Lately, if you listen close you hear admiration for all kinds of things, most of them good. Living in Alabama I hear more about College Football than anything else. Sometimes my Christian Consumer ears hear more about the next upcoming big thing that stirs excitement and expectations, but for what or who? Reading about the life of a certain Christian in the 1700's helped me get my focus and affection back on the centrality of Christ and Christ alone.
"The writings of Jonathan Edwards comprise only part of the explanation for his legacy. The other part is the depth of his encounter with God. Edwards remarkably managed to hold together what we tend to split apart. He saw Christianity as engaging both head and heart, while much of popular evangelicalism suffers greatly from pendulum swings in this regard. He had an overwhelming vision of the beauty and excellency of Christ, the love and sweet communion of the Holy Spirit, and the glory and majesty of God, while simultaneously seeing wrath and judgment, punishment and justice, an also comprising the divine nature. He had a profound sense of grace and forgiveness, coupled with an acute sense of guilt and repentance. In short, Edwards knew the beauty of Christ because he knew the ugliness of sin". Stephen J. Nichols
There may be a good question here for us to ask ourselves. What or who is stirring our religious affections in our heads and hearts? Is it a holiday, a Christian gathering, a speaker or worship leader, the way you dress - if that doesn't make sense to you, thank the Lord you are not to deep in evangelicalism. Hebrews 12:1-2 tells us to throw off anything that entangles us in our pursuit for Christ. Our souls long for Christ, and nothing less than Him will ever be good enough!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Friday, November 6, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Monday, April 6, 2009
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Monday, March 9, 2009
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Praise Jesus For A Bad Economy!
Even though we see countless times in God's word to rejoice in times that are good, we also see reason to praise Jesus in times that are bad. We see Paul writing from prison to the Philippians, and any logical person would say that if your writing from prison your theme should be sorrow. However, as Paul was writing from Prison, his theme was Joy. We see also in God's word that Job was a major highlight of trusting in the Lord no matter the present conditions. But what about our present circumstances? Here are a few reasons to praise Jesus for this present time!
1) First and foremost - the Gospel should be heard clearer, now more than ever. People are starving for answers in the midst of bad circumstances.
2) True Identity is not found in our bank account but in our view of who Jesus is! Is Jesus the Christ, or our wishing well and crutch? Who is your Messiah?
3) The Prosperity Gospel is out of commission!!!! AMEN! Burn your "Best Life Now" books and read Lamentations! Find a church that preaches the deep waters of God's Word, no matter if the shallow one's claim that they are fastest growing in America! The Churches that preach the true Gospel are the fastest growing churches in heaven, not in the eyes of the sinful religious.
"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory" (Colossians 3:1-4).
1) First and foremost - the Gospel should be heard clearer, now more than ever. People are starving for answers in the midst of bad circumstances.
2) True Identity is not found in our bank account but in our view of who Jesus is! Is Jesus the Christ, or our wishing well and crutch? Who is your Messiah?
3) The Prosperity Gospel is out of commission!!!! AMEN! Burn your "Best Life Now" books and read Lamentations! Find a church that preaches the deep waters of God's Word, no matter if the shallow one's claim that they are fastest growing in America! The Churches that preach the true Gospel are the fastest growing churches in heaven, not in the eyes of the sinful religious.
"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory" (Colossians 3:1-4).
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
When Tragedy Changes our Theology
Even though the prosperity gospel has been laughed at more than any SNL skit, it is still common to hear that God is not a God who allows his people to hurt or go through hard times, and that being a Christian means never being in debt or going through any hardships. Here is a reminder of an old saint who actually read his Bible and knew better!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Saturday, January 31, 2009
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