Old Posts from 2008:

 "A Christ-Built Man"

A Christ-Built Man:

-loves the brotherhood, fears God, honors the King! (1 Peter 2: 17)

-lives by faith! (Gal. 3:11)

-is always on his guard. (1 Cor. 16:13; 1 Tim. 6:20-21; 2 Tim. 1:14, 4:5; 1 Peter 5:8-9)

-is a man of courage. (1 Cor. 16:13)

-stands firm in the faith. (1 Cor. 16:13; 1 Cor. 15:58)

-does everything as for the Lord. (1 Cor. 16:14; Eph. 5:1-2; Col. 3:17, 23)

-preaches the Gospel. (1 Cor. 9:16; 1 Thess 2:4; 2 Tim. 4:2; Gal. 1:8-9; 2 Cor. 4:5)

-is Christ's ambassador. (2 Cor. 5:20; 1 Tim. 2:7)

-lives by the Spirit. (Gal. 5:16, 25; Romans 8:5-17; 1 Cor. 2:12-15)

-is patient, humble, and gentle. (Eph. 4:2; Phil 4:5; 1 Peter 3:8, 5:6)

-lives in the strength of the Lord. (Eph. 6:10; 1 Cor. 16:13; 1 Tim. 2:8; 2 Tim. 4:17)

-prays, in all occasions. (Eph. 6:18; Phil. 4:6; Col. 4:2-4; 1 Thess. 5:16-18)

-avoids godless chatter. (2 Tim. 2:16, 23-24; 1 Tim. 6:20)

-perseveres through suffering. (James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 4:12-15; 2 Tim. 2:15; Col. 1:24; Heb. 12: 7-8; Gal. 3:4)

-serves his King, not society. (Gal. 1:10)

-is an imitator of God. (Eph. 5:1-2; 1 Thess. 1:6)

-guards his steps. (Ecc. 5:1)

-is slow to speak and quick to listen. (Ecc. 5:2, James 1:19)

-always conducts himself in a manner worthy of the Gospel. (Phil. 1:27, 2:14; Col. 3:17, 24)

-loves his wife! (Col. 3:19; 1 Cor. 7:2-3; 1 Peter 3:7; Eph. 5: 25-28)

-avoids sexual immorality! (1 Thess. 4: 3-8; 1 Cor. 5:9-11, 6:18-20; Romans 13:13-14; Eph. 5:3-5)

 

 

"Heroes and Princesses" 

Every boy grows up with an innate longing to be a hero; for his life to mean something. He wakes up each morning with a desire for his peers to look upon him and see something special; for them to call upon him to share his greatness with them.

Every girl grows up with a burning desire to be a princess; to be seen pure, and for a hero-man to long to love her with every ounce of his being. She wants to wake up each morning and be loved and to pour herself into making sure her hero-man is every bit the hero he is supposed to be.

So, why has life grown so mundane? Why does it seem like there are no heroes or princesses to be found in this land of freedom and tolerance?

The world stood and told our boys "We don't want you to grow up into heroes." And told our girls "There is no hero coming to love you; you might as well give up." And we have listened!

Few are willing to strive to stand against the world. Few men are willing to stand up and show the world their greatness and to love their wives with all that they are. And few women are willing to be loved and to help their man be great.

Why is that? Imagine what our world would be like if we aspired to be what we are made to be...

 

"How Real is My Faith?"

 
"And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands and when they drink deadly poison, it will not harm them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.
"After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was taken up into Heaven and He sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed His Word by the signs that accompanied it."
Mark 16-17-20

"As you go, preach this message: 'The Kingdom of Heaven is near.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give." Matthew 10:7-8

-These signs will accompany those who BELIEVE: drive out demons, raise the dead, speak in new tongues, pick up snakes and drink poison without being harmed, heal the sick, cleanse those who have leprosy.

There is a common theme running through the church that if God wants something done, then He will give someone the "skills or knowledge" to do it.

And, while it is true that God does give us skill and knowledge and gifts to use for the Kingdom and to reach the world, this idea is contrary to what the Word says.

Anyone who believes that God is God, and that Jesus is His Son who died on the cross to pardon our sins, is one who these verses speak of! Anyone who BELIEVES!

Why is my faith so weak that it is not accompanied by any of these things? I've never cleansed a leper, or healed someone of a malady. I've never been poisoned and not harmed, and I struggle with new languages.

But why?

These verses clearly illustrate that it is available. What has happened to our faith?