1. Thanks for your ongoing prayers for my wife on her journey toward healing with her Monday re-do of her original knee replacement. So far so good. We are hopeful that the journey which began on September 4, 2015 will be over at some points within the next few months. So thankful for God's faithful care throughout and the support of family and dear friends. Thanks to all of you who have prayed and continue to pray.
2. One of my favorite Proverb in the Old Testament book of Proverbs reads, "When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent" (Proverbs 10:19). This is a verse that so many people I know (including the guy in my mirror!) could stand to put into practice. All too often when we don't like something about someone or something we will often let someone else know about it. This certainly is not the way to encourage others to fight off the temptation of sin (Hebrews 3:13). Nor is it profitable in stirring others up to love and good works (Hebrews 10:23). So instead of running at the mouth (as so many of us are prone to do), let's think about what we are going to say and to whom we are going to say it. Together let's purpose on spreading joy and good will vs. anger and discontentment. Does God call us to be a disgruntled people (Philippians 2:14-16)? Or is his will for us to be joyful in all circumstances (Philippians 4:4)? The answer is obvious!
3. One of the MAJOR weaknesses of the Church today is that so many Christians do not take sin seriously . . . or if they do, not nearly seriously enough (and I include myself in this evaluation). Just pause right now and take a look at the world around you. What do you see? Wars. Poverty. Murders. Addictions. Crime. Greed. Pride. Jealousy. Discontentment. Sexual immorality. Lies. Gossip. Prejudice. Disrespect for authority. Hatred. Slander. Lack of self control. The disintegration of the family unit. And on and on and on it goes. All these are manifestations of sin. And the Bible is clear. The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). And this is a wage we have all earned because all of us are sinners (Romans 3:23). So sin not only wrecks havoc in this life . . . but leads to eternal judgment in the next. So if sin is such a nasty thing .... WHY do we continue to play with it? Let's heed the counsel God through the Apostle Paul gave to Timothy (and by extension to us!) and "run from all these evil things and pursue righteousness and a godly life" (1 Timothy 6:11). And for those who are unsure of their eternal destiny due to their own sin and rebellion against God .... please take a moment to check out, Two Ways to Live: The Choice We All Face.
3. One of the MAJOR weaknesses of the Church today is that so many Christians do not take sin seriously . . . or if they do, not nearly seriously enough (and I include myself in this evaluation). Just pause right now and take a look at the world around you. What do you see? Wars. Poverty. Murders. Addictions. Crime. Greed. Pride. Jealousy. Discontentment. Sexual immorality. Lies. Gossip. Prejudice. Disrespect for authority. Hatred. Slander. Lack of self control. The disintegration of the family unit. And on and on and on it goes. All these are manifestations of sin. And the Bible is clear. The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). And this is a wage we have all earned because all of us are sinners (Romans 3:23). So sin not only wrecks havoc in this life . . . but leads to eternal judgment in the next. So if sin is such a nasty thing .... WHY do we continue to play with it? Let's heed the counsel God through the Apostle Paul gave to Timothy (and by extension to us!) and "run from all these evil things and pursue righteousness and a godly life" (1 Timothy 6:11). And for those who are unsure of their eternal destiny due to their own sin and rebellion against God .... please take a moment to check out, Two Ways to Live: The Choice We All Face.
Thanks for stopping by . . .
pj
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