Looks like my man Barack Obama is leaning toward running for Prez. in 2008 - could be interesting between Barack, Hillary and a host of others:
http://www.barackobama.com/video/youtube/index.php
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Friday, January 12, 2007
What does Eternal Friendship look like?
The words from John 15 are powerful. Jesus is my friend. The eternal Son of God, my Saviour, my King - is also my friend. What does that friendship look like? What are the requirements on my part?
John 15: 9 and following:
9"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. 11I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command. 15I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 17This is my command: Love each other.
John 15: 9 and following:
9"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. 11I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command. 15I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 17This is my command: Love each other.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
It's more than Jesus
It's too simple to just point to Jesus. There's more to it - there's doctrine, religion, church, Church, religious politics, political religion, evangelism, and the list goes on and on. Joel O'Steen and James Dobson have something in common - neither rarely mentions the name of Jesus.
I think that's largely how We - the Church - have lived for the past 2,000 years, certainly the past 100 years. We've lived, acted, worshipped and carried on as if there is much more to life than the spiritual connection to Jesus.
That's just too naive and simplistic.
I think that's largely how We - the Church - have lived for the past 2,000 years, certainly the past 100 years. We've lived, acted, worshipped and carried on as if there is much more to life than the spiritual connection to Jesus.
That's just too naive and simplistic.
Monday, January 08, 2007
God is Ever-giving
Continuing in my devotional theme from a few days ago:
God's giving never ceases - Genesis 1:29
29 Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.
While I appreciate God's blessings, I don't know if I really consider them as eternal here on this Earth, or as never-ceasing. God's creation has indeed never stopped - He laid the frame work for germination, for duplication and compounding - for Eternal Creation.
He is the Creator and He has never ceased giving us what we need, and largely even what we want.
God's giving never ceases - Genesis 1:29
29 Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.
While I appreciate God's blessings, I don't know if I really consider them as eternal here on this Earth, or as never-ceasing. God's creation has indeed never stopped - He laid the frame work for germination, for duplication and compounding - for Eternal Creation.
He is the Creator and He has never ceased giving us what we need, and largely even what we want.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Work of the Hoy Spirit
When Jesus left his disciples, he sent the Counselor, the Holy Spirit to help them in his absence. What did the Holy Spirit do?
John 16:5-16
1) Convicted them of their sin.
2) Guided them toward truth.
3) Speaks only words of God.
4) Prophecy.
5) Reveal Jesus' will for their lives.
The Work of the Holy Spirit
5"Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' 6Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. 7But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt[a] in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; 10in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
12"I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. 15All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.
16"In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me."
John 16:5-16
1) Convicted them of their sin.
2) Guided them toward truth.
3) Speaks only words of God.
4) Prophecy.
5) Reveal Jesus' will for their lives.
The Work of the Holy Spirit
5"Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' 6Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. 7But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt[a] in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; 10in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
12"I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. 15All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.
16"In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me."
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
God is Merciful
God is so full of mercy that His plan included an act of mercy after the fall of man in Eden. His mercy is never-ending, just as life in Christ is never-ending. His love is merciful because it saves us even though we don't deserve saving. His patience is merciful because we commit a lifetime of sins, yet He still loves and nurtures us into a deeper relationship with Him. His creation is merciful because it never ceases - regardless of how we use or abuse it.
God is merciful. I am blessed by His mercy.
God is merciful. I am blessed by His mercy.
Monday, January 01, 2007
2007 Blessings!
Happy New Year friends! I'm going to start the new new year with a few small devotionals.
There are tremendous blessings in my belief because________? Hopefully, we can all meditate for a moment and fill in that blank.
1. Because God is merciful
Deut. 4:31 - 31 For the LORD your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your forefathers, which he confirmed to them by oath.
2. Because God is ever-giving
Gen. 1:29 Then God said, "I've given you every sort of seed-bearing plant on Earth And every kind of fruit-bearing tree, given them to you for food. To all animals and all birds, everything that moves and breathes, I give whatever grows out of the ground for food."
3. Because the Lord Knows Me
John 1:48 "How do you know me?" Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, "I saw you while you were still under the fig tree. I saw you there before Philip called you."
4. Because Jesus is my Friend
John 15:13 No one has greater love than the one who gives his life for his friends.
There are tremendous blessings in my belief because________? Hopefully, we can all meditate for a moment and fill in that blank.
1. Because God is merciful
Deut. 4:31 - 31 For the LORD your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your forefathers, which he confirmed to them by oath.
2. Because God is ever-giving
Gen. 1:29 Then God said, "I've given you every sort of seed-bearing plant on Earth And every kind of fruit-bearing tree, given them to you for food. To all animals and all birds, everything that moves and breathes, I give whatever grows out of the ground for food."
3. Because the Lord Knows Me
John 1:48 "How do you know me?" Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, "I saw you while you were still under the fig tree. I saw you there before Philip called you."
4. Because Jesus is my Friend
John 15:13 No one has greater love than the one who gives his life for his friends.
5. Because the Holy Spirit will Help me.
John 14:26 But the Father will send the Friend in my name to help you. The Friend is the Holy Spirit. He will teach you all things. He will remind you of everything I have said to you.
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