tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24433660860479554942024-02-07T03:53:36.635-07:00The Light of the WordAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07113265210083475688noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443366086047955494.post-81031612013138878672015-04-15T07:51:00.000-06:002015-04-15T07:52:55.607-06:00A Conversation with Grandpa<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqlzMkCC4p3Y1c5_-ZJ5UrK4N45C5ZytLbGJrNJQDlhV6VfNwPva3VrMUFlexDAct_mm_nqe8i2s_9PgixXh0Lr2klyaVSyGKuycXXP9d_apcgy2sHOLpdBp7bKqOyDSUL6pkt6iNSgRU/s1600/Grandpa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqlzMkCC4p3Y1c5_-ZJ5UrK4N45C5ZytLbGJrNJQDlhV6VfNwPva3VrMUFlexDAct_mm_nqe8i2s_9PgixXh0Lr2klyaVSyGKuycXXP9d_apcgy2sHOLpdBp7bKqOyDSUL6pkt6iNSgRU/s1600/Grandpa.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><i><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In November 2010, I contacted my
grandfather, Roy Carter, for a Bible college assignment and asked him about the impact of ethics on his
ministry, particularly during his time as an airport chaplain. What follows is a summary of his thoughts (I wish I had the actual written responses). I am deeply thankful for the wisdom and faith of this godly man, and challenged again in my own life and ministry. In honour and memory of Roy Carter: absent from the body, present with the Lord - April 14, 2015.</i> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>One of the biggest ethical issues he
dealt with was determining his role in people’s lives; suspending judgment in
favor of leading them to a personal acknowledgment of their wrong and
ultimately acceptance of Christ. This was difficult, particularly in situations
where he was confronted by brazen confessions of abusive behavior by men who
attempted to justify their actions, blaming their wives or parents for their
own wickedness. Acceptance of this role was often difficult, as the natural
response to these kinds of people was to want to “grab them by the collar and
smack their heads into the wall”; he had to refrain from this kind of reaction
(perfectly justifiable by worldly codes) in favour of Biblical ethics. As a
chaplain, he did not see it as within his right to pass judgment upon people;
in many cases, it had already been passed by someone else (court orders, etc.)
And so, his goal was always to present the Gospel, which is impossible without
the person’s recognition of their sin. On the opposite end of the spectrum, one
time he had to deal with a woman whose husband was heavily involved in witchcraft,
abusing her in cruel rituals; this presented a different kind of challenge, as
though it was important to offer her sympathy, he knew it was necessary to
bring her to the place where she could recognize her sin as well in order to be
brought to Christ, the true solution to her pain.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Grandpa was adamant that the goal of
any work must be bringing people to Christ; if you help people with
psychological issues or comfort them but don’t present the Gospel, then you’ve
done nothing for them. Christ commanded us to go into all the world and preach
the Gospel to all nations, not to go into the world and straighten out people’s
lives, though that should follow as a result of the work of Christ in them. Ministering
to physical needs, etc is important, but it is secondary and even
inconsequential compared to the importance of leading them to Jesus Christ.
This was difficult in the context of airport ministry as there was generally
very little time to work with people. The first question he asked people was what
time their flight was, after which he would calculate the amount of time he had
to present truth. He also approached his ministry with a great deal of prayer,
as he didn’t have the luxury of getting to know people and strategize the
Gospel presentation. He found God to be incredibly generous with blessing his
efforts, often giving him specific scripture passages that dealt with the
people’s issues and helped to make the Gospel clearer to them. Ethically, then,
he faced the issue of making sure that he was being faithful to his calling and
the leading of the Spirit, in presenting the Gospel to as many as possible,
rather than simply comforting and counseling. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The practice of this ethical
approach was quite different when he moved to working as the pastor of a
church; he was dealing with an almost polar opposite situation: a large chunk
of time with people who were mostly born again. When dealing with justice
issues among Christians, he still took the emphasis on the Gospel, reminding
them of who they are in Christ as well as Who their boss is. He would bring
them back to the truth that they are children in the family of God and that
they have the resources in Christ to be brought into holiness; as children,
they need to obey their Father. People need to understand God’s love for them
and love Him in return. This will lead to obedience. He recognized the need to
speak firmly at times, but it needed to be done in love, not in judgment. One
of the biggest temptations for pastors is to judge whether someone is worthy of
the Gospel or not, which is a fundamental misunderstanding of the power of the
blood of Christ.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In terms of the ethical ways of
dealing with conflict in the church, he emphasized that it is important to humble
oneself in disputable issues, not condemning others for holding opposing views
but rather commencing in unity from what can be known; start with obeying
Christ, rather than judging others, neither casting the first stone, nor
pointing out the speck in our brother’s eye. It is also important to keep in
mind, the true enemy of the church, Satan. This is important, for if we target
flesh and blood adversaries, we are both disobeying the second greatest
commandment (to love our neighbor as ourselves) and ignoring the true source of
the attacks. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The most important thing is to not
rely on human ethical systems (which can justify many things contrary to Scripture),
but to rely on the Holy Spirit and the truth of the written word of God. When
God is involved, real change can happen and He can give us wisdom and knowledge
on how to deal with people: not to judge but to bring them to redemption. The
Gospel is the foundation upon which to build ministry; when dealing with social
issues or church conflicts, it is this knowledge of the Truth that sets people
free!</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07113265210083475688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443366086047955494.post-89961723921995676702014-09-19T12:26:00.001-06:002014-09-19T12:26:13.076-06:00Reflections on Romans<span style="font-size: large;">I will not be silenced<br />Nor be made ashamed<br />Of God’s saving Gospel <br />Or my Saviour’s Name<br /><br />The anger from heaven<br />Is Holy and Just<br />For I, inexcusable<br />Lived for my lust<br /><br />Denying the Maker<br />Whose nature is known<br />From all He has made<br />And the kindness He’s shown <br /><br />Fallen so short<br />And sowing for death<br />This cosmic treason<br />Was in every breath<br /><br />But when we, ungodly,<br />Were storing up wrath<br />Thy Holy Son, Jesus<br />Obeyed unto death<br /><br />For sheep who had wandered<br />Atonement was made;<br />Thy wrath propitiated<br />By ransom He paid<br /><br />And death whose dominion<br />Held all Adam’s seed <br />He tasted then conquered<br />He’s Risen indeed <br /><br />Foreknown, in love <br />Predestined for life,<br />Called out of darkness<br />To walk in the light<br /><br />Announced to our ears<br />Through Thy Word came our faith<br />And calling upon Jesus’ Name<br />We were saved <br /><br />These bodies which once<br />Were enshrouded in sin<br />You quickened to walk <br />By Thy Spirit within<br /><br />Justified freely <br />In union with Christ<br />Declared to be righteous<br />And clean in His sight<br /><br />Now no separation<br />Can ever be made <br />E’en if all creation<br />God’s love tried forbade<br /><br />In view of Thy mercies,<br />We offer humbly<br />Our spiritual worship<br />Pleasing to Thee<br /><br />Conforming no longer <br />To patterns of earth<br />Renew our minds, <br />Father, who gave us new birth<br /><br />That being transformed<br />We may know and fulfill<br />Thy perfect acceptable <br />Holy good will<br /><br />(c) David M. Carter 2014</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07113265210083475688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443366086047955494.post-37378447424149284132013-10-02T08:29:00.001-06:002013-11-27T22:09:01.333-07:00G.K. Chesterton on Family and the Romance of Being Born<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTtUsCviTBuHnEVoaLQA4tBDBGTtQgnwRsmQZN664YoHGfV29UeOo4CegKYHqu1u70AntuiWK7jQcutHYRrzMh-2khAmap_K_vpitUMl_z0cjWXbV_wyP0l1VDhipDtboutmDH5AVjmQQ/s1600/chesterton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTtUsCviTBuHnEVoaLQA4tBDBGTtQgnwRsmQZN664YoHGfV29UeOo4CegKYHqu1u70AntuiWK7jQcutHYRrzMh-2khAmap_K_vpitUMl_z0cjWXbV_wyP0l1VDhipDtboutmDH5AVjmQQ/s320/chesterton.jpg" width="259" /></a></div>
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<![endif]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I was reminded again today of why Chesterton is one of my favourite writers. The quoted text below is from <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Heretics-G-Gilbert-Keith-Chesterton-ebook/dp/B004UJM7QW/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1385615263&sr=8-4"><i>Heretics</i></a>, his 1905 collection of essays which analyzed and deconstructed social views of prominent writers in his day such as H.G. Wells, Rudyard Kipling, George Bernard Shaw, etc. It is the forerunner to the much more famous <i>Orthodoxy</i> and is well worth reading. This passage, written in criticism of modern writers' distaste for the institution of the family, rings so true for me as a member of a large family who has married into another large family. I have 8 very unique siblings and 9 unique sibling-in-laws; as a married man now, the possibility of becoming a father to more unique individuals is exciting, and as Chesterton puts it, romantic. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"The institution of the family is to be commended for
precisely the same reasons that the institution of the nation, or the
institution of the city, are in this matter to be commended. It is a good thing
for a man to live in a family for the same reason that it is a good thing for a
man to be besieged in a city. It is a good thing for a man to live in a family
in the same sense that it is a beautiful and delightful thing for a man to be
snowed up in a street. They all force him to realize that life is not a thing
from outside, but a thing from inside. Above all, they all insist upon the fact
that life, if it be a truly stimulating and fascinating life, is a thing which,
of its nature, exists in spite of ourselves. The modern writers who have
suggested, in a more or less open manner, that the family is a bad institution,
have generally confined themselves to suggesting, with much sharpness,
bitterness, or pathos, that perhaps the family is not always very congenial. Of
course the family is a good institution because it is uncongenial. It is
wholesome precisely because it contains so many divergencies and varieties. It
is, as the sentimentalists say, like a little kingdom, and, like most other
little kingdoms, is generally in a state of something resembling anarchy. It is
exactly because our brother George is not interested in our religious
difficulties, but is interested in the Trocadero Restaurant, that the family
has some of the bracing qualities of the commonwealth. It is precisely because
our uncle Henry does not approve of the theatrical ambitions of our sister
Sarah that the family is like humanity. The men and women who, for good reasons
and bad, revolt against the family, are, for good reasons and bad, simply
revolting against mankind. Aunt Elizabeth is unreasonable, like mankind. Papa
is excitable, like mankind Our youngest brother is mischievous, like mankind.
Grandpapa is stupid, like the world; he is old, like the world. Those who wish,
rightly or wrongly, to step out of all this, do definitely wish to step into a
narrower world. They are dismayed and terrified by the largeness and variety of
the family. Sarah wishes to find a world wholly consisting of private
theatricals; George wishes to think the Trocadero a cosmos. I do not say, for a
moment, that the flight to this narrower life may not be the right thing for
the individual, any more than I say the same thing about flight into a
monastery. But I do say that anything is bad and artificial which tends to make
these people succumb to the strange delusion that they are stepping into a
world which is actually larger and more varied than their own. The best way
that a man could test his readiness to encounter the common variety of mankind
would be to climb down a chimney into any house at random, and get on as well
as possible with the people inside. And that is essentially what each one of us
did on the day that he was born. This is, indeed, the sublime and special
romance of the family. It is romantic because it is a toss-up. It is romantic
because it is everything that its enemies call it. It is romantic because it is
arbitrary. It is romantic because it is there. So long as you have groups of
men chosen rationally, you have some special or sectarian atmosphere. It is
when you have groups of men chosen irrationally that you have men. The element
of adventure begins to exist; for an adventure is, by its nature, a thing that
comes to us. It is a thing that chooses us, not a thing that we choose. Falling
in love has been often regarded as the supreme adventure, the supreme romantic
accident. In so much as there is in it something outside ourselves, something
of a sort of merry fatalism, this is very true. Love does take us and
transfigure and torture us. It does break our hearts with an unbearable beauty,
like the unbearable beauty of music. But in so far as we have certainly
something to do with the matter; in so far as we are in some sense prepared to
fall in love and in some sense jump into it; in so far as we do to some extent
choose and to some extent even judge—in all this falling in love is not truly
romantic, is not truly adventurous at all. In this degree the supreme adventure
is not falling in love. The supreme adventure is being born. There we do walk
suddenly into a splendid and startling trap. There we do see something of which
we have not dreamed before. Our father and mother do lie in wait for us and
leap out on us, like brigands from a bush. Our uncle is a surprise. Our aunt
is, in the beautiful common expression, a bolt from the blue. When we step into
the family, by the act of being born, we do step into a world which is
incalculable, into a world which has its own strange laws, into a world which
could do without us, into a world that we have not made. In other words, when
we step into the family we step into a fairy-tale."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Chesterton, G. K. (Gilbert Keith) (2011-03-30). Heretics (pp.
81-82). Kindle Edition.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07113265210083475688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443366086047955494.post-58985235416904731772013-03-12T10:30:00.001-06:002013-11-27T22:11:17.392-07:00Patrick's Perseverance<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">With St. Patrick's Day coming up, it is neat to read from his own words in his <a href="http://www.ccel.org/ccel/patrick/confession.pdf">Confession:</a> </span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">"Even if I wished to leave [Ireland] and go to Britain---and how I would have
loved to go to my country and my parents, and also to Gaul in order to visit
the brethren and to see the face of the saints of my Lord! God knows it! that I
much desired it; but I am bound by the Spirit, who gives evidence against me if
I do this, telling me that I shall be guilty; and I am afraid of losing the
labour which I have begun---nay, not I, but Christ the Lord who bade me come
here and stay with them for the rest of my life, if the Lord will, and will
guard me from every evil way that I may not sin before Him. </span></i></div>
<i>
</i><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">This, I presume, I ought to do, but I do not trust myself as long as I
am in this body of death, for strong is he who daily strives to turn me away
from the faith and the purity of true religion to which I have devoted myself
to the end of my life to Christ my Lord. But the hostile flesh is ever
dragging us unto death, that I is, towards the forbidden satisfaction of one's
desires; and I know that in part I did not lead a perfect life as did the other
faithful; but I acknowledge it to my Lord, and do not blush before Him,
because I lie not: from the time I came to know Him in my youth, the love of
God and the fear of Him have grown in me, and up to now, thanks to the grace of
God, I have kept the faith.</span></i></div>
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<i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyyewqp6HGnkU-fU8UbNXgqaGk8TCcbUM7YL9GvgdKre3UncspK7ULylO_1w6Lt4SRevvVW-KJq7tbxym5V-iBwoyBodWfn-kiOU1hgOLA5Q6kUrAMJCLZNfspI-76wdLqB4Ph1H9qqRE/s1600/Irish_clover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyyewqp6HGnkU-fU8UbNXgqaGk8TCcbUM7YL9GvgdKre3UncspK7ULylO_1w6Lt4SRevvVW-KJq7tbxym5V-iBwoyBodWfn-kiOU1hgOLA5Q6kUrAMJCLZNfspI-76wdLqB4Ph1H9qqRE/s1600/Irish_clover.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Hence I ought unceasingly to give thanks to God who often pardoned my
folly and my carelessness, and on more than one occasion spared His great wrath
on me, who was chosen to be His helper and who was slow to do as was shown me
and as the Spirit suggested. And the Lord had mercy on me thousands and
thousands of times because He saw that I was ready, but that I did not know
what to do in the circumstances. For many tried to prevent this my mission;
they would even talk to each other behind my back and say: `Why does this
fellow throw himself into danger among enemies who have no knowledge of God?'
It was not malice, but it did not appeal to them because---and to this I own
myself---of my rusticity. And I did not realize at once the grace that was then
in me; now I understand that I should have done so before. </span></i></div>
<i>
</i><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Now I have given a simple account to my brethren and fellow servants who
have believed me because of what I said and still say in order to strengthen
and confirm your faith. Would that you, too, would strive for greater things
and do better! This will be my glory, for a wise son is the glory of his
father."</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><i> </i>I find these words both incredibly encouraging and challenging. Wherever God has brought us, and whatever we have been called to leave behind, let us keep on striving!</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07113265210083475688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443366086047955494.post-57959569014698714552012-12-22T09:58:00.001-07:002012-12-22T10:07:08.513-07:00Apocalyse Ever?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirzi0dG_RiA3__JEdzhVmkgiaBLcGno2sRSqK26VStFHwDUHy-hejp7uIlPM53LmNxnVe0BnXvQSCvPg0ouFXJDpyt4MnaGpkXWxAtgno_PG0w6hUiC4OXxTwaTYiyw5qmIa9-KT5tUdY/s1600/mayan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirzi0dG_RiA3__JEdzhVmkgiaBLcGno2sRSqK26VStFHwDUHy-hejp7uIlPM53LmNxnVe0BnXvQSCvPg0ouFXJDpyt4MnaGpkXWxAtgno_PG0w6hUiC4OXxTwaTYiyw5qmIa9-KT5tUdY/s320/mayan.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Infamous Mayan Calendar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So far, in 2012, Harold Camping and the Mayans have been wrong about the end of the world... but in light of that, let's not forget the words of 2 Peter 3:3-9.<br />
<br />
"Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.<br />
<br />
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."<br />
<br />
I could go into specifics about other reasons why I think the 'end of the world' is not going to happen just yet, but that would probably just start an obnoxious debate between fellow believers. The main reason is found here in verse 9: God is patient and merciful and wants everyone to come to repentance (turn from their sins and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ). The fact that you and I 'live and move and have our being' on December 22, 2012 is thanks to the Mercy and the Grace of God. Let's not test His patience.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07113265210083475688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443366086047955494.post-77934177599743591432012-12-12T12:16:00.003-07:002013-11-27T22:11:39.518-07:00My Eyes Have Seen Your Salvation!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwmV-l-yZ5a6EMtT9nayJXQeIqhWusBN9-BR5wIludyqeG8vtBPibwj2A9pPzK80vG2GsSH4WWOyd6VG5e0HlcBDa7Ra9OeZPSev7RFxT4kcC3HhA-poAlf3sYPihzxnkJqGxp6jpL4sk/s1600/simeon-in-the-temple-1669.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwmV-l-yZ5a6EMtT9nayJXQeIqhWusBN9-BR5wIludyqeG8vtBPibwj2A9pPzK80vG2GsSH4WWOyd6VG5e0HlcBDa7Ra9OeZPSev7RFxT4kcC3HhA-poAlf3sYPihzxnkJqGxp6jpL4sk/s320/simeon-in-the-temple-1669.jpg" width="246" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rembrandt, Simeon in the Temple - 1669</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span class="text Luke-2-25" id="en-NIV1984-24991"><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Luke-2-32">Luke 2:25-32</span></span></span></span></span><i><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span class="text Luke-2-25" id="en-NIV1984-24991"> </span></span></span></i></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span class="text"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="text Luke-2-25" id="en-NIV1984-24991">'Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.</span> <span class="text Luke-2-26" id="en-NIV1984-24992"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.</span> <span class="text Luke-2-27" id="en-NIV1984-24993"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>Moved
by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought
in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,</span> <span class="text Luke-2-28" id="en-NIV1984-24994"></span><span class="text Luke-2-28" id="en-NIV1984-24994">Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:</span> </span></span></i></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="poetry top-half">
<div class="line">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span class="text Luke-2-29" id="en-NIV1984-24995">“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Luke-2-29">you now dismiss your servant in peace.</span></span><span class="text Luke-2-30" id="en-NIV1984-24996"><sup class="versenum"> </sup></span></i></span></span></div>
<div class="line">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span class="text Luke-2-30" id="en-NIV1984-24996"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>For my eyes have seen your salvation,</span><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Luke-2-31" id="en-NIV1984-24997"></span></span></i></span></span></div>
<div class="line">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Luke-2-31" id="en-NIV1984-24997"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span>which you have prepared in the sight of all people,</span></span><span class="text Luke-2-32" id="en-NIV1984-24998"></span></i></span></span></div>
<div class="line">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span class="text Luke-2-32" id="en-NIV1984-24998">a light for revelation to the Gentiles</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Luke-2-32">and for glory to your people Israel.”'</span></span></i></span></span></div>
<div class="line">
</div>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text"><span style="line-height: 150%;">When Simeon held the baby Jesus in his
arms, his life was complete! This is amazing. Remember, Jesus was at this
point, helpless, not yet gracing the world with authoritative teaching, or
miraculous healings. He had not accomplished the purpose for which He had come
to the earth, the purpose for which His Father had sent Him. His tiny hands would
one day toughen and callous from work and be nailed to the cross but
at that moment, they were frail and helpless. And yet, Simeon’s eyes are
opened. He calls the little child God’s Salvation, which is what the name Jesus
means. Simeon was dazzled by the Light that still shines upon the Gentiles like
you and I, bringing us to God. Simeon saw the promises of God to Israel
fulfilled in Christ, who is the true Glory of Israel: the Promised Seed, the
Righteous Branch. And all of this before He turned water into wine, before the
Sermon on the Mount, before the Crucifixion and Resurrection! </span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text"><span style="line-height: 150%;">Christ’s value is not tied up in what
He has done, although it is important. Before He had done anything as a human,
He was worthy of worship, for He Is Who He Is; He was worthy of thanks, for He Is
With Us!</span></span></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07113265210083475688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443366086047955494.post-28218988949327989652012-12-10T12:38:00.003-07:002012-12-12T12:21:46.084-07:00Sorry God, I Am Too ____!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-OKtW2rqd90rJEs4P2S8-OuS46_pJ6159GGbKKrOyrvj4XZWAbu6Wkcd8mOci2nX2NksnanK0XGA3uPbcXwbSywdYcg_GvY9w8gP5KicAadhNTn9rtU731Zh474jHWIRKt_sJBP3nrkw/s1600/Zacharias-AndThe-Angel-William-Blake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-OKtW2rqd90rJEs4P2S8-OuS46_pJ6159GGbKKrOyrvj4XZWAbu6Wkcd8mOci2nX2NksnanK0XGA3uPbcXwbSywdYcg_GvY9w8gP5KicAadhNTn9rtU731Zh474jHWIRKt_sJBP3nrkw/s400/Zacharias-AndThe-Angel-William-Blake.jpg" title="Zacharias and the Angel: William Blake" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">William Blake, Zacharias and the Angel - c. 1799</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
An excerpt from a sermon I preached last year on Zechariah and Elizabeth<span style="background-color: white;"> <span style="color: #0b5394;">(<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%201:5-22,52-66&version=NIV1984">Luke 1:5-25,52-66</a>)</span></span><br />
<br />
"God can use even the most unlikely people to accomplish his purposes and build his kingdom. God loves to use us against all odds, no matter what our weaknesses are, and no matter what the world may think of us. But sometimes, even when we have prayed to be used and prepared ourselves for service, we doubt God’s ability to use us. Don’t be that way.<br />
<br />
Do you continue to trust him when you have to wait for an answer?<br />
Are you truly prepared to be used by God?<br />
Do you feel too weak, emotionally, spiritually, or physically to be used by God?<br />
Do you feel too old to be used by God?<br />
Too young?<br />
Or maybe you feel like you have sinned far too much in the past to be used by Him in the future?<br />
Do you feel like you are too disorganized for God to use you?<br />
<br />
In the eyes of the world, we are way too weak and incapable to do anything to build a Kingdom, but remember, this is God we are talking about. He can and will use each one of us, if we are willing. With or without our co-operation, His promises and purposes will be carried out, but he offers us all the chance to be part of it!" Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07113265210083475688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443366086047955494.post-71795619269287318752012-11-13T23:21:00.001-07:002012-11-13T23:31:02.970-07:00A Cloud by Day, a Fire by Night<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS3oBzjT3cNoTlvKREkRmIKIZkAJK2FH9mXjcrk6w6nheYZ8cFJDJ2aW9UC2kFCXEIL58egr8UrawjyVMztznaAOZvEPKZYo9y1ttmyWjSFSdjY6mUeMe43io4OuAhVoQJ7YkY-n4jcXg/s1600/pillar-of-fire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS3oBzjT3cNoTlvKREkRmIKIZkAJK2FH9mXjcrk6w6nheYZ8cFJDJ2aW9UC2kFCXEIL58egr8UrawjyVMztznaAOZvEPKZYo9y1ttmyWjSFSdjY6mUeMe43io4OuAhVoQJ7YkY-n4jcXg/s320/pillar-of-fire.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
When joys surround
and pleasures stay</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
And every piece
falls into place</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Although I'm on my
well-lit way</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
You guide me Lord, a
cloud by day</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
But other times, I'm
filled with fright</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
For all the world
seems full of hate;</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
When sorrows seem to
quench the light</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Your Spirit burns, a
fire by night</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07113265210083475688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443366086047955494.post-25609291740680183082012-11-01T14:33:00.001-06:002012-11-06T08:29:55.639-07:00Freedom from the Fear of Death<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ0YYVagtnU6R9Ft4C6kJOHeJv5jUXFnSFtC8cyUCWiXTwmFuTAnszaFPPGLhrTDu-hwlGBmPWFBPqgnIBrVpcEK_63Fgpxg7F_oEud4zi6BQVmOrOS1tWtvtBXoxm2QJ0NwVuOD6okN0/s1600/2012-08-31+21.29.27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ0YYVagtnU6R9Ft4C6kJOHeJv5jUXFnSFtC8cyUCWiXTwmFuTAnszaFPPGLhrTDu-hwlGBmPWFBPqgnIBrVpcEK_63Fgpxg7F_oEud4zi6BQVmOrOS1tWtvtBXoxm2QJ0NwVuOD6okN0/s320/2012-08-31+21.29.27.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></span></div>
<h3 class="line" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text"><span style="line-height: 150%;"></span></span><span class="text"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="text"><span style="line-height: 150%;"></span></span> </span></span></span></span></h3>
<h3 class="line" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text"><span style="line-height: 150%;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Days of Darkness </span></span></span></span></span></h3>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text"><span style="line-height: 150%;">We are in a unique time of the year. The trees have shed their dead leaves, a shroud of snow covers the hard frozen ground, and festivals of death are celebrated around the world. The pagans called this time Samhain and it is still celebrated by some to this day as an optimal time to commune with the spirit world; in Mexico it is Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Right here in North America, the stores devote the whole month of October to Hallowe'en merchandise. From the
devils, skeletons and witches marching our streets, to the fake corpses hanging
from trees, thoughts of death, doom and the devil dominate our world with
darkness (an appropriately amusing alliteration). Pages and pages have been written about the
different origins of these holidays, but one thing is for certain. They are quite a difference
from the light, life and joy offered by the Only God! I believe that at the heart of
these celebrations, there is that common human fear of death!</span></span><span class="text"><span style="line-height: 150%;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
<h3 class="line" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text"><span style="line-height: 150%;"> </span></span></span></span></h3>
<h3 class="line" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text"><span style="line-height: 150%;">Out of Our Control </span></span></span></span></h3>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text"><span style="line-height: 150%;">King Solomon, one of the greatest
philosophers who ever lived, wrote in Ecclesiastes 8:7-8</span></span> <i><span style="line-height: 150%;">‘<span class="text">Since no man knows the future,</span></span> <span class="text">who can tell him what is to come?</span> <span class="text">No man has
power over the wind to contain it;</span> <span class="text">so no one has
power over the day of his death.’</span></i><span class="text"><span style="line-height: 150%;"> This is one reason for the fear of
death! Our lives on this earth are incredibly fragile. None of us knows for
certain what will happen in the future, even five minutes from now. We have as
much power over the day of our death as we have over the wind! That’s not a very
comforting thought if we are afraid of death.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text"><span style="line-height: 150%;"></span></span><span class="text"><span style="line-height: 150%;">A singer/songwriter named Ethan talked about this fear to God in Psalm 89:47-48 <i>‘Remember how fleeting is my life.</i></span></span><i><span style="line-height: 150%;"></span> F<span class="text">or what futility you have created all men! </span>Wh<span class="text">at man can live and not see death,</span> <span class="text">or
save himself from the power of the grave?’</span></i><span class="text"><span style="line-height: 150%;"> Life is so short and Death impacts
us all. We don’t have to live very long before we lose loved ones in our own
families or members of our communities. Though some may live like they are
immortal, we often receive wake-up calls when even young children and youth
that we love are taken from us. Each one of us is born with an expiration date
that none of us knows! No one on this planet will be able to design a cure from
death. No matter how many intense surgeries we put our bodies through, we will
not be able to escape the grave; you could receive a transplant of all your
organs one day and the next day be diagnosed with a terminal, incurable virus. </span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<h3 class="line" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text"><span style="line-height: 150%;"> The Hope Offered by God</span></span></span></span></h3>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text"><span style="line-height: 150%;">There is a neat prophecy in Hosea
13:14. This is God’s promise of what he would do for His people: <i>“I will ransom them from the power of the
grave;</i></span></span><i><span style="line-height: 150%;"></span> <span class="text">I will
redeem them from death.</span> <span class="text">Where, O death, are your
plagues?</span> <span class="text">Where, O grave, is your destruction?’</span></i><span class="text"><span style="line-height: 150%;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text"><span style="line-height: 150%;">The Apostle Paul quotes this verse in
1 Corinthians 15:55-57 <i>‘Where, O death,
is your victory?</i></span></span><i><span style="line-height: 150%;"> <span class="text">Where, O death, is
your sting?”<sup value="[<a href="#fen-NIV1984-28758h" title="See footnote h">h</a>]"> </sup>The
sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.</span></span> <span class="text"><span id="en-NIV1984-28760">But thanks be to God! He gives us the
victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.</span>’</span></i><span class="text"><span style="line-height: 150%;"> If death
was just a long warm sleep, giving us permanent rest at the end of our hard days, we wouldn’t be afraid of it (apart from the pain
that might accompany the experience). The real sting of
death is sin! The reason that death is a fearful thing is </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text"><span style="line-height: 150%;">the guilt of the sin
that we have committed</span></span></span>. ‘<i>But
thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.</i></span><i>’</i> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<h3 class="line" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text">Victory Through Christ! </span></span></span></h3>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text"><span style="line-height: 150%;">How is the victory through the Lord
Jesus Christ? It is through what He has done on our behalf. Hebrews 2:14-15</span></span>
<i><span style="line-height: 150%;">“<span class="text">Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared
in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power
of death—that is, the devil—</span>and free those who all their lives were held
in slavery by their fear of death.</span>”</i><span class="text"><span style="line-height: 150%;"> This of course is speaking of the
Lord Jesus. He became fully human and experienced death for us so that he could
destroy the devil’s hold on mankind; so that he could set us free from slavery
to the fear of death! Through the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus
Christ, much was accomplished. First of all, He proved that there was hope beyond
the grave. He had hung bleeding and broken upon the cross, suffering a form of execution
that left the body damaged beyond repair. When He died, a soldier thrust a
spear into His side to make sure the deed was done. Even in our day of CPR, defibrillators and blood transfusions, He could not have been revived, and yet
three days later, He came back to life again! Through this, He conquered death
once for all time. He stands mightily as the one who died and yet lives! </span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text"><span style="line-height: 150%;">Read the words of assurance given by our Lord in John 11:25-26:</span><i><span style="line-height: 150%;">“Jesus said… </span></i></span><span class="woj"><i><span style="line-height: 150%;">“I am the resurrection and the life.
He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;</span></i></span><i><span style="line-height: 150%;"> <span class="woj"><span id="en-NIV1984-26539">and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”</span></span></span></i><span class="woj"><span style="line-height: 150%;">
Now that is something worth celebrating.</span></span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"></span></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07113265210083475688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443366086047955494.post-57500802298667407212012-10-18T15:32:00.000-06:002012-10-18T15:32:16.744-06:00Be Reconciled!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQSbwWxGBxwiGcywyw2oe3ZwdrAj0xyNEE4hUosyaYcuyzHJKjQBxCxMfaoaqCD4jOEgTI-9BPl3bGy1sIqxTwIoLRceOw8pU06Y8ckOxQe3WDmjJT12M0FGWmM6Y4FalXAJMG1h3RVOY/s1600/2012-10-09+18.53.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQSbwWxGBxwiGcywyw2oe3ZwdrAj0xyNEE4hUosyaYcuyzHJKjQBxCxMfaoaqCD4jOEgTI-9BPl3bGy1sIqxTwIoLRceOw8pU06Y8ckOxQe3WDmjJT12M0FGWmM6Y4FalXAJMG1h3RVOY/s320/2012-10-09+18.53.05.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> “If
anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!<sup> </sup>All
this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the
ministry of reconciliation:</span></span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> <span class="text">that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not
counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of
reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were
making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled
to God.</span> <span class="text"><sup> </sup>God made him who had no sin to
be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span class="text">(</span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">2 Corinthians 5:17-21)</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Today, I want you to
think on one word with me. Reconciliation. Now how many of you have heard that
word before? Can anyone tell me what it means? The dictionaries I looked at gave two basic meanings:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">1. To reconcile is to
restore two or more parties into close friendship. So, reconciliation carries
this idea of estranged and alienated friends brought back together.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">2. A banking term, to
make consistent. To balance the books and harmonize the differences, including
paying debts, etc. So as we talk about being reconciled to God, these two ideas
are helpful in our understanding: the healing of broken relationships, and the
balancing of books.</span></div>
<div class="indent-1" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As you have
likely heard many times here, the state that God created man in, reading from
Genesis 1:26-27:<span class="text"> <i>‘God said, “Let us make man in our image, in
our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the
air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that
move along the ground.” So God created man in his own image,</i></span><i> <span class="text">in the image of God he created him;</span> <span class="text">male and
female he created them.’</span></i></span></div>
<div class="indent-1" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">So in the original creation, we were
made in God’s image, reflecting His dignity, His ability to govern and rule,
and His ability for relationship. So that’s who we were, but what about our
relationship with God? I’ll read Genesis 2:8-25.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span class="text"><sup><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> <i>“</i></span></sup></span><i><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Now the </span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-variant: small-caps; line-height: 150%;">Lord</span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he
put the man he had formed.</span></span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> <span class="text">And the </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="text"> God made
all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye
and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the
tree of the knowledge of good and evil.</span> <span class="text">The </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="text"> God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and
take care of it.</span> <span class="text">And the </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="text"> God
commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden;</span> <span class="text">but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and
evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.”</span></span></i></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<i><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The </span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-variant: small-caps; line-height: 150%;">Lord</span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> God said, “It is
not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”</span></span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"></span></i></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<i><span class="text"><sup><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></sup></span><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Now the </span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-variant: small-caps; line-height: 150%;">Lord</span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field
and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would
name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name.</span></span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> <span class="text">So the man gave
names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the
field.</span></span></i></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<i><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">But for Adam no suitable helper was found.</span></span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> <span class="text">So the </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="text"> God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was
sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the place with flesh.<sup> </sup>Then
the </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="text"> God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he
brought her to the man.<sup> </sup>The man said, “This is now bone of my
bones</span> <span class="text">and flesh of my flesh;</span> <span class="text">she
shall be called ‘woman,’</span> <span class="text">for she was taken out of man.”
For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his
wife, and they will become one flesh.</span> <span class="text">The man and his
wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.”</span></span></i></div>
<div class="indent-1" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, one aspect of God’s relationship with man
was communication. God spoke to Adam freely and told him what he should do and
what he shouldn’t do. He also was concerned for Adam’s needs and provided for
them, particularly in creating woman and instituting marriage to complete man,
supplying the help, support, encouragement and human companionship that he
needed. Another aspect was the one of freedom. There was freedom in the garden
to eat of any tree except the one which God had forbidden, and Adam and his
wife were naked without any shame. Another aspect of God’s relationship with
man was one of partnership; God put Adam in charge of the garden that he had
made, He put him in charge of the animals He had made, even allowing him to
name them all however he chose! So, the relationship of God with man was one of
communication, provision, freedom and partnership! That sounds like an
incredible friendship doesn’t it? God created man to be in relationship with
Him!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>If it had ended there, there would be
no need for reconciliation, would there? But Adam and Eve were led into
temptation. They doubted God and gave place to the devil! That one forbidden
action of eating from the tree took place and as a result, human friendship
with God was tarnished and damaged by sin. Chapter 3:23-24 <i>“</i></span></span><i><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">So
the </span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-variant: small-caps; line-height: 150%;">Lord</span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">
God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had
been taken.<sup> </sup>After he drove the man out, he placed on the east
side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth
to guard the way to the tree of life.”</span></span></i><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"> The
image of God was tarnished; relationship was shattered! We all are born with
that shattered image and broken relationship. None of us are born with that
relationship we were intended for, the relationship of communication, freedom
and partnership!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We also need to be reconciled in a
debt kind of way. We all personally add up a lifelong list of sins, that weigh
against us, making us worthy of God’s judgement and unworthy of approaching God
or going to Heaven when we die! Romans 6:23 <i>“For the wages of sin is death!”
</i>When we die and the billing period hits, the only payment we can offer on our
own is eternal separation from God, the punishment of Hell!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There is hope! This is our message;
the message of reconciliation. You can be born again, created anew to live for
God! You can be made right with Him! You can have that debt of sin crossed out
and balanced with the true goodness of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself credited
to your account! How was this done? Let me read 2 Corinthians 5:21 again for
you: <i>“</i></span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><i>God made him who had no sin to be
sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”</i> Jesus
took our sin upon Himself and died in our place so that He could credit His
righteousness to our account!</span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">This is the message
that reconciles us to God! The message that the Lord Jesus Christ is the
Almighty Creator God, that He has made the Only way to God by dying on the
cross for all of our sins, that He rose again from the dead so that He could be
our Lord and Saviour and give eternal life to all who will turn from their sins
and believe in Him! On the cross, Jesus has made the way for you to be right
with God, to be restored to relationship with Him, to live as you were intended
and be changed from the inside out as He works within you. On the cross, He has
accomplished the accounting that needs to be done so that your debt can be
crossed out and replaced with incredible righteousness! Will you receive that
gift today? Will you turn from the empty life without God and accept Jesus as
your Lord and Saviour? Be reconciled to God! He longs for you to come home, to
become his child. He wants to make you a new creation and He will do it if you
will respond to Him in faith! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07113265210083475688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443366086047955494.post-86349666257241014612012-09-24T21:53:00.001-06:002012-09-24T23:20:58.885-06:00Turn and Live<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="text Ezek-33-10" id="en-NIV1984-21291">“Son of man, say
to the house of Israel, ‘This is what you are saying: “Our offenses and
sins weigh us down, and we are wasting away because of them. How then can we live?”’</span> <span class="text Ezek-33-11" id="en-NIV1984-21292">Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord,</span> I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, O house of Israel?’</span> <br />
<span class="text Ezek-33-12" id="en-NIV1984-21293">“Therefore, son of man, say to your countrymen,
‘The righteousness of the righteous man will not save him when he
disobeys, and the wickedness of the wicked man will not cause him to
fall when he turns from it. The righteous man, if he sins, will not be
allowed to live because of his former righteousness.’</span> <span class="text Ezek-33-13" id="en-NIV1984-21294">If
I tell the righteous man that he will surely live, but then he trusts
in his righteousness and does evil, none of the righteous things he has
done will be remembered; he will die for the evil he has done.</span> <span class="text Ezek-33-14" id="en-NIV1984-21295">And if I say to the wicked man, ‘You will surely die,’ but he then turns away from his sin and does what is just and right—</span> <span class="text Ezek-33-15" id="en-NIV1984-21296">if he gives back what he took in pledge for a loan, returns what he has stolen, follows the decrees that give life, and does no evil, he will surely live; he will not die.</span> <span class="text Ezek-33-16" id="en-NIV1984-21297">None of the sins he has committed will be remembered against him. He has done what is just and right; he will surely live.</span><br />
<span class="text Ezek-33-17" id="en-NIV1984-21298">“Yet your countrymen say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ But it is their way that is not just.</span> <span class="text Ezek-33-18" id="en-NIV1984-21299">If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and does evil, he will die for it.</span> <span class="text Ezek-33-19" id="en-NIV1984-21300">And if a wicked man turns away from his wickedness and does what is just and right, he will live by doing so.</span> <span class="text Ezek-33-20" id="en-NIV1984-21301">Yet, O house of Israel, you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ But I will judge each of you according to his own ways.”</span><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast;"> <span style="font-size: small;">(Ezekiel 33:10-20 NIV 1984)</span></span></span><br />
<span class="text" style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text" style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked! He wants us
all to repent, to turn from our sins and come to Him, so that we can have
eternal life with Him! We need to understand this. Sometimes we picture God as
a killjoy and a fun-wrecker, but this is not what Scripture teaches. Our God is Holy! He is utterly good and utterly wise. He sees the causes and effects of sin, which I believe even we would find hateful if we were capable of comprehending them. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text" style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">But, even with His extreme hatred for sin,
God takes no pleasure in destroying sinners! In fact, He wants every single
person on this earth to put their faith in Him and become righteous. </span></span><span class="text" style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"> </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text" style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">And this is the good news for all of
us: that if we repent of our sins and put our faith in Jesus, He will
forgive our sins and give us life. As Jesus said in John 3:16-18 “For God so
loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him
shall not perish but have eternal life.</span></span><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 150%;"> <span class="text">For God did not send his Son into
the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.</span> <span class="text">Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not
believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of
God’s one and only Son.”</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 150%;"><span class="text"> </span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">The Gospel in brief is this: that God, the creator of everything, came down
from heaven and became one of us, a man. He lived like us and understands our
pain. He faced the same temptations, weaknesses, pain and conflict, yet never committed
any sin. And then after all of that, He gave Himself up for us, taking the
punishment that you and I deserve for every evil thing we’ve done. He was
whipped and beaten, mocked and spit on, and painfully nailed to a tree to
suffocate and bleed to death, though it seems a broken heart killed Him first.
In all of this he took our sin upon Himself, so that we could be forgiven of
our sins and come close to God.</span> <span style="line-height: 115%;">His death was not the end. He didn’t suffer and then stay to rot in a
grave, but three days later, He rose again, conquering death. He proved that
sin had no power over Him, and that His sacrifice was an acceptable payment for
our sins. By that same power over death, he offers eternal life to those who
believe in Him.</span> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">Jesus has made
the way for you to be right with God. Will you receive that gift today? Will
you repent of your sins and accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour? </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">"Whoever
believes in Him is not condemned;" what a comfort and a glorious promise! But he
who does not believe stands condemned already, because they have not believed
in the name of God’s one and only Son.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">If you desire to be saved, then you can pray to the Lord today. It is not the words that are
important; God is looking at your heart and He will lift you up if you humble
yourself before Him!</span><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 150%;"> God Bless,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">Pastor Carter. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by <a href="http://www.biblica.com/">Biblica, Inc.®</a> </span>
</div>
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