My facebook friend and preaching colleague, Edwin Crozier, has apparently been reading a book by Dallas Willard this week entitled, “Renovation of the Heart: Putting on the Character of Christ,”
Edwin has posted several quotes from Willard to challenge our thinking about our Christian discipleship, the condition of our heart and our motives. I found them thought provoking. I hope you will too. Continue reading
Filed under facebook friday
John Piper once wrote that sin (lust for example) “gets its power by persuading me to believe that I will be more happy if I follow it. The power of all temptation is the prospect that it will make me happier.”
Piper’s observation reminds me of a true story that occurred several years ago. To protect the innocent, as well as the guilty, I will refer to the two married couples as Jason and Judy and Matt and Jen. Continue reading
Filed under Temptation
Once asked about her handicap of being born both blind and mute, Helen Keller replied, “The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.”
This quote reminds me of an observation by author and minister E. Paul Hovey who said, “A blind man’s world is bounded by the limits of his touch; an ignorant man’s world by the limits of his knowledge: a great man’s world by the limits of his vision.” Continue reading
Filed under Passage To Ponder
The Chinese philosopher, Confucius, is well known for his wise sayings and teaching regarding personal morality and social relationships.
One of his disciples was Zeng Shen, who is relatively unknown today, but earned high praise from the ancient sage.
Zeng Shen is said to have ended each day with 3 questions for personal introspection. Though he lived some 2400 years ago, they are good questions for us today and actually have a Biblical basis. Continue reading
Filed under Discipleship
In the Peanuts comic strip, we find Snoopy lying down, looking forlorn, and thinking to himself.
In the first frame he thinks, “Yesterday I was a dog. Today I’m a dog.”
In the second frame he thinks, Tomorrow I’ll probably still be a dog.
In the third frame, he walks away with a sigh. Continue reading
Filed under Sowing Seeds for Spiritual Growth
Greeting from Cobbly Nob, TN
After a wonderful and well received Gospel Meeting in Martinsville, VA, and a few days in the Bryson City area, we are concluding our trip North with a visit to our happy place–Cobbly Nob in the Smoky Mountains.
This year we’re staying at the Deer Ridge Mountain Resort between Gatlinburg and Cosby. This place almost seems like home, since we got “stranded” here for 8 weeks in 2020 during COVID. I know, not a bad place to be “stranded.” We love the view. It’s away from the hustle and bustle of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, but close enough to enjoy some of the restaurants and activities there. Continue reading
Filed under Weekly Recap
While social media in general and facebook in particular contain much that is negative and discouraging, some posts, however, are positive and encouraging.
Today’s facebook Friday offers some news and views recently posted concerning the latest woke craze regarding transgenderism. We begin with a positive story from a Vermont School. Continue reading
Filed under facebook friday
Norma Jean and I are spending a few days in the area of Bryson City, NC on the way to our annual October visit to Cobbly Nob near Cosby, TN in the Smoky Mountains.
We had planned to drive to Franklin to attend their Wednesday evening Bible Study, but unforeseen circumstances prevented it. So, we spent the evening reading 2 Corinthians.
There is so much to unpack and apply in these passages. How to deal with persecution, adversity, and physical suffering. Overcoming discouragement. What it means to walk by faith. How to excel in holiness. The spiritual warfare we fight. The importance of sacrificial giving. And the need to examine our faith. Continue reading
Filed under Ministry
“The Bible is not an end in itself, but a means to bring men to an intimate and satisfying knowledge of God, that they may enter into Him, that they may delight in His Presence, may taste and know the inner sweetness of the very God Himself in the core and center of their hearts,” wrote A. W. Tozer, in The Pursuit of God.
“The primary purpose of reading the Bible,” opined James Merritt “is not to know the Bible but to know God.” Continue reading
Filed under Passage To Ponder
WordPress recently offered a blogging prompt with this question: “What principles define how you live?”
Several bloggers answered the question. There were some insightful posts. Many offered good advice with some pragmatic applications. However, much of it had a secular focus with a bit of spiritually thrown in.
The question is a good one for us all to consider and answer. Continue reading
Filed under Values
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