How appropriate and timely...
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Praise You in This Storm
This is the song that introduced me to Casting Crowns a few years back. I was admittedly late to the game, but I love this band.
It is during the storms of life that we are reminded of how little we actually control, and how desperately we need GOD. When things are bad it is easy to feel a strong need for GOD. The challenge is to maintain that realization when the skies are blue.
It is during the storms of life that we are reminded of how little we actually control, and how desperately we need GOD. When things are bad it is easy to feel a strong need for GOD. The challenge is to maintain that realization when the skies are blue.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Are you sick?
Sometimes you just gotta rock...
It's hard to believe that's the same woman singing with Third Day in my previous post ("Born Again").
"Exorcise the demons! This house...is clear." -- Ace Ventura
It's hard to believe that's the same woman singing with Third Day in my previous post ("Born Again").
"Exorcise the demons! This house...is clear." -- Ace Ventura
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Born Again
Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (John 3:3-5)
Friday, July 24, 2009
American Education
My kids are preparing to return to school in early August. Every year it seems they start school earlier and earlier. What happened to the school year running from Labor Day thru mid-May?
I find a sad humor in the irony of our American education system. We place more emphasis on education today than ever before. Our kids spend more days "in school" now than ever. There are more programs in place to help increase the quality of kids' education now than ever before. Yet, there are more problems in our schools than ever, there is more concern over our kids' safety because of the dramatic increase in school violence over the last fifteen years, there is more concern over America "falling behind" other nations in education, and as a result there is more pressure on our teachers, school officials and kids than ever before.
What is the problem with America's education situation? In my opinion, there are three causes:
I find a sad humor in the irony of our American education system. We place more emphasis on education today than ever before. Our kids spend more days "in school" now than ever. There are more programs in place to help increase the quality of kids' education now than ever before. Yet, there are more problems in our schools than ever, there is more concern over our kids' safety because of the dramatic increase in school violence over the last fifteen years, there is more concern over America "falling behind" other nations in education, and as a result there is more pressure on our teachers, school officials and kids than ever before.
What is the problem with America's education situation? In my opinion, there are three causes:
- America is reaping the result of "kicking" GOD out of our schools.
- Americans are trying to solve the problem without GOD's help. Man's wisdom is foolish, and it does not work. Yet mankind is VERY slow to recognize this, and sadly every generation seems to have to learn it for themselves.
- The American family unit is in such a state of disarray that our kids' problems -- which stem from a lack of love, teaching and discipline at home -- are spilling over into society.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
ChristianRock.net
A family member recently told me about ChristianRock.net and I love it! If you're looking for a good Internet-based source of Christian rock music, check it out. You can listen for free and the music player lists the song lyrics while playing, which is a nice feature.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Words Have Meaning -- Baptize
The Greek word is "baptizo". It means "to make overwhelmed (i.e. fully wet), the process of immersion, submersion and emergence". The New Testament teaches that it is through baptism that we come into contact with the blood of Jesus, which forgives us of our sins.
The scriptures speak to this in numerous places, which makes sense, because how one can be saved is the most important question for which we need an answer. Jesus taught that baptism was necessary to enter GOD's kingdom.
Jesus answered and said to [Nicodemus], “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (John 3:3-5)
Jesus told the apostles to baptize would-be disciples.
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (Matt. 28:18-20)
The apostles began preaching the message of the cross and of salvation on the Day of Pentecost after Jesus ascended. At the end of his message, recognizing their need the crowd asked Peter and the apostles what they could do.
“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ... Then those who gladly received his word were baptized... (Acts 2:36-41)
Those whom the apostles taught would carry this same pattern to others. Philip (the evangelist, not the apostle [see Acts 8:1b, 6:5]) preached Jesus to the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8.
Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. (Acts 8:35-38)
Note that in the above example, Philip and the eunuch went down into the water. Baptism, by definition, is NOT sprinkling! And the eunuch was not saved before he went down into the water.
There are many other Scriptures I could point to, but I'll wrap this up with these last two.
There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, (1 Pet. 3:21)
For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (Gal. 3:27)
Baptism is one of the most important words in the Bible, and it is definitely one of the most misunderstood or misapplied concepts. Don't get this one wrong! Your eternal destiny depends upon it. The devil is very cunning, and what better way to deceive men and women than to fool them into believing "a different gospel" (Gal. 1:6)?
The scriptures speak to this in numerous places, which makes sense, because how one can be saved is the most important question for which we need an answer. Jesus taught that baptism was necessary to enter GOD's kingdom.
Jesus answered and said to [Nicodemus], “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (John 3:3-5)
Jesus told the apostles to baptize would-be disciples.
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (Matt. 28:18-20)
The apostles began preaching the message of the cross and of salvation on the Day of Pentecost after Jesus ascended. At the end of his message, recognizing their need the crowd asked Peter and the apostles what they could do.
“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ... Then those who gladly received his word were baptized... (Acts 2:36-41)
Those whom the apostles taught would carry this same pattern to others. Philip (the evangelist, not the apostle [see Acts 8:1b, 6:5]) preached Jesus to the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8.
Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. (Acts 8:35-38)
Note that in the above example, Philip and the eunuch went down into the water. Baptism, by definition, is NOT sprinkling! And the eunuch was not saved before he went down into the water.
There are many other Scriptures I could point to, but I'll wrap this up with these last two.
There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, (1 Pet. 3:21)
For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (Gal. 3:27)
Baptism is one of the most important words in the Bible, and it is definitely one of the most misunderstood or misapplied concepts. Don't get this one wrong! Your eternal destiny depends upon it. The devil is very cunning, and what better way to deceive men and women than to fool them into believing "a different gospel" (Gal. 1:6)?
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