There are good days and there are bad days, and this is one of them. Lawrence Welk
“What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?” Job 2 KJV
We can pretty much expect conflict in this world. It is after all, enemy territory. God promises to be with us in the battle, but He has not promised to keep us from the battle. Should He determine that it is necessary to sacrifice some of us for the cause or ask us to sacrifice something for the same, we should remind ourselves that He asks nothing which He has not already given Himself. 2/24/2011 Conversations Within ts (Gunterhill, AL)
Just me trying to be honest with God.
Monday, February 28, 2011
There are good days and there are bad days, and this is one of them. Lawrence Welk
There are good days and there are bad days, and this is one of them. Lawrence Welk
“What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?” Job 2 KJV
We can pretty much expect conflict in this world. It is after all, enemy territory. God promises to be with us in the battle, but He has not promised to keep us from the battle. Should He determine that it is necessary to sacrifice some of us for the cause or ask us to sacrifice something for the same, we should remind ourselves that He asks nothing which He has not already given Himself. 2/24/2011 Conversations Within ts (Gunterhill, AL)
“What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?” Job 2 KJV
We can pretty much expect conflict in this world. It is after all, enemy territory. God promises to be with us in the battle, but He has not promised to keep us from the battle. Should He determine that it is necessary to sacrifice some of us for the cause or ask us to sacrifice something for the same, we should remind ourselves that He asks nothing which He has not already given Himself. 2/24/2011 Conversations Within ts (Gunterhill, AL)
Saturday, February 26, 2011
“Some days are for living. Others are for getting through.” Malcolm S. Forbes
“Jesus...who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame.” Heb.12 ESV
I think it is a mistake to think that when we walk with God all will be joyous. It certainly wasn't for Jesus. Storms can stir the waters of our outer world but they also toss the ocean of our inner world. There are times proper to sadness, distress, anger and to be troubled within. Just because we are told to rejoice and give thanks in every circumstance does not mean that our emotions will not reflect a kind of dissonance doing it. It was the joy set before Him that Christ endured the cross not the joy of being crucified. I am sure Jesus wasn't happy on the cross though He was happy to go there for His Father. Every emotional distress is opportunity to endure, to fine tune our faith hope and love. Unpleasant days magnify the glory of the hope in us. 2/23/2011 Conversations Within ts (Gunterhill, AL)
I think it is a mistake to think that when we walk with God all will be joyous. It certainly wasn't for Jesus. Storms can stir the waters of our outer world but they also toss the ocean of our inner world. There are times proper to sadness, distress, anger and to be troubled within. Just because we are told to rejoice and give thanks in every circumstance does not mean that our emotions will not reflect a kind of dissonance doing it. It was the joy set before Him that Christ endured the cross not the joy of being crucified. I am sure Jesus wasn't happy on the cross though He was happy to go there for His Father. Every emotional distress is opportunity to endure, to fine tune our faith hope and love. Unpleasant days magnify the glory of the hope in us. 2/23/2011 Conversations Within ts (Gunterhill, AL)
“Some days are for living. Others are for getting through.” Malcolm S. Forbes
“Jesus...who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame.” Heb.12 ESV
I think it is a mistake to think that when we walk with God all will be joyous. It certainly wasn't for Jesus. Storms can stir the waters of our outer world but they also toss the ocean of our inner world. There are times proper to sadness, distress, anger and to be troubled within. Just because we are told to rejoice and give thanks in every circumstance does not mean that our emotions will not reflect a kind of dissonance doing it. It was the joy set before Him that Christ endured the cross not the joy of being crucified. I am sure Jesus wasn't happy on the cross though He was happy to go there for His Father. Every emotional distress is opportunity to endure, to fine tune our faith hope and love. Unpleasant days magnify the glory of the hope in us. 2/23/2011 Conversations Within ts (Gunterhill, AL)
I think it is a mistake to think that when we walk with God all will be joyous. It certainly wasn't for Jesus. Storms can stir the waters of our outer world but they also toss the ocean of our inner world. There are times proper to sadness, distress, anger and to be troubled within. Just because we are told to rejoice and give thanks in every circumstance does not mean that our emotions will not reflect a kind of dissonance doing it. It was the joy set before Him that Christ endured the cross not the joy of being crucified. I am sure Jesus wasn't happy on the cross though He was happy to go there for His Father. Every emotional distress is opportunity to endure, to fine tune our faith hope and love. Unpleasant days magnify the glory of the hope in us. 2/23/2011 Conversations Within ts (Gunterhill, AL)
Friday, February 25, 2011
“Truly to sing, that is a different breath.” Rainer Maria Rilke
“Truly to sing, that is a different breath.” Rainer Maria Rilke
“The LORD is my strength and my song.” Ex.15 ESV
How do I describe the power of music in my soul. I cannot imagine life without it. And, no matter what the song, I confess that Christ has become the melody of each and everyone. Remember how I used to sing to You in my youth, long before “Christian music” was a developed genre. Every love song on the radio became a song to You or Your song to me. You were “killing me softly with Your song, telling my life with Your words,” and I would sing Your praise, “You feel up my senses, like a mountain in springtime.” Even now, every upbeat tune raises my soul in the celebration of life with You. Every sad song works in me a contemplative grace. Every note releases my every feeling. You are the power of music in me O Son of David. You are my strength and my song. 2/22/2011 Conversations Within ts (Gunterhill, AL)
“The LORD is my strength and my song.” Ex.15 ESV
How do I describe the power of music in my soul. I cannot imagine life without it. And, no matter what the song, I confess that Christ has become the melody of each and everyone. Remember how I used to sing to You in my youth, long before “Christian music” was a developed genre. Every love song on the radio became a song to You or Your song to me. You were “killing me softly with Your song, telling my life with Your words,” and I would sing Your praise, “You feel up my senses, like a mountain in springtime.” Even now, every upbeat tune raises my soul in the celebration of life with You. Every sad song works in me a contemplative grace. Every note releases my every feeling. You are the power of music in me O Son of David. You are my strength and my song. 2/22/2011 Conversations Within ts (Gunterhill, AL)
“Truly to sing, that is a different breath.” Rainer Maria Rilke
“Truly to sing, that is a different breath.” Rainer Maria Rilke
“The LORD is my strength and my song.” Ex.15 ESV
How do I describe the power of music in my soul. I cannot imagine life without it. And, no matter what the song, I confess that Christ has become the melody of each and everyone. Remember how I used to sing to You in my youth, long before “Christian music” was a developed genre. Every love song on the radio became a song to You or Your song to me. You were “killing me softly with Your song, telling my life with Your words,” and I would sing Your praise, “You feel up my senses, like a mountain in springtime.” Even now, every upbeat tune raises my soul in the celebration of life with You. Every sad song works in me a contemplative grace. Every note releases my every feeling. You are the power of music in me O Son of David. You are my strength and my song. 2/22/2011 Conversations Within ts (Gunterhill, AL)
“The LORD is my strength and my song.” Ex.15 ESV
How do I describe the power of music in my soul. I cannot imagine life without it. And, no matter what the song, I confess that Christ has become the melody of each and everyone. Remember how I used to sing to You in my youth, long before “Christian music” was a developed genre. Every love song on the radio became a song to You or Your song to me. You were “killing me softly with Your song, telling my life with Your words,” and I would sing Your praise, “You feel up my senses, like a mountain in springtime.” Even now, every upbeat tune raises my soul in the celebration of life with You. Every sad song works in me a contemplative grace. Every note releases my every feeling. You are the power of music in me O Son of David. You are my strength and my song. 2/22/2011 Conversations Within ts (Gunterhill, AL)
Thursday, February 24, 2011
“You put the grand in grandparents!” Anonymous
“And what was the one God seeking?” Godly offspring.” Mal.2 ESV
(On the birth of Cason Avery Chonko)
Child of my child what hopes rest in you. You yourself are a hope realized. To see you, touch you, smell you is the sun rising. Your precious breath warms other hopes I have of fruit, yes, lasting fruit. Not just offspring to carry my genes but godly seed who will spread my faith, my hope, my love to the world and return to the Father bringing in the sheaves of many who will come to know Him because of His love in us. 2/21/2011 Conversations Within ts (Gunterhill, AL)
(On the birth of Cason Avery Chonko)
Child of my child what hopes rest in you. You yourself are a hope realized. To see you, touch you, smell you is the sun rising. Your precious breath warms other hopes I have of fruit, yes, lasting fruit. Not just offspring to carry my genes but godly seed who will spread my faith, my hope, my love to the world and return to the Father bringing in the sheaves of many who will come to know Him because of His love in us. 2/21/2011 Conversations Within ts (Gunterhill, AL)
“You put the grand in grandparents!” Anonymous
“And what was the one God seeking?” Godly offspring.” Mal.2 ESV
(On the birth of Cason Avery Chonko)
Child of my child what hopes rest in you. You yourself are a hope realized. To see you, touch you, smell you is the sun rising. Your precious breath warms other hopes I have of fruit, yes, lasting fruit. Not just offspring to carry my genes but godly seed who will spread my faith, my hope, my love to the world and return to the Father bringing in the sheaves of many who will come to know Him because of His love in us. 2/21/2011 Conversations Within ts (Gunterhill, AL)
(On the birth of Cason Avery Chonko)
Child of my child what hopes rest in you. You yourself are a hope realized. To see you, touch you, smell you is the sun rising. Your precious breath warms other hopes I have of fruit, yes, lasting fruit. Not just offspring to carry my genes but godly seed who will spread my faith, my hope, my love to the world and return to the Father bringing in the sheaves of many who will come to know Him because of His love in us. 2/21/2011 Conversations Within ts (Gunterhill, AL)
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
“The March winds are the morning yawn.” Kathy Sue Loudermilk
“I die daily.” 1Cor.15 ESV
The Christian lives a torn life. We are torn between the desires of Spirit and those of the flesh. We are torn between life on earth and our promised life in glory. We believe Heaven to be superior to this place yet something in us cries out to remain as long as we can. Ironically, only in death do we find rest from all this toil. But to find a measure of peace in the here and now, the Spirit makes it possible for us to die before we die. Truly we can and we must die daily to ourselves. We crucify our sinful pleasures to be lifted up to joy. We let go this temporal existence to lay hold of all the is eternal. We must, as Jesus said, “loose our life in order to find it.” Every time we die before we die we have the opportunity to present ourselves living sacrifices, holy and acceptable unto God. If we die before we die, we may know something of the resurrection before we actually are raised. 2/17/2011 Conversations Within ts (Between, GA)
The Christian lives a torn life. We are torn between the desires of Spirit and those of the flesh. We are torn between life on earth and our promised life in glory. We believe Heaven to be superior to this place yet something in us cries out to remain as long as we can. Ironically, only in death do we find rest from all this toil. But to find a measure of peace in the here and now, the Spirit makes it possible for us to die before we die. Truly we can and we must die daily to ourselves. We crucify our sinful pleasures to be lifted up to joy. We let go this temporal existence to lay hold of all the is eternal. We must, as Jesus said, “loose our life in order to find it.” Every time we die before we die we have the opportunity to present ourselves living sacrifices, holy and acceptable unto God. If we die before we die, we may know something of the resurrection before we actually are raised. 2/17/2011 Conversations Within ts (Between, GA)
“The March winds are the morning yawn.” Kathy Sue Loudermilk
“I die daily.” 1Cor.15 ESV
The Christian lives a torn life. We are torn between the desires of Spirit and those of the flesh. We are torn between life on earth and our promised life in glory. We believe Heaven to be superior to this place yet something in us cries out to remain as long as we can. Ironically, only in death do we find rest from all this toil. But to find a measure of peace in the here and now, the Spirit makes it possible for us to die before we die. Truly we can and we must die daily to ourselves. We crucify our sinful pleasures to be lifted up to joy. We let go this temporal existence to lay hold of all the is eternal. We must, as Jesus said, “loose our life in order to find it.” Every time we die before we die we have the opportunity to present ourselves living sacrifices, holy and acceptable unto God. If we die before we die, we may know something of the resurrection before we actually are raised. 2/17/2011 Conversations Within ts (Between, GA)
The Christian lives a torn life. We are torn between the desires of Spirit and those of the flesh. We are torn between life on earth and our promised life in glory. We believe Heaven to be superior to this place yet something in us cries out to remain as long as we can. Ironically, only in death do we find rest from all this toil. But to find a measure of peace in the here and now, the Spirit makes it possible for us to die before we die. Truly we can and we must die daily to ourselves. We crucify our sinful pleasures to be lifted up to joy. We let go this temporal existence to lay hold of all the is eternal. We must, as Jesus said, “loose our life in order to find it.” Every time we die before we die we have the opportunity to present ourselves living sacrifices, holy and acceptable unto God. If we die before we die, we may know something of the resurrection before we actually are raised. 2/17/2011 Conversations Within ts (Between, GA)
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
“Drag your thoughts away from your troubles... by the ears, by the heels, or any other way you can manage it.” Mark Twain
“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” Is.26 ESV
There are times when our pains shout louder than God quiet promises and we feel the rumblings of our fears more than His soft touch. How are we to keep our mind on God when so many worries wave their hands in our face. We do so with His help of course. Perhaps God whispers His promises so that we must draw near to Him before we hear His reassuring words. And, it may be that God lets us first feel the weight of our burdens before tire of them and we cast them at His feet. I am sure that doing these things God is helping us change our focus from worry to worship. 2/16/2011 Conversations Within ts (Between, GA)
There are times when our pains shout louder than God quiet promises and we feel the rumblings of our fears more than His soft touch. How are we to keep our mind on God when so many worries wave their hands in our face. We do so with His help of course. Perhaps God whispers His promises so that we must draw near to Him before we hear His reassuring words. And, it may be that God lets us first feel the weight of our burdens before tire of them and we cast them at His feet. I am sure that doing these things God is helping us change our focus from worry to worship. 2/16/2011 Conversations Within ts (Between, GA)
“Drag your thoughts away from your troubles... by the ears, by the heels, or any other way you can manage it.” Mark Twain
“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” Is.26 ESV
There are times when our pains shout louder than God quiet promises and we feel the rumblings of our fears more than His soft touch. How are we to keep our mind on God when so many worries wave their hands in our face. We do so with His help of course. Perhaps God whispers His promises so that we must draw near to Him before we hear His reassuring words. And, it may be that God lets us first feel the weight of our burdens before tire of them and we cast them at His feet. I am sure that doing these things God is helping us change our focus from worry to worship. 2/16/2011 Conversations Within ts (Between, GA)
There are times when our pains shout louder than God quiet promises and we feel the rumblings of our fears more than His soft touch. How are we to keep our mind on God when so many worries wave their hands in our face. We do so with His help of course. Perhaps God whispers His promises so that we must draw near to Him before we hear His reassuring words. And, it may be that God lets us first feel the weight of our burdens before tire of them and we cast them at His feet. I am sure that doing these things God is helping us change our focus from worry to worship. 2/16/2011 Conversations Within ts (Between, GA)
Monday, February 21, 2011
“If Christians want us to believe in a Redeemer, let them act redeemed.” Voltaire
“If Christians want us to believe in a Redeemer, let them act redeemed.” Voltaire
“You are not your own for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” 1Cor.6 ESV
To say that my life does not belong to me may seen strange to those outside Christian faith. But truly my life is not mine. I belong to God twice over. He created me and owns me by that right, then He purchased me again with the precious blood of His dear Son to redeem my life from judgment. This means that my life in general as well as my life in all it's particulars belong to Him. Good health, ill health, poverty or riches, a life of ease or one of hardship all come down from what He decides. This is not to say that we should neglect these resources but that we are to humbly accept from His hand all He provides as our bread for the day. 2/13/2011 Conversations Within ts (Oak Mountain, AL)
“You are not your own for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” 1Cor.6 ESV
To say that my life does not belong to me may seen strange to those outside Christian faith. But truly my life is not mine. I belong to God twice over. He created me and owns me by that right, then He purchased me again with the precious blood of His dear Son to redeem my life from judgment. This means that my life in general as well as my life in all it's particulars belong to Him. Good health, ill health, poverty or riches, a life of ease or one of hardship all come down from what He decides. This is not to say that we should neglect these resources but that we are to humbly accept from His hand all He provides as our bread for the day. 2/13/2011 Conversations Within ts (Oak Mountain, AL)
“If Christians want us to believe in a Redeemer, let them act redeemed.” Voltaire
“If Christians want us to believe in a Redeemer, let them act redeemed.” Voltaire
“You are not your own for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” 1Cor.6 ESV
To say that my life does not belong to me may seen strange to those outside Christian faith. But truly my life is not mine. I belong to God twice over. He created me and owns me by that right, then He purchased me again with the precious blood of His dear Son to redeem my life from judgment. This means that my life in general as well as my life in all it's particulars belong to Him. Good health, ill health, poverty or riches, a life of ease or one of hardship all come down from what He decides. This is not to say that we should neglect these resources but that we are to humbly accept from His hand all He provides as our bread for the day. 2/13/2011 Conversations Within ts (Oak Mountain, AL)
“You are not your own for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” 1Cor.6 ESV
To say that my life does not belong to me may seen strange to those outside Christian faith. But truly my life is not mine. I belong to God twice over. He created me and owns me by that right, then He purchased me again with the precious blood of His dear Son to redeem my life from judgment. This means that my life in general as well as my life in all it's particulars belong to Him. Good health, ill health, poverty or riches, a life of ease or one of hardship all come down from what He decides. This is not to say that we should neglect these resources but that we are to humbly accept from His hand all He provides as our bread for the day. 2/13/2011 Conversations Within ts (Oak Mountain, AL)
Saturday, February 19, 2011
God has no religion. Mahatma Gandhi
“This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” Mt.17 ESV
I think Gandhi may have been right when he said that God does not have a religion, but He certainly has one only begotten Son. The Christian Scriptures unashamedly declare, and to a culture that has zero tolerance for absolutes,that “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” If this is not true then there is nothing to be concerned about. If it is true, it is the single most important truth in life. Christ is to be worshiped as God or dismissed as another religious fanatic. Jesus leaves us no room for middle ground. 2/15/2011 Conversations Within ts (Windsor Rock, AL)
I think Gandhi may have been right when he said that God does not have a religion, but He certainly has one only begotten Son. The Christian Scriptures unashamedly declare, and to a culture that has zero tolerance for absolutes,that “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” If this is not true then there is nothing to be concerned about. If it is true, it is the single most important truth in life. Christ is to be worshiped as God or dismissed as another religious fanatic. Jesus leaves us no room for middle ground. 2/15/2011 Conversations Within ts (Windsor Rock, AL)
God has no religion. Mahatma Gandhi
“This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” Mt.17 ESV
I think Gandhi may have been right when he said that God does not have a religion, but He certainly has one only begotten Son. The Christian Scriptures unashamedly declare, and to a culture that has zero tolerance for absolutes,that “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” If this is not true then there is nothing to be concerned about. If it is true, it is the single most important truth in life. Christ is to be worshiped as God or dismissed as another religious fanatic. Jesus leaves us no room for middle ground. 2/15/2011 Conversations Within ts (Windsor Rock, AL)
I think Gandhi may have been right when he said that God does not have a religion, but He certainly has one only begotten Son. The Christian Scriptures unashamedly declare, and to a culture that has zero tolerance for absolutes,that “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” If this is not true then there is nothing to be concerned about. If it is true, it is the single most important truth in life. Christ is to be worshiped as God or dismissed as another religious fanatic. Jesus leaves us no room for middle ground. 2/15/2011 Conversations Within ts (Windsor Rock, AL)
Friday, February 18, 2011
"Water brings life, it refreshes, purifies, regenerates, bears fruit and also reminds us of our own baptism," Phillip Saunders
“And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.” Acts.4
Every person who meets a Christian should taste the sweet sugar of Christ in our words and actions. We could just as easily say they should taste to salt of Christ as well. If Jesus is anything, He is relevant. But sugar or salt it should be obvious in our every interaction that we live in the company of Jesus. The influences of His love, his joy and his peace should rule our hearts and minds. His precious presence is a spring of living water flowing in us. Every Christian is to become an artesian well overflowing with the refreshment of His presence in the world. 2/12/2011 Conversations Within ts (Oak Mountain, AL)
Every person who meets a Christian should taste the sweet sugar of Christ in our words and actions. We could just as easily say they should taste to salt of Christ as well. If Jesus is anything, He is relevant. But sugar or salt it should be obvious in our every interaction that we live in the company of Jesus. The influences of His love, his joy and his peace should rule our hearts and minds. His precious presence is a spring of living water flowing in us. Every Christian is to become an artesian well overflowing with the refreshment of His presence in the world. 2/12/2011 Conversations Within ts (Oak Mountain, AL)
"Water brings life, it refreshes, purifies, regenerates, bears fruit and also reminds us of our own baptism," Phillip Saunders
“And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.” Acts.4
Every person who meets a Christian should taste the sweet sugar of Christ in our words and actions. We could just as easily say they should taste to salt of Christ as well. If Jesus is anything, He is relevant. But sugar or salt it should be obvious in our every interaction that we live in the company of Jesus. The influences of His love, his joy and his peace should rule our hearts and minds. His precious presence is a spring of living water flowing in us. Every Christian is to become an artesian well overflowing with the refreshment of His presence in the world. 2/12/2011 Conversations Within ts (Oak Mountain, AL)
Every person who meets a Christian should taste the sweet sugar of Christ in our words and actions. We could just as easily say they should taste to salt of Christ as well. If Jesus is anything, He is relevant. But sugar or salt it should be obvious in our every interaction that we live in the company of Jesus. The influences of His love, his joy and his peace should rule our hearts and minds. His precious presence is a spring of living water flowing in us. Every Christian is to become an artesian well overflowing with the refreshment of His presence in the world. 2/12/2011 Conversations Within ts (Oak Mountain, AL)
Thursday, February 17, 2011
“We were promised sufferings. They were part of the program. We were even told, ''Blessed are they that mourn.'' C.S. Lewis
“...and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” Rom.8 ESV
No one likes to suffer or even witness the sufferings of others. But we should consider that if the Father was willing to sent His Son on a mission where He was to suffer and suffer greatly, no one in the service of the Kingdom is safe from it. If God sent His own dear Son into harms way He is surely willing to put us in harms way if it will serve His cause. Only when our Commander pulls us from the fray will we be completely and forever safe from all harm. Death of course is His usual way of bringing us home from the fight. The challenge is to teach our heart to not be afraid of what He deems precious. 2/10/2011 Conversations Within ts (Oak Mountain, AL)
No one likes to suffer or even witness the sufferings of others. But we should consider that if the Father was willing to sent His Son on a mission where He was to suffer and suffer greatly, no one in the service of the Kingdom is safe from it. If God sent His own dear Son into harms way He is surely willing to put us in harms way if it will serve His cause. Only when our Commander pulls us from the fray will we be completely and forever safe from all harm. Death of course is His usual way of bringing us home from the fight. The challenge is to teach our heart to not be afraid of what He deems precious. 2/10/2011 Conversations Within ts (Oak Mountain, AL)
“We were promised sufferings. They were part of the program. We were even told, ''Blessed are they that mourn.'' C.S. Lewis
“...and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” Rom.8 ESV
No one likes to suffer or even witness the sufferings of others. But we should consider that if the Father was willing to sent His Son on a mission where He was to suffer and suffer greatly, no one in the service of the Kingdom is safe from it. If God sent His own dear Son into harms way He is surely willing to put us in harms way if it will serve His cause. Only when our Commander pulls us from the fray will we be completely and forever safe from all harm. Death of course is His usual way of bringing us home from the fight. The challenge is to teach our heart to not be afraid of what He deems precious. 2/10/2011 Conversations Within ts (Oak Mountain, AL)
No one likes to suffer or even witness the sufferings of others. But we should consider that if the Father was willing to sent His Son on a mission where He was to suffer and suffer greatly, no one in the service of the Kingdom is safe from it. If God sent His own dear Son into harms way He is surely willing to put us in harms way if it will serve His cause. Only when our Commander pulls us from the fray will we be completely and forever safe from all harm. Death of course is His usual way of bringing us home from the fight. The challenge is to teach our heart to not be afraid of what He deems precious. 2/10/2011 Conversations Within ts (Oak Mountain, AL)
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
“I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much.” Mother Teresa
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2Cor.12 ESV
The other night Brenda and I were watching the movie “Defiance,” which is about a group of Jews trying to survive Hitler's persecutions. In one particularly moving scene someone prays, “We have no more prayers, no more tears; we have run out of blood. Choose another people. Sanctify another land...Grant us but one more blessing: take back the gift of our holiness.”
It is the edge of the sword that cuts, the edge of darkness where light appears and the edge of the cliff where new heights are revealed. God may take us to the edge of our limits before we finally lay hold of His unlimited power. God is often found on the edge. 2/9/2011 Conversations Within ts (Oak Mountain, AL)
The other night Brenda and I were watching the movie “Defiance,” which is about a group of Jews trying to survive Hitler's persecutions. In one particularly moving scene someone prays, “We have no more prayers, no more tears; we have run out of blood. Choose another people. Sanctify another land...Grant us but one more blessing: take back the gift of our holiness.”
It is the edge of the sword that cuts, the edge of darkness where light appears and the edge of the cliff where new heights are revealed. God may take us to the edge of our limits before we finally lay hold of His unlimited power. God is often found on the edge. 2/9/2011 Conversations Within ts (Oak Mountain, AL)
“I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much.” Mother Teresa
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2Cor.12 ESV
The other night Brenda and I were watching the movie “Defiance,” which is about a group of Jews trying to survive Hitler's persecutions. In one particularly moving scene someone prays, “We have no more prayers, no more tears; we have run out of blood. Choose another people. Sanctify another land...Grant us but one more blessing: take back the gift of our holiness.”
It is the edge of the sword that cuts, the edge of darkness where light appears and the edge of the cliff where new heights are revealed. God may take us to the edge of our limits before we finally lay hold of His unlimited power. God is often found on the edge. 2/9/2011 Conversations Within ts (Oak Mountain, AL)
The other night Brenda and I were watching the movie “Defiance,” which is about a group of Jews trying to survive Hitler's persecutions. In one particularly moving scene someone prays, “We have no more prayers, no more tears; we have run out of blood. Choose another people. Sanctify another land...Grant us but one more blessing: take back the gift of our holiness.”
It is the edge of the sword that cuts, the edge of darkness where light appears and the edge of the cliff where new heights are revealed. God may take us to the edge of our limits before we finally lay hold of His unlimited power. God is often found on the edge. 2/9/2011 Conversations Within ts (Oak Mountain, AL)
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
God made everything out of nothing, but the nothingness shows through. Paul Valery
Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. Ecc.1 ESV
God made everything from nothing yet we somehow turned everything into nothing. The Good Book calls this nothingness the vanity of life on a planet now cursed because we abused our freedom to choose. People don't always feel this emptiness; like our coming appointment with death, we push it out of active thought. Most of us busy ourselves with the stuff of life until something causes the emptiness to rush in on us and all at once we despair. This is not to say that all people despair because some actually figure out how to give a self-invented meaning to meaninglessness. We do it through ignorance, apathy or by convincing ourselves that something is true when it is not. According to Jesus, it is only by returning to God that we escape the void and are born again to meaning. 2/8/2011 Conversations Within ts (Monte Sano, AL)
God made everything from nothing yet we somehow turned everything into nothing. The Good Book calls this nothingness the vanity of life on a planet now cursed because we abused our freedom to choose. People don't always feel this emptiness; like our coming appointment with death, we push it out of active thought. Most of us busy ourselves with the stuff of life until something causes the emptiness to rush in on us and all at once we despair. This is not to say that all people despair because some actually figure out how to give a self-invented meaning to meaninglessness. We do it through ignorance, apathy or by convincing ourselves that something is true when it is not. According to Jesus, it is only by returning to God that we escape the void and are born again to meaning. 2/8/2011 Conversations Within ts (Monte Sano, AL)
God made everything out of nothing, but the nothingness shows through. Paul Valery
Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. Ecc.1 ESV
God made everything from nothing yet we somehow turned everything into nothing. The Good Book calls this nothingness the vanity of life on a planet now cursed because we abused our freedom to choose. People don't always feel this emptiness; like our coming appointment with death, we push it out of active thought. Most of us busy ourselves with the stuff of life until something causes the emptiness to rush in on us and all at once we despair. This is not to say that all people despair because some actually figure out how to give a self-invented meaning to meaninglessness. We do it through ignorance, apathy or by convincing ourselves that something is true when it is not. According to Jesus, it is only by returning to God that we escape the void and are born again to meaning. 2/8/2011 Conversations Within ts (Monte Sano, AL)
God made everything from nothing yet we somehow turned everything into nothing. The Good Book calls this nothingness the vanity of life on a planet now cursed because we abused our freedom to choose. People don't always feel this emptiness; like our coming appointment with death, we push it out of active thought. Most of us busy ourselves with the stuff of life until something causes the emptiness to rush in on us and all at once we despair. This is not to say that all people despair because some actually figure out how to give a self-invented meaning to meaninglessness. We do it through ignorance, apathy or by convincing ourselves that something is true when it is not. According to Jesus, it is only by returning to God that we escape the void and are born again to meaning. 2/8/2011 Conversations Within ts (Monte Sano, AL)
Monday, February 14, 2011
If there is no God, who pops up the next Kleenex?Art Hoppe
If there is no God, who pops up the next Kleenex?
Art Hoppe
“By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God...” Heb.11 ESV
I believe in God because of what I see in the natural world as much as I do for anything supernatural. That the sun is the right distance from the earth or that our atmosphere has the perfect balance of gases to support life or that we have two eyes for depth perception all seem to me to be much too personal to be the result of some cosmic accident. To say that the world is perfectly suited for life is just another way of saying that God set the table. I believe all this by faith of course. I suppose for some believing this is a leap in the dark, a sort of blind faith. I want nothing of a blind faith. I don't mind leaping in the dark as long as I have good reasons for doing so. I want reason to guide my faith just as surely as I want faith to guide my reason. 2/7/2011 Conversations Within ts (Cloudland Canyon, GA)
Art Hoppe
“By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God...” Heb.11 ESV
I believe in God because of what I see in the natural world as much as I do for anything supernatural. That the sun is the right distance from the earth or that our atmosphere has the perfect balance of gases to support life or that we have two eyes for depth perception all seem to me to be much too personal to be the result of some cosmic accident. To say that the world is perfectly suited for life is just another way of saying that God set the table. I believe all this by faith of course. I suppose for some believing this is a leap in the dark, a sort of blind faith. I want nothing of a blind faith. I don't mind leaping in the dark as long as I have good reasons for doing so. I want reason to guide my faith just as surely as I want faith to guide my reason. 2/7/2011 Conversations Within ts (Cloudland Canyon, GA)
If there is no God, who pops up the next Kleenex?Art Hoppe
If there is no God, who pops up the next Kleenex?
Art Hoppe
“By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God...” Heb.11 ESV
I believe in God because of what I see in the natural world as much as I do for anything supernatural. That the sun is the right distance from the earth or that our atmosphere has the perfect balance of gases to support life or that we have two eyes for depth perception all seem to me to be much too personal to be the result of some cosmic accident. To say that the world is perfectly suited for life is just another way of saying that God set the table. I believe all this by faith of course. I suppose for some believing this is a leap in the dark, a sort of blind faith. I want nothing of a blind faith. I don't mind leaping in the dark as long as I have good reasons for doing so. I want reason to guide my faith just as surely as I want faith to guide my reason. 2/7/2011 Conversations Within ts (Cloudland Canyon, GA)
Art Hoppe
“By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God...” Heb.11 ESV
I believe in God because of what I see in the natural world as much as I do for anything supernatural. That the sun is the right distance from the earth or that our atmosphere has the perfect balance of gases to support life or that we have two eyes for depth perception all seem to me to be much too personal to be the result of some cosmic accident. To say that the world is perfectly suited for life is just another way of saying that God set the table. I believe all this by faith of course. I suppose for some believing this is a leap in the dark, a sort of blind faith. I want nothing of a blind faith. I don't mind leaping in the dark as long as I have good reasons for doing so. I want reason to guide my faith just as surely as I want faith to guide my reason. 2/7/2011 Conversations Within ts (Cloudland Canyon, GA)
Saturday, February 12, 2011
“God is even kinder than you think.” St Theresa
“God is even kinder than you think.” St Theresa
“You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.” Ps.139 ESV
When God lays His hand upon His children it is always a loving hand. This is true as much for His hand of discipline as it is for the hand of encouragement or help or comfort. God offers us many hands. I wonder if there is any hand more precious than His healing hand. Of course healing hands sometimes have a scalpel in them. 2/6/2011 Conversations Within ts (Parksville, TN)
“You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.” Ps.139 ESV
When God lays His hand upon His children it is always a loving hand. This is true as much for His hand of discipline as it is for the hand of encouragement or help or comfort. God offers us many hands. I wonder if there is any hand more precious than His healing hand. Of course healing hands sometimes have a scalpel in them. 2/6/2011 Conversations Within ts (Parksville, TN)
“God is even kinder than you think.” St Theresa
“God is even kinder than you think.” St Theresa
“You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.” Ps.139 ESV
When God lays His hand upon His children it is always a loving hand. This is true as much for His hand of discipline as it is for the hand of encouragement or help or comfort. God offers us many hands. I wonder if there is any hand more precious than His healing hand. Of course healing hands sometimes have a scalpel in them. 2/6/2011 Conversations Within ts (Parksville, TN)
“You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.” Ps.139 ESV
When God lays His hand upon His children it is always a loving hand. This is true as much for His hand of discipline as it is for the hand of encouragement or help or comfort. God offers us many hands. I wonder if there is any hand more precious than His healing hand. Of course healing hands sometimes have a scalpel in them. 2/6/2011 Conversations Within ts (Parksville, TN)
Friday, February 11, 2011
“Care for the next minute is as foolish as care for a day in the next thousand years. In neither can we do anything, in both God is doing everything."
“Care for the next minute is as foolish as care for a day in the next thousand years. In neither can we do anything, in both God is doing everything." C.S. Lewis
“How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!” Ps.139 ESV
I have sometimes wondered if I assume too much where God's love is concerned. I know that God thought about King David and Father Abraham and people like Moses and Elijah, but I have had my doubts if He ever thinks about me. But didn't Jesus tell us that the very hairs of our head are numbered. I suppose that my doubts are centered on whether I am worthy of God's attention when they should be centered on the immeasurable greatness of His tender affections. We shouldn't wonder if God thinks about us, the real wonder is when is He not. 2/5/2011 Conversations Within ts (Parksville, TN)
“How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!” Ps.139 ESV
I have sometimes wondered if I assume too much where God's love is concerned. I know that God thought about King David and Father Abraham and people like Moses and Elijah, but I have had my doubts if He ever thinks about me. But didn't Jesus tell us that the very hairs of our head are numbered. I suppose that my doubts are centered on whether I am worthy of God's attention when they should be centered on the immeasurable greatness of His tender affections. We shouldn't wonder if God thinks about us, the real wonder is when is He not. 2/5/2011 Conversations Within ts (Parksville, TN)
“Care for the next minute is as foolish as care for a day in the next thousand years. In neither can we do anything, in both God is doing everything."
“Care for the next minute is as foolish as care for a day in the next thousand years. In neither can we do anything, in both God is doing everything." C.S. Lewis
“How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!” Ps.139 ESV
I have sometimes wondered if I assume too much where God's love is concerned. I know that God thought about King David and Father Abraham and people like Moses and Elijah, but I have had my doubts if He ever thinks about me. But didn't Jesus tell us that the very hairs of our head are numbered. I suppose that my doubts are centered on whether I am worthy of God's attention when they should be centered on the immeasurable greatness of His tender affections. We shouldn't wonder if God thinks about us, the real wonder is when is He not. 2/5/2011 Conversations Within ts (Parksville, TN)
“How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!” Ps.139 ESV
I have sometimes wondered if I assume too much where God's love is concerned. I know that God thought about King David and Father Abraham and people like Moses and Elijah, but I have had my doubts if He ever thinks about me. But didn't Jesus tell us that the very hairs of our head are numbered. I suppose that my doubts are centered on whether I am worthy of God's attention when they should be centered on the immeasurable greatness of His tender affections. We shouldn't wonder if God thinks about us, the real wonder is when is He not. 2/5/2011 Conversations Within ts (Parksville, TN)
Thursday, February 10, 2011
“Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. but he's good. He's the King, I tell you.'" The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe C. S. Lewis
“Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. but he's good. He's the King, I tell you.'" The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe C. S. Lewis
“You discern my thoughts from afar.” PS.139
Lord , You see what I think. This means that You not only know when I think about You but also what I think about You. And, I am certainly ashamed at some of the things I have thought about You. You know there are times when I think You to be cruel and calloused. I don't know what to think when You allow someone to be raped or do not intervene when a child burns to death in a trailer. Oh, I am not blaming You when these things happen, I just can't wrap my thoughts around some of the stuff You allow. But You see things from your place in Heaven that I cannot see from my place on earth. Remind me not only of my place but also of Your place, that very same place You sat when Christ suffered on the cross. You are always seated on the throne. Forgive me my arrogant presumptions and to help me trust that You are not only good but good all of the time. 2/4/2011 Conversations Within ts (Davidson River, NC)
“You discern my thoughts from afar.” PS.139
Lord , You see what I think. This means that You not only know when I think about You but also what I think about You. And, I am certainly ashamed at some of the things I have thought about You. You know there are times when I think You to be cruel and calloused. I don't know what to think when You allow someone to be raped or do not intervene when a child burns to death in a trailer. Oh, I am not blaming You when these things happen, I just can't wrap my thoughts around some of the stuff You allow. But You see things from your place in Heaven that I cannot see from my place on earth. Remind me not only of my place but also of Your place, that very same place You sat when Christ suffered on the cross. You are always seated on the throne. Forgive me my arrogant presumptions and to help me trust that You are not only good but good all of the time. 2/4/2011 Conversations Within ts (Davidson River, NC)
“Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. but he's good. He's the King, I tell you.'" The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe C. S. Lewis
“Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. but he's good. He's the King, I tell you.'" The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe C. S. Lewis
“You discern my thoughts from afar.” PS.139
Lord , You see what I think. This means that You not only know when I think about You but also what I think about You. And, I am certainly ashamed at some of the things I have thought about You. You know there are times when I think You to be cruel and calloused. I don't know what to think when You allow someone to be raped or do not intervene when a child burns to death in a trailer. Oh, I am not blaming You when these things happen, I just can't wrap my thoughts around some of the stuff You allow. But You see things from your place in Heaven that I cannot see from my place on earth. Remind me not only of my place but also of Your place, that very same place You sat when Christ suffered on the cross. You are always seated on the throne. Forgive me my arrogant presumptions and to help me trust that You are not only good but good all of the time. 2/4/2011 Conversations Within ts (Davidson River, NC)
“You discern my thoughts from afar.” PS.139
Lord , You see what I think. This means that You not only know when I think about You but also what I think about You. And, I am certainly ashamed at some of the things I have thought about You. You know there are times when I think You to be cruel and calloused. I don't know what to think when You allow someone to be raped or do not intervene when a child burns to death in a trailer. Oh, I am not blaming You when these things happen, I just can't wrap my thoughts around some of the stuff You allow. But You see things from your place in Heaven that I cannot see from my place on earth. Remind me not only of my place but also of Your place, that very same place You sat when Christ suffered on the cross. You are always seated on the throne. Forgive me my arrogant presumptions and to help me trust that You are not only good but good all of the time. 2/4/2011 Conversations Within ts (Davidson River, NC)
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
“The Lord has appointed the day for my death. I need not concern myself with that, only that I am ready when He comes for me.” Stonewall Jackson
“The Lord has appointed the day for my death. I need not concern myself with that, only that I am ready when He comes for me.” Stonewall Jackson
“...in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” Ps.139 ESV
I will not live one day more in this place than is written. I will not live one day less either. I think it is important to make your peace with death. I think it is more important to make your peace with God before death. Here are blessed words, “in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them.” My days on earth may be numbered but because of Christ, my days in glory will be without number. 2/2/2011 Conversations Within ts (Davidson River, NC)
“...in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” Ps.139 ESV
I will not live one day more in this place than is written. I will not live one day less either. I think it is important to make your peace with death. I think it is more important to make your peace with God before death. Here are blessed words, “in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them.” My days on earth may be numbered but because of Christ, my days in glory will be without number. 2/2/2011 Conversations Within ts (Davidson River, NC)
“The Lord has appointed the day for my death. I need not concern myself with that, only that I am ready when He comes for me.” Stonewall Jackson
“The Lord has appointed the day for my death. I need not concern myself with that, only that I am ready when He comes for me.” Stonewall Jackson
“...in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” Ps.139 ESV
I will not live one day more in this place than is written. I will not live one day less either. I think it is important to make your peace with death. I think it is more important to make your peace with God before death. Here are blessed words, “in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them.” My days on earth may be numbered but because of Christ, my days in glory will be without number. 2/2/2011 Conversations Within ts (Davidson River, NC)
“...in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” Ps.139 ESV
I will not live one day more in this place than is written. I will not live one day less either. I think it is important to make your peace with death. I think it is more important to make your peace with God before death. Here are blessed words, “in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them.” My days on earth may be numbered but because of Christ, my days in glory will be without number. 2/2/2011 Conversations Within ts (Davidson River, NC)
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
“We're not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be” C.S. Lewis
“O LORD, you have searched me and known me!” Ps.139 ESV
Before Jesus entered my heart I was uncomfortable with the idea that God was watching me. I actually resented it. Whenever I did something I knew He did not approve I was afraid that He would punish me by making bad things happen. Now I know these notions to be silly and childish. These days I appreciate God's watchful care. I want to be known by Him. I want Him to scrutinize my life. It is not that I have changed. I am still a sinful brat and I still do things He disapproves. The difference is that my perceptions of Him have changed. I no longer view Him as some tyrant ruler with a big stick looking for me to mess up. Christ is helping me to see Him as a Father, one who is coaching me, preparing me to enter the big game. 2/3/2011 Conversations Within ts (Davidson River, NC)
Before Jesus entered my heart I was uncomfortable with the idea that God was watching me. I actually resented it. Whenever I did something I knew He did not approve I was afraid that He would punish me by making bad things happen. Now I know these notions to be silly and childish. These days I appreciate God's watchful care. I want to be known by Him. I want Him to scrutinize my life. It is not that I have changed. I am still a sinful brat and I still do things He disapproves. The difference is that my perceptions of Him have changed. I no longer view Him as some tyrant ruler with a big stick looking for me to mess up. Christ is helping me to see Him as a Father, one who is coaching me, preparing me to enter the big game. 2/3/2011 Conversations Within ts (Davidson River, NC)
“We're not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be” C.S. Lewis
“O LORD, you have searched me and known me!” Ps.139 ESV
Before Jesus entered my heart I was uncomfortable with the idea that God was watching me. I actually resented it. Whenever I did something I knew He did not approve I was afraid that He would punish me by making bad things happen. Now I know these notions to be silly and childish. These days I appreciate God's watchful care. I want to be known by Him. I want Him to scrutinize my life. It is not that I have changed. I am still a sinful brat and I still do things He disapproves. The difference is that my perceptions of Him have changed. I no longer view Him as some tyrant ruler with a big stick looking for me to mess up. Christ is helping me to see Him as a Father, one who is coaching me, preparing me to enter the big game. 2/3/2011 Conversations Within ts (Davidson River, NC)
Before Jesus entered my heart I was uncomfortable with the idea that God was watching me. I actually resented it. Whenever I did something I knew He did not approve I was afraid that He would punish me by making bad things happen. Now I know these notions to be silly and childish. These days I appreciate God's watchful care. I want to be known by Him. I want Him to scrutinize my life. It is not that I have changed. I am still a sinful brat and I still do things He disapproves. The difference is that my perceptions of Him have changed. I no longer view Him as some tyrant ruler with a big stick looking for me to mess up. Christ is helping me to see Him as a Father, one who is coaching me, preparing me to enter the big game. 2/3/2011 Conversations Within ts (Davidson River, NC)
Monday, February 7, 2011
“It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.” Henry David Thoreau
“Let us make man in our image in our likeness...” Gen.1
There is little doubt in my mind that people are fundamentally spiritual creatures. We see things, not only with physical eyes but with an innate spiritual awareness. When I witness an old woman spill her groceries I see more than just some cause an effect event. I would feel anger if a careless teenager ran by and caused it, or if he neglected to help her even if he didn't cause it. I would feel guilty if I did not stop and help her. My sense of right and wrong is a spiritual thing. Some have tried to explain this as a kind of herd instinct passed down through the natural processes of evolution. I believe it is passed down to us because we are made in the image of God. Of course these very different explanations are just another example that its not what we look at but what we see that matters. 2/1/2011 Conversations Within ts (Between GA)
There is little doubt in my mind that people are fundamentally spiritual creatures. We see things, not only with physical eyes but with an innate spiritual awareness. When I witness an old woman spill her groceries I see more than just some cause an effect event. I would feel anger if a careless teenager ran by and caused it, or if he neglected to help her even if he didn't cause it. I would feel guilty if I did not stop and help her. My sense of right and wrong is a spiritual thing. Some have tried to explain this as a kind of herd instinct passed down through the natural processes of evolution. I believe it is passed down to us because we are made in the image of God. Of course these very different explanations are just another example that its not what we look at but what we see that matters. 2/1/2011 Conversations Within ts (Between GA)
“It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.” Henry David Thoreau
“Let us make man in our image in our likeness...” Gen.1
There is little doubt in my mind that people are fundamentally spiritual creatures. We see things, not only with physical eyes but with an innate spiritual awareness. When I witness an old woman spill her groceries I see more than just some cause an effect event. I would feel anger if a careless teenager ran by and caused it, or if he neglected to help her even if he didn't cause it. I would feel guilty if I did not stop and help her. My sense of right and wrong is a spiritual thing. Some have tried to explain this as a kind of herd instinct passed down through the natural processes of evolution. I believe it is passed down to us because we are made in the image of God. Of course these very different explanations are just another example that its not what we look at but what we see that matters. 2/1/2011 Conversations Within ts (Between GA)
There is little doubt in my mind that people are fundamentally spiritual creatures. We see things, not only with physical eyes but with an innate spiritual awareness. When I witness an old woman spill her groceries I see more than just some cause an effect event. I would feel anger if a careless teenager ran by and caused it, or if he neglected to help her even if he didn't cause it. I would feel guilty if I did not stop and help her. My sense of right and wrong is a spiritual thing. Some have tried to explain this as a kind of herd instinct passed down through the natural processes of evolution. I believe it is passed down to us because we are made in the image of God. Of course these very different explanations are just another example that its not what we look at but what we see that matters. 2/1/2011 Conversations Within ts (Between GA)
Saturday, February 5, 2011
“If you're in a bad situation, don't worry it'll change. If you're in a good situation, don't worry it'll change.” John A. Simone, Sr.
“I am convinced that nothing can separate us from the love of God...” Rom.8
I suppose in the present order of things, change is inevitable. But God is not subject to the rules of our fallen world and though things constantly change around us, one thing remains certain and unchanging and that is His abiding love. This is at least the Christian view of God. Whatever changes are in store for us in this place, His Spirit seeks to persuade us, if we will let Him, that nothing is able to separate us from His beneficial actions. This remains true even if we resist these gentle persuasions, but unpersuaded, we will be as little children afraid of the dark when there is really nothing to fear. 1/31/2011 Conversations Within ts (Gunterhill, AL)
I suppose in the present order of things, change is inevitable. But God is not subject to the rules of our fallen world and though things constantly change around us, one thing remains certain and unchanging and that is His abiding love. This is at least the Christian view of God. Whatever changes are in store for us in this place, His Spirit seeks to persuade us, if we will let Him, that nothing is able to separate us from His beneficial actions. This remains true even if we resist these gentle persuasions, but unpersuaded, we will be as little children afraid of the dark when there is really nothing to fear. 1/31/2011 Conversations Within ts (Gunterhill, AL)
“If you're in a bad situation, don't worry it'll change. If you're in a good situation, don't worry it'll change.” John A. Simone, Sr.
“I am convinced that nothing can separate us from the love of God...” Rom.8
I suppose in the present order of things, change is inevitable. But God is not subject to the rules of our fallen world and though things constantly change around us, one thing remains certain and unchanging and that is His abiding love. This is at least the Christian view of God. Whatever changes are in store for us in this place, His Spirit seeks to persuade us, if we will let Him, that nothing is able to separate us from His beneficial actions. This remains true even if we resist these gentle persuasions, but unpersuaded, we will be as little children afraid of the dark when there is really nothing to fear. 1/31/2011 Conversations Within ts (Gunterhill, AL)
I suppose in the present order of things, change is inevitable. But God is not subject to the rules of our fallen world and though things constantly change around us, one thing remains certain and unchanging and that is His abiding love. This is at least the Christian view of God. Whatever changes are in store for us in this place, His Spirit seeks to persuade us, if we will let Him, that nothing is able to separate us from His beneficial actions. This remains true even if we resist these gentle persuasions, but unpersuaded, we will be as little children afraid of the dark when there is really nothing to fear. 1/31/2011 Conversations Within ts (Gunterhill, AL)
Friday, February 4, 2011
“As if you could kill time without injuring eternity.” Henry David Thoreau, Walden
“...the night is coming when no one can work.” Jesus
I am not one to live for the weekend. If I am to live at all, let me live fully and live fully every day. God may be enjoyed in just about any activity, cutting grass, dinner with friends, watching a movie. He may certainly be enjoyed in our work and indeed He should be. What a waste of precious time to live for the weekend instead of enjoying all that God is for us in our respective jobs. Our attitude toward work can be as important as the work we do. Worship while we work. 1/29/2011 Conversations Within ts (Gunterhill, AL)
I am not one to live for the weekend. If I am to live at all, let me live fully and live fully every day. God may be enjoyed in just about any activity, cutting grass, dinner with friends, watching a movie. He may certainly be enjoyed in our work and indeed He should be. What a waste of precious time to live for the weekend instead of enjoying all that God is for us in our respective jobs. Our attitude toward work can be as important as the work we do. Worship while we work. 1/29/2011 Conversations Within ts (Gunterhill, AL)
“As if you could kill time without injuring eternity.” Henry David Thoreau, Walden
“...the night is coming when no one can work.” Jesus
I am not one to live for the weekend. If I am to live at all, let me live fully and live fully every day. God may be enjoyed in just about any activity, cutting grass, dinner with friends, watching a movie. He may certainly be enjoyed in our work and indeed He should be. What a waste of precious time to live for the weekend instead of enjoying all that God is for us in our respective jobs. Our attitude toward work can be as important as the work we do. Worship while we work. 1/29/2011 Conversations Within ts (Gunterhill, AL)
I am not one to live for the weekend. If I am to live at all, let me live fully and live fully every day. God may be enjoyed in just about any activity, cutting grass, dinner with friends, watching a movie. He may certainly be enjoyed in our work and indeed He should be. What a waste of precious time to live for the weekend instead of enjoying all that God is for us in our respective jobs. Our attitude toward work can be as important as the work we do. Worship while we work. 1/29/2011 Conversations Within ts (Gunterhill, AL)
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Life is short, God's way of encouraging a bit of focus. Robert Brault
“It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment...” Heb.9 ESV
Christians believe the simplest way prepare ourselves for judgment, is to invite Jesus into our heart and surrender our lives to His Lordship. When we do this He promises not only to pardon our shortcomings, but also to enter our life to energize and focus it around eternal purposes. It is tragic to think he offers one without the other. His intent is not only to help us escape a condemning judgment, but to turn the judgment seat into a kind of reward ceremony where we share the benefits of living for something greater than ourselves. I am sure that the reward Jesus has in mind is something more than the pavement that will be under our feet. People who work for such things might very well be street cleaners in glory-- very real possibility I imagine. I think we will we come to find that love is its own reward, everything else just scenery—made beautiful as much by the heart that appreciates it as it is by the eyes that will behold it. 1/28/2011 Conversations Within ts (Gunterhill, AL)
Christians believe the simplest way prepare ourselves for judgment, is to invite Jesus into our heart and surrender our lives to His Lordship. When we do this He promises not only to pardon our shortcomings, but also to enter our life to energize and focus it around eternal purposes. It is tragic to think he offers one without the other. His intent is not only to help us escape a condemning judgment, but to turn the judgment seat into a kind of reward ceremony where we share the benefits of living for something greater than ourselves. I am sure that the reward Jesus has in mind is something more than the pavement that will be under our feet. People who work for such things might very well be street cleaners in glory-- very real possibility I imagine. I think we will we come to find that love is its own reward, everything else just scenery—made beautiful as much by the heart that appreciates it as it is by the eyes that will behold it. 1/28/2011 Conversations Within ts (Gunterhill, AL)
Life is short, God's way of encouraging a bit of focus. Robert Brault
“It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment...” Heb.9 ESV
Christians believe the simplest way prepare ourselves for judgment, is to invite Jesus into our heart and surrender our lives to His Lordship. When we do this He promises not only to pardon our shortcomings, but also to enter our life to energize and focus it around eternal purposes. It is tragic to think he offers one without the other. His intent is not only to help us escape a condemning judgment, but to turn the judgment seat into a kind of reward ceremony where we share the benefits of living for something greater than ourselves. I am sure that the reward Jesus has in mind is something more than the pavement that will be under our feet. People who work for such things might very well be street cleaners in glory-- very real possibility I imagine. I think we will we come to find that love is its own reward, everything else just scenery—made beautiful as much by the heart that appreciates it as it is by the eyes that will behold it. 1/28/2011 Conversations Within ts (Gunterhill, AL)
Christians believe the simplest way prepare ourselves for judgment, is to invite Jesus into our heart and surrender our lives to His Lordship. When we do this He promises not only to pardon our shortcomings, but also to enter our life to energize and focus it around eternal purposes. It is tragic to think he offers one without the other. His intent is not only to help us escape a condemning judgment, but to turn the judgment seat into a kind of reward ceremony where we share the benefits of living for something greater than ourselves. I am sure that the reward Jesus has in mind is something more than the pavement that will be under our feet. People who work for such things might very well be street cleaners in glory-- very real possibility I imagine. I think we will we come to find that love is its own reward, everything else just scenery—made beautiful as much by the heart that appreciates it as it is by the eyes that will behold it. 1/28/2011 Conversations Within ts (Gunterhill, AL)
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
“We now no longer camp as for a night, but have settled down on earth and forgotten heaven.” Henry David Thoreau
“Our Father in heaven...” Mt.6
I confess an affection for life and by that I mean life as I know it now. I suppose this is why it is taking me so long to understand the Scripture that says that God's loving kindness is better than life. What could be better than life? But I must admit that life could be better. I also confess that everything good about life carries the fragrance of His aroma and everything not so good, the stench our rebellion against Him. “What would my life be without God?” Without His company, His companionship, His purpose, in short, without His loving kindness, life would be reduced to mere existence or at best a selfish and empty struggle for happiness in a place that gives us a taste of life but never lets us fully posses it. God's loving kindness is better than life, better than life as we know it here. There, in that new place, His loving kindness is life. 1/27/2011 Conversations Within ts (Gunterhill, AL)
I confess an affection for life and by that I mean life as I know it now. I suppose this is why it is taking me so long to understand the Scripture that says that God's loving kindness is better than life. What could be better than life? But I must admit that life could be better. I also confess that everything good about life carries the fragrance of His aroma and everything not so good, the stench our rebellion against Him. “What would my life be without God?” Without His company, His companionship, His purpose, in short, without His loving kindness, life would be reduced to mere existence or at best a selfish and empty struggle for happiness in a place that gives us a taste of life but never lets us fully posses it. God's loving kindness is better than life, better than life as we know it here. There, in that new place, His loving kindness is life. 1/27/2011 Conversations Within ts (Gunterhill, AL)
“We now no longer camp as for a night, but have settled down on earth and forgotten heaven.” Henry David Thoreau
“Our Father in heaven...” Mt.6
I confess an affection for life and by that I mean life as I know it now. I suppose this is why it is taking me so long to understand the Scripture that says that God's loving kindness is better than life. What could be better than life? But I must admit that life could be better. I also confess that everything good about life carries the fragrance of His aroma and everything not so good, the stench our rebellion against Him. “What would my life be without God?” Without His company, His companionship, His purpose, in short, without His loving kindness, life would be reduced to mere existence or at best a selfish and empty struggle for happiness in a place that gives us a taste of life but never lets us fully posses it. God's loving kindness is better than life, better than life as we know it here. There, in that new place, His loving kindness is life. 1/27/2011 Conversations Within ts (Gunterhill, AL)
I confess an affection for life and by that I mean life as I know it now. I suppose this is why it is taking me so long to understand the Scripture that says that God's loving kindness is better than life. What could be better than life? But I must admit that life could be better. I also confess that everything good about life carries the fragrance of His aroma and everything not so good, the stench our rebellion against Him. “What would my life be without God?” Without His company, His companionship, His purpose, in short, without His loving kindness, life would be reduced to mere existence or at best a selfish and empty struggle for happiness in a place that gives us a taste of life but never lets us fully posses it. God's loving kindness is better than life, better than life as we know it here. There, in that new place, His loving kindness is life. 1/27/2011 Conversations Within ts (Gunterhill, AL)
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
“Make judgments without being judgmental.” Terry Cooper
“Make judgments without being judgmental.” Terry Cooper
“You are justified when You speak and blameless when You judge.” Ps.51 NASB
It is one thing to try and discern God's way of doing things and another thing all together to pass judgment on the things He does. But not all judgment is not judgmental. We can properly discern what God is doing without thinking less of Him for doing it. Certainly when we complain, or get mad at what He allows or doubt His promises or question His motives we are judging Him, plain and simple. Sometimes we do this overtly, other times our judgments are veiled in unspoken criticisms or attitudes. We may even convince ourselves that our dissatisfaction is with people or circumstances but if we believe in God's sovereignty we are ultimately dissatisfied with the way He does things which pretty much means we are also not happy with Him. I suppose we will be tempted to judge God until He graciously lifts us up to see everything from a heavenly point of view. 1/24/2011 Conversations Within ts (Gunterhill, AL)
“You are justified when You speak and blameless when You judge.” Ps.51 NASB
It is one thing to try and discern God's way of doing things and another thing all together to pass judgment on the things He does. But not all judgment is not judgmental. We can properly discern what God is doing without thinking less of Him for doing it. Certainly when we complain, or get mad at what He allows or doubt His promises or question His motives we are judging Him, plain and simple. Sometimes we do this overtly, other times our judgments are veiled in unspoken criticisms or attitudes. We may even convince ourselves that our dissatisfaction is with people or circumstances but if we believe in God's sovereignty we are ultimately dissatisfied with the way He does things which pretty much means we are also not happy with Him. I suppose we will be tempted to judge God until He graciously lifts us up to see everything from a heavenly point of view. 1/24/2011 Conversations Within ts (Gunterhill, AL)
“Make judgments without being judgmental.” Terry Cooper
“Make judgments without being judgmental.” Terry Cooper
“You are justified when You speak and blameless when You judge.” Ps.51 NASB
It is one thing to try and discern God's way of doing things and another thing all together to pass judgment on the things He does. But not all judgment is not judgmental. We can properly discern what God is doing without thinking less of Him for doing it. Certainly when we complain, or get mad at what He allows or doubt His promises or question His motives we are judging Him, plain and simple. Sometimes we do this overtly, other times our judgments are veiled in unspoken criticisms or attitudes. We may even convince ourselves that our dissatisfaction is with people or circumstances but if we believe in God's sovereignty we are ultimately dissatisfied with the way He does things which pretty much means we are also not happy with Him. I suppose we will be tempted to judge God until He graciously lifts us up to see everything from a heavenly point of view. 1/24/2011 Conversations Within ts (Gunterhill, AL)
“You are justified when You speak and blameless when You judge.” Ps.51 NASB
It is one thing to try and discern God's way of doing things and another thing all together to pass judgment on the things He does. But not all judgment is not judgmental. We can properly discern what God is doing without thinking less of Him for doing it. Certainly when we complain, or get mad at what He allows or doubt His promises or question His motives we are judging Him, plain and simple. Sometimes we do this overtly, other times our judgments are veiled in unspoken criticisms or attitudes. We may even convince ourselves that our dissatisfaction is with people or circumstances but if we believe in God's sovereignty we are ultimately dissatisfied with the way He does things which pretty much means we are also not happy with Him. I suppose we will be tempted to judge God until He graciously lifts us up to see everything from a heavenly point of view. 1/24/2011 Conversations Within ts (Gunterhill, AL)
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