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SubscriptionsSites I Read
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| "We are far too easily pleased," CS Lewis says. At first that seems a bit uncharacteristic of Christianity. After all, aren't we the ones who seem most of the time the happiest (at least the true Christians in real relationship with God) and the ones most satisfied without all the riches and vanities of this world? And yet we are too easily pleased. But that's just it - the things of the world that we can become pleased with are just that - vanities. At least they are in comparison with the things God wants to bless us with. What good is it to be satisfied toying with the "joys" of this world (such as momentary highs from drugs or sex, wasting away our lives through entertainment (constant TV, video games), or banal flighty relationships) when we could be benefiting from the much greater joys of the things God has for us. Indeed in light of the kind of rewards the Bible teaches us await us and are even now ours we ARE too easily pleased if we're satisfied with the worlds vain pleasures. For eyes have not seen, ears have not heard, nor has the human mind ever conceived of the joys God has stored up for us. DON'T SETTLE! | | |
| Jeff Lucas - Faith is a FightWow, this devo from Jeff Lucas so summarizes what God's been teaching us the last few years at MYM... since I took time to type it out please give it two minutes to read it. I know some of you are getting tired in the fight. Sometimes we just need to hear our rally cry again to remind us why we do what we do. I find this word from Lucas renews my stamina:
"Christianity needs a makeover - or perhaps what is really needed is that some of the gloss that makes the life of faith look so pleasant and cozy be removed to reveal something rawer, tougher, and more bloodied. During the last war, a famous poster warned people on the home front that they should be careful about idle chatter. It screamed the question, 'Don't you know there's a war on?'
I fear that the battlefield of faith has been airbrushed and made to look like a garden party. The church has a comforting, pastoral image. The very word 'church' triggers visions of lovely smiling ladies in floral dresses, and of home-made Victorian jam sponges and quiche and endless cups of tea. We think of heartwarming hymns and the soft glow of an altar candle, or the cherubic features of a choirboy in white ruffled gown. It's all so very nice, and somwhat misleading. The truth is that all Christianity is not about saftey, but warfare. To be a Christian is to participate in a gutsy, passionante, all-out war; there are dark struggles, tragic casualties, moments of glory and skirmishes where we sense defeat. The dead-tired weariness of the soldier who has marched too many miles and can't find the energy for just one more step can be our experience too...
Don't be surprised or discouraged when the going gets tough. The war continues." | | |
| Look at these incredible new Bible study resources:
http://bible.cc/ (this will give you one verse with 8 different translations all on one page - an online parallel Bible)
http://scripturetext.com/ (this will give you not only the 8 different translations but all the Greek or Hebrew texts (in different versions) as well AND an original Hebrew or Greek word by word definition in the margin!)
I'm telling you, Wigglesworth, Wesley, Finey - they would have freaked out if it had become this easy to research and study the Bible in their day!! I could get lost in this stuff all day...Just look at it, it's fascinating (not to mention spirit-breathed).
Oh and if you need a good scripture to test these out with, check out the scriptures that rocked my devos this morning: Hebrews 12:25-29 ("shake everything that can be shaken") and cross reference with Haggai 2:3-9. Notice the temple prophecied about there. On one level it's the physical temple, but on another level notice that it's the temple that survives the shaking...ask the Holy Spirit what (or who) that is! SHOUT!
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| Perfect DayWhat a great weekend!!! Yesterday I actually had fun ripping the shingles off Ray Carder's roof (maybe it's because destruction is fun...). It was perfect weather - didn't even break a sweat. The reward lunch was to die for - boudain and links were especially enjoyable. Shout out to Lisa! Then back to Rivendale to finish watching braveheart with Elijah. Then to the ranch to go mess around with the horses and go riding with Elijah!! First time i've done that in...oh...maybe 10 years! What fun too. Still a little sore from that. Then to Triumph church's cool youth service. That was awesome. Shout out to John Ortiz!! Then a fun movie to wind down at Rivendale. Just one of those perfect days all around. Matter of fact this whole season in my life right now is kinda like that. Just knowing I'm in God's will...seeing Him make everything fall in place...feeling His presence everywhere I go...seeing Him answer prayers...just nothing like it. | | |
| OMG, Cameron, please!!! For Fine Arts!!!! You know you want this....
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