tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92114298349434391132024-03-14T03:01:37.548-05:00GlimpsesA blog sharing glimpses of God in my life.Sethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343331100669037464noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9211429834943439113.post-90069375340659115032016-10-20T09:48:00.000-05:002016-10-20T09:48:48.134-05:00Forgiveness as Worship<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwxbw-704TykbePqqqfBh30HkibPEWHQrqGa6dRAPswVlAxhWwDUvlyYMgGMmvz-ceZtlH4qJpOnWwmVfXpi2dAAnV1jtElciI3SR8F_O7UZvtvw4hAo-K8uRaRnkGDk92ieZycHcXyvt5/s1600/IMG_8890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwxbw-704TykbePqqqfBh30HkibPEWHQrqGa6dRAPswVlAxhWwDUvlyYMgGMmvz-ceZtlH4qJpOnWwmVfXpi2dAAnV1jtElciI3SR8F_O7UZvtvw4hAo-K8uRaRnkGDk92ieZycHcXyvt5/s320/IMG_8890.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The picture, by the way, is one I took and used in the <br />message on Sunday about worship.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Yesterday God showed me how two things in my life fit together. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">First, someone I care about has been going through a hard time. This involves some other people, and so I am hurt and angry </span>for<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> this person. I want those people who have hurt them to "get what is coming to them". I want them to "feel the way they've made us feel". </span>Basically, <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I want revenge. It's not pretty, but there it is.</span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Add to that a message about worship that I preached last Sunday. I said worshipping Jesus resolves my heart problems. That's a nice statement. Fairly concise. Theologically and Biblically correct. I even gave lots of nice examples that made it applicable for people. However, these two came together for me yesterday. My anger and desire for revenge plus the message of the sermon.</span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And here's what came out the other side. <i>Forgiveness is worship. Forgiveness is worship. Forgiveness is worship.</i></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Forgiveness, not the I'm going to pretend that I'm not hurt by what you did type of forgiveness. But the I'm-going-to-pray-for-God-to-change-my-heart, I'm-going-to-stop-filling-my-mind-with-hateful-thoughts type of forgiveness. The type of forgiveness that understands that I forgive not for anyone else, but for me and my relationship with Jesus. The type of forgiveness that knows that unforgiveness leads to bitterness and a poisoned heart. That's the type of forgiveness that is worship. And it is an oh-so-costly type of forgiveness because it feels like everything in me wants blood the way David did in Psalm 109:8-15 </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">May his days be few; may another take his place of leadership. May his children be </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">fatherless and his wife a widow. May his children be wandering beggars; may they be driven </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">from their ruined homes. May a creditor seize all he has; may strangers plunder the fruits of his labor. May no one extend kindness to him or take pity on his fatherless children. </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">May his descendants be cut off, their names blotted out from the next generation. May the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">; may the sin of his mother never </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">be blotted out. May their sins always remain before the </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">, that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth. -</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">(NIV84)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That's a prayer I've pretty much prayed recently. But here's the thing. This party who has caused pain in my life; I am not their judge. That's why praying this prayer isn't evil, asking God for justice isn't wrong. But taking it into my own hands would be. No, rather he calls me to something different in Ephesians 4:32.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>just as in Christ God forgave you</b></i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">. -(NIV84)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So when everything in me seems to be screaming for revenge or justice as I see it. Jesus calls to me saying here's what I want. "You are my son, and my sons focus more on what I have done </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">for them</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> than on what others have done </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">to them</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">. They fixate on the </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">shape of the cross</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> rather than the </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">shape of their own pain</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">. They </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">trust in the God who sees all</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> rather than </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">trust in what their eyes can see</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> of their circumstances. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And in that choice, the choice to extend forgiveness rather than seek revenge, I am offering the worship of forgiveness. Perhaps the most costly worship I have offered in my life. </span></div>
Sethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343331100669037464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9211429834943439113.post-7270873447677552502016-03-23T18:00:00.000-05:002016-03-23T16:43:28.938-05:00Glimpses of God's Hand Throughout LifeMy name is Seth Watson, and I am the Young Adult Flock Pastor at New Covenant Bible Church. I look forward to meeting and getting to know you better. One of my core values is authenticity, so in that spirit I want to share my story with you.<br />
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<b>Growing Up</b><br />
I grew up going to Sunday School, Sunday Worship, Sunday night events, and Wednesday night kids programs because my dad is a pastor. I grew up as the oldest of five siblings. When I was around eight years old I prayed with my parents to trust Jesus as my Savior. At this point my childish-faith was largely about “not going to hell” when I died. But the summer of my last year of elementary school I went to summer camp and there made a decision to follow after Jesus in a real way. This was a spiritually rich time of life for me. However, when I got to Jr. High things became more difficult. Living for Jesus was definitely not a popular thing to do at my Jr. High. So I struggled and finally decided that I would pursue popularity and acceptance at almost any cost. I turned to sports, music, and friends in order to gain the acceptance that I craved and I did well, for a while.<br />
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<b>A Painful Season</b><br />
In my junior year of high school, life was good. I was starting on the varsity football team, exactly where I wanted to be. I was dating a popular girl. But the Lord had other plans for me. I got sick, lost 25 pounds, and couldn’t finish the football season. In the off-season I hurt my back which led to a very disappointing senior football season. The god of football had been ripped out of my life. Just a few months after that season ended, the girlfriend who also had been an idol in my life broke up with me - another idol gone. I didn’t get the ACT score or the scholarship I wanted. Disappointment and frustration were mounting in my heart. Looking back I can see God’s hand in all of it. He would not allow other things to be idols in my life. <br />
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<b>A Simple Invitation</b><br />
So heading into college I was at a place of openness to the Lord again. I went to Wayne State College, majoring in pre-medicine. The Campus Crusade for Christ group helped me and the other freshmen move into our dorms. One of the movers invited me to a Crusade meeting and that simple invitation altered the course of my life. I went, and kept on going. That winter I rededicated my life to Jesus at the Denver Christmas Conference. But I still had my plan of becoming a doctor. Over the course of the next couple of years, the Lord began to make it clear that medicine was not what He had for me.<br />
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<b>Our Story</b><br />
At the same time I met Rebecca and we began dating. I interned with my dad at my home church working with the youth for a summer. It was at this time that I began to feel the Lord leading me to pursue full-time ministry. So Rebecca and I got engaged (2004) and were married (2005). I finished college (2006) and started working as a youth pastor at our church in Wayne, Nebraska. Both Rebecca and I felt the Lord calling us to seminary for further ministry preparation. So in July 2007 we packed up all our earthly belongings, said a tearful goodbye to our friends and family, and drove 12 hours south to Dallas Theological Seminary. We met great friends and grew a lot during our time there. I graduated in May 2011 after four years of study.<br />
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<b>Coming to Iowa</b> <br />
We visited New Covenant in January 2011 and were amazed at the healthy family of growing disciples that we found here. After a week of reflection and prayer the Lord made it clear that New Covenant was where He was calling us to be. So, here we are in Cedar Rapids. We enjoy hanging out with friends, being a part of what God is doing in people's lives, watching good movies, reading, drinking coffee, taking walks with our daughters, Annabelle, Abby, and Ellie, and lots of other things. I look forward to meeting you and serving alongside of you here at New Covenant. My email is seth.watson@newcovenantbible.org.Sethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343331100669037464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9211429834943439113.post-15676554042299872242016-03-04T11:54:00.000-06:002016-03-04T11:54:37.105-06:00Glimpses of God's Goodness<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKtsHC2aIwfDNoYW7F78iMlh3l8CR8lI9-Tz7M0N3F63IpNhXq4g9mQtjopf7f5oNcvF2mSgSnV0Y_c0dbB4zo2dT69IDMG7DzbWMjOhumYmKMaOxx3u2mVzd_nG0yeREZQtcB-msfxKcc/s1600/WIN_20151007_22_03_12_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKtsHC2aIwfDNoYW7F78iMlh3l8CR8lI9-Tz7M0N3F63IpNhXq4g9mQtjopf7f5oNcvF2mSgSnV0Y_c0dbB4zo2dT69IDMG7DzbWMjOhumYmKMaOxx3u2mVzd_nG0yeREZQtcB-msfxKcc/s320/WIN_20151007_22_03_12_Pro.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">This is an old something that I wrote a few months back. I found it digging through my files for something else. (from 10/7/15)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma"; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">It's been a long week already. We had some really good stuff go on last week ministry-wise, but I am tired. It's one of those evenings where Rebecca said to me, "you take the baby home and I'll go to the store with the other two girls." Translation, you look beat, tired, exhausted, worn out, whatever adjective you want to use for all used up. Bone dry, that's how I'm feeling.</span><br />
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I feel alone. My phone is quiet, no one texting or calling me. Unimportant, forgotten. These are lies from some dark place hurtling through the air to lodge themselves in my brain where they grow into feelings of despair and panic. I ruminate on them, start to believe them, try to remember what God says is true. "I will never leave your or forsake you." But I'm just not feeling it tonight; the struggle of faith is harder than I can do on my own. I disengage on the computer, looking at stuff that, let's be serious, I don't need in my life. I re-engage telling myself that this time that I have with Ellie is so short. In two years she'll be running around the house, the newborn phase long-gone in the rear-view mirror.</div>
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I pick her up and hold her, talking to her. Blessing the Lord for this sweet gift. But the aloneness is still there, closing in on me. You're forgotten, no one cares about you. I know it isn't true, but why does it seem so clear tonight? This is hard.</div>
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But then, I turn, look at the table, see something unexpected there. It's a card. I open it; it's addressed to me. "Oh yeah, October is Pastor Appreciation Month isn't it." I remember. I read the words "The Lord bless you and continue to pour out his goodness in your life. With Appreciation for your ministry. You are the perfect person to minister to young adults, young marrieds, and young families-as you are all of these yourself and can relate so well to them. We love it when you preach the sermon too. -A sweet couple</div>
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In my heart I know this card was written by with human fingers, addressed and stamped with human hands, delivered by a human post person, but really it was dispatched from my Heavenly Father knowing exactly what I needed to hear tonight.</div>
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“<span lang="en-US" style="font-style: italic;">I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.</span>” (<span lang="en-US">Psalm 63:5–8</span>, NIV)</div>
Sethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343331100669037464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9211429834943439113.post-85345235090171889452015-08-07T11:16:00.003-05:002015-08-07T11:16:32.977-05:00Glimpses in Psalm 116<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfr92Dur2xjiGXbeU5Z_oQHay4QwHYdfNktxtE3qppAXk7O0XNSLdKLlrpznM3ePxMFZC-MO-MW-mMH9f-sMkZxYzGGaSri11blwnkYXN-j8weTdBG2bFIMusONuW9sA74YNvR38-VaEf_/s1600/Psalm+116+1-3+ESV.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfr92Dur2xjiGXbeU5Z_oQHay4QwHYdfNktxtE3qppAXk7O0XNSLdKLlrpznM3ePxMFZC-MO-MW-mMH9f-sMkZxYzGGaSri11blwnkYXN-j8weTdBG2bFIMusONuW9sA74YNvR38-VaEf_/s400/Psalm+116+1-3+ESV.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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In reading Psalm 116 yesterday I was struck by the first two verses, "I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. <u>Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live</u>." The truly amazing thing to me is that the psalmist describes an act of grace (God's listening and responding to him) and then his heart's response to, "call on him as long as I live."<br />
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"As long as I live" is a long time! God's grace to me in Jesus makes me want to be in close relationship (calling on him) for all of my days. May He make these words true in me.Sethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343331100669037464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9211429834943439113.post-20945853039205075032015-06-26T16:09:00.001-05:002015-06-26T16:09:13.917-05:00I hope this blesses you with glimpses of Jesus' return!<div>
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I love this song! Jesus is coming again; this is such a good reminder. Oh, what we have to live for here and now in light of His return.</div>
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<b>Even So Come</b></div>
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All of creation<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
All of the earth<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Make straight a highway<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
A path for the Lord<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Jesus is coming soon</div>
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Call back the sinner<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Wake up the saint<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Let every nation<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Shout of Your fame<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Jesus is coming soon</div>
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Like a bride<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Waiting for her groom<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
We'll be a church<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Ready for You<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Every heart longing for our King<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
We sing<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Even so come<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Lord Jesus come</div>
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There will be justice<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
All will be new<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Your name forever<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Faithful and true<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Jesus is coming soon</div>
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Like a bride<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Waiting for her groom<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />We'll be a church<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Ready for You<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Every heart longing for our King<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />We sing<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Even so come<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Lord Jesus come</div>
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So we wait<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
We wait for You<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
God we wait<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
You're coming soon</div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuTb0LsRRTQ">Even So Come ( Passion 2015 Chris Tomlin - Cover by Tommee Profitt & Brooke Griffith)</a>Sethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343331100669037464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9211429834943439113.post-80740562579380766072015-05-29T10:55:00.000-05:002015-05-29T10:55:08.365-05:00Glimpses of Jesus' Rest<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAruhuzqIQ2WCh8ZgE4B83Glq92cUCzwzhljgzovRj0dzlc_vmI_1_sufbCimSFPnZysjE5GhymfbIH8AFPeuWEIzFfEj06da3eDNNrudt7xHQYNgWXnQ6DjSaUdI4Fwqin6RbEaJlfYoM/s1600/Rain+for+Roots+album+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAruhuzqIQ2WCh8ZgE4B83Glq92cUCzwzhljgzovRj0dzlc_vmI_1_sufbCimSFPnZysjE5GhymfbIH8AFPeuWEIzFfEj06da3eDNNrudt7xHQYNgWXnQ6DjSaUdI4Fwqin6RbEaJlfYoM/s200/Rain+for+Roots+album+cover.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Some friends introduced us to the album/compilation <u>Rain for Roots</u> on a trip recently. I was hooked after the first soothing sounding yet hard-hitting song, "Come to Me" based on Jesus' powerful, yet difficult to believe words in Matthew 11:28-30. This is an album aimed at kids, but I found myself really loving the beautiful simplicity of the lyrics and melody.</span><br />
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</span></b></span> <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Come to Me</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">by Sandra McCracken</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Come to me</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Walk with me</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Learn the rhythms of my grace</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">
Come to me</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have all you need</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Learn to rest even while you are awake</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
Are you tired?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Are worried?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Worn out from the day?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Have you been in a hurry?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I will slow the pace.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
Come to me</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Walk with me</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Learn the rhythms of my grace</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">
Come to me</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have all you need</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Learn to rest even while you are awake</span><br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxYLyuRxSak">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxYLyuRxSak</a><br />
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<br />Sethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343331100669037464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9211429834943439113.post-63798797604403852362015-05-18T23:16:00.000-05:002015-05-18T23:18:44.949-05:00Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery<div style="orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">These lyrics recount the life and deeds of Jesus on our behalf. Powerful, deep, and refreshing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery</b></span></div>
<div style="orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Matt Boswell, Michael Bleecker, Matt Papa 2013</i></span></span></div>
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<div style="orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Come behold the wondrous mystery</span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In the dawning of the King</span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He the theme of heaven’s praises</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Robed in frail humanity</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In our longing, in our darkness</span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now the light of life has come</span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Look to Christ, who condescended</span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Took on flesh to ransom us</span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Come behold the wondrous mystery</span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He the perfect Son of Man</span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In His living, in His suffering</span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Never trace nor stain of sin</span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">See the true and better Adam</span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Come to save the hell-bound man</span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Christ the great and sure fulfillment</span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Of the law; in Him we stand</span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Come behold the wondrous mystery</span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Christ the Lord upon the tree</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In the stead of ruined sinners</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hangs the Lamb in victory</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">See the price of our redemption</span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">See the Father’s plan unfold</span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Bringing many sons to glory</span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Grace unmeasured, love untold</span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Come behold the wondrous mystery</span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Slain by death the God of life</span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But no grave could e’er restrain Him</span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Praise the Lord; He is alive!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What a foretaste of deliverance</span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">How unwavering our hope</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Christ in power resurrected</span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As we will be when he comes</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afXZlzZdUiI"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afXZlzZdUiI</span></a></div>
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Sethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343331100669037464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9211429834943439113.post-43260712931135692452014-12-05T08:34:00.000-06:002015-04-17T10:35:43.030-05:00Glimpses of Jesus in a songThis is the title track for The Newsboys new album, Hallelujah for the Cross. It's my new favorite! At the bottom there are links to both the Newsboys' version and the composer's version. Praise God for Jesus!<br />
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Hallelujah for the Cross by Ross King<br />
<br />
Up to the hill of Calvary<br />
My Savior went courageously<br />
And there he bled and died for me<br />
Hallelujah for the cross<br />
<br />
And on that day the world was changed<br />
The final perfect lamb was slain<br />
Let earth and heaven now proclaim<br />
Hallelujah for the cross<br />
<br />
(Chorus)<br />
Hallelujah for the war he fought<br />
Love has won, Death has lost<br />
Hallelujah for the souls he bought<br />
Hallelujah for the cross<br />
<br />
What good I've done could never save<br />
My debt too great, for deeds to pay<br />
But God my savior made a way<br />
Hallelujah for the cross<br />
<br />
A slave to sin my life was bound<br />
But all my chains fell to the ground<br />
When Jesus' blood came flowing down<br />
Hallelujah for the cross<br />
<br />
Hallelujah for the war he fought<br />
Love has won, Death has lost<br />
Hallelujah for the souls he bought<br />
Hallelujah for the cross<br />
<br />
And when I breathe my final breath<br />
I'll have no need to fear that rest<br />
This hope will guide me into death<br />
Hallelujah for the cross<br />
<br />
Hallelujah for the war he fought<br />
Love has won, Death has lost<br />
Hallelujah for the souls he bought<br />
Hallelujah for the cross<br />
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<a href="http://youtu.be/L7NJc1_t6q0">http://youtu.be/L7NJc1_t6q0</a> (Newsboys)<br />
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<a href="http://youtu.be/7dPb4sMp_X4">http://youtu.be/7dPb4sMp_X4</a> (Ross King)<br />
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<br />Sethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343331100669037464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9211429834943439113.post-20653926498645668292014-11-19T06:14:00.000-06:002014-11-19T06:14:03.384-06:00Anna Karenina: Conclusion<div align="left" style="font-family: Tahoma; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">This post wraps up my thoughts on Anna Karenina. It could be a major spoiler for the book so if you want to find out what happens for yourself stop right here!</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span>
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><b>Conclusion</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-size: 15px;">The contrast between Anna and Levin is clear throughout the book. While a sense of dirtiness and disgust cover Anna and Vronsky as their desires are fulfilled, the sense of joy and happiness at the ultimate success of Levin's pursuit of Kitty stands in marked contrast. Both Levin and Anna end up with the person whom they desire, Anna in an illegitimate relationship, Levin in a legitimate one. Both Anna and Levin entertain the desire to end their own lives at various points throughout the book. But there the similarities end. Anna is destroyed by what she thought would make her happy and bring her fulfillment. Levin grows as a man and ultimately finds faith in God. This is the story and point of Anna Karenina; the stark contrast between the two ways of living. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Perhaps Jesus said it best,</span> <span style="font-size: 15px;">"</span></span><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style; font-size: 15px;">For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Bookman Old Style; font-size: 15px;">destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." (Matthew 7:13-14). Anna and Vronsky entered (and were summarily destroyed) through the broad road of pursuing their desires while Levin through the narrow gate of faith in Christ. Tolstoy's great novel stands as a sentinel to us today urging us to choose the narrow, though often more difficult, way of following Jesus.</span><br />
<span style="color: #010101; font-family: Bookman Old Style; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span>
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Sethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343331100669037464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9211429834943439113.post-16343998635640646642014-11-07T15:59:00.002-06:002014-11-07T16:05:10.867-06:00Anna Karenina: Levin<div style="font-family: Tahoma; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is a continuation from last time focusing in on the character of Levin in Anna Karenina. This post could be a spoiler for the book. So if you want to find out what happens for yourself stop right here.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Levin</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Whereas the character of Anna degrades and is eventually destroyed as the book unfolds, the character of Levin grows and is enhanced. Levin seems to live out the words of Jesus in John 10:10, "I have come that they might have life and have it abundantly." Levin because of his pursuit of God grows and experiences blessing. One of the things I appreciate so much about Tolstoy is that this doesn't seem to be a "triumphant", "every-thing-is-rosy" life for Levin, but a realistic one filled with struggle, uncertainty and hardship alongside of the better things. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I believe that the point of Anna Karenina is in the contrast between Anna and Levin. Levin is a landowner with high ambitions, morals, and dreams. However, he is a convinced agnostic/atheist. When the reader initially meets Levin he is unsuccessfully pursuing the woman of his dreams. Crushed and defeated he goes back to his country estate and immerses himself in working and trying to improve his agricultural position. Where Anna and Vronsky are successful, Levin is a failure, being rejected by Kitty (because ironically she thinks she loves Vronsky). The year it takes Vronsky to fully seduce Anna is a year of pain and suffering for Levin as he nurses a crushed self-concept and devastated dream after Kitty's refusal.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Throughout the book the character and compassion of Levin endear him more and more to the reader. Levin is a good man who wants the best for others. (Many have seen in him a self-portrait of Tolstoy himself.) He is always thinking about ways to improve the lives and work of the peasants who help him work his land. At one point he resigns himself to his ideals and almost determines to take up the life of a peasant worker because of the satisfaction which he believes he will find in that life. This is not to say that Levin is a Christian by any means until the very end of the book, (when I believe he experiences a conversion experience); rather he is fairly strong in his unbelief thinking religion to be ridiculous and silly. Levin's unbelief is seen when conversing with a priest...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Do you believe in all the doctrines of the Holy Apostolic Church?" the priest went on, turning his eyes away from Levin's face and folding his hands under his stole. "I have doubted, I doubt everything," said Levin in a voice that jarred on himself, and he ceased speaking. The priest waited a few seconds to see if he would not say more, and closing his eyes he said quickly, with a broad, Vladimirsky accent: "Doubt is natural to the weakness of mankind, but we must pray that God in His mercy will strengthen us. What are your special sins?" he added, without the slightest interval, as though anxious not to waste time. "My chief sin is doubt. I have doubts of everything, and for the most part I am in doubt." "Doubt is natural to the weakness of mankind," the priest repeated the same words. "What do you doubt about principally?" "I doubt of everything. I sometimes even have doubts of the existence of God," Levin could not help saying, and he was horrified at the impropriety of what he was saying. But Levin's words did not, it seemed, make much impression on the priest.</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">At the end of the book Levin finds that he has largely been living the life of faith in God without trusting in God. He seems to experience what many would call a "conversion experience." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"I know not by reason, but it (knowledge of right and wrong) has been given to me, revealed to me, and I know it with my heart, <b>by faith in the chief thing taught by the church.</b>"</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Levin has progressed from a moral agnostic to a true believer by virtue of trusting in what he calls the "chief thing taught by the church." Tolstoy doesn't define this and from his point of view this could be merely loving one's neighbor. However, I find a deeper meaning to be that this refers to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ as a substitutionary sacrifice for sins. It is in this understanding and belief that the character of Levin finally comes to rest at the end of the book. </span><br />
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Sethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343331100669037464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9211429834943439113.post-41549813393484682192014-10-10T11:35:00.004-05:002014-10-10T14:06:36.974-05:00Anna Karenina: Anna<div>
<div style="font-family: Tahoma; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
<span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Bookman Old Style;">This is a continuation from last time focusing in on the character of Anna in Anna Karenina. This post could be a spoiler for the book. So if you want to find out what happens for yourself stop right here.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: 15px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: 15px;"><b>Anna</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: 15px;">When the novel begins Anna is a bright shining star. When the reader is first introduced to her she has come to help save the marriage of her brother, the faithless Stiva, from the results of his own marital infidelity. She is vivacious and full of life, confident and concerned for others, resplendently beautiful, and sophisticatedly charming. Tolstoy's portrayal of her is nearly superhuman in all aspects. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: 15px;">Anna begins to slip after the fateful night with Vronsky consummating their love. Where she was confident and selfless she begins to become more and more selfish. This is natural as she finds herself in a more and more untenable social position. Instead of confident she becomes more and more jealous and needy. Instead of distributing life and health wherever she goes, she begins to literally suck the life out of Vronsky and her other friends. By the end of the book she is thinking, saying, and doing crazy things. She is dependent on chemicals to cope with the realities of her life. She is unfeeling towards her own daughter. At one point she attempts to seduce Levin (a married man) into falling in love with her. Almost in the next moment she has forgotten him and is desperately clutching at Vronsky in an attempt to control him. Her parting words to him are cruel and vindictive. Finally she flings herself in front of a train in an attempt to escape, get revenge on Vronsky, and probably regain control of her life.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: 15px;">In Anna the reader sees most vividly the truth that sin leads to death. She, like Frou-Frou, literally lost her life because of her desire to follow her passionate attraction to Vronsky wherever it led. In the end she is left with nothing. Mocked in society, separated from her son, an increasing horror to her lover, Tolstoy's portrayal is realistic and cutting. At least two Biblical passages stand out in special regard to Anna...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style'; font-size: 15px;">"There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death."</span> <span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style'; font-size: 15px;">Proverbs 14:12.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style'; font-size: 15px;">"Each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.</span><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style';"> </span><sup style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style'; font-size: 13px;">15</sup><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style'; font-size: 15px;">Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." </span><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style'; font-size: 15px;">James 1:14-15.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Bookman Old Style'; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: 15px;">If one accepts the novel as a true portrayal of how life works it seems that one cannot help but affirm the truth of Scripture in these two texts. Sin brings death. It often at the outset looks good and pleasurable but always reaps the same result. That is why the cross of Jesus is absolutely imperative, not only for eternal salvation, but also for deliverance from the force (sin)that will surely destroy everything and everyone that it touches. </span></span></div>
Sethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343331100669037464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9211429834943439113.post-19520830292058824402014-09-19T13:59:00.000-05:002014-09-19T14:03:27.896-05:00Anna Karenina: Vronsky<div align="left" style="orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Bookman Old Style;">This is a continuation from last time focusing in on the character of Vronsky in Anna Karenina. This post could be a spoiler for the book. So if you want to find out what happens for yourself stop before the last paragraph.</span><br />
<span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Bookman Old Style;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Bookman Old Style;"><b>Vronsky</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Bookman Old Style;">Vronsky is an interesting and important character in the novel. He is the unabashed hedonist, living life for all the enjoyment and pleasure that he can get out of it. Tolstoy's portrayal of Vronsky is certainly a critique of this way of living. At one point Tolstoy puts these thoughts in Vronsky's mind...</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Bookman Old Style;">In his Petersburg world all people were divided into utterly opposed classes. One, the lower class, vulgar, stupid, and, above all, ridiculous people, who believe that one husband ought to live with the one wife whom he has lawfully married; that a girl should be innocent, a woman modest, and a man manly, self-controlled, and strong; that one ought to bring up one's children, earn one's bread, and pay one's debts; and various similar absurdities. This was the class of old-fashioned and ridiculous people. But there was another class of people, the real people. To this class they all belonged, and in it the great thing was to be elegant, generous, plucky, gay, to abandon oneself without a blush to every passion, and to laugh at everything else.</span></blockquote>
<span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Bookman Old Style;">This telling passage demonstrates the world-view out of which Vronsky lives as it clearly lays out the two different paths followed by Anna (and himself) versus Levin. Vronsky thinks it laughable to marry, have children, and remain faithful to one woman, but good to pursue one's own prestige, power, and pleasure without recourse to morality or accountability. One of the strengths of Tolstoy's writing is that nowhere does he pass judgment on Vronsky's character in an overt way for his immoral view and lifestyle. Instead, it seems that he attempts to portray Vronsky as a man enslaved to his own passions and desires, a thoroughly Biblical understanding of a person without a relationship with Christ.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Bookman Old Style;">In one of the most important thrusts of the book, both Anna and Vronsky begin the book with the greatest promise, the most social standing, and probably the most fun out of all the other characters. However, by the end of the book one of them is in a coffin and the other is a shell of their former self. The message from Tolstoy is as emphatic as it is clear, the road down which Vronsky and Anna embarked led them to destruction. From the beginning it looked exciting and full of life, but it was a classic bait and switch in which death and ruin were substituted for life. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Bookman Old Style;">Tolstoy masterfully weaves in allusions and commentary which evoke strong emotions in the reader.One of my favorite was in the horse-race. Vronsky, as well as being a playboy, is a horseman of the first rate who spends large amounts of money on buying and racing horses. In one important scene, Vronsky is astride his favorite mare Frou-Frou. He is in the lead of the race, coming up to the end where he would claim the victory prize. With the finish in sight however, there is a tragic accident in which his lapse in judgment maims the mare. Tolstoy records the scene...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Bookman Old Style;">At that moment he (Vronsky) knew only that Mahotin (another race horse) had flown swiftly by, while he stood staggering alone on the muddy, motionless ground, and Frou-Frou lay gasping before him, bending her head back and gazing at him with her exquisite eyes. Still unable to realize what had happened, Vronsky tugged at his mare's reins. Again she struggled all over like a fish, and her shoulders setting the saddle heaving, she rose on her front legs but unable to lift her back, she quivered all over and again fell on her side. With a face hideous with passion, his lower jaw trembling, and his cheeks white, Vronsky kicked her with his heel in the stomach and again fell to tugging at the rein.</span></blockquote>
<span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Bookman Old Style;">In this scene the reader experiences the consequences of Vronsky's pursuit of his pleasure (in winning the race) at the cost of the life of his favorite mare. Vronsky's callous response is a clear allusion to his behavior towards Anna as the novel progresses. Frou-Frou and Anna share much in common. Both are Vronsky's favorites. Both have beautiful eyes. Both are used by Vronsky to bring himself pleasure. And both end up dead because of it.</span></div>
Sethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343331100669037464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9211429834943439113.post-914639707727496142014-09-12T13:54:00.003-05:002014-09-19T13:56:43.092-05:00Anna Karenina: Intro<div align="left" style="orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Bookman Old Style;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Not everyone knows this about me, but I love to read. In the past couple years I've started reading some of the "greats" of literature. Most recently I finished Anna Karenina. In the next several posts I share my thoughts on the book and the overall point Tolstoy is trying to make. I'm sure much of this has been written on before, and much better, but these were my impressions.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Bookman Old Style;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">In Anna Karenina Leo Tolstoy vividly and thoroughly asserts that living for oneself instead of for God leads down the path of destruction. The novel touches on many topics, jealousy, infidelity, rejection, death, faith, and politics as it realistically portrays the intertwined lives of two contemporaries, Anna and Levin. At the beginning Anna Karenina is a well-married fairly young socialite whose marriage is less than satisfying. At the same time, Levin is a well-to-do, if somewhat backwards, bachelor with romantic intentions towards the woman of his dreams. The novel traces the story of their lives as Anna unwittingly does Levin a favor by attracting his love's leading suitor, the playboy Vronsky.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Bookman Old Style;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Vronsky upon meeting Anna is infatuated with her at a feverish level. He pursues her even though she is married, and finally succeeds in seducing her. For a brief moment Anna tries to resist Vronsky's advances, but ends up falling into a passionate love affair with him despite her original intentions. One of the most arresting scenes is immediately following the consummation of their affair. Tolstoy's description conveys the guilt and shame Anna feels because of her betrayal of her wedding vows. (Also it should be noted that this novel steers clear of portraying this scene in a graphic way.)</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Bookman Old Style;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">"She felt so sinful, so guilty, that nothing was left her but to humiliate herself and beg forgiveness; and as now there was no one in her life but him, to him she addressed her prayer for forgiveness. Looking at him, she had a physical sense of her humiliation, and she could say nothing more...Shame at their spiritual nakedness crushed her and infected him."</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Bookman Old Style;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">This chapter delves into the guilt and shame felt by Anna, and to a point Vronsky, because of their affair. Though they had satisfied a deep down longing, they did not find satisfaction. In spite of this, Anna and Vronsky continue down the passionate path of their love affair mostly unconcerned for the consequences to themselves or to others. By the end of the book Tolstoy has made a strong argument about the danger inherent in such an unfettered pursuit of passion fulfillment and the lack of fulfillment which it brings.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Bookman Old Style;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">In the next four posts I will explore how Tolstoy uses the characters of Vronsky, Anna, and Levin to make his point of where the two ways of living: living for oneself versus living for God ultimately lead. </span></span><br />
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Sethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343331100669037464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9211429834943439113.post-44894097347871951382014-08-07T16:10:00.000-05:002014-09-05T14:51:36.235-05:00Glimpses in the Noah Movie<div style="orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma; text-align: -webkit-auto;">I have looked forward to seeing the new Noah movie starring Russell Crowe for some time. Though apparently not that much, because I wasn't willing to part with $10 to see it in the theater. I'd wanted to see it because it is a mainstream movie depicting a Biblical story. I wanted to see how it depicted the story, and what possibility it could bring up for talking about Jesus with people who've seen the movie.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Overall I liked the movie Noah. I liked it not because it was necessarily an accurate depiction of the Biblical story found in Genesis 6 and 9, let's be real, it wasn't.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">No, I liked the movie Noah because it really caused me to think. As a person who believes that the Bible, including the chapters of Genesis which describe the Noah story, is the inspired word of God it was a helpful tool to better understand the God who I trust and worship. My aim here is not to be comprehensive, or to pick out small things, but to talk about big areas the movie got right and big areas the movie got wrong.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma;"><b>Here's some things I think the Noah movie got right...</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma;"><b><i>1. Man was created in the image of God.</i></b> The character Tubal-Cain throughout the movie provides a counterpoint to Noah's perspective of humanity being completely worthless and worthy of total destruction. Tubal-Cain is a self-serving tyrant king whose main purpose in the movie seemed to be to create tension, AND to allude to the fact that humanity had intrinsic value and worth because it had been created in God's image. Tubal-Cain took this to mean that he could basically do whatever he wanted to whomever he wanted, instead of safe-guarding and respecting other people, but hey no ones perfect! :) Genesis 1:27 records the words which are found throughout the movie on the lips of Tubal Cain, <i>"So God created humankind in his own image, in the image of God He created him, male and female He created them." </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Being created in the image of God means that mankind has great value. It also means that there are amazing qualities given to people, something we see throughout the movie as various characters interact. Ham and Ila love one another and care about their family. Shem risks his life to find himself a wife, a very human desire for companionship. And Noah in a climactic scene allows his love to overrule his sense of duty and spares innocent life. Man was created in the image of God, and each character in Noah's family exhibits glimpses of what it means to be created in God's image. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma;"><b><i>2. Sin was a tragedy on the largest scale.</i></b> It brought about destruction to humanity and to the world. While the movie seemed to want to dwell on the ecological side of the problem introduced by sin, I thought it did a pretty good job of speaking to the fact that people are bent towards serving and obeying themselves rather than their Creator (sin). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">There was one scene between Noah and his wife that was especially poignant. She talked about the goodness of their sons. Noah countered with the self-centeredness which he had seen in his sons, and concluded by saying how he and she were the same as the those doomed for watery destruction. The New Testament tells us that the state of fallen humanity apart from God is one of spiritual deadness (Ephesians 2:1-3) and that people in their natural state live and care only for themselves and not for their Creator (Romans 3:9-18). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Though we see much goodness in the characters of Noah and his family we also see much that is negative and destructive. Sin twisted the original goodness of humanity into something that was very terrible to see. In one scene Noah sees starving people trade two girls across a fence in exchange for an animal to eat. This scene ends with something very reminiscent of a traditional picture of Hell with fiery imagery and the disgustingness of fallen humanity at its very worst. This vision is so powerful and terrible to Noah that he concludes it must be the will of the Creator to extinguish humanity entirely.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma;"><b><i>3. The God of the Bible is a God who punishes sin.</i></b> Noah clearly portrays the fact that God punishes sin. There are several scenes where the Fall is described in words or by the camera. The fact that Adam and Eve were forced to leave the paradise of Eden is portrayed. Of course the biggest instance of God punishing sin is in the great deluge itself. In a harrowing scene Noah and his family can hear the cries of those who are outside the ark as the floodwaters overtake them. One of the deep points of the Noah story is found at the outset in Genesis 6:6-7,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma;"><i>"The Lord was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. So the Lord said, “I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth—men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air—for I am grieved that I have made them.”</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">God's seriousness in punishing the sinfulness of humanity is one of the main points of the Noah story. This comes through well in the movie, although the movie does twist sin into primarily something which is done against other creatures. In the movie, in a small way, one can see both sides, judgment mixed with grace. God preserves the life of Noah and his family because of His grace. This mixture of judgment and grace foreshadows the most tremendous display of God's love, the death and resurrection of Jesus. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma;"><b>Now here's some things I think the Noah movie got wrong...</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma;"><b><i>1. The God of the Bible is a God who speaks in order to reveal Himself and His will to humanity.</i></b> In the Noah movie, the Creator never speaks. Instead people are left to fill in his thoughts based on their interpretation of dreams, visions, and natural events. Some of these interpretations are good, others...not so much. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">The Genesis account says that God spoke to Noah throughout the Noah story. Nine times in Genesis 6:5-9:28 the Bible records that God "said" something, often to Noah. God's words included: His original declaration of his intention to destroy mankind in Genesis 6:7 (in the movie this was shown in a dream sequence without any words), careful instructions for the building of the ark in Genesis 6:13-21 (in the movie there is no mention of where the physical plan for the ark came from), instructions about when to enter the ark, what to take, and how long it would be before the rain started falling in Genesis 7:1-4 (in the movie things just sort of happened without Noah or anyone else knowing when they would happen). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">I could keep going, but hopefully you're getting the picture. The Bible portrays a God reveals Himself and His will to people by speaking to them. The Noah movie portrays God as something else entirely. The God of the Noah movie assumes an awful lot about the ability of one man to properly interpret dreams and visions in order to recognize and carry out His will. In contrast the God of the Bible reveals His thoughts and will to people in a way which they can understand and obey. He doesn't leave it to chance. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma;"><b><i>2. Mankind cannot be it's own Savior.</i></b> Perhaps the most troubling thing about the Noah movie, as with many movies, is the portrayal of the ability of people to "save" themselves. One is left at the end of the movie with the sense that Noah and his family are going to try harder and somehow do better than all the people who died in the Flood. This seems suspect and naive because of all the depraved things and people that one is introduced to throughout the movie, but it just sort of ends on a happy, hopeful note. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">In the Biblical Noah story, Noah and his family are only saved by the intervention of the God who speaks . In the movie, though it could be communicating the same message, the message gets muddied by the "we'll do better" stuff at the end and the non-communicative God stuff throughout. Overall, in the movie, mankind is on it's own to save itself, with the exception of some pretty cool rock giants.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">The Bible teaches that humanity apart from God is lost and needs saving. This is why the God-man, Jesus, the Incarnate Word of God, came to earth. One of the more familiar verses in the New Testament, John 3:16, says, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only son, that whoever believes in Him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life." In other words, the world and humanity in particular was in such bad shape that it took the intervention of God in order to bring about the opportunity for salvation. This was something which mankind could never do on its own. No amount of human effort can or every will bring the type of world and society for which so many long. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma;"><b><i>3. Noah's relationship with God was much deeper than the movie depicted.</i></b> Leading up to the Noah story in the Bible there is one instance where a person walked with God. It is in Genesis 5:22-24 where Enoch is said to have "walked" with God. The interesting thing is that Enoch's relationship with God resulted in such a life that God took him instead of having him die. The text is not explicit about what Enoch's walking with God entailed, but it seems very reasonable that Enoch lived in such a way as to obey, reverence, and trust God. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">The next person in Genesis who is said to "walk with God" is Noah in Genesis 6:9. The use of the phrase in both cases draws a parallel between Enoch's life and Noah's life. It is reasonable to think, based on this description, that what was true of Enoch, was also true of Noah. However, in the Noah movie Noah's relationship with God is best described as devoid of knowledge and based on a few visions and dreams. Because of God's reticence to speak in the movie, Noah cannot have a true relationship with Him. The Biblical Noah was a man who trusted God deeply and walked with Him closely. The Noah character in the movie can hardly be described in those same terms.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">So those are my thoughts on Noah. I feel it's definitely worth seeing if you can get past non-Biblical stuff and allow it to reinforce Biblical truths on one hand and provide a stark contrast to what the Bible teaches about God on the other. I'd recommend it with the proviso that you allow it to serve as a contrast for the real story and the real God of the Biblical Noah story.</span></div>
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Sethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343331100669037464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9211429834943439113.post-38718762395414584802013-12-19T10:26:00.000-06:002013-12-19T10:26:32.026-06:00Glimpses of The Father's Delight<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Being a dad is one of the greatest things ever! I get to understand, maybe, just a glimpse of the heart of God and His love through my relationship with my girls. One story in particular, to me, points out how Christ-followers can melt the heart of God.</div>
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This fall we were at the grocery store as a family. My wife, went in to get a few groceries and I stayed in the car with the girls rather than wake the baby up, unbuckle them, and cart them inside. The baby, was asleep and our oldest and I were listening to the radio. I reached back and started tickling her little foot. And then it happened. From the back seat in a sweet little girl voice, "I like you". My daddy heart heard those words completely unprompted from my little girl and I about turned into a puddle in my seat. All I could reply was something lame like, "I like you too Annabelle."</div>
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That three word sentence from my little girl and my response to it clued me into something that I easily forget. Just like me, my Heavenly Father, has a heart that is soft towards His children. I think we have the ability, because of Christ, to melt the heart of God. An unprompted three-word sentence expressing our sincere gratitude and love may have a similar impact on our God as my daughter's did to me. So why do I hold back my adoration and praise? Why don't I tell Him more often that "I like you". Annabelle's speech was just a spontaneous response to my action of reaching back and touching her foot. But it was so much more than that too. </div>
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It was in response to the totality of my relationship with her. So often I get wrapped up in the good and pleasant things that are in my life that I can forget the One who gave them to me. Romans 11:36 says, "For from him and through him and to him are all things." All things, the small little things like a car, house, and job can so often cloud my vision that I forget about the overall totality of my relationship with Him. Those things are good, but they aren't primary. He is primary. So I want to say more, "I like you Father." You bring my heart joy. I am so thankful to be Your child and that You love me.</div>
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Sethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343331100669037464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9211429834943439113.post-64919348251284928032013-10-04T14:01:00.000-05:002013-11-14T15:29:47.052-06:00A Good Morning Reminder<div>
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While you were sleeping I watched over you. I sustained your brain, heart, and lungs. I prevented storms or disasters or violence from troubling you. I refreshed you for the good works that I have for you in the next few hours. But that wasn't all. I was also quite busy working with your brothers and sisters around the world. You see while you were sleeping there were millions and millions of my children going about their days. I was with each of them in small and large ways and just as I have special things for you to do, so did I for them. There were millions of others who like you were sleeping. I was watching over them too. </div>
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But I wasn't the only one at work. While you were sleeping your enemy, Satan, was holding strategy meetings. He was examining your life for weaknesses, plotting temptations and hatching trials especially aimed at your perceived weaknesses. He and his henchman were actively opposing the work that I am doing all around the world in the lives of those millions of brothers and sisters. He was executing pre-planned missions of destruction, wreaking havoc and bringing death and despair. Night is often, but not always, when he does his best work. He had his hands in abuses, thefts, over-doses, rapes, murders and all things destructive.</div>
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But while you were sleeping I was still working doing the slowly and steadily building my Church throughout the world. Sometimes it is fast, but often it is slow and unnoticed. You see I have a great plan for restoring the brokenness of this world that was introduced by Satan. He wants to steal, kill, and destroy, but I am bringing healing and life in the midst of pain and suffering. I do this work by the power of my Spirit working in the lives of my people. Most often it is through a verse or a portion of my Word that gets into my child's life. They decide that it is to be trusted. They begin to let it sink down inside of them and change their hearts and then their attitudes and then their actions. Let me tell you it is a beautiful thing to behold; one of my favorite things to watch. </div>
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That's what I want for you today. I want for you to know more and more that I am who I say I am in my Word. I want you to trust even the small actions of your life to what I say rather than what makes sense to you or someone else. I want this for you because I love you, because I know that this is the only way you will become all that I intended for you to be. I want you to know that today may be hard. But even if that is the case, I will always be here watching over you. What I ultimately desire for you is your good. Even though it might not feel like it today. I want for you to know that the day before you is not wasted, no matter what you may think or feel. It has great purpose and meaning because I prepared it for you and you for it.</div>
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So wake up my child. Wake up and head out into the day that I created. There will be suprises for sure. There will be joys and difficulties, happiness and frustration, elation and disappointment. As you wake up know that your life is an integral part of my plan for restoring the brokenness of this world. Your brothers and sisters around the world have been walking with me, but now they are tired and headed for bed. It's your turn to step into all that I have for you today. I love you, am with you, and know you can do it.</div>
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Love always,</div>
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Jesus</div>
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Sethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343331100669037464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9211429834943439113.post-20054391981652426602013-09-27T10:39:00.001-05:002013-09-27T10:44:12.583-05:00Book Review: Finally Free: Fighting for Purity with the Power of Grace<div style="orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
In <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Finally-Free-Fighting-Purity-ebook/dp/B00A9USCLK/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1380296621&sr=1-1&keywords=finally+free">Finally Free: Fighting for Purity with the Power of Grace</a>, Heath Lambert lays out a number of practical steps for people struggling with pornography. There are nine chapters which give eight methods by which a person can battle the desire to view pornography. Eight methods could be overwhelming, but Lambert does an excellent job of showing how each method is rooted in the grace and empowerment of God. This is not a book that leaves you feeling that in order to be free you have to check these eight boxes, rather it leaves you sensing the deep need to allocate God's grace to every area of your life. In this way it not only applies to a struggle with pornography, but is also a primer on the Christian life in general. The theology and practices Lambert outlines are transferable to any area of struggle, not just pornography.</div>
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As a man who has struggled with lust and pornography for almost twenty years, this is the first book on the topic of pornography that I finished with my focus on Jesus rather than on pornography. Lambert again and again shows that freedom from pornography is based on and flows out of the grace of God. Here are a few quotes that exemplify the grace-emphasis of the book.</div>
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"Jesus loves to cleanse those who love to look at pornography, and he loves to give them power to change. Our sinfulness does not get the final word. Instead, Jesus justifies, washes, and sanctifies us. Our only hope is in a risen Savior who has the power to bring us out of the pit of pornography. This book is a guide to the exciting process Jesus uses to do this work." (location 86)</div>
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"God's powerful transforming grace can give you a pure heart, and you can subdue your desires for pornography." (location 194)</div>
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"When you deny your sin, you deny yourself access to God's grace. When you admit your sin to God, you access his grace." (location 214)</div>
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"You will never be free from pornography until you acknowledge that in order to change you need the help of God through brothers and sisters in Christ." (location 467)</div>
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"When you receive God's grace to make your confession to others, then you will receive God's grace, which flows from that confession. Confession is bookended with grace." (location 966)</div>
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"In the end, you can't get to Jesus without the power that Jesus gives. When Jesus calls you to a relationship with himself, he knows he is calling you to do something you can't do on your own. That's why he gives his forgiving and transforming grace. If your heart is cold toward Christ, ask him for forgiveness. Ask him for his power to change. Ask him to fill you with a burning desire to know him and to love him more than anything or anyone else. The Christ who calls you to relationship with him will be pleased with your dependence and will grant your request made in faith." (location 1688)</div>
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In addition to his overriding commitment to God's grace as the source and power for defeating pornography, Lambert provides pertinent and poignant examples from his own life and ministry that drive home his points in unforgettable ways. These stories show that his ideas are Biblically sound, and also make a real-life difference. I have read numerous books on the topic of pornography through the years. For me as a pastor, Finally Free has gone straight to the top of my list of books to recommend for those struggling with pornography.</div>
Sethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343331100669037464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9211429834943439113.post-40880026205290875722012-11-30T14:29:00.001-06:002012-11-30T14:29:24.925-06:00Thankfulness Found in Doing the DishesLike most people I know, doing the dishes is not high on my "favorite things" list. This morning on my drive in to work I was reflecting on my poor attitude about doing the dishes this morning. I realized that instead of making me moan and groan to myself, doing the dishes could be a way to rejoice for all the blessings I have.<br />
Here's what I came up with to be thankful for connected with dishes...<br />
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1. Having dishes (especially the amount of dishes we had) implies a place to store them; I'm thankful for having a home.<br />
2. Having dirty dishes means that we have plenty of food to eat; I'm thankful for the physical plenty that we have.<br />
3. Having dirty dishes every day means we are never without food; I'm thankful for regular meals.<br />
4. Having a growing pile of dirty dishes, even when I'm not there, means that there are other people in my family; I'm thankful for my wife and daughter.<br />
5. Being able to do dishes requires water. Many people in the world would have to walk miles to just go get some water. I'm thankful for the city water service and for our pipes that deliver water by just lifting a knob.<br />
6. Having hot water to really get the dishes clean requires a water heater. Many people all over the world would have to go collect wood to make a fire to heat the water. I'm thankful for our water heater.<br />
7. Having a hot water heater that runs on gas instead of wood means that we are connected to a outside gas line. I'm thankful for not having to worry about anything more than paying our gas bill to heat our water.<br />
8. Being able to stand at the sink to do dishes requires a certain level of physical health. I'm thankful that for the moment I am physically strong and able enough to do the dishes.<br />
9. Having the time to do the dishes requires a life situation that affords me that time. I'm thankful for a job which allows me the time to do the dishes.<br />
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That's nine things, and I'm sure there's more, to be thankful for in a menial household chore. What if I looked at all of life this way? It would sure help my attitude and outlook on life.<br />
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"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18Sethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343331100669037464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9211429834943439113.post-21942045211193388632012-09-26T16:28:00.000-05:002012-09-26T16:28:32.534-05:00Glimpses in a Loud and Scary ThingAbout a month ago I was out mowing our lawn for only the 4th time this year (one of the benefits of one of the worst droughts in a while). As I was mowing, Rebecca brought Annabelle out to sit on the porch to "watch daddy". As I mowed back and forth across her line-of-sight; her reaction to the noise of the lawnmower got me thinking. Initially she was afraid, but since she was with her mommy, she didn't break down into tears. She began to smile and wave at me as she got more and more used to the noise of the mower.<br />
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At first the mower was a loud, scary thing for her. But after she watched it go back and forth in the hands of her daddy her fear began to subside. It made me think of my relationship with the Lord. Sometimes in life I encounter "loud, scary" things. It might be a situation at work or with a family member. It might be a tragedy that strikes close to home. It might be one of those events that you read about in the headlines. Whatever it is, it seems loud and scary to me. But just as the lawnmower turned and did my bidding that evening, so do all the loud and scary things in my life turn and do the bidding of my Heavenly Father.<br />
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It reminds me of these verses in Luke 12:6-7, "“<span lang="en-US" style="font-style: italic;">Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.</span>” He knows. He cares. He is in control of all the circumstances of my life.<br />
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It's interesting that in the two verses prior to these, Luke 12:4-5, Jesus says, "“<span lang="en-US" style="font-style: italic;">“I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!</span>” He knows. He knows my heart and my actions. He cares. He cares about how I treat others, and what I do. This picture of God seems different, more intimidating, less nice. Here Jesus is speaking of God casting people into hell. He is a God to be feared.<br />
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It is true that God takes human sin very seriously. But the most interesting thing is that these words are on the lips of Jesus. Jesus who is God, God in flesh. He came to earth to take the penalty for human sin so that people don't have to if they believe in Him. He is the ultimate expression of God's love. Ultimately I can trust the love of God not because he takes care of all the "loud, scary" things in my life. But I can trust the love of God because He came to earth as a man and took the full penalty for human sin on Himself.<br />
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“<span lang="en-US" style="font-style: italic;">But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.</span>” Romans 5:8</div>
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<br />Sethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343331100669037464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9211429834943439113.post-7087387856213153552012-07-13T14:30:00.002-05:002012-07-13T14:32:38.312-05:00Glimpses of Christ-esque LoveThe night before he died on the cross Jesus said, "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:12-13) The part that says "as I have loved you" sticks in my mind. Jesus came from the paradise of heaven to the pain of an earthly existence. Jesus gave up more than you or I could possibly imagine to come in human form to this planet. Then Jesus died a horrific physical death on the cross, while experiencing God's full wrath toward sin. That's how Jesus loved. He loved sacrificially; he loved completely.<br />
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I recently came across a story which reminds me of Jesus-esque love. It's <a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/the-story-of-ian-larissa">the story of Ian and Larissa</a>, and their extra-ordinary marriage. I pray that this glimpse of Jesus-esque love blesses you as it blessed me.Sethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343331100669037464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9211429834943439113.post-11890565040696956032012-04-28T21:27:00.000-05:002012-04-28T21:27:01.509-05:00He Won't Let Go: A Glimpse of God's Heart for His PeopleYesterday I heard the song "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fqPcnuVPR8">I Won't Let Go"</a> performed by Rascal Flatts, one of my favorite groups. Here's some of the lyrics...<br />
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<i><b>Verse 1 </b></i><br />
It’s like a storm<br />That cuts a path<br />It breaks your will<br />It feels like that<br />You think you're lost<br />But you're not lost <br />On your own<br />You're not alone<br />
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<b><i>Chorus</i></b><br />I will stand by you<br />I will help you through<br />When you’ve done all you can do<br />And you can’t cope<br />I will dry your eyes<br />I will fight your fight<br />I will hold you tight<br />And I won't let go<br />
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<br /><i><b>Verse 2</b></i> <br />
It hurts my heart<br />To see you cry<br />I know it’s dark<br />This part of life<br />Oh, it finds us all<br />But we’re too small<br />To stop the rain<br />Oh, but when it rains<br /><br />
The song originally struck me as a beautiful expression of commitment in marriage. But as I listened my eyes were opened to a broader, even more wonderful meaning. This song expresses Jesus' heart towards those who follow Him; it expresses His heart towards me. He will never let me go, or to change the words of the song a bit, "he won't let go."<br />
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Part of <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+13&version=NIV">Hebrews 13:5</a> comes to mind, "God has said, "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you."" In <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2034&version=NIV">Psalm 34:15 </a>David tells of the same wonderful truth, "The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are attentive to their cry." What a comforting reminder of God's care and concern for those who follow Him.Sethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343331100669037464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9211429834943439113.post-39071186978405049742012-03-27T16:07:00.000-05:002012-03-27T16:08:10.097-05:00GRO in Responsibility<br />
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I recently gave a lesson during <a href="http://www.newcovenantbible.org/Arena/default.aspx?page=5083">Family Experience</a> to our young families about the topic of responsibility. Responsibility according to Webster is “the quality or state
of being responsible.” There are three categories of responsibility. </div>
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First, there is taking responsibility for something which went
wrong, whether accidental or purposeful. Saying, I did that, and I need to deal
with the consequences. I call this “<b>oops-responsibility</b>.” (O) Oops-responsibility<b> </b>admits when something has
gone wrong and takes the necessary steps to make the situation right.</div>
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There is a second type of responsibility, which I call
“<b>required-responsibility</b>”. Required-responsibility (R) takes seriously those things
which it must do. For a child these would be cleaning up their room or taking
out the trash. For an adult this could include paying the bills, going to work,
or fixing the car. </div>
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There is a third type of responsibility-“<b>grace-responsibility</b>.” Grace-responsibility takes responsibility for things that it
doesn’t have to. (G) One of the ways we see grace lived
out in Scripture is by one party taking responsibility for another party to
which they have no obligation. The parable of the Good Samaritan illustrates this beautifully. Luke 10:29-37 records the story. </div>
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But he wanted to justify himself,
so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” In reply Jesus said: “A man was
going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers.
They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half
dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the
man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the
place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he
traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He
went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the
man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he
took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he
said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may
have.’ (NIV)</div>
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The Samaritan showed mercy on the wounded man. He extended
grace to him. How did he extend grace to him? He extended grace to him by
taking responsibility for his care even though he didn’t have to. This is
“grace-responsibility”, but this isn’t the greatest example. The greatest example
of “grace responsibility” is found in the Lord Jesus. Philippians 2:5-8 shows
us this.</div>
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Your attitude should be the same as
that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality
with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very
nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in
appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even
death on a cross! (NIV)</div>
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Jesus stepped out of heaven in order to take responsibility
for the sins of all humanity. This is the ultimate expression of grace-responsibility. Jesus certainly didn’t have to take responsibility for my sin
or anyone else's, but He did and in doing so, in practicing grace-responsibility He extended grace to all who believe. How about you and me, will we live life only taking responsibility for things we do wrong, or things we have to do? Or will we sometimes extend grace to others by practicing grace-responsibility like Jesus? When we do that, a world which knows nothing of grace will see it modeled in our lives. </div>Sethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343331100669037464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9211429834943439113.post-25530683895913136122012-02-17T15:27:00.000-06:002012-02-17T15:29:56.102-06:00Glimpses of the Holy Spirit's Work 2I have a friend who has recently started attending New Covenant. She has more enthusiasm and energy than many people I know. She is also full of great questions about the Bible. Her enthusiastic desire to know and understand more about her faith is so refreshing because it is evidence that the Holy Spirit is working inside of her. It is a glimpse of His power at work in her heart, so I rejoice!<br />
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She recently handed me a list of questions. This is my second post in working through answers to some of her questions about Christianity. These questions deal largely with the <a href="http://www.evantell.org/Pages/BadNewsGoodNews.aspx">Gospel.</a> <br />
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<b><i>Why does sin have to be reconciled?</i></b><br />
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We see in Scripture that God takes sin very seriously. In Genesis 2:15-17 God tells Adam that if he disobeys and eats from the one tree which was forbidden, then he would die. Here we see, at the very beginning of Scripture, the principle which is expressed in Romans 6:23, “for the wages of sin is death”.<br />
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Sin has to be reconciled in order for people to be able to relate to God. No person can stand before God (who is holy) without being judged for their sins. Their sins are an offense against God. David speaks of this in Psalm 51, in human terms he had sinned against Bathsheba, her husband Uriah (who he had killed), and their family. But he says “against you, you only, have I sinned” (Psalm 51:4). So sin is an offense against God.<br />
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But why can’t God just “let it go.” God cannot just brush sin under the rug because He is just and righteous. As a righteous and just judge He has to punish sin. <br />
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<i><b>Why did God send a part of himself to suffer on earth?</b></i><br />
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This question is closely related to the question about why sin has to be reconciled. Once we understand that sin there are natural consequences for sin, we are in a place to understand why Jesus had to come to earth. Remember, God must judge sin. So either He has to judge each person and sentence them to death for their own sin, or there needs to be someone to take their place. Jesus was 100% God so his shoulders are big enough to shoulder the punishment for all of humanity. He was also 100% human so He was a fit substitute for other humans.<br />
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John 3:16 tells us that the reason that Jesus came to suffer on earth was because “God so loved the world.” So this whole endeavor was motivated by God’s love for humanity, and His desire to save people from the natural consequences of their sin.<br />
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<i><b>How does Jesus’ crucifixion give us a “pass” on our sins? Yes, it is the ultimate sacrifice for which we are eternally grateful, but why does it save us?</b></i><br />
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When Jesus died on the cross He took the punishment for all the sin of the world. 1 Peter 3:18 says, “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.” In other words, Jesus, the righteous one, died “in place of” or “instead of” the unrighteous, that would be us (all of mankind).<br />
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We see this in Jesus’ words on the cross. Matthew 27:46 says, “About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”—which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” God the Father judged Jesus for the sins of the world. Instead of you or I having to pay for our own sins, Jesus paid the penalty for them on the cross. So Jesus' death on the cross gives us a "pass" on our sin because out penalty has already been paid by Jesus.<br />
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It is also important to understand that Jesus' death on the cross paid the penalty for sin. However, this does not mean that every person will be saved. The Bible clearly shows that a person must <i>believe</i> that Jesus died for their sins and that He is their only hope of salvation. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast."<br />
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<i><b>Some people don’t believe in hell…I don’t know if I do or not…should I?</b></i><br />
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It is difficult, if we take the Bible seriously, to get around the concept of eternal punishment in hell. Revelation 20:11-15 says, <br />
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Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. </blockquote>
The concept of hell is not a pleasant one, but it does come out of the pages of the Bible. From a logical perspective hell is one of God's two answers to the sin of mankind. The good news is that He also has another answer, the Lord Jesus. <br />
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<br />Sethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343331100669037464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9211429834943439113.post-36846191161313802992012-02-07T11:29:00.000-06:002012-02-07T11:29:12.486-06:00Glimpses of the Holy Spirit's work 1I have a friend who has recently started attending New Covenant. She has more enthusiasm and energy than many people I know. She is also full of great questions about the Bible. Her enthusiastic desire to know and understand more about her faith is so refreshing because it is evidence that the Holy Spirit is working inside of her. It is a glimpse of His power at work in her heart, so I rejoice!<br />
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She recently handed me a list of questions. I am working through them and wanted to share what I believe the Lord has laid on my heart in response. Please feel free to add thoughts or questions to the discussion.<br />
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<i>Question #1: "Obviously there is evil in the world. Why does God bring evil into this world for his greater purpose? Or perhaps is the evil and bad in this world a test from God to see if we will trust him without knowing the “reason why” for everything?<br /> </i><br />
I am not comfortable saying that God brings evil into the world. In my view God allowed for the possibility of evil the moment that He created beings who were free to make choices for themselves. This opened up the door for evil. We see this in Genesis 1-3. God created Adam and Eve and everything else and it was “good”. But in Genesis 3 Adam and Eve fell, and it was at that point that all evil entered the world. I would also say that Satan was the agent through whom evil first entered the world. <br />
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Does God allow evil? Yes, to accomplish His larger purposes. Does He cause it? No, in the sense that He is not the one perpetrating it. We see this with Job. God allowed Satan to bring evil onto Job. But it wasn’t God who directly brought the evil into Job’s life. Why does God allow evil? I’m not sure we can answer that question entirely. Romans 8:28 tells us that God works all things (even evil things) together for the good of those who love Him. So God uses evil for good purposes. Ultimately I believe the reason that God allows evil is to bring Himself glory through it. <br />
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<i>Question #2: Where did Satan come from?</i><br />
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Satan is a powerful angel who held a privileged position before God. (Isa 14:12, Ezekiel 28:12-15) At one time he was called Lucifer, and he walked in the very presence of God. But he sinned, and was cast down from his position. (Ezekiel 28:15-16, Revelation 12:7-9). Isaiah 14:13-14 describes his sin as saying in his heart, “I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds, I will make myself like the Most High.” (emphasis added) Satan is identified in Revelation 12:9 as “the ancient serpent who leads the whole world astray.” Satan was the serpent in the Garden of Eden who tempted Adam and Eve to sin. He will ultimately be cast into the lake of fire (Rev 20:10) Other references to Satan/demons (Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12, Luke 4:1-13,Romans 16:20, Ephesians 6:10-18,<br />
<br />Sethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343331100669037464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9211429834943439113.post-61806693811263304982011-12-30T14:06:00.000-06:002011-12-30T14:06:54.823-06:00Glimpses of the Father in Vaccination<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LjCYwXF3gXc/Tv3bpDEa53I/AAAAAAAAAD8/2Yrsu6qESy0/s1600/grinning+in+pink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LjCYwXF3gXc/Tv3bpDEa53I/AAAAAAAAAD8/2Yrsu6qESy0/s320/grinning+in+pink.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Annabelle Marie just turned two months old last Friday. As you can see, she is adorable! But what you can't see is that her daddy thinks that she is the most adorable little girl in the history of little girls. I am absolutely enthralled with my daughter. When she smiles it melts my heart. When she coos and talks to me it is the greatest thing in the world. When she cries I want to do whatever I can to make it all better for her.<br />
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But she is two months old which means that today she is going in to get her vaccinations. I remember her crying when they gave her a shot on her first day of life. I know that today will be no different. She will be hurt. She will not understand. She will cry, and Rebecca will rock her and hold her and assure her that we love her. But we will do this, we will purposely allow the doctor and nurses to inflict pain on our precious little girl, because we believe that it is what is best for her overall health and well-being. At the heart of this, we will do it because we love Annabelle, and yet she won't be able to see it that way for quite a long time.<br />
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I'm reminded that in many ways I am like my little girl in relationship to my Heavenly Father. Like me with Annabelle, He has the overall larger picture in view. In fact He knows everything, while I in the larger scheme of things know very very little. He knows what is best for me, while most often I am like Annabelle, able to only perceive my own pain or pleasure. He, like me, is willing to see His child go through painful experiences because He knows that it will result in great good in my life.<br />
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Scripture is filled with this imagery. One of the clearest explanations is Romans 5:2b-5.<br />
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<i><span lang="en-US">And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. (NIV)</span></i></div>
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Paul tells us that suffering can be much like our vaccination of Annabelle; it can result in our greater good if we allow it to draw us closer to God rather than to push us away from Him. My prayer for myself is that I will see the hard and painful things of life in this way. May they draw me closer to my Heavenly Father who loves me even more than I love and adore my baby girl. May I refuse to turn bitter towards Him, and stop trusting His goodness and love no matter what my circumstances may be.Sethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15343331100669037464noreply@blogger.com2