Stop motion is so cool. And this song is pretty nice too.
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September 30, 2010
September 29, 2010
Foolish Man That I Am
I'm really tire of the frustrations of life. There are too many for me to handle. I want to have a carefree attitude about the things that drive me crazy, but I don't. I'm really tired of sins, in my own life first, but in others too. I hate sin. I hate its draw and the initial attraction we have to it. I hate that the effects of sin are life long. Even if forgiveness is given and understood, there are consequences that last our lifetime. People's searching for satisfaction in life in everything except what God has promised to give through faith is so massive, so beyond what any of us can understand. Sin causes such major decisions and actions in people that our world has depravity beyond what is okay to even talk about here. So called Christians are perverting faith and religion and holiness and worship to where we can't even recognize what is right and wrong anymore. We are blending the lines between Christian religion and worldly "goodness" to make people comfortable with who they are and the sins the commit.
I'm so tired of being a fake Christian. I'm so tired of failing day after day after day. I'm tired of being mad at myself for my hate and anger and frustrations. I'm tired of blending in with the non-Christians, getting advice from their worldly perspective, living a life not focused on Christ, being able to hide my faith, living as though I have no faith. I am tired.
1 Corinthians 1:26-31 talks about God choosing what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, what is weak in the world to shame the strong, and what is low and despised in the world to bring to nothing things that are. God did this so no human can boast in the presence of God. My wisdom needs to be Jesus Christ. I need to work hard at knowing God's will and Christ's saving grace. All this crap in the world is nothing. Sins consequence is paid for. IT IS SO UNDESERVED, and that's where the falling on my face and crying out for forgiveness and striving to live a holy life comes from, but I'm not going to be able to do it. Sin is too powerful in the life of a human being. Understanding God's grace more and more will help me avoid the sin, but the temptation will still be there. The fact that we are all surrounded by sin all day, every day, will never go away on this earth. Instead, we must fill our minds with the wisdom of Christ crucified to save us from the sin of the world.
One point of clarification: I do not think that God can use me in my sinful state. I must live a holy, acceptable, blameless life to be a light to this dark world. I only think that my sin makes me a lowly foolish weakling; and therefore, God can use me if He so chooses, just like the sinful men that surrounded Christ, or like David or Moses or any of the men of the Bible, besides Jesus. Sin is part of our human nature and is going to happen. Our faith that God has forgiven that sin and will continue to forgive our future sins is the key to overcoming sin. By understanding grace more, we will understand holiness more.
I'm so tired of being a fake Christian. I'm so tired of failing day after day after day. I'm tired of being mad at myself for my hate and anger and frustrations. I'm tired of blending in with the non-Christians, getting advice from their worldly perspective, living a life not focused on Christ, being able to hide my faith, living as though I have no faith. I am tired.
1 Corinthians 1:26-31 talks about God choosing what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, what is weak in the world to shame the strong, and what is low and despised in the world to bring to nothing things that are. God did this so no human can boast in the presence of God. My wisdom needs to be Jesus Christ. I need to work hard at knowing God's will and Christ's saving grace. All this crap in the world is nothing. Sins consequence is paid for. IT IS SO UNDESERVED, and that's where the falling on my face and crying out for forgiveness and striving to live a holy life comes from, but I'm not going to be able to do it. Sin is too powerful in the life of a human being. Understanding God's grace more and more will help me avoid the sin, but the temptation will still be there. The fact that we are all surrounded by sin all day, every day, will never go away on this earth. Instead, we must fill our minds with the wisdom of Christ crucified to save us from the sin of the world.
One point of clarification: I do not think that God can use me in my sinful state. I must live a holy, acceptable, blameless life to be a light to this dark world. I only think that my sin makes me a lowly foolish weakling; and therefore, God can use me if He so chooses, just like the sinful men that surrounded Christ, or like David or Moses or any of the men of the Bible, besides Jesus. Sin is part of our human nature and is going to happen. Our faith that God has forgiven that sin and will continue to forgive our future sins is the key to overcoming sin. By understanding grace more, we will understand holiness more.
September 26, 2010
What Music Looks Like
This is really cool. I guess it is a sonar animation of what music looks like...at least to somebody. I just think it's really neat.
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Sonar from Renaud Hallée on Vimeo.
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September 25, 2010
The Drummer of Seville
I first saw this guy play the drums to the Super Mario Bros music, but when I looked him up on YouTube I found the Barber of Seville put to drum solo. This is awesome.
September 23, 2010
Christ Is The Wisdom We Need
Jews wanted signs and Greeks wanted wisdom, and the cross demands faith. 1 Corinthians 1:20-25 continues to talk about the foolishness of man's wisdom. People today want these same things before they will believe in Christ. Some people want God to give them a sign of His power and existence. Others want scientific proof of God or something they can do to earn salvation. Hebrews 11:1 tells us, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." This is how the people of the old testament were saved too (keep reading in Hebrews 11), prior to Christ's death. They had faith in the coming payment for their sins.
The power of Christ crucified is a stumbling block for some and folly to others, but to those who are called, "Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." Really, if we could figure it all out on our own, we would be taking the power away of God, and we would not need God. But "the foolishness of God is wiser than men" (ALL MEN COMBINE), and "the weakness of God is stronger than men" (ALL MEN COMBINE). If God had a weak point in His being, it would still be stronger than all of the strength of mankind. All of our creations as mankind, don't add up the the complexity of one grain of matter. This reminds me of a joke:
One day a group of scientists got together and decided that man had come a long way and no longer needed God. So they picked one scientist to go and tell Him that they were done with Him.
The scientist walked up to God and said, "God, we've decided that we no longer need you. We're to the point that we can clone people and do many miraculous things, so why don't you just go on and get lost."
God listened very patiently and kindly to the man and after the scientist was done talking, God said, "Very well, how about this, let's say we have a man making contest." To which the scientist replied, "OK, great!"
But God added, "Now, we're going to do this just like I did back in the old days with Adam."
The scientist said, "Sure, no problem" and bent down and grabbed himself a handful of dirt.
God just looked at him and said, "No, no, no. You go get your own dirt!"
The power of Christ crucified is a stumbling block for some and folly to others, but to those who are called, "Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." Really, if we could figure it all out on our own, we would be taking the power away of God, and we would not need God. But "the foolishness of God is wiser than men" (ALL MEN COMBINE), and "the weakness of God is stronger than men" (ALL MEN COMBINE). If God had a weak point in His being, it would still be stronger than all of the strength of mankind. All of our creations as mankind, don't add up the the complexity of one grain of matter. This reminds me of a joke:
One day a group of scientists got together and decided that man had come a long way and no longer needed God. So they picked one scientist to go and tell Him that they were done with Him.
The scientist walked up to God and said, "God, we've decided that we no longer need you. We're to the point that we can clone people and do many miraculous things, so why don't you just go on and get lost."
God listened very patiently and kindly to the man and after the scientist was done talking, God said, "Very well, how about this, let's say we have a man making contest." To which the scientist replied, "OK, great!"
But God added, "Now, we're going to do this just like I did back in the old days with Adam."
The scientist said, "Sure, no problem" and bent down and grabbed himself a handful of dirt.
God just looked at him and said, "No, no, no. You go get your own dirt!"
September 22, 2010
The Wisdom and Discernment of the World Will Be Destroyed
I wake up earlier and earlier to be able to study. What happens? My kids seem to wake up earlier and earlier too. Argh!
1 Corinthians 1:18-19 are all I'll cover today but for a good reason. These verses address part of my own problem. Verse 18 is great, and I believe in the power of the cross to save. I believe I've been saved by Jesus' death and resurrection. But then verse 19 quotes Isaiah 29:14, and all goes downhill for me. Verse 19 says, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart." Much of my own pride and sin comes from my belief that I an a discerning person. I think I can look past the words that people are saying and know their true thoughts, the heart of the issue. This is why I don't like people. I see through the words they are saying to what they are really thinking and wanting, and I'm annoyed and frustrated by their dishonesty.
On some levels this discerning sounds okay, like I am able to help a person see truth or dig down to the heart of some matter this person is facing, but what makes it not okay is my heart and my own actions. I sit hear and write about reading my Bible, and then I go to work and would rather tell someone "where they can go", than to show them the love of God in patience. I lack the love of God in my own life. I lack the truth of the cross. My pride is based on an ability that is most likely not really what I think it is. It is probably my own arrogance getting in the way of truth and light and life for the people I come in contact with. Even yesterday, I had an incident where I found myself making fun of the uptight people who couldn't take a joke. Uptight? My role is to be set apart from the things of the world.
The wisdom and the discernment we have must be based on that of the Bible. We should be using the wisdom of God's Word to discern any situation we are involved in. The word of the cross should be the power of God to us who call ourselves Christians. Christ saved us from our sin, from ourselves. Live like we are saved. Live like we are grateful. Live like we believe.
1 Corinthians 1:18-19 are all I'll cover today but for a good reason. These verses address part of my own problem. Verse 18 is great, and I believe in the power of the cross to save. I believe I've been saved by Jesus' death and resurrection. But then verse 19 quotes Isaiah 29:14, and all goes downhill for me. Verse 19 says, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart." Much of my own pride and sin comes from my belief that I an a discerning person. I think I can look past the words that people are saying and know their true thoughts, the heart of the issue. This is why I don't like people. I see through the words they are saying to what they are really thinking and wanting, and I'm annoyed and frustrated by their dishonesty.
On some levels this discerning sounds okay, like I am able to help a person see truth or dig down to the heart of some matter this person is facing, but what makes it not okay is my heart and my own actions. I sit hear and write about reading my Bible, and then I go to work and would rather tell someone "where they can go", than to show them the love of God in patience. I lack the love of God in my own life. I lack the truth of the cross. My pride is based on an ability that is most likely not really what I think it is. It is probably my own arrogance getting in the way of truth and light and life for the people I come in contact with. Even yesterday, I had an incident where I found myself making fun of the uptight people who couldn't take a joke. Uptight? My role is to be set apart from the things of the world.
The wisdom and the discernment we have must be based on that of the Bible. We should be using the wisdom of God's Word to discern any situation we are involved in. The word of the cross should be the power of God to us who call ourselves Christians. Christ saved us from our sin, from ourselves. Live like we are saved. Live like we are grateful. Live like we believe.
September 21, 2010
Jailbroken iPhone Gets Icon Placement Enhancements
September 20, 2010
Paul Begins To Correct The Church At Corinth - Part 2
Continuing from where I left off last time in 1 Corinthians 1:10-17, Paul points to the fact that he did not baptize any of the people of the church at Corinth, except a small number of people. I'm assuming these people he did baptize are not the major divisive members. One of the named people is Crispus, the former leader of the Jewish church. He was mentioned in Acts 18:8, where Paul's fellow writer (Sosthenes) of this letter was mentioned. Paul tells the church, "Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power." It doesn't take eloquent speech or persuasive words to lead people to Christ; it takes doing.
There is a huge lesson for us to learn here. WE SHOULD BE PASSIONATE ABOUT PREACHING THE GOSPEL TO EVERYONE because it has nothing to do with our ability to preach and persuade. It is the power of the cross that changes lives. If you're like me, the power of persuasion is non-existent in your life because of the complete lack of spirituality and living as an example to those around you. Although my church did something yesterday I don't agree with at a Sunday morning service, I did realize through their "Engage" service that I do not have any kind of witness to those in my life. For me, it comes back to loving others. I don't do it. It's so hard for me. I think it has to become my constant prayer.
And because I'm me, when the word "Engage" appeared on the screen at church yesterday, I thought of Captain Picard from Star Trek TNG.
Also, this word is one of those annoying words at my church. "You've got to engage with God," is one of the leadership's catch phrases. Also, calling us, God's "kids" instead of children is annoying. It seems like they are trying to be more familiar with God, taking away some of God's reverence. Oops, I don't love people. It's going to be a real struggle.
There is a huge lesson for us to learn here. WE SHOULD BE PASSIONATE ABOUT PREACHING THE GOSPEL TO EVERYONE because it has nothing to do with our ability to preach and persuade. It is the power of the cross that changes lives. If you're like me, the power of persuasion is non-existent in your life because of the complete lack of spirituality and living as an example to those around you. Although my church did something yesterday I don't agree with at a Sunday morning service, I did realize through their "Engage" service that I do not have any kind of witness to those in my life. For me, it comes back to loving others. I don't do it. It's so hard for me. I think it has to become my constant prayer.
And because I'm me, when the word "Engage" appeared on the screen at church yesterday, I thought of Captain Picard from Star Trek TNG.
Also, this word is one of those annoying words at my church. "You've got to engage with God," is one of the leadership's catch phrases. Also, calling us, God's "kids" instead of children is annoying. It seems like they are trying to be more familiar with God, taking away some of God's reverence. Oops, I don't love people. It's going to be a real struggle.
September 18, 2010
Four Chords of Wonderful Possibilities
First, heads up for the end of the video, there is an "F-Bomb". But this is a great example of how some music can be really simple. You can learn four chords on a guitar and play allllll these songs.
I really enjoyed this for the list of music and artists.
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I really enjoyed this for the list of music and artists.
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Steve Jobs' Brother Stops Quran Burning at Park
Steve Jobs' WT brother stopped a man from burning a Quran at a park in Amarillo. This sweet auto-tune video is proof.
Looks like Jobs to me.
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Looks like Jobs to me.
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September 17, 2010
September 16, 2010
Ken Block is Back with Gymkhana 3.2
I've posted the past Gymkhana videos from Ken Block, "Mr. DC Shoes" himself (here, here, here, here), but this is a teaser to the latest one. That's right, it's a teaser. This is so amazing. Enjoy.
I think Gymkhana 4 should be a chase scene in a movie, with this type of driving and intensity. Ronin 2?
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I think Gymkhana 4 should be a chase scene in a movie, with this type of driving and intensity. Ronin 2?
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Paul Begins To Correct The Church At Corinth - Part 1
Tuesday and Wednesday I was in Redding working. I actually thought about taking my computer and Bible to blog, but I work late, go to bed at the hotel, wake up early, and get back to work so I can head home to my family. It's really a busy time because I only get up there once every two weeks or so.
Anyway, today I woke up at 4:30am with a migraine and it didn't go away until after noon. Even now, my head and stomach are not 100%. I stayed home from work to get better. I realized I didn't do a study yesterday and thought I'd try now (of course, the second I sit here and type, my early wake-up is catching up with me.
1 Corinthians 1:10-17 is where Paul begins to confront some divisions in the church at Corinth. The people of the church at Corinth were attempting to sound more holy than the next person my stating things like, "I follow Paul", or "I follow Apollos" and so on, all the way to the one's claiming, "I follow Christ." And these one's saying they follow Christ were not really any better than the one's saying the followed Paul. They were all trying to one-up each other and sound more spiritual.
Must...Sleep...I will continue.
Anyway, today I woke up at 4:30am with a migraine and it didn't go away until after noon. Even now, my head and stomach are not 100%. I stayed home from work to get better. I realized I didn't do a study yesterday and thought I'd try now (of course, the second I sit here and type, my early wake-up is catching up with me.
1 Corinthians 1:10-17 is where Paul begins to confront some divisions in the church at Corinth. The people of the church at Corinth were attempting to sound more holy than the next person my stating things like, "I follow Paul", or "I follow Apollos" and so on, all the way to the one's claiming, "I follow Christ." And these one's saying they follow Christ were not really any better than the one's saying the followed Paul. They were all trying to one-up each other and sound more spiritual.
Must...Sleep...I will continue.
September 14, 2010
Thankful for the Church at Corinth
1 Corinthians 1:4-9 is Paul's way of letting the church at Corinth know he is thankful for them and that he is praying for them. This is another example of Paul's love for the church. Paul is thankful that God saved them because they confirm the testimony of Paul and the other apostles that about Jesus...Paul uses, "Christ Jesus" here to be clear about Jesus as the Savior. He also says, "in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge...so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gifts." Although no one has all the spiritual gifts on their own, the church of Corinth had people with all sorts of gifts that came together to as one church (although later we will see there was some division in the church). Paul indicates that they do have a well rounded group of believers that were bold and spoke the truth of Jesus as Savior. Paul reminds the church that the Lord will sustain them until Christ returns.
We should be involved in our churches. It takes everyone to have a well rounded, spiritually gifted church. We all have different abilities and levels of some giftedness. We need to participate for the betterment of the church, the furtherance of the kingdom of God, and for our own spiritual health.
We should be involved in our churches. It takes everyone to have a well rounded, spiritually gifted church. We all have different abilities and levels of some giftedness. We need to participate for the betterment of the church, the furtherance of the kingdom of God, and for our own spiritual health.
September 13, 2010
September 12, 2010
1 John Series Intro - Sunday Blogging
I recently had a vacation with my family in Newport Beach, CA. It was interesting to be there with all the different families descending from my mom's parents. Particularly, my uncle is a pastor...a pretty conservative one. He seems like a very serious man. Some would say he doesn't seem like a fun person. He seems quiet and reserved.
But today I skipped church. And last week I skipped church. I had "other things" that caused me to "not have time" to go. We actually decided to listen to our pastor online, but their website was not working and their podcast was not working. I decided to listen to my uncle. And when I arrived at his church's website, I found that he has a series on 1 John. Well, crap!
We are called as Christians to live as such. We need to affirm our doctrines. We need to live as saved beings. We need to live in the light, as he is in the light. I'm going to try to listen to this series.
Back to my uncle. I think we thought of him as sort of boring, because he doesn't live for himself like we often do. I remember several people in the family trying to have conversations with my uncle to sound spiritual (I, of course, did the opposite). I think that he is constantly working on his relationship with God. He had devotions. He did have conversations about God and Christ and Christian living. I believe he came across as serious and reserved because he is guarded and careful to do what is pleasing to God. He lives within the bounds of a responsible Christian.
I know that I talk a lot about grace in my blogs, knowing I seriously need grace. We all do. Even my uncle. But I think there are many Christians who use grace as an excuse to sin and live in sin and not be changed by salvation. 1 John 3:16-18, "By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down out lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth." We are going to love if we are truly saved. Again, crap! I'm in trouble.
I don't love people. I almost don't love anyone. It's almost my calling card these days. I don't care about people. I don't care about feelings. I don't love.
To have assurance of eternal life, I must have genuine Christian actions. I must have these beliefs/actions/changes in me and my life:
Assurances
1. I must believe Orthodox Christian doctrines (Jesus is the only way, etc.)
2. I have experienced moral transformation (not perfectly but characteristically). I walking in the light.
3. I must love (involved, working, caring).
1 John is a great book of the Bible for believers to reflect on their own salvation. One saved, always saved, but are we living as though we are saved by the grace of God? Are we walking in light? Are we loving? I know I have a lot of work to do. A LOT!!!
But today I skipped church. And last week I skipped church. I had "other things" that caused me to "not have time" to go. We actually decided to listen to our pastor online, but their website was not working and their podcast was not working. I decided to listen to my uncle. And when I arrived at his church's website, I found that he has a series on 1 John. Well, crap!
We are called as Christians to live as such. We need to affirm our doctrines. We need to live as saved beings. We need to live in the light, as he is in the light. I'm going to try to listen to this series.
Back to my uncle. I think we thought of him as sort of boring, because he doesn't live for himself like we often do. I remember several people in the family trying to have conversations with my uncle to sound spiritual (I, of course, did the opposite). I think that he is constantly working on his relationship with God. He had devotions. He did have conversations about God and Christ and Christian living. I believe he came across as serious and reserved because he is guarded and careful to do what is pleasing to God. He lives within the bounds of a responsible Christian.
I know that I talk a lot about grace in my blogs, knowing I seriously need grace. We all do. Even my uncle. But I think there are many Christians who use grace as an excuse to sin and live in sin and not be changed by salvation. 1 John 3:16-18, "By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down out lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth." We are going to love if we are truly saved. Again, crap! I'm in trouble.
I don't love people. I almost don't love anyone. It's almost my calling card these days. I don't care about people. I don't care about feelings. I don't love.
To have assurance of eternal life, I must have genuine Christian actions. I must have these beliefs/actions/changes in me and my life:
Assurances
1. I must believe Orthodox Christian doctrines (Jesus is the only way, etc.)
2. I have experienced moral transformation (not perfectly but characteristically). I walking in the light.
3. I must love (involved, working, caring).
1 John is a great book of the Bible for believers to reflect on their own salvation. One saved, always saved, but are we living as though we are saved by the grace of God? Are we walking in light? Are we loving? I know I have a lot of work to do. A LOT!!!
September 10, 2010
Not Just a Standard Greeting
I find my mind wandering a bit this morning, I'm having a hard time focusing. 1 Corinthians, like most of Paul's books, starts with his greeting. Yesterday I wrote about the Paul being called by the will of God. Today, I want to finish the greeting.
1 Corinthians 1:1-3 is similar to all of Paul's greetings. It's basically the "from", "to" and "greeting" of a letter. After introducing himself, Paul includes in the "from" portion of the greeting a co-writer or fellow Christian he is working with, Sosthenes. I don't know anything about Sosthenes, and I have no books about 1 Corinthians to gain knowledge about him. I turned to the good ol' Internet for some answers and found that the name Sosthenes is mentioned one other time, in Acts 18:17.
Acts 18 talks about Paul's first trip to Corinth, where Paul preaches for a year and a half and many are converted and believe in the Lord. Paul is accused of persuading people to worship God contrary to the the law, but Gallio won't prosecute Paul because it is not a crime against Rome. The Jews get so update they attack and beat the current ruler of the synagogue, Sosthenes. Unless there was a second un-mentioned Sosthenes in Corinth, I think this synagogue ruler was converted, just like the previous one there in Corinth named, Crispus (Act 18:8).
The greeting continues to the "to" portion, where Paul addresses the letter to "the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints..." Key words he uses, that we often overlook are in this description of the believers. "Sanctified", "called". Salvation is from God, given to whom He wills. This is clear in who Paul addresses the letter.
Finally, the "greeting" portion. "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." Grace, something given not earned, creating peace we could not have without that grace, from God our Father, who loves us as a father loves his children, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, our ruler, who understands the human condition, and our savior. That run-on sentence is my attempt at describing all the parts of the greeting at once.
1 Corinthians 1:1-3 is similar to all of Paul's greetings. It's basically the "from", "to" and "greeting" of a letter. After introducing himself, Paul includes in the "from" portion of the greeting a co-writer or fellow Christian he is working with, Sosthenes. I don't know anything about Sosthenes, and I have no books about 1 Corinthians to gain knowledge about him. I turned to the good ol' Internet for some answers and found that the name Sosthenes is mentioned one other time, in Acts 18:17.
Acts 18 talks about Paul's first trip to Corinth, where Paul preaches for a year and a half and many are converted and believe in the Lord. Paul is accused of persuading people to worship God contrary to the the law, but Gallio won't prosecute Paul because it is not a crime against Rome. The Jews get so update they attack and beat the current ruler of the synagogue, Sosthenes. Unless there was a second un-mentioned Sosthenes in Corinth, I think this synagogue ruler was converted, just like the previous one there in Corinth named, Crispus (Act 18:8).
The greeting continues to the "to" portion, where Paul addresses the letter to "the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints..." Key words he uses, that we often overlook are in this description of the believers. "Sanctified", "called". Salvation is from God, given to whom He wills. This is clear in who Paul addresses the letter.
Finally, the "greeting" portion. "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." Grace, something given not earned, creating peace we could not have without that grace, from God our Father, who loves us as a father loves his children, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, our ruler, who understands the human condition, and our savior. That run-on sentence is my attempt at describing all the parts of the greeting at once.
September 9, 2010
Called By The Will of God
I'm going to do my next study of on 1 Corinthians. Why? Not really sure. I did learn something about skipping over the greeting at the beginning of Paul's books, because there is even depth there. 1 Corinthians starts out with Paul's introduction of himself as "called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus".
For some reason, this is as far as I got today. "Called by the will of God" struck me because we use the word "called" often without thinking about the will of God. Paul's understanding of grace was so far beyond mine. He recognized he was called because it was the will of God. This understanding should lead us to a deeper commitment to live lives that please God.
For some reason, this is as far as I got today. "Called by the will of God" struck me because we use the word "called" often without thinking about the will of God. Paul's understanding of grace was so far beyond mine. He recognized he was called because it was the will of God. This understanding should lead us to a deeper commitment to live lives that please God.
September 8, 2010
Understanding the Amount of Forgiveness
Today I read a passage that I wrote a note about a few Sunday's ago at my church. We have such an amazing pastor. His teaching style and knowledge are very rare, in fact I've not ever heard someone that can be deep and simple at the same time.
But enough about him. My note says, "Who loves Jesus more? The one who is forgiven more. This is an understanding of the amount of forgiveness, not an actual amount of sin committed." The passage that was taught and caused me to write this note, and that I read today is Luke 7:36-50.
Jesus was invited to the home of a Pharisee, where a "woman of the city" followed Him to wash his feet with her tears and hair, and anoint them with an ointment because she knew who he truly was and that he could offer forgiveness. The Pharisee didn't understand it because he didn't realize his need for that forgiveness.
We all have sinned. We all need the grace of God. We all need to understand that need. No one is good. The Pharisee was not any better than the prostitute. In fact, he was most likely not saved from his sin because of his unbelief in Jesus and his lack of understanding of his need for the grace of God.
But enough about him. My note says, "Who loves Jesus more? The one who is forgiven more. This is an understanding of the amount of forgiveness, not an actual amount of sin committed." The passage that was taught and caused me to write this note, and that I read today is Luke 7:36-50.
Jesus was invited to the home of a Pharisee, where a "woman of the city" followed Him to wash his feet with her tears and hair, and anoint them with an ointment because she knew who he truly was and that he could offer forgiveness. The Pharisee didn't understand it because he didn't realize his need for that forgiveness.
We all have sinned. We all need the grace of God. We all need to understand that need. No one is good. The Pharisee was not any better than the prostitute. In fact, he was most likely not saved from his sin because of his unbelief in Jesus and his lack of understanding of his need for the grace of God.
September 7, 2010
Here Again
Well, here I am again. I woke up early, read my Bible, and still have so much to do to get my spiritual life back on track. This is, I hope, the start to a re-kindling of my studies. It is really the only way to learn and grow in understanding of God's grace, which is the only thing that can truly save me from my sin.
This is short and sweet and to the point because I haven't decided what I'm going to read and study. I read 1 Corinthians 1 today, but if I decide to stay in Corinthians, I will break it down the way I did with Romans.
This is short and sweet and to the point because I haven't decided what I'm going to read and study. I read 1 Corinthians 1 today, but if I decide to stay in Corinthians, I will break it down the way I did with Romans.
September 6, 2010
The Coolest HTML5 Interactive Music Video
Try it out here.
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September 5, 2010
So Much To Say, No Time To Say It - Part 3
I really need a better way to blog. This is the third time I've posted a list of things I want to blog about but just don't have the time for. Part 1 and Part 2 are also interesting.
Twitter is close to what I need, but there isn't really an app that allows me to save all my thoughts and links to a central location for easy access and formatting for the blog. Someone needs to write an application that allows all of the Internet links and stories, as well as, all the other information we read or hear about to come together in a central place for later formating and editing. These days, Husband and Daddy duties trump my ability to freely blog. I've been wanting to write about the following topics, but I haven't had the free time. I still need to find a grant or something that would allow me to pursue my desire to write this thing, without having a job. Maybe then I could edit and correct me spelling and grammar issues before publishing.
The Topics
The September 1st Apple Event
The iPad with iOS 4.2 finally makes the iPad look interesting to me
The iPhone 3G with iOS 4.1
Pepsi should go after Hansen's market share with Sierra Mist Natural
Mr. Rogers
Steve Jobs' personally ownership in Disney, more stock than Eisner?
Dodge-ball is illegal in school, a.k.a. we are raising wimps(NSFW). Part of the on-going story of "The government want to tell you what to do". This is not really news but getting worse.
Soda Company's breakdown
Tweet
Twitter is close to what I need, but there isn't really an app that allows me to save all my thoughts and links to a central location for easy access and formatting for the blog. Someone needs to write an application that allows all of the Internet links and stories, as well as, all the other information we read or hear about to come together in a central place for later formating and editing. These days, Husband and Daddy duties trump my ability to freely blog. I've been wanting to write about the following topics, but I haven't had the free time. I still need to find a grant or something that would allow me to pursue my desire to write this thing, without having a job. Maybe then I could edit and correct me spelling and grammar issues before publishing.
The Topics
The September 1st Apple Event
The iPad with iOS 4.2 finally makes the iPad look interesting to me
The iPhone 3G with iOS 4.1
Pepsi should go after Hansen's market share with Sierra Mist Natural
Mr. Rogers
Steve Jobs' personally ownership in Disney, more stock than Eisner?
Dodge-ball is illegal in school, a.k.a. we are raising wimps(NSFW). Part of the on-going story of "The government want to tell you what to do". This is not really news but getting worse.
Soda Company's breakdown
Tweet
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