Paul’s experience in the last chapter of Acts is an absolute mind blower. While chained, he picked up sticks to start a fire, and traveled doing ministry under guard and chained for a period of 107 days that can be counted. Imagine that!
Just got back from seeing the newest Narnia movie. I don’t usually get all emotional about movies, but there was a scene near the end that just drew tears.
Three Crosses
39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Even in the end, the message of salvation is so clear. One man does not understand the purpose of Christ on the cross. Even in his last hour, he thinks of only himself, “railing” on Jesus to save him from the impending death. The other man thinks of Jesus in his last hour.
Keeping Up Appearances
Jeremiah was told by God to speak to the Israelites regarding the appearance verses the truth. The Israelites were burning offerings to Baal, lying, sleeping around, and so on, all the while providing the front that they were covered by God. In chapter 7, we see that God has had it with the statements like, “This is the Temple of the Lord”, and “We are delivered by God to do these abominations!”
I can’t know if the Israelites actually thought that God would not see or care about these thing, especially after the 10,000 reminders that, “I am the Lord your God who delivered you out of Egypt!” Yet, these people held the front, we can worship, be ok with God, and still do what we do, because “This is the temple of the Lord.”
This question has haunted me for quite a while. Where did the Christian World View go? Does it still exist?
There is a call-in radio show in Colorado called “The Gino Geraci Show”. It is a Christian call-in show that airs weekdays between 4 and 6, and was started by Gino Geraci, senior pastor of Calvary Chapel South Denver. I rarely miss the show, because it is one of the few radio shows during the day that answers questions with the Word of God, a concept that I believe has almost all but been forgotten in mainstream Christianity. People typically don’t know that God’s Word has answers to their questions simply because they do not read it. I also believe that part of the reason why people don’t know that God’s Word does have answers to life’s every day trials is because God’s Word is not taught the way it should be. Because of this, I do believe that mainstream Christianity has suffered greatly in sustaining a Christian World View.
Ecc 7:1 A good name is better than precious ointment, And the day of death than the day of one’s birth;
Ecc 7:2 Better to go to the house of mourning Than to go to the house of feasting, For that is the end of all men; And the living will take it to heart.
Ecc 7:3 Sorrow is better than laughter, For by a sad countenance the heart is made better.
Ecc 7:4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, But the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
Ecc 7:5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise Than for a man to hear the song of fools.
Ecc 7:6 For like the crackling of thorns under a pot, So is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity.
Solomon had hundreds of wives, and hundreds of concubines. He had riches, vineyards, houses, wine, and parties, anything a guy could want out of life. To the world, it would appear that Solomon had it made. He was wise, and where knowledge is power, he had no lack. He discovered that all of his knowledge was a burden, one that would give him great sorrow.
The book of Ecclesiastes seems to be almost an apology for a life that became greater, yet more worthless as time passed. You can hear Solomon’s desire to leave some legacy of value behind, but he realizes that he built an empire that would only be handed on to the next, and Solomon would soon be forgotten. [Read more →]
Hey Folks!
I will get some stuff up here ASAP! New to this whole Blog thing!
I am Reuben Mills, a youth pastor for Calvary Chapel, and the folks at Lawton Precepts have graciously hosted me some cyber space to begin writing on the Word of God, my favorite subject in the world! Thanks Chuck, and all the friends at Lawton Precepts!