Q. What news are we spreading?
A. The “good news”.
Q. What makes this “news” so “good”?
A. Let me give you 5 reasons.
i. (Start from) What is perfection. What is truth. What is the bible. Who/what is God/Jesus?
ii. What does it mean to be chosen rather than choosing?
iii. The path is narrow. What does this distinction mean for us (across all history)? For God, in terms of who He is?
iv. Furious grace + Steadfast love + sovereign God = God never fails. None of His desires go unfulfilled. There is always hope.
v. Assurance, assurance, assurance. We know the outcome. But yet we fight. Because it is in us, and a part of us. No one can defeat God’s will. This is an extremely beautiful thing.
(based loosely on TULIP)
If you’re not singing for the glory of God, what are you singing for?
… if you’re not working for the glory of God, what are you working for?
… if you’re not looking for deals, and more deals, for the the glory of God, what are you looking for?
… if you’re not studying for the glory of God, what are you studying for?
… and if you’re not married and loving for the glory of God, why are you married?
[from DG Feb 1, 2011]
Hmm.. I need to figure this one out..
“Prayer is not a mountain to climb, it is a throne to get off of”
- Paul Miller
We pursue prayer to know God, to obey God, to follow God, and to communicate with God.
Pursuing prayer to “get a feeling” and “experience God” IS idolatry.
-paraphrased from Paul Miller ”Helping Your People Discover the Praying Life”
I don’t believe in Jesus because I desire heaven.
I desire heaven because I believe in Jesus.
pretty solid article:
http://www.reformation21.org/articles/art-nakedness-and-redemption.php
explains my uneasiness when watching any movie with nudity.
(numbers not matching up with verses directly)
1. Mercy on me according to the attributes of God.
2. Eradicate my iniquities and sin
3. Admit my transgressions and sins
4. Against only God have I sinned and done what is evil in His sight. Because I want God to be justified in His words and his judgment
5. Admit I was born into sin
6. God delights in our inward honesty and truthfulness through His spirit.
7. Ask again for cleansing.
8. Let me be witness to joy!
9. Do not bestow your favor upon me, instead continue to cleanse me of my sin.
10. Give me a new heart, and a renewed spirit.
11. I pray that you do not remove me from your presence, and as a result no longer be indwelt with your spirit
12. Give me back my the joy of my salvation, and support me, be with me with a willing spirit.
13. I will evangelize the gospel to sinners.
14. Deliver me from my sin.
15. Honor God as righteous and sovereign owner of my salvation
16. And I will sing of His glory.
17. Open my lips to your will, so that I may further praise you
18. Acknowledge that rituals and works will not delight you, but only my broken spirit and sinful heart God you will not hate.
19. Do what brings You joy, and the right sacrifices will come about.
Father, LORD of my life, past present and future,
Help me. Help me struggle well – not poorly. Reveal these areas of weakness, convict me from my head to my heart of your truth and of my iniquities. Pound my heart with the expression of the offenses I commit against you, have me chase your ultimate treasure – your Son and Glory – with all my soul, and I thank you for the progress I have made, for the journey that is to come, through which I be more and more sanctified, and falling no more.
In your all-powerful and joyous name,
Amen.
hmm.. i agree with most of grudems 10 points.
some of the stretches he calls “whispers” are valid within both my own biblical framework/narrative and the reform narrative.
Since this is the day after i read most of those points, the only points i remember i guess are the most pertinent and valid ones.
- keeping in check things that were ordained pre-fall
- the “mutual submission” verse is more likely in reference to submission to God’s preordained will rather than the actual word to ‘submit’
- he reinforces well the point of roles versus equality. we have different roles, but are equally valued and capable before God. And it’s not that either gender can’t dip into the others roles, it is simply that one must maintain their primary role when it comes down to it.
mm. .why do i feel so weird today.
is it because it’s the end of the break? but was i even not breaking before?
God, I need stability.
mmm.. i ate too many wings.
.. but social networking sites have really made narcissism the norm for this generation.
so much the norm, that some people I mention this to look at me with a blank stare.
