encourage

"to pour courage into another"
How do you like that definition?
I wish I knew whom to reference!

Debate Season

So, Obama won that debate, says the media.
I have observed that his "victory" had nothing to do with what he did or did not say,
nor was it anything Romney did or did not say.  That's unfortunate.
It did, however, have a lot to do with what the moderator said AND what she did not say.
She did not review the rules of debate for the television audience - this might have
held both candidates a little more responsible for following them.  She also did say
before the debate that she would break the rules herself.  At that point she ceased to be
effective as moderator.  And, btw, she broke the rules on the FIRST question.
Why was she still allowed in?
There is an overtone here that is not being exposed:
no respect for authority

She didn't show it, and as a result neither candidate showed it.
But this debate is not where that began.  There has been a serious decline
in respect for authority since the beginning of time.  If we are to prosper as a people,
then we must return.  We must teach our children.  We must set the example.
We must hold one another accountable and agree to be held accountable.

So President Obama argues and complains better than Governor Mitt Romney.
Does anybody feel better?

Why do people think that Joe Biden won last week's VP debate?
Because he took the focus off of the actual debate.  He drew attention to himself.
He looked like a fool.  (Proverbs 29:9).  The Hebrew word is eviyl, it translates
"silly."
Do we want the President of the US Congress to be silly?
I don't even want my children to be silly!
I also don't want my President's best characteristic to be arguing.
#voteforlife

Has the Law Really Been Done Away With?

I recently took on the task of memorizing the Sermon on the Mount. Not long after that, I decided to preach it. What a response! That's not surprising: it IS the greatest sermon I ever preached. It may have been the greatest sermon anyone ever preached. I am sure I did not do it justice...however, God's Word will not return to Him empty. Since then, I have meditated on parts of it and have been immensely blessed as a result. I can trace almost everything I have learned and preached since then back to a principal found within the great Sermon.

Recently I have discussed the idea of tithing with some brothers and sisters in Christ. Forget what you know or have heard about tithing, that's not the point. My question to ponder today is whether or not the Law was really done away with. Yes, Jesus came to fulfill the Law. Does that mean it is done away with? Will we do away with Jesus?
Look at the Sermon, specifically Matthew 5:
"until heaven and earth disappear..." Has either of these things happened?
"You have heard it said..." In which of these segments did Jesus LOWER the standard of God's expectation?
In fact, in all Jesus taught - every parable, every word - when did He ever lower the standard?

Pause a moment.
I am not trying to bind anyone back to the Law.
We are saved by grace through faith...not by works. But...FOR works. (Eph 2:8-10).

Which of the 10 Commandments have we stricken from Christianity? Before you say the Sabbath, I would submit that we would all be better off with a day of rest each week. And the reason for instituting the Sabbath was that God worked (in Creation) 6 days and rested on the 7th.
Will we deny history?
Did not Jesus say (on multiple occasions) that keeping the two greatest commands (Love the Lord and Love your neighbor) takes care of all the Law and Prophets? If the Law was done away with, should we still keep these 2 commands?
Does the Sermon on the Mount apply to us today, or only to the audience of His time?
What do we do with Matthew 5:19-20?
May the Lord Bless you richly as you consider His Words.

diakonos

"I commend to you our sister Phoebe,
a servant of the church in Cenchrea."
Romans 16:1
I am just wondering if anyone who reads this ever noticed that the word "servant," used to describe Phoebe, is the same word used to describe the Deacons in 1Timothy 3?
First, does anyone read this?
Second, did you know that?
Third, does that bother you?
There are strong implications. The word actually translates into the english word, servant.
Shocked?
Well, that is also where we get our word minister.
Minister and Deacon are actually made-up words to describe what WE think the Bible meant in certain places.  Hmmm...

And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. Luke 2:52

Let love and faithfulness never leave you;

bind them around your neck,

write them on the tablet of your heart.

Then you will win favor and a good name

in the sight of God and man.

Proverbs 3:3-4

Is it possible that Jesus was familiar with Proverbs even as a boy?

I don't mean He read read once or twice, but maybe...that He KNEW it.

If we believe Scripture is flawless, God-breathed, divinely given for life and godliness...

could this be the reason Jesus grew in favor with God and men.

Could we also grow in favor with God and men by studying even the Old Testament?

May God bless you today with wisdom, discipline, and understanding words of insight...

Sayings of Agur

I am the most ignorant of men;

I do not have a man’s understanding.

I have not learned wisdom,

nor have I knowledge of the Holy One.

Who has gone up to heaven and come down?

Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands?

Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak?

Who has established all the ends of the earth?

What is his name, and the name of his son?

Tell me if you know!

Proverbs 30:2-4

Isn't it interesting that one who claims to be the "most ignorant of men" has an inclination toward the Son of God?

How is it, then, that we today, who claim to be so educated and intelligent, are so inwardly focused that we can't even mention that there IS a God,

let alone a Son of God?

His Name is Wonderful!

The Name of the Lord is a strong and mighty tower;

the righteous run into it and are safe.

His Son is none other than Jesus Christ.

I am blessed to know, though I am also ignorant among men.

May the Lord bless you with His protection and grace!

PROVOKED??

Stone is heavy and sand a burden,

but provocation by a fool is heavier than both.

Proverbs 27:3

Sometimes it is much better to just keep your mouth shut and move on.

Why do I find this hard? Pride.

I need to set him straight...I need to be "right."

I really need to remember that other Proverb...

"A wise man keeps himself ynder control." 29:11

and that other Proverb...

"When words are many, sin is not absent,

but he who holds his tongue is wise." 10:19

May the Lord bless you today and make your tongue wise!