wants to in 140 characters. Well, I guess he is giving it a shot. Check out his reasoning behind it.
Monday, June 1, 2009
John Macarthur on the importance of preaching verse by verse through the bible.
"If I received five letters in the mail one day, it would make no sense to read a sentence or two out of one, skip two, read a few sentences out of another, and go to the next one and read a few out of that, and on and on. If I really want to comprehend the letter—what is going on, the tone, the spirit, the attitude, and the purpose—I must start from the beginning and go to the end of each one. If that is true of personal correspondence, I believe it is even more important when interpreting divine revelation."
2Timothy 3:16,17 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
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