The Second Word: “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43)

Mark D. Roberts @ www.markrobers.com continues in the second of his series. He continues with a further reflection.

Questions for Reflection:

"Have you staked your life on Jesus?
Have you put your ultimate trust in him?
Do you know that, when your time comes, you will be with him in paradise?"

and concludes with a prayer.

Missionary Families Sue Banana Company

Colombian rebels killed five missionaries, aided by Chiquita, families say.

News item from www.christianitytoday.com

The Wall Street Journal reported that the families of five missionaries are suing Chiquita. The missionaries were killed by Colombian guerrilla fighters. The suit comes after the company paid a $25 million fine when it admitted to paying money to the FARC, which is listed as a terrorist organization by the state department.

The protection money was "motivated to protect the lives of our employees and their families," company spokesman Ed Loyd said. "We are contesting the suits vigorously and believe we have a strong defense."

The missionaries were members of the New Tribes Mission, which has had its own controversy over whether or not to pay money to terrorist groups.

Passion Week Geography and Harmony

Justin Taylor @ www.theological.blogspot.com notes that Google Earth is attempting to show the locations of the major events (to the best of our knowledge) along with descriptions and biblical passages describing those events:



The KML file lets you interact with this map in Google Earth, allowing you to rotate the view and zoom in from various angles.

How to Complain to God

Doug Smith @ http://www.sharperiron.org reviews Psalm 42 & 43.
He reviews:

• An Honest Complaint
• A Trusting Complaint
• A Hopeful Complaint
• Christ and Our Complaints

Holy Week: Monday

Paul Lamey @ http://expositorythoughts.wordpress.com notes:

Monday was Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Matt. 21:1-9; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:28-40; John 12:12-19), His visit to the temple (Matt. 21:10-11; Mark 11:11), and then His return to Bethany. The day of the triumphal entry would be Nisan 10 when the lamb was selected for Passover. Hence, the triumphal entry was the day when Christ presented Himself as Israel’s Paschal lamb.

[Harold W. Hoehner, Chronological Aspects of the Life of Christ, 91]

The Basic Plot of Scripture, Part 1

M. Osborne at http://www.sharperiron.org covers the basic plot of Scripture. He notes:

"What is the Bible about? Can we reduce it to a basic plot summary? Like any other literature, it tells a story. Some elements are crucial; other elements elaborate. Granted that everything God says is true and important, He nevertheless emphasizes some things over others. Furthermore, the Holy Spirit superintended the arrangement of revelation into a particular form and order. What is that form and order? What can it teach about God’s purposes in history? Can it function as a basic “road map” for biblical interpretation, providing orientation in more difficult Scripture passages? Can it inform ethics or apologetics?

The storyline of Scripture presents three basic ideas: creation, the fall, and redemption. Genesis introduces each of these themes early on; each continues throughout the whole of Scripture; and each finds its conclusion in Revelation. The themes of creation, fall, and redemption are like three poles of a teepee, leaning against one another. If one goes down, they all go down, for we define and understand each in light of the other two. This series of articles begins by laying the exegetical groundwork for these three themes. Then I suggest a few areas in which a right understanding of these themes can help us".

The First Word: “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)

Mark D. Roberts @ http://markdroberts.com/ has started a series on the seven last words of Christ. He covers:

• Reflection: Questions for Reflection

"Do you really believe God has forgiven your sins?
Do you take time on a regular basis to confess your sins so that you might enjoy the freedom of forgiveness?
Do you need to experience God’s forgiveness in a fresh way today?"

and concludes with a sample prayer

A Wallet, A Dollar and the Existence of God

Three Steps Toward Christian Theism
From http://www.pleaseconvinceme.com

	A Visual Case for Christian Theism The following visual presentation and argument for Christian Theism evolved out of a series of informal discussions about the nature of our universe, and the nature of the force that caused this universe to exist. Along the way, an object lesson (of sorts) developed, utilizing a wallet and a dollar to make the points in a three step process from theism to personal theism to Christian theism. We are now making this object lesson available to you as a web page, a series of videos and printed training materials. We hope that you can also use the illustration as you dialog with your friends and family about the existence and nature of the 'first cause' of the universe:

Introduction: Stepping Toward God “Sometimes I am asked why I am a Christian. People often want a simple answer to this question, although I’m not sure the answer is really all that simple. But when push comes to shove, I can tell you that I am a Christian not because I was raised as a Christian, not because it works for me, and not because I had some deep need that Christianity met. I am a Christian because it is TRUE. Christianity is reasonable; it makes sense. It explains what I see in my own nature and in the world around me. That’s all there is to it. Let me share something with you that I hope will at least make it possible for you to see the reasonable nature Christian Theism…” Part One: What Reason is There to Believe God Exists? “Let me pull out my wallet and tell you why I believe what I believe. Let me open the money section. See this dollar bill? It’s alone in my wallet. Now let me ask you a simple question: ‘How did the dollar bill get in the wallet?’ I realize that this sounds like a ridiculously simple question, but let me make it a little more interesting. I want you to answer that question without going OUTSIDE the wallet for an answer.” “Now before you contemplate a response here, let’s take a better look at the dollar. Clearly, the dollar bill is an amazing object. It contains so much detail! Specific numbers and drawings and words are inked on the paper. The dollar contains MORE than simple markings and symbols; these markings and symbols convey INFORMATION. And information is evidence that INTELLIGENCE is involved in the creation of the dollar. Information requires an intelligent mind to place the markings and symbols in a meaningful way, then an intelligent mind to interpret and understand what is meant by these markings. So, the dollar is clearly the product of intelligence. You and I would hardly disagree on this simple issue. We know that the dollar has been designed by humans.” “So now, let’s talk about how the dollar got in my wallet. What are the possibilities? I know you are inclined to say the obvious: ‘Someone put that dollar in there!’ but that answer is not allowed; remember that I said that you have to answer the question without going outside the wallet for the answer, and you and I are on the outside. Yes, you could reasonably and logically presume that I (or someone else) put the dollar in the wallet, and yes I know that is without a doubt the very best and most reasonable conclusion. But our rules here simply won’t allow this answer. You’re going to have to stay INSIDE the wallet for the answer; whatever process you decide was involved in the appearance of this dollar, it must come from inside the wallet.” “OK, so what are the possibilities that are left to us? How could the dollar get in the wallet if it wasn’t placed in there by someone or something OUTSIDE the wallet? Well, if you really think about it, there are only two options left to us. First, it might simply be that the dollar was ALWAYS in the wallet. It’s as old as the wallet and it has always been in the wallet. The other possibility is that the dollar formed over time from much more primitive materials that were in the wallet to begin with. Two options: the dollar is as old as the wallet, or the dollar has somehow evolved from other materials that have always been in the wallet. But let’s face it, neither of these answers really makes any sense. You and I know that wallets don’t come from the store with money in them, and we also know that small pieces of paper and ink didn’t just happen to come together with all the detail and complexity of the dollar.” “OK, so what does all this have to do with the existence of God? With this simple illustration we are describing the problem that atheists, philosophical naturalists and materialists have when they try to explain how life began in the universe. How does matter come from non-matter? How does life come from non-life? How does INFORMATION appear in the DNA code if there is no INTELLIGENCE behind the code? It’s just like trying to explain how the dollar got in the wallet! If we limit ourselves to only natural, physical materialistic explanations, we simply cannot go outside the natural, physical materialistic realm for an answer. In essence, we cannot go outside the wallet. And if we force ourselves to stay inside the natural realm, we have to conclude that the matter and life we see in this universe has either always been here, or it has evolved over time from lesser base elements. It’s just like the dollar. If we have to stay inside the wallet for an answer, there are only a couple of possibilities” “But the possibilities we’ve talked about are pretty lame, aren’t they? They don’t really satisfy us. Science has given us a ton of evidence to show that matter and the universe itself have NOT always been here! We now know that the universe had a beginning. Science has come to call this beginning the ‘Big Bang’. Starting with Einstein and continuing to today, science tells us that all space, time and matter had a beginning. We know that matter in the universe is NOT infinitely old, and life in the universe appears even more recently. Our first answer, (that matter and life are as old as the universe) simply doesn’t explain how the universe ITSELF got here! If the universe had a beginning, then it makes sense that the universe had a beginner, and this beginner simply MUST have come from someplace other than the universe it began!” “And if life evolved from other base materials, how did these base materials come to exist in the first place? How did something come from nothing, even if this something is very basic and primitive in nature? How did matter (regardless of how ‘basic’ this matter may be) suddenly appear within the natural realm? Can any satisfactory explanation be offered?” “Clearly the most satisfying answer for how a highly designed object appears within the wallet is to conclude that someone or something PLACED that object in the wallet. It’s crazy to limit our answers to sources that are INSIDE the wallet. When we do that we get a biased answer! The most UNBIASED approach would be for us to at least allow ourselves the POSSIBILITY that the answer may be OUTSIDE the wallet. In a similar way, it seems to me that the most unbiased science would also respect the possibility that the supernatural realm (OUTSIDE the natural order) might be a source for all the matter and life we see in the universe.” “I believe that THEISM is true because the existence of an all-powerful first cause OUTSIDE the natural realm is the best and most reasonable inference from the evidence.”

A Wallet, A Dollar and the Existence of God-Part 2

From http://www.pleaseconvinceme.com

Step Two: What Kind of God Exists?

“Even if we are convinced that the first appearance of life in the universe is best explained as the result of a ‘First Cause” Creator God from outside the natural realm, this still leaves us several options as to the NATURE of this God. Is this God personal? Isn’t it possible that the God who formed matter from non-matter and life from non-life may simply be some kind of impersonal force? After all, many world religions would suggest that this is the case.”

“I believe that this creator God is a personal God based on His ability to DECIDE. Let me explain. Let’s return to our wallet for a second. What happens if I simply let go of the wallet? What forces are felt by the wallet? When I let go of this wallet, it immediately drops to the ground. Why does that happen? Why doesn’t it just float here for a minute and then drop to the ground when gravity DECIDES to act on it? Why don’t we EVER see that happen? You and I already know the answer! Gravity does not DECIDE to act at all! Gravity is an IMPERSONAL force, and it has been our experience that the EFFECT of an impersonal force is felt the minute that the force enters into the environment.”

“If we were floating around in a zero gravity environment (an imaginary room, for example) and we then inserted the force of gravity into this room, we would all immediately be pulled to the floor. The effect of the gravity is felt the minute gravity enters the room. That’s the way impersonal forces work. They can’t DECIDE whether or not they will activate their effect. Their impact is felt immediately; the minute the force enters the room. Gravity doesn’t enter the room and say, “Not yet, not yet, not yet… OK, now!” Gravity cannot DECIDE when its effect will be felt. It cannot DECIDE when it will act.”

“See, the ability to DECIDE whether to act is a characteristic of ‘personhood’. The ability to move and act FREELY as a result of a conscious independent decision is a characteristic of free agency. It is a characteristic common to PERSONS, not impersonal forces. Does that make sense?”

“OK, so what does that tell you about the force that created the universe? Well, if it’s an impersonal force, then it can only be as old as the universe. In other words, the minute the impersonal force existed, its creative power was felt, and ‘bingo’ all space, time and matter also began. Remember our gravity example. The minute gravity appears, you feel its power. In a similar way, the minute an impersonal creative force appears, we would then observe its power in the creation of the universe. This means that the impersonal force would only be as old as the universe that was created as a result of its existence.”

“But wait a minute; if that is true, we have a dilemma! If the creative cause of the universe is only as old as the universe itself, then we must ask the obvious question, ‘Hey what caused THAT force to exist?’ Whatever caused the cause of the universe; THIS would then be the more powerful cause we would want to identify! Do you see the problem here? A true and singular first cause must be eternal by definition. In a very real sense, we innately know that whatever caused this ‘caused universe’ must be some kind of eternal first cause with the ability to DECIDE. Whatever caused this universe, it did so as a DECISION, and this ability to decide gives away the fact that the first cause of the universe is, in fact, a PERSONAL force.”

“I believe that PERSONAL THEISM is true because the first, uncaused cause of the universe was able to DECIDE as a personal agent.”

A Wallet, A Dollar and the Existence of God-Part 3

From http://www.pleaseconvinceme.com

Step Three: What Kind of Faith is Most Reasonable?
“If there is a God who is all-powerful and personal, it certainly makes sense that He might be concerned for the welfare of His personal creations. If he doesn’t care about us, why would he create us in the first place? If he had the choice NOT to create us (He could have decided otherwise), the fact that He chose to create us should give us good reason to think that He actually cares about us. Even the atheist has to explain WHY there is something here when there could easily be nothing here! It is reasonable to infer that a God who creates (when He doesn’t have to) would care about the condition of what He has created. A God like this would want to guide His creation toward true moral ‘goodness’, the kind of ‘goodness’ that would reflect His own character. After all, a being with this kind of incredible power (the power to decide to create the entire universe) would also have the power to eliminate imperfection, including moral imperfection. A God like this would be a PERFECT being.”

“It makes sense that a personal creator God would want his personal creations to understand and strive for the very values that are a reflection of his nature. It’s reasonable to assume that a personal God might present us with guidelines for living and then encourage us to live by these guidelines. And this is where we need to take some time to think about the nature of God. Let’s think about how God might reasonably expect us to live a truly moral life. Our human instinct is to create RULES that we can follow so that we can measure our success and judge how close we are to being ‘Godly’, but does a system of rules actually create a Godly person?”

“Now, you may have noticed that my wallet is still sitting on the ground. Imagine that I have a really bad back and I’m unable to bend over to pick up the wallet. I might ask you to pick it up for me, and if you did, this generous action on your part might be viewed as a morally good act. I might then find myself wanting to reward you by giving you the dollar that started this whole conversation.”

“But what if you knew in advance that I would give you the dollar as a reward if you would help me pick up the wallet? What if you ONLY picked up the wallet because you wanted that dollar? Would your actions still be seen as morally good, or would your greedy motive ruin the nature of the action? If you and I are only ‘being good’ so that we can EARN a prize, are we being truly ‘good’? If all my good actions were driven by my desire to get something in return, would we still call my actions ‘good’?”

“It seems to me that rules-based and works-based religious systems don’t actually produce ‘good’ people. They instead produce people who LOOK good. True goodness is a heart condition. It’s a reflection of who we are when no one is looking. It’s a reflection of our desire to do what’s right, even when there is nothing in it for us. It’s one thing to experience joy or satisfaction for doing what you know you ought to do; it’s another thing to do something ONLY because you are hoping to gain a prize. If we are only ‘performing’ because we are hoping to get the reward of ‘Salvation’, we’re merely trying to serve ourselves by earning a prize. On the other hand, if our hearts are so changed that we desire to behave morally even when the carrot of Salvation is not dangling in front of us, then we can say that we truly are ‘good’ people.”



“If you are looking for a spiritual worldview in which truly good people are even possible, you are going to have to look for one that does not REQUIRE good works. Now what religious worldview teaches that Salvation is NOT the result of anything that you can do, but is instead the result of something that has already been done for you by God Himself? There is only one; it is called Christianity. The Christian worldview teaches that Jesus came to pay the price for every ‘less than perfect’ thing you ever did; every sin and crime you’ve ever committed. God doesn’t judge us based on any good deed we might do, because our good deeds aren’t all that impressive if you really think about it. Instead, God accepts us on the basis of who JESUS is and the price that he paid for us if we will only believe in Him and trust HIM instead of ourselves. Good works are not REQUIRED for Salvation, even though they are typically the RESULT of our transformation. True moral goodness comes when we live and love in response to what has already been done for us, and not because we are hoping to win a prize.”

“I believe that CHRISTIAN THEISM is true because it best accounts for God’s desire to enable and encourage true moral behavior”

A Wallet, A Dollar and the Existence of God-Conclusion

From http://www.pleaseconvinceme.com

Conclusion: There Are Lot’s of Good Reasons
“So, I think there are some really good reasons to believe what I believe about God and the nature of His message to us. I am a Christian because:

(1) I believe that THEISM (the belief in an all-powerful first cause that is NOT part of the natural caused universe) best accounts for the appearance of our universe, and…

(2) I believe that PERSONAL THEISM best accounts for the nature of this ‘first cause’ and the fact that this cause had the ability to DECIDE to begin the universe, and…

(3) I believe that CHRISTIAN THEISM best accounts for the possibility of true moral goodness (something that a Personal God would desire for his creation)

In the end, the Christian Worldview best accounts for the reality we see in our universe and in our lives as moral beings. Could more be said about Christianity? Of course! We’ve only just begun! But in three short steps I hope I have at least placed Christianity in a position of rational consideration. I hope that I have at least given you some reason to stop and think twice about the truth of the Christian worldview…”

Additional Resources

We hope that this simple visual presentation helps you to make a case for the existence of God and the reasonable nature of the Christian Worldview. We would like to provide you with some materials that can help you to utilize "A Wallet, A Dollar and the Existence of God" as you share the truth with others. We hope these resources are helpful!

PART ONE High Quality Video MPEG2 Format

PART TWO High Quality Video MPEG2 Format

PART THREE High Quality Video MPEG2 Format

COMPLETE Medium Quality Video WMV Format

(Videos May Take Time to Download)

Complete Narrative (PDF Format)

Training Manual (PDF Format)

Training Presentation

6 Aspects of Humility

“God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5)

“Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 14:11).

John Piper @ www.desiringgod.org notes that God has told us at least six things about humility.

1. Humility begins with a sense of subordination to God in Christ.

A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. (Matthew 10:24)

Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God. (1 Peter 5:6)

2. Humility does not feel a right to better treatment than Jesus got.

If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign the members of his household! (Matthew 10:25)

Therefore humility does not return evil for evil. It is not life based on its perceived rights.

Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps; . . . while suffering, He uttered no threats, but handed [his cause] over to Him who judges righteously. (1 Peter 2:21-23)

3. Humility asserts truth not to bolster ego with control or with triumphs in debate, but as service to Christ and love to the adversary.

Love rejoices in the truth. (1 Corinthians 13:6)

What I [Jesus] tell you in the darkness, speak in the light. . . . Do not fear. (Matthew 10:27-28)

We do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake. (2 Corinthians 4:5)

4. Humility knows it is dependent on grace for all knowing and believing.

What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? (1 Corinthians 4:7)

In humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. (James 1:21)

5. Humility knows it is fallible, and so considers criticism and learns from it; but also knows that God has made provision for human conviction and that he calls us to persuade others.

We see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. (1 Corinthians 13:12)

A wise man is he who listens to counsel. (Proverbs 12:15)

Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men. (2 Corinthians 5:11)

6. Humility is to believe in the heart and confess with the lips that our life is like a vapor, and that God decides when we die, and that God governs all our accomplishments.

Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit." 14 Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. 15 Instead, you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that." 16 But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil. (James 4:13-16)

The Tempter in the Child's Bedroom -- Television

Thinking about having a TV in your child's bedroom? Think again. Albert Mohler posted a review of a recent study @ http://www.albertmohler.com. In it he notes that The New York Times published a most interesting report on this issue just this week, claiming that the mere presence of a television set in a child's bedroom is a direct threat to the child's health. As the article documented:

Children with bedroom TVs score lower on school tests and are more likely to have sleep problems. Having a television in the bedroom is strongly associated with being overweight and a higher risk for smoking.

The numbers of children with a television in the bedroom are staggering. According to one study, 70% of third-graders had a television set in the room -- we are talking about eight-year-olds.

This point was driven home in an eloquent sermon preached by Cornelius Plantinga, President of Calvin Theological Seminary, back in 2006. Preaching from Revelation 2:17, Dr. Plantinga reminded his congregation that Christ promised the authentic believers at Pergamum a "white stone" with their new name written upon it -- a symbol of their conversion and transformation in Christ.

Let These Results of the Resurrection of Jesus Revive Your Passion for His Supremacy Over All Things

John Piper @ www.desiring god deals with the implications of the resurrection of Christ:

Because of the resurrection of Jesus, death will never have any dominion over him again.

Romans 6:9: “We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.”

Acts 13:34: “He raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption.”

Because of the resurrection, Jesus intercedes for us in heaven before God.

Romans 8:34: “Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.”

Jesus’ resurrection was the beginning and guarantee of our resurrection.

1 Corinthians 15:20: “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”

2 Corinthians 4:14: “He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence.”

2 Corinthians 4:14: “He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence.”

We were raised with Jesus so that our true life is hidden now in him.

Ephesians 2:6: “[God] and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”

Colossians 3:1-4: “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. . . . Your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”

Because of the resurrection of Jesus, we are born again to a living hope.

1 Peter 1:3: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

Because of the resurrection of Jesus, we now enjoy his personal fellowship with us always.

Matthew 28:20: “Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Because of the resurrection of Jesus, he has a name above every name and every knee will bow to him.

Philippians 2:9-10: “God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.”

The resurrection of Jesus means that Jesus kept his word.

Matthew 17:22: “Jesus said to them, ‘The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.’”

The resurrection of Jesus fulfilled the Scriptures and the promises of God.

1 Corinthians 15:4: “He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.”

Acts 13:32-33: “We bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus.”

Because Jesus was raised, he has received the promise of the Spirit and poured out the Spirit on us.

Acts 2:33: “Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.”

Because Jesus is raised, he can still heal the way he did on earth.

Acts 4:10: “Let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well.”

Because of the resurrection, he gives repentance and forgiveness of sins.

Acts 5:31: “God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.”

Because Jesus was raised, he is now appointed by God to judge the living and the dead.

Acts 10:42: “He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead.”

Acts 17:31: “He has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

God secured our justification by raising Jesus from the dead.

Romans 4:25: “He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.”

The risen Christ takes the place for us that the law once had so that we can bear fruit for God.

Romans 7:4: “Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.”

Because of Jesus’ resurrection, he now has the glory for which we were made. Our ultimate destiny is to see him as he is.

1 Peter 1:21: “God . . . raised him from the dead and gave him glory.”

John 17:5, 24: “And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. . . . Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.”

His closing plea:
"May the risen Lord Jesus himself arouse your sincere mind to new depths of worship and allegiance and joy".

This is NOT the Gospel

Wayne Dyer & the PBS spirituality

Why Are There So Many Wars In God's Name

Ravi Zachariaz give a quick thought on this question

Jesus, meet my Unbelieving Family

Chris Daukas @ http://newattitude.org has an article entitled "Jesus, meet my Unbelieving Family" with things to keep in mind:

"Applying the gospel means remembering our condition before God, His compassionate mercy to us in our sin, and then humbly responding to the sins of our family with the same compassion".

Sins to Guard Against

• anger.

James 4:1 says, “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel” (ESV).

• arrogance. Arrogance is a form of self-righteousness – it’s when you exercise a moral superiority over another person. It’s evaluating their behavior without the recognition of your sinfulness toward God.

Romans 3:10-11 says, “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God” (ESV). This includes us, as well as our unbelieving family, apart from the grace of God through the gospel!

• apathy. Apathy is the desire to ignore the issue, with hopes of it disappearing. You start checking out in your heart and grow cold toward your family. Maybe you find yourself wanting to be around your family less and less and with your Christian friends more and more.

we are called by God to be ambassadors for Christ, bringing the message of reconciliation (2 Cor 5).

Hope to Hold On To

Deacons: Sincere

Thabiti Anyabwile @ http://purechurch.blogspot.com deals with the often neglected character quality necessary in Deacons of being sincere. He says:
"Not only should deacons be men and women full of the Holy Spirit (Acts 6), it follows that they should also be "sincere" (1 Tim. 3:8). The deacon must not be "double tongued" or "two-faced" or "indulging in double talk." A person may be double-tongued in two ways. They may say one thing to one person and another thing to someone else. Or, they may say one thing and do another. In either case, their tongues are forked and they are not reliable persons for serving as deacons. The deacon's "yes" must be yes, and "no" no (2 Cor. 1:17-18). Bunyan's "Mr. Two Tongues" is not a suitable candidate for this important office".Why sincere?

• Sincerity reflects the character of Christ. (1 Thes. 2:5) (Ps. 12:2-3; Pr. 26:28). (Rom. 16:18; Jude 16).

Some things to look for and questions to ask:

1. Does the potential deacon have a reputation for keeping his or her word? Do they follow through on their commitments? The deacon should have a track record for completing assignments and tasks in keeping with their words.

2. Does the potential deacon speak consistently to different parties? Is there confidence that what the person says in one setting is what they will say in others? Here, it's helpful to find people who are not overtaken with fear of man. Deacons will be sent into trouble situations, so they can't be vulnerable to the faces of men or the pressure that's sometimes felt in tense situations.

3. Does the deacon speak the truth in love? It's one thing to say the same thing consistently. But that won't be helpful if what's consistently said is harmful to others or said in an unhelpful way. The deacon should clothe all his or her speech in the greatest of all virtues: love.

4. Churches should look for men and women who are known to be fair brokers. Are there men and women who already demonstrate an ability to "stand in the gap" between conflicted parties and serve the needs of both parties? Are there people generally trusted by the congregation as people who are impartial and who speak for justice?

His Summary:

"Our deacons are often the front-line of caring for the body. Given that, we need persons whose words can be trusted and who follow through on their commitments".

Deacons: Full of the Spirit and Wisdom

Thabiti Anyabwile @ http://purechurch.blogspot.com has started a series on the moral requirement for deacons.

Some Questions to Ask When Looking for Deacons Filled with the Spirit

1. Does the man put the ministry of the word and prayer above the "practical" needs of the church?

2. Is the person a servant?

3. Does the person evidence the fruit of the Spirit? (Gal. 5:22-23).

4. Does the person demonstrate Spirit-inspired wisdom?

The Charismatic Question

By Nathan Busenitz @ http://www.sfpulpit.com deals with the difficult issue of the Charismatic gifts he notes:

I. BEFORE WE BEGIN. . .

1. This is an important issue, but it is not a first-level doctrine.

2. The point of 1 Corinthians 12–14 is love, and a major purpose of the gifts is edification (1 Cor. 12:7).

3. It is possible to be confused about spiritual gifts.

4. Not every continuationist is the same.

5. Not every cessationist is the same.

6. We’re not talking about miracles, we’re talking about miraculous gifts.

7. I have been greatly blessed by some continuationists.

8. As a cessationist, I love the Holy Spirit.