Thursday A La Carte

Here are this week's offerings . . .

1. The most offensive verse in the Bible? Consider this take by Dan Philips.

2. And to think the sun (as a star) is the "work of his fingers" (Psalm 8:3). Check out this amazing NASA video of a fiery looping rain on the sun! 

3. Tim Tebow was at the center of controversy for agreeing to speak at a baptist church that was on record as stating homosexual behavior is sinful. Tebow eventually withdrew. So, what are we to make of this? Here are two takes on the matter ... one from Al Mohler the other from Kevin DeYoung.

4. Ed Welch on what it means to give thanks in all circumstances ... and why it is a good thing to do so!

5. On a lighter note . . . 

Thanks for stopping by . . .
pj

Grace Beyond the Cross!

This morning as I was reading a new book by Paul David Tripp (Dangerous Calling) I ran across the following insightful comment concerning biblical maturity. Take a moment to read it and "chew" on it.

"Biblical maturity is never just about what you know; it's always about how grace has employed what you have come to know to transform the way you live." 

Tripp is right on with these comments. Grace does not end with the cross. It's not, "I am saved by grace" ... "I am sanctified by works." No! We are dependent upon grace for all of our faith journey through life! Jerry Bridges, in his book, Transforming Grace, writes,

"Grace doesn't first rescue us from the penalty of our sins, furnish us with some new spiritual abilities, then leave us on our own to grow in spiritual maturity. Rather, as Paul said, "He who began a good work in you [by His grace] will [also by His grace] carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6).

Amen! God. Thank YOU for never letting up on the flow of your amazing grace!

Thanks for stopping by . . .
pj

PS ... This does not mean that we are not required to work at all when it comes to our spiritual growth. Paul wrote to Timothy, "train yourself for godliness" (1 Timothy 4:7-8 -- see also 2 Peter 1:5-11). 

A Project Done - and Another in Progress!

My wife would tell you that when it comes to "handyman" projects around the house, I fail miserably. And I would not argue (and for many of you who know me, you are probably just smiling right about now!).

This past weekend ... I took on a MAJOR house project (please understand that the word "major" as I have just used it is relative ... for others the project I completed would be nothing more than a minor chore). SO ... you are probably wondering just what this MAJOR project was. Yes?  Sharon and I went out and bought four new sets of shades for our bedroom windows. That meant I had to take down the old ones (including the brackets that supported them) before I could install the new ones. A task that probably would have taken even an average "handyman" an hour at most ... took me at least twice that. Then, of course, I had to put up new curtains. I will say I was able to do that in a much more timely fashion. And ahh ... does it feel good to have that project in my rear view mirror!

There's another project that I will be glad to have in life's rear view mirror one day. I am thinking of me! The Bible makes it clear that I am God's "workmanship" (Ephesians 2:10). And God is not yet finished working on me ... I am still "a work in progress" (Philippians 1:6). What's true of me ... is also true of you if you are a follower of Jesus Christ. Isn't it a comfort to know that God's not done with us yet! I "blow it" all-too-often when it comes to living out God's word in my life (and I am guessing you do, too!). So I am glad to know that God is still at work in me ... and there will come a day when his work is done ... and I will be presented before him without fault (Jude 1:24). Until then ... I am so glad God continues to pour out his grace upon me. I just hope I learn to be just as gracious with others!

Thanks for stopping by . . .
pj

T.G.I.F.

Today it's Friday ... and most people are glad that it is! Some might even be thanking God that the work week is almost over. But this morning ... I am thanking God for something else (and besides, Friday is not the end of my work week!). Today ... I'm Thanking God I'm Free! Free? Yes! Absolutely! And incredibly so! Jesus himself said, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, ³² and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free ... So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed"  (John 8:31-32; 36). The freedom Jesus is talking about here ... is the freedom from the bondage that arises from our sin and rebellion against God. And when we are free (and free indeed!) ... we will move toward experiencing life as God intended it to be lived! 

This morning I read some thoughts penned by J.I. Packer in his book, Celebrating the Saving Work of God. In them, he powerfully describes the highest privilege that is ours as a result of the freedom we now have in Christ. I urge you to take a moment and read what J.I. has to say ... and rejoice in God's grace that makes what he talks about a reality for us who choose Christ!

"The New Testament views knowing your Maker as your Father, and yourself as his child and heir, as the highest privilege and richest relationship of which any human being is capable. Not to know God in this way is, by contrast, to be in a state of fallenness and guilt, cut off from God's life, exposed to his judgment, and under demonic control, whence flows only misery. But this is every man's condition." 

Packer then asks the question, "Can it be changed?" The answer the Bible gives ... absolutely! But only through the saving work of Jesus Christ (John 14:5; 1 Peter 3:18). Once we place our trust in Christ's death on our behalf and accept him for who claimed to be (The God-Man who came to give his life as a ransom for many) ... at that point this incredible relationship that Packer refers to becomes ours (John 1:12).

SO ... are YOU right now experiencing what it means to have the Maker of heaven and earth ... God Almighty ... as YOUR heavenly Father? I hope so ... and if you are not, then take a moment and check out Two Ways to Live: A Choice We Must All Make. 

Thanks for stopping by . . .
pj

Thursday A La Carte

Here are this week's offerings ... enjoy!

1. Here is a rather heated exchange between Ray Comfort (Living Waters/Way of the Master) and a woman named Cindy. Sad to think there are millions of "Cindy's" in this world who defiantly shake their fists in the face of God.

2. Randy Alcorn says (and writes) a lot of cool things about eternity, money and the Christian journey. Here is an article in which he talks about Uncoolness, Intolerance, and Christ's Bride the Church. 

3. We need to be praying for the Church in China. Seems that the communist government is stepping up its attempts to wipe out the house church in China. 

4. I always find myself helped by reading through Nancy DeMoss' Brokenness Bookmark. But I warn you ... it is quite convicting. The sin of pride so subtly lurks with in us ... if we don't get intentional about rooting it out ... it will remain!

5. On a lighter note .  . .  (for you Downton Abbey fans!)

Thanks for stopping by ...
pj

When Life Isn't Always Safe!

Yesterday morning, in the predawn quiet of the day, a fire broke out in the city of Lancaster, PA. Before its flames were extinguished, two lives were gone and three firefighters were injured, one seriously. Gone in the fire were a 38 year old woman and her 6 year old niece. Both were trapped by the flames and could not get out. The three firefighters who were injured all did what they were trained to do ... get the trapped people out. It did not matter that the fire was engaged at that point. These men and women take the job knowing that on every call they may have to do what these men did. Please pray for these three men (two were treated and released). But pray especially for the one firefighter who remains in the hospital, listed in critical but stable condition, suffering from second and third degree burns. Also pray for the family and friends of the two victims who died. As of this writing, the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

As I reflected on this tragedy, I thought of how we are a society of people who crave safety. Just think about all the recalls of products that are considered a  health or safety risk (there is actually a web site, www.recalls.gov) where you can go to find out about the latest recalls. But ... no matter how tirelessly we work at trying to make life "safe," we are always going to come up short. Why? Because we live in a broken world. So life does not always work the way we want it to work. As a result, fires take innocent lives, starvation claims hundreds of thousands of men, women and children, cancer strikes and kills, serious (and far too often, fatal) car accidents occur ... and I could go on and on and on.

In light of this ... it is of great comfort to know that our God reigns (Psalm 93:1; Proverbs 21:1; Daniel 4:34-35; Matthew 10:29-31; Ephesians 1:11). And even though we just cannot see through the misty fog that separates our natural realm from the supernatural, we can rest assured that if we could see through to God's throne, we would see a God who is actively with great power and compassion .... working out HIS plan ... for us and for all humanity.

Thanks for stopping by . . .
pj

Our God is an Awesome God! A Thought for Your Sunday Worship Pleasure!

Here is a thought from J. I. Packer on just how great our God really is. Truly mind boggling to think of how awesome a mind our God has!




Thanks for stopping by . . .
pj