Education and Electronics
Missionary Myths
Cultural Christianity
Adversity
Wednesday, August 2, 2017
Monday, June 19, 2017
Links on the Issue of BEING in the CHURCH 6.19.17
Tim Keller's sermon - Please take time to listen.
The danger of church shopping - This gives some clarity of what church means.
Why you will join the wrong church
Is church membership biblical?
The danger of church shopping - This gives some clarity of what church means.
Why you will join the wrong church
Thursday, May 11, 2017
Links 5.11.17 --on criticism, consequence and correction
Thursday, April 20, 2017
Links 4.20.17
5 Reasons Why Science and Faith Are Compatible
Christian churches ‘must be made’ to affirm homosexuality, says New York Times columnist
Just Give Me Jesus: A Closer Look at Christians Who Don't Go to Church
Study: Bible Reading Dramatically Changes Behavior, But…
When Giants Fall: What the Church Can Learn From Sears
Thursday, April 13, 2017
Thursday, April 6, 2017
Thursday, March 30, 2017
A Critical Spirit
14 Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain. The New King James Version. (1982). (Php 2:14–16). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
Are you given to a critical spirit? Do you get irritated, ticked more often than you like? Does there seem to always be a bur under your saddle? Is internal dissatisfaction often churning in your mind? Your heart? Are you cynical about everything and everyone; always looking under layers and layers for a "hidden agenda"?
You might just have a critical spirit.
Some people never voice a complaint but scream it through their none verbals.
A critical spirit was the cause of people forsaking the promise of God both in life and in eternal life.
The word complain, grumble occurs 117 time in the scripture, 89 of them in the OT and most of these are related to those delivered by God from bondage but not trusting in God for freedom. Of the 28 references in the NT, there are illustrations of faithless people and command to people of faith to not do it.
Some people never voice a complaint but scream it through their none verbals.
Complaining is like the root of bitterness described in Hebrews. It is a symptom of something that has now become more important to you than God. That inner turmoil is usually projected on others in the form of blame and criticism. It corrupts more than the eye can see. It's evil caused a whole generation to stumble and it on of the sins that characterizes those who will be cast out of the kingdom at the end of the age.
As the song "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" by Helen Howarth Lemmel (1863-1961) reminds us in chorus line:
Put off the critical spirit, turn your eyes upon Jesus and start being JOYFUL! More than you understand depends on it!
Are you given to a critical spirit? Do you get irritated, ticked more often than you like? Does there seem to always be a bur under your saddle? Is internal dissatisfaction often churning in your mind? Your heart? Are you cynical about everything and everyone; always looking under layers and layers for a "hidden agenda"?
You might just have a critical spirit.
Some people never voice a complaint but scream it through their none verbals.
A critical spirit was the cause of people forsaking the promise of God both in life and in eternal life.
The word complain, grumble occurs 117 time in the scripture, 89 of them in the OT and most of these are related to those delivered by God from bondage but not trusting in God for freedom. Of the 28 references in the NT, there are illustrations of faithless people and command to people of faith to not do it.
Some people never voice a complaint but scream it through their none verbals.
Complaining is like the root of bitterness described in Hebrews. It is a symptom of something that has now become more important to you than God. That inner turmoil is usually projected on others in the form of blame and criticism. It corrupts more than the eye can see. It's evil caused a whole generation to stumble and it on of the sins that characterizes those who will be cast out of the kingdom at the end of the age.
What is the remedy?
To Praise God -- Adore Him.
To seek and draw near to God - Love Him
To walk with God -- Follow Him.
To listen to God -- Learn from Him.
To obey God -- Trust Him.
As the song "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" by Helen Howarth Lemmel (1863-1961) reminds us in chorus line:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.
Put off the critical spirit, turn your eyes upon Jesus and start being JOYFUL! More than you understand depends on it!
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
Tuesday, March 21, 2017
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
Links 3.14.17
White Churches and Black People -- It's time to start a conversation.
Reaching the NEW Generation
Shielding our Children from Satan
Why Millennials won't Build the Kind of Churches their Parents Built
Demonic Possession --- It is real.
Reaching the NEW Generation
Shielding our Children from Satan
Why Millennials won't Build the Kind of Churches their Parents Built
Demonic Possession --- It is real.
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
Thursday, March 2, 2017
Monday, February 27, 2017
Monday, February 20, 2017
Monday, February 13, 2017
Links 2.13.16 Refugees
On the Refugee Crisis
Who started the executive order on refugees ban? Obama or Trump?
Christians becoming so filled with zeal, they develop tunnel vision
How to respond to the refugee crisis
I disagree with point 4 and 5. Point 4, is addressed to believer not world. Point 5, in the biblical record the asylum seeking was to seek God of Israel, not bring their god with them to establish that god's presence. I do think the article is a worthwhile read.
Pew Research on Refugees
Why do muslims flee to christian nations?
Who started the executive order on refugees ban? Obama or Trump?
Christians becoming so filled with zeal, they develop tunnel vision
How to respond to the refugee crisis
I disagree with point 4 and 5. Point 4, is addressed to believer not world. Point 5, in the biblical record the asylum seeking was to seek God of Israel, not bring their god with them to establish that god's presence. I do think the article is a worthwhile read.
Pew Research on Refugees
Why do muslims flee to christian nations?
Monday, February 6, 2017
Thursday, January 26, 2017
Thursday, January 19, 2017
Links 1.19.17
Changing role of pastor
11 Bad reason to leave a church
10 goals for 2017
10 trends for churches
Church communications
* These articles are for thought stimulation. Not all things suggested affect all churches or church fields.
11 Bad reason to leave a church
10 goals for 2017
10 trends for churches
Church communications
* These articles are for thought stimulation. Not all things suggested affect all churches or church fields.
Thursday, January 12, 2017
Thursday, January 5, 2017
Moving into the New Year
At the end of every year it is a good time to stop, reflect, evaluate, repent, and prepare. Last year I shared with you my method. I understand that routine can become meaningless if it is done only for the sake of routine. I also understand that in our modern world with our never ceasing desire for something “New” and “Fresh”, we often miss out on what is truly of great value. So I will post again my tool. I have added a few updates to make it more user friendly for you, but I have left it old so as to grab the greater value. Be sure not to embark on this journey unaided by the Holy Spirit. Doing such will only aid in your self assessment and not in the only assessment that really matters- His. So with out further adieu, I bring you the egg.
Symbolically the egg has been used to represent new life, the restarting of the cycle. Each new year for the last five or six, it has been my discipline to stop and examine my past year in relation to God’s entire Word as a unit. I have also used this time to take inventory of the blessings God has allowed into my life and to take time to place them back in the hand of the Almighty. The most difficult part, perhaps, is to prepare for the New Year by faith with all God has put at my disposal. I take my family one by one and ask God to give me grace to praise Him regardless of the year’s upcoming circumstances. I mentally illustrate tragedy and triumph of family and things from earth’s view and rip out any vestiges of idolatry that might have crept in over the past year. I want my life to be bound to Christ alone. The worship is painful at times but refreshment comes with a refocused life to look forward to working out in the upcoming days. As I pondered how to pass down my New Year tradition to my children I thought, “I can use the egg as an acrostic.” It is simplistic enough to be used alone or one could add a depth to each point. I like this practice so much; I thought I would share it with you, my friends, also.
Rate Each from 1-5. 1 being the lowest, 5 the highest
Evaluate
- Spiritual health/growth 1 2 3 4 5
- Relational health/growth 1 2 3 4 5
- Physical health/growth 1 2 3 4 5
- Character health/growth 1 2 3 4 5
- Integrity & honesty health/growth 1 2 3 4 5
- Priority Alignment health/ growth 1 2 3 4 5
Grieve
Repent of Identified Sin- Allow Holy Spirit to search it out
Remove any and all stumbling blocks
- Activities
- Possessions
- Habits
- Relationships
- Entertainment
Mourn the loss
Move forward
Goals
Goals
What does God want to do in me in the next year?
What does He want to do through me?
What will it take for me to prepare to do this?
What is undone that needs completing?
What is undone that needs completing?
Go back to the “E” and with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, write an action plan to grow in that area.
Then for a quick check up for the year ahead get an index card and write the Word SHAPE. Use the acronym for a quick reference to keep you centered.
Spirit
Health
Attitude
Priority
Entertainment
Chris Gilliam 2008 ©
Then for a quick check up for the year ahead get an index card and write the Word SHAPE. Use the acronym for a quick reference to keep you centered.
Spirit
Health
Attitude
Priority
Entertainment
Chris Gilliam 2008 ©
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