Here's an excellent message... Be edified.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Global What?
Just took this picture from my back yard a few minutes ago. What you see is across the street from me. What do you see falling from the sky?
I'm just waiting for some nut to tell us that snow in April is some kind of positive proof of Global Warming.
I'm just waiting for some nut to tell us that snow in April is some kind of positive proof of Global Warming.
It's April 28th, and I ask you. . .can we PLEASE shut up about global warming now?
Jimmy Carter: Let's Talk with Hamas
As many of you may know, most of my listening these days is to Messianic radio. Specifically, WSTW (We Spread The Word). One of the programs on this station is "The Messianic Hour" with Rabbi Scott Sekulow.
If you want to hear what they have to say about Carter's position on peace between Israel and the Middle East, click here and play the April 26th archive. Be blessed by the first half, and hear the clip during the second half. You'll also hear about Presidential candidate Barak Obama's position on Israel.
If you want to hear what they have to say about Carter's position on peace between Israel and the Middle East, click here and play the April 26th archive. Be blessed by the first half, and hear the clip during the second half. You'll also hear about Presidential candidate Barak Obama's position on Israel.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Brian McLaren at Willow Creek
Brannon Howse and Bob DeWaay
From Christian Worldview Network:
"Pastor Bob DeWaay joins Brannon to discuss Brain McLaren's presentation this past weekend at Bill Hybel's Willow Creek Church. Brian told the young people to lessen their passion for eternity and live in the here and now. Brian then went on to talk about the myth of hell, the return of the Lord to conquer His enemies and how those that believe in these things are not surprisingly violent people. Brannon and Bob also discuss Rick Warren's continued moves to the left."
Listen Here...
"Pastor Bob DeWaay joins Brannon to discuss Brain McLaren's presentation this past weekend at Bill Hybel's Willow Creek Church. Brian told the young people to lessen their passion for eternity and live in the here and now. Brian then went on to talk about the myth of hell, the return of the Lord to conquer His enemies and how those that believe in these things are not surprisingly violent people. Brannon and Bob also discuss Rick Warren's continued moves to the left."
Listen Here...
Monday, April 21, 2008
Where Is Our Trust?
Psalm 21:
Psa 21:1
O LORD, in Your strength the king will be glad, And in Your salvation how greatly he will rejoice!
Psa 21:2
You have given him his heart's desire, And You have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah.
Psa 21:3
For You meet him with the blessings of good things; You set a crown of fine gold on his head.
Psa 21:4
He asked life of You, You gave it to him, Length of days forever and ever.
Psa 21:5
His glory is great through Your salvation, Splendor and majesty You place upon him.
Psa 21:6
For You make him most blessed forever; You make him joyful with gladness in Your presence.
Psa 21:7
For the king trusts in the LORD, And through the lovingkindness of the Most High he will not be shaken.
Psa 21:8
Your hand will find out all your enemies; Your right hand will find out those who hate you.
Psa 21:9
You will make them as a fiery oven in the time of your anger; The LORD will swallow them up in His wrath, And fire will devour them.
Psa 21:10
Their offspring You will destroy from the earth, And their descendants from among the sons of men.
Psa 21:11
Though they intended evil against You {And} devised a plot, They will not succeed.
Psa 21:12
For You will make them turn their back; You will aim with Your bowstrings at their faces.
Psa 21:13
Be exalted, O LORD, in Your strength; We will sing and praise Your power.
I read this through this morning and put myself in the king's position, replacing the word "king" with "I". Sometimes it seems like there is no going on and that everything is closing in. Such times are a test. In what or Whom will we put our trust?
Will we obey Christ or deny Him by relying on our own resources?
Life can be tough, especially when we are downcast. It can be hard too when we have relied on our own "wisdom" and "strength" to accomplish what we will.
God asks us to place our trust in His Word alone.
May we pass our tests.
Psa 21:1
O LORD, in Your strength the king will be glad, And in Your salvation how greatly he will rejoice!
Psa 21:2
You have given him his heart's desire, And You have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah.
Psa 21:3
For You meet him with the blessings of good things; You set a crown of fine gold on his head.
Psa 21:4
He asked life of You, You gave it to him, Length of days forever and ever.
Psa 21:5
His glory is great through Your salvation, Splendor and majesty You place upon him.
Psa 21:6
For You make him most blessed forever; You make him joyful with gladness in Your presence.
Psa 21:7
For the king trusts in the LORD, And through the lovingkindness of the Most High he will not be shaken.
Psa 21:8
Your hand will find out all your enemies; Your right hand will find out those who hate you.
Psa 21:9
You will make them as a fiery oven in the time of your anger; The LORD will swallow them up in His wrath, And fire will devour them.
Psa 21:10
Their offspring You will destroy from the earth, And their descendants from among the sons of men.
Psa 21:11
Though they intended evil against You {And} devised a plot, They will not succeed.
Psa 21:12
For You will make them turn their back; You will aim with Your bowstrings at their faces.
Psa 21:13
Be exalted, O LORD, in Your strength; We will sing and praise Your power.
I read this through this morning and put myself in the king's position, replacing the word "king" with "I". Sometimes it seems like there is no going on and that everything is closing in. Such times are a test. In what or Whom will we put our trust?
Will we obey Christ or deny Him by relying on our own resources?
Life can be tough, especially when we are downcast. It can be hard too when we have relied on our own "wisdom" and "strength" to accomplish what we will.
God asks us to place our trust in His Word alone.
May we pass our tests.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Getting Back to Basics
Today was a beautiful day. I've been spending my time outdoors after an overly long winter (where are all the Global Warming people now?). Mom has been kind of lonely (well, she did lose my dad about a year and a half ago) and I've been just a bit guilty of not "honoring my parents" by spending too much time on my own stuff and not any time just talking with her. She's 84 and doing reasonably well but still, you never want to take your parents for granted.
After borrowing dad's mower and doing a couple lawns, I spent the time on her deck reading. It was good just spending time there with her dog and ours playing.
The book was "Facing Your Final Job Interview" by Woodrow Kroll. I didn't really "read" it. I scanned through parts of it. The book is very readable but I just didn't have the energy today to concentrate on a lot, so I just scanned it for a few nuggets. And, while I wouldn't agree with every thing that Woodrow Kroll has to say, I was reminded of some very relevant and basic things.
While there were a few things that popped out at me, one of the main things was his reference to 1 Peter 2:9 although I'll include verse 10 just to complete the thought:
1Pe 2:9
But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR {God's} OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
1Pe 2:10
for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.
Can't get more basic than this, can you? That is such a loaded passage! We are:
A chosen race
A Royal priesthood
A Holy Nation
A people for God's own possession
Think of this. The Sovereign Lord of Glory, Who made all things for Himself, has done all this. Those of us who have been regenerate, thus becoming part of the Body of Christ, has by His mercy and Grace, chosen us...into not just a priesthood, but a ROYAL priesthood, separated unto God (Holy), that exist as God's own possession!
But what for? To run around and do a lot? To sit back and take it all for granted? No. "...so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;...".
It is so that we may make a proclaimation! A proclaimation of God's excellencies. And what are those excellencies related to? Read on. . ."the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light".
Simply put we are to proclaim the excellencies of God that, in particular, involve the Gospel. The saving work of God through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Does it mean "win converts"? It's not up to us to win converts. That is up to God. It is up to us to just tell of the excellencies of God, which have been shown most profoundly in the work of Christ in everything He has done by His mercy and grace to save those Whom He will save.
You can't get more profound than that.
It was Paul Washer who said something to the effect that "We do what we can to get people in the kingdom then try to move on to bigger things. Friends, there is no bigger thing than the Gospel!"
The Gospel is the greatest thing we could proclaim!
Let us do what Peter said is our whole purpose: to "...proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light..."
Amen?
After borrowing dad's mower and doing a couple lawns, I spent the time on her deck reading. It was good just spending time there with her dog and ours playing.
The book was "Facing Your Final Job Interview" by Woodrow Kroll. I didn't really "read" it. I scanned through parts of it. The book is very readable but I just didn't have the energy today to concentrate on a lot, so I just scanned it for a few nuggets. And, while I wouldn't agree with every thing that Woodrow Kroll has to say, I was reminded of some very relevant and basic things.
While there were a few things that popped out at me, one of the main things was his reference to 1 Peter 2:9 although I'll include verse 10 just to complete the thought:
1Pe 2:9
But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR {God's} OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
1Pe 2:10
for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.
Can't get more basic than this, can you? That is such a loaded passage! We are:
A chosen race
A Royal priesthood
A Holy Nation
A people for God's own possession
Think of this. The Sovereign Lord of Glory, Who made all things for Himself, has done all this. Those of us who have been regenerate, thus becoming part of the Body of Christ, has by His mercy and Grace, chosen us...into not just a priesthood, but a ROYAL priesthood, separated unto God (Holy), that exist as God's own possession!
But what for? To run around and do a lot? To sit back and take it all for granted? No. "...so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;...".
It is so that we may make a proclaimation! A proclaimation of God's excellencies. And what are those excellencies related to? Read on. . ."the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light".
Simply put we are to proclaim the excellencies of God that, in particular, involve the Gospel. The saving work of God through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Does it mean "win converts"? It's not up to us to win converts. That is up to God. It is up to us to just tell of the excellencies of God, which have been shown most profoundly in the work of Christ in everything He has done by His mercy and grace to save those Whom He will save.
You can't get more profound than that.
It was Paul Washer who said something to the effect that "We do what we can to get people in the kingdom then try to move on to bigger things. Friends, there is no bigger thing than the Gospel!"
The Gospel is the greatest thing we could proclaim!
Let us do what Peter said is our whole purpose: to "...proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light..."
Amen?
No Comment?
Just wanted to explain what has happened here at the blog. I have (at least temporarily) disabled comments.
Why?
Simple.
No, not because of trolls. It's easy enough to just ignore them and not post what they have to say. Other reasons perhaps? I thought of a few but I can't remember them and no, they weren't it either.
The reason has to do with checking my own motivation for what I post. Am I doing this for Kudos? To stir up disconent? I don't think so, but I think at this time in my blogging life, I'd rather just run a test.
This blog began as many have. Just a way to say what I think. It's a record of what I have read, encountered and thought. It is mainly for myself and that is very easy to forget.
I know, I know, a blog that doesn't allow comments is less "interesting". But that's ok. That, again, is part of the "test".
The temptation sometimes can be "What can I say next to get an 'amen' from someone". I didn't start this blog for hat purpose and I don't want it to be that way.
I hope you all can appreciate my point.
So, for those of you who have submitted comments recently, understand that it is, at least in part, due to the fact that I have been thinking of just shutting down the comment section. That's all. It's a way for me to evaluate my motives. "What am I really doing this for anyway".
For those of you who would offer an encouraging word while this period goes on, just take those words and offer them to the Lord and ask Him to give me strength and wisdom. I need it. There have been a few things going on that have been a challenge in my life (and my wife's). Yes, we're ok. But life just sometimes is a challenge.
Again, this is not a "rejection of what everyone thinks". It is, for me, a serious time of reflection and re-evaluation. And I think that is, at least periodically, a good thing.
Thanks for your faithful reading and I covet your prayers.
Tim
Why?
Simple.
No, not because of trolls. It's easy enough to just ignore them and not post what they have to say. Other reasons perhaps? I thought of a few but I can't remember them and no, they weren't it either.
The reason has to do with checking my own motivation for what I post. Am I doing this for Kudos? To stir up disconent? I don't think so, but I think at this time in my blogging life, I'd rather just run a test.
This blog began as many have. Just a way to say what I think. It's a record of what I have read, encountered and thought. It is mainly for myself and that is very easy to forget.
I know, I know, a blog that doesn't allow comments is less "interesting". But that's ok. That, again, is part of the "test".
The temptation sometimes can be "What can I say next to get an 'amen' from someone". I didn't start this blog for hat purpose and I don't want it to be that way.
I hope you all can appreciate my point.
So, for those of you who have submitted comments recently, understand that it is, at least in part, due to the fact that I have been thinking of just shutting down the comment section. That's all. It's a way for me to evaluate my motives. "What am I really doing this for anyway".
For those of you who would offer an encouraging word while this period goes on, just take those words and offer them to the Lord and ask Him to give me strength and wisdom. I need it. There have been a few things going on that have been a challenge in my life (and my wife's). Yes, we're ok. But life just sometimes is a challenge.
Again, this is not a "rejection of what everyone thinks". It is, for me, a serious time of reflection and re-evaluation. And I think that is, at least periodically, a good thing.
Thanks for your faithful reading and I covet your prayers.
Tim
Monday, April 14, 2008
Is Your Life a Reproach to the World?
The past month or so has been an interesting time. See, I began listening to Messianic Jewish radio. And I like it.
I like it not because it is "different", or "strange" but because of the God and Scripture centeredness of it all. It puts regular "Christian" programming to shame, easily. Most all the music is saturated with Scripture. And there is a sense of "Hey, this is the way it was supposed to be from the beginning!" because the message of salvation was entrusted to the Jews who were to share it with the Gentiles. So it is, in a sense, a restoration of God's intended order.
And you learn some things that you never understood before.
Recently, Johnathan Cahn has been speaking of the scandal of the cross. Nothing new there. We all know that. But let's step back a second and take a fresh look at something else....
Remember the plagues that led to the freedom of the Hebrews? What did they do in preparation for the last plague? Yes, they put blood on their doorposts. Nothing new, you say? Well, that's what I thought. But it wasn't just something they did out of obedience and faith to God. It was more than that.
See, the painting of the blood on the doorposts would have been a reproach to the Egyptians. In a real sense, they were showing their allegiance to God and saying "We are separate unto the Lord" and the act of putting the blood on the doorposts would have been a reproach to the Egyptians.
Can you imagine how difficult it may be to do something like that? Yet they were obedient. They didn't try to just "go along" and "get along". They did what the Lord commanded, even though it was offensive to their captors.
And we are called to be separate to God. We are called to show that we are separate unto God. And we preach the Cross, which is a reproach to the world.
The Cross is a scandalous thing, just as their was scandal on the doorposts before the Hebrews were set free.
If we live rightly, we are a rebuke to the world. And the world will hate us, sooner or later. In one form or another.
So, it was no light thing for the Hebrews to act in faith, painting the blood on their doorposts. It was no casual thing. And neither should our lives be as they depict the scandal of the cross.
I like it not because it is "different", or "strange" but because of the God and Scripture centeredness of it all. It puts regular "Christian" programming to shame, easily. Most all the music is saturated with Scripture. And there is a sense of "Hey, this is the way it was supposed to be from the beginning!" because the message of salvation was entrusted to the Jews who were to share it with the Gentiles. So it is, in a sense, a restoration of God's intended order.
And you learn some things that you never understood before.
Recently, Johnathan Cahn has been speaking of the scandal of the cross. Nothing new there. We all know that. But let's step back a second and take a fresh look at something else....
Remember the plagues that led to the freedom of the Hebrews? What did they do in preparation for the last plague? Yes, they put blood on their doorposts. Nothing new, you say? Well, that's what I thought. But it wasn't just something they did out of obedience and faith to God. It was more than that.
See, the painting of the blood on the doorposts would have been a reproach to the Egyptians. In a real sense, they were showing their allegiance to God and saying "We are separate unto the Lord" and the act of putting the blood on the doorposts would have been a reproach to the Egyptians.
Can you imagine how difficult it may be to do something like that? Yet they were obedient. They didn't try to just "go along" and "get along". They did what the Lord commanded, even though it was offensive to their captors.
And we are called to be separate to God. We are called to show that we are separate unto God. And we preach the Cross, which is a reproach to the world.
The Cross is a scandalous thing, just as their was scandal on the doorposts before the Hebrews were set free.
If we live rightly, we are a rebuke to the world. And the world will hate us, sooner or later. In one form or another.
So, it was no light thing for the Hebrews to act in faith, painting the blood on their doorposts. It was no casual thing. And neither should our lives be as they depict the scandal of the cross.
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Biblical eSources!
Just discovered this link over at TeamPyro by Dan Phillips. He has an excellent review of some Biblical eSources that are becoming available online. I'd recommend you give it a look.
You can go directly to the resource page here. . ..
You can go directly to the resource page here. . ..
A Response to Rick Warren
It was a number of years ago that we began hearing Rick Warren's question "What on Earth are you here for?"
Well, I think the following video is an apt response:
Well, I think the following video is an apt response:
Monday, April 07, 2008
Trolls Say The Darndest Things. . .
Ok, here's our first "Troll Quote".
This one is from a short while back, in response to my post on Focus on the Family's capitulation to Canadian "hate crime" laws. This particular self-proclaimed troll, like so many, likes to focus on the "you're so narrow" attack. He said:
"It must be tough being alone"
Well, it would be. . .if I were. But I'm not.
Our troll seems to forget that the Lord never leaves us or forsakes us. And if standing for the truth means standing physically alone, it doesn't mean that I am alone.
Oh yeah. Not long after I refused the comment, his response was "Ahh, blog moderation. . ."
Yup. Blog moderation. I think it's a good thing.
Stay tuned for more of "Trolls Say The Darndest Things".
This one is from a short while back, in response to my post on Focus on the Family's capitulation to Canadian "hate crime" laws. This particular self-proclaimed troll, like so many, likes to focus on the "you're so narrow" attack. He said:
"It must be tough being alone"
Well, it would be. . .if I were. But I'm not.
Our troll seems to forget that the Lord never leaves us or forsakes us. And if standing for the truth means standing physically alone, it doesn't mean that I am alone.
Oh yeah. Not long after I refused the comment, his response was "Ahh, blog moderation. . ."
Yup. Blog moderation. I think it's a good thing.
Stay tuned for more of "Trolls Say The Darndest Things".
Sunday, April 06, 2008
Yes, Yesterday WAS Humor Day. . .
Funny how you get busy. And my work schedule is such that it gets easy to forget what particular day it is.
Oh well.
Here 'ya go!
Saturday, April 05, 2008
Some Things About Us Sheep
I like Carla. She has lots of good observations over at her blog. Here's a link to one of her more recent posts.
Memorable Troll Quotes Coming Up!
We get them all the time here at the 'Fly. Comments that never see the light of day, for all kinds of reasons.One main reason is that trolling has, of late, grown to almost epidemic proportions. Not necessarily in number but in just plain old nastiness. And I mean nasty. Well, at least they haven't stooped to calling my mother names. . .at least not yet.
It just seems that posting a comment from someone like this would be generally, well, stupid. What would be the point? After all, the whole idea of what a troll does is to try to get some sort of visceral gut reaction and start a fight. It turns into one of those "Supply proof but I'll never accept anything as valid proof" things. . .although they would never admit that.
And since the chief end of man is to glorify God and such conversation doesn't glorify God, then it just stands that it doesn't belong here. Besides, so many times, these people have their own blogs and submitting their comment basically amounts to advertising their blog (click on their name and "presto" you're reading their stuff!). Don't care for that too much here. So that is the second reason.
The third reason is that posting their comments would end up just being an embarrassment to them. It's happened more than once; someone belches fire and brimstone, going on and on about how I have some point wrong, how I don't know what I'm talking about, etcetera, etcetera, ad nauseum. Well, on more than one occasion it turns out that the article they were referring to was a quote from somewhere else, such as WorldNetDaily. All we did was post a reference to the article along with a short "teaser" snippet. Oooops! Guess you need to talk to them, huh? Posting that woulda hurt 'cha!
And there are other reasons as well, but then this post isn't about enumerating the reasons why troll comments don't get posted, it's about memorable ones. See, just because we don't post troll comments doesn't mean we don't have them archived. No No No! Yesserreee Bob, we sure do keep them. See, we can answer troll comments, but we can opt to do it on our own terms. . .and in doing so, we don't get mired in a thread that gets further and further afield and begins to generate more heat than light.
Besides, if I started discussing things with all the trolls that come by here demanding a "conversation", I wouldn't have time for anything else. So, they are archived. And we indeed deal with them; in a controlled way. It just seems to be the wise thing to do. Think of it as quarantining.
So, while I sort through the troll archives, prepare yourselves for a chuckle or two. Yes, names will be changed to protect the. . .er, never mind. We'll just change the names or leave them off altogether.
Till then. . .
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