Source (book): "Making All Things New", 52 Reflections to Challenge the Way You Live, Copyright @ 2022 by Robert M. Solomon
PHOTO: Making All Things New, 52 Reflections to Challenge the Way You Live
Life is a journey. Life is short. In our more reflective moments, we remember these truths. And yet, our lives are often lived in a distracted, fragmented, and unexamined way.
How have you been faring in your inner life lately? Have you given thought to your walk with God and with fellow believers? And how should our faith influence us as we live in the world? This book is a collection of 52 short reflections, curated to help you follow Christ in a more authentic and faithful way. Read, recharge, and be made new as you reflect on what in life truly matters.
Picture posted by Amazon
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCe3wFsk2gTNxLHO2iBswlDmrRRntjpFKx-jvRgRLWAVGtqFxrhZNCBzlQvNMGENCZRC87mUiVBMjQGEPuoWRGwUFtjXD9gdJXkPPsrcvJooz-xEqOg4dw36ikqRRrmmt69kYeTUxaQQTZDDh3wBtXeQckSY6WXze_hlJD_CZUgdV_7gTkJss0KuvKFTY/s1500/813nGTL5edL._SL1500_.jpg
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/813nGTL5edL._SL1500_.jpg
https://www.amazon.it/Making-All-Things-New-Reflections-ebook/dp/B0BNG28PVC
From "Making All Things New", 52 Reflections to Challenge the Way You Live, Copyright @ 2022 by Robert M. Solomon, page 5-6
Preface
This is a book for busy people who need some time for reading and deep reflection. The 52 chapters are grouped into seven sections, each following a major theme. The first section addresses the direction of our lives and our calling to embark on a journey with God. Next, we focus on our relationship with God, which lies at the heart of our journey on earth. We then explore our relationship and identification with Christ, which make the journey and relationship with God possible.
The fourth section deals with how we live out and nurture our relationship with God in the different but related spheres of our lives. As we grow, we will have to deal with sin and idolatry in our souls, unmasking the false and finding the true. We nurture the inner life through practising spiritual disciplines which cause the beauty of Christian character to shine through.
Our spiritual lives are experienced communally, in the church.The set of essays in the fifth section deals with the common life and the many challenges we face in an imperfect church. Next, though we are not of the world, we also live in the world. The essays deal with the difficulties Christian face in a rapidly changing world, and how we need to remain faithful to our calling and reach out to others prophetically and pastorally.
The final section seeks to remind us of the task of disciple-making. All that we understand of God and ourselves, of our relationship with Him in Christ, of our common life in the church, of the needs of the world - all these should form us into better and more passionate disciple-makers.
These are the themes that this book explores. I trust that it will, in its own small way, help Christians to be followers of Christ in a more authentic and faithful way. If that is the case, I would be more than happy.
Robert M. Solomon
Hopefully some of the information, reflection and discussion obtained from the internet and the book by Robert M. Solomon "Making All Things New", 52 Reflections to Challenge the Way You Live, can be useful. Chapter 29 - 52 (fifth to seventh section) are listed in the following.
The fourth section deals with how we live out and nurture our relationship with God in the different but related spheres of our lives. As we grow, we will have to deal with sin and idolatry in our souls, unmasking the false and finding the true. We nurture the inner life through practising spiritual disciplines which cause the beauty of Christian character to shine through.
Our spiritual lives are experienced communally, in the church.The set of essays in the fifth section deals with the common life and the many challenges we face in an imperfect church. Next, though we are not of the world, we also live in the world. The essays deal with the difficulties Christian face in a rapidly changing world, and how we need to remain faithful to our calling and reach out to others prophetically and pastorally.
The final section seeks to remind us of the task of disciple-making. All that we understand of God and ourselves, of our relationship with Him in Christ, of our common life in the church, of the needs of the world - all these should form us into better and more passionate disciple-makers.
These are the themes that this book explores. I trust that it will, in its own small way, help Christians to be followers of Christ in a more authentic and faithful way. If that is the case, I would be more than happy.
Robert M. Solomon
Hopefully some of the information, reflection and discussion obtained from the internet and the book by Robert M. Solomon "Making All Things New", 52 Reflections to Challenge the Way You Live, can be useful. Chapter 29 - 52 (fifth to seventh section) are listed in the following.
In The Church
There is no such thing as a private heaven. In our very individualistic modern society, Christianity is in danger of being reduced to the self-centred pursuit of private meaning, private pleasure and self-fulfilment. But our calling as Christians is expressed in terms of relationships - to love God with all our hearts and to love our neighbours as ourselves.
We are made for community. The beauty of Christian character is best expressed in community. For us, our primary community is the church, in which we experience being the family of God. We are the children of God, the body of Christ, and the temple of the Holy Spirit. God is, or should be, the very centre of our communal life.
In practice, though, the church is imperfect, for the church is a community of redeemed sinners still in the process of being perfected. Many problems are often faced in our churches. How do we organise ourselves? How do we make decisions? How do we deal with dysfunctional patterns that repeatedly manifest themselves in our communal life? How do we deal with waste and excess? How do we pass on the faith to future generations? How do we train our leaders? How should we order our services of worship?
To live out our identity and vocation as the church, we need a God-centred focus in all that we do. This means drawing our strength from above and returning to the fundamentals of our faith. God must rule us, and we must break out from our own self-centred prisons to be all that God wants us to be.
Chapter 29 - Reflection - Deepening Relationships on Church,
We are made for community. The beauty of Christian character is best expressed in community. For us, our primary community is the church, in which we experience being the family of God. We are the children of God, the body of Christ, and the temple of the Holy Spirit. God is, or should be, the very centre of our communal life.
In practice, though, the church is imperfect, for the church is a community of redeemed sinners still in the process of being perfected. Many problems are often faced in our churches. How do we organise ourselves? How do we make decisions? How do we deal with dysfunctional patterns that repeatedly manifest themselves in our communal life? How do we deal with waste and excess? How do we pass on the faith to future generations? How do we train our leaders? How should we order our services of worship?
To live out our identity and vocation as the church, we need a God-centred focus in all that we do. This means drawing our strength from above and returning to the fundamentals of our faith. God must rule us, and we must break out from our own self-centred prisons to be all that God wants us to be.
Chapter 29 - Reflection - Deepening Relationships on Church,
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/08/reflection-in-church-deepening.html [29]
Chapter 30 - Reflection - Family Scripts,
Chapter 30 - Reflection - Family Scripts,
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/08/reflection-in-church-family-scripts.html [30]
Chapter 31 - Reflection - Kingdom or Republic?,
Chapter 31 - Reflection - Kingdom or Republic?,
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/09/reflection-in-church-kingdom-or-republic.html [31]
Chapter 32 - Reflection - Making Decisions in Church,
Chapter 32 - Reflection - Making Decisions in Church,
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/09/reflection-in-church-making-decisions.html [32]
Chapter 33 - Reflection - No-frills Church?,
Chapter 33 - Reflection - No-frills Church?,
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/09/reflection-in-church-no-frills-church.html [33]
Chapter 34 - Reflection - Revive Us, O Lord,
Chapter 34 - Reflection - Revive Us, O Lord,
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/09/reflection-in-church-no-frills-church.html [34]
Chapter 35 - Reflection - Worship and Theology,
Chapter 35 - Reflection - Worship and Theology,
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/10/reflection-in-church-worship-and.html [36]
Chapter 36 - Reflection - Reflections on Theological Education,
Chapter 36 - Reflection - Reflections on Theological Education,
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/10/reflection-in-church-reflections-on.html [36]
Chapter 37 - Reflection - Church and a Child's Memory,
Chapter 37 - Reflection - Church and a Child's Memory,
In The World
The world is in rebellion mode. It has always been that way since human beings decided to find their future without God. Even as God's redeemed people, Christians live in this world. We cannot avoid living in it, but we must no longer be shaped and conformed to its sinful habits and lifestyles. Instead, we are to live as salt and light in this world (Matthew 5:13-16), as God's witnesses, children, and servants.
Though the world's broad and easy way leads to destruction, we are to continue living in the world. God loves the people of this world and wants to redeem them through our witness, obedience, and service. Hence, we are to immunise ourselves against the worsening environment around us. We must speak out prophetically against all that is evil, unjust, and sinful.
We must also reach out to our neighbours with God's love and compassion. There is more than enough suffering in this world, caused both by the sinful behaviour of human beings and the natural disasters that strike our world regularly. In all of these, the church has the responsibility to proclaim the truth and to practise it with faithfulness and love.
Somehow, in our relationship to this world, we have to bring together two sentiments. The first is expressed in the gospel song "This world is not my home, I'm just a-passing through", and the second is expressed in the hymn, "This is my Father's world". They are two sides of the same coin, showing that the world ultimately belongs to God. Though it has turned away for God's love, God wants to redeem it - through our obedience and faithfulness to Him.
Chapter 38 - Reflection - The Mess and the Messiah,
Though the world's broad and easy way leads to destruction, we are to continue living in the world. God loves the people of this world and wants to redeem them through our witness, obedience, and service. Hence, we are to immunise ourselves against the worsening environment around us. We must speak out prophetically against all that is evil, unjust, and sinful.
We must also reach out to our neighbours with God's love and compassion. There is more than enough suffering in this world, caused both by the sinful behaviour of human beings and the natural disasters that strike our world regularly. In all of these, the church has the responsibility to proclaim the truth and to practise it with faithfulness and love.
Somehow, in our relationship to this world, we have to bring together two sentiments. The first is expressed in the gospel song "This world is not my home, I'm just a-passing through", and the second is expressed in the hymn, "This is my Father's world". They are two sides of the same coin, showing that the world ultimately belongs to God. Though it has turned away for God's love, God wants to redeem it - through our obedience and faithfulness to Him.
Chapter 38 - Reflection - The Mess and the Messiah,
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/11/reflection-in-world-mess-and-messiah.html [38]
Chapter 39 - Reflection - Two Steps Forward, Three Steps Back,
Chapter 39 - Reflection - Two Steps Forward, Three Steps Back,
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/11/reflection-in-world-two-steps-forward.html [39]
Chapter 40 - Reflection - A lesson From Nebuchadnezzar,
Chapter 40 - Reflection - A lesson From Nebuchadnezzar,
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/11/reflection-in-world-lesson-from.html [40]
Chapter 41 - Reflection - Saving Christmas . . . From the Marketplace,
Chapter 41 - Reflection - Saving Christmas . . . From the Marketplace,
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/12/reflection-in-world-saving-christmas.html [41]
Chapter 42 - Reflection - The Coarsening of Culture,
Chapter 42 - Reflection - The Coarsening of Culture,
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/12/reflection-in-world-coarsening-of.html [42]
Chapter 43 - Reflection - The Golden Calf and the Broken Tablets,
Chapter 43 - Reflection - The Golden Calf and the Broken Tablets,
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/12/reflection-in-world-golden-calf-and.html [43]
Chapter 44 - Reflection - A Root of Evil,
Chapter 44 - Reflection - A Root of Evil,
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2025/01/reflection-in-world-root-of-evil.html [44]
Chapter 45 - Reflection - Strengthening Our Inner Environment,
Chapter 45 - Reflection - Strengthening Our Inner Environment,
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2025/01/reflection-in-world-strengthening-our.html [45]
Chapter 46 - Reflection - Reflections on the Tsunami,
Chapter 46 - Reflection - Reflections on the Tsunami,
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2025/01/reflection-in-world-reflections-on.html [46]
Chapter 47 - Reflection - Wars and Pestilences,
Chapter 47 - Reflection - Wars and Pestilences,
Making Disciples
We are not of the world, even though we are in the world. And we are also sent into the world to make disciples of all nations. The fields are ripe for harvest - they always have been. But the workers are few - this has always been the case. Why is it that 2000 years on, the church has yet to complete the missionary task entrusted to it by Christ?
Part of the problem is our failure to understand what God is doing in the world, and what it means to be a disciple of Christ. A disciple of Christ is a disciple-maker. We must understand this calling of ours by developing a biblical mindset concerning it. Everything in this book thus far was to aid us in comprehending God's missionary initiative, to spur us on to becoming disciple-makers.
The quality of our disciple-making depends largely on the quality of our spiritual lives - our relationship with God and the richness of our inner lives. It also depends on our recognition of the church's identity and our appreciation of the challenges all around us in the world.
Let us then be true disciples of Jesus, seeking to please Him in every way. In this way will we become disciple-makers: when God's mission becomes ours too.
Chapter 48 - Reflection - The Principal and Principle of Missions,
Part of the problem is our failure to understand what God is doing in the world, and what it means to be a disciple of Christ. A disciple of Christ is a disciple-maker. We must understand this calling of ours by developing a biblical mindset concerning it. Everything in this book thus far was to aid us in comprehending God's missionary initiative, to spur us on to becoming disciple-makers.
The quality of our disciple-making depends largely on the quality of our spiritual lives - our relationship with God and the richness of our inner lives. It also depends on our recognition of the church's identity and our appreciation of the challenges all around us in the world.
Let us then be true disciples of Jesus, seeking to please Him in every way. In this way will we become disciple-makers: when God's mission becomes ours too.
Chapter 48 - Reflection - The Principal and Principle of Missions,
Chapter 49 - Reflection - Are You a Harvester?,
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2025/02/reflection-making-disciples-are-you.html [49]
Chapter 50 - Reflection - The Cross and the Missionary Enterprise,
Chapter 50 - Reflection - The Cross and the Missionary Enterprise,
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2025/03/reflection-making-disciples-cross-and.html [50]
Chapter 51 - Reflection - Two Sowers, Two Fields,
Chapter 51 - Reflection - Two Sowers, Two Fields,
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2025/03/reflection-making-disciples-two-sowers.html [51]
Chapter 52 - Reflection - We Want to See Jesus,
Chapter 52 - Reflection - We Want to See Jesus,
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2025/03/reflection-making-disciples-we-want-to.html [52]
PHOTO: The one great mistake that the Pharisees of Christ's day made was conflating (combining) religious performance and spirituality. They wrongly thought that the heart of spirituality was living according to a written code. They had mastered the art of impersonal religion, which was essentially task-centred. They had reduced a living and dynamic relationship with God to an obsession with conforming to a largely man-made set of rules. Religion was thus distorted from a loving relationship - what it was meant to be - to technical adherence to a text.
Jesus found it necessary to challenge these false shepherds of Israel who were leading their flock astray. Their faulty understanding of the law had turn it away from the lawgiver, fashioning it into an idol, a heartless set of rules. On the contrary: the law should have been understood in terms of the lawgiver; the law made sense only in relation to grace. Obedience was meaningful only in the context of God's love. Hence, Jesus masterfully summarised the law in terms of love: to love God with all we are, and to love our neighbours as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:37-40). In so doing, He clearly defined Christian discipleship in terms of relationships.
This should not surprise us. The central doctrine of the Christian faith - the Trinity - shows relationship to be at the heart of reality. The creation account in Genesis declares that human beings were created for relationships. Our primal (early) ancestors hid in shame from God and from each other, and were banished from the garden of Eden. Such were the tragic relational consequences of human sin.
The good news is that through Christ, our broken relationships can be restored and enriched. By placing our faith in Him, we were made children of God (John 1:12). We also were once hostile foreigners to God were made God's children through Christ (Ephesians 2:19). The cross of Christ also destroys hostility among people, reconciling enemies and making them brothers and sisters (Ephesians 2:14-16). The church is essentially understood in terms of relationships. Using Paul's great metaphor, the church is the body of Christ. Since we are all related through Christ to one another, we are to love one another (1 Corinthians 12).
Scripture understands the nature of our relationships in church in terms of truth and love. In his first epistle, the apostle John makes this point. The basis of every relationship is to be truth. Without truth, we cannot relate to one another with sincerity. John writes: "If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another" (1 John 1:7). The light of God reveals truth. Without that light, we would not be able to know or love one another - we cannot love in darkness. Those who attempts to love in darkness end up with an illusion of love and superficial, mushy (excessive) sentimentality. The New Age movement, for instance, promotes the idea that we all are inter-related, which is unobjectionable in and of itself. It also talks about love. But it is love in darkness, not true love but an idealised imitation of it, and fails to address the sin and loneliness embedded in our condition. If we want true love, we must return to God, whose truth - who He is and who we are before Him - is unchanging. Only in His faithful presence can true friendship and fellowship develop among people.
The church has been entrusted with God's truth, giving authentic community a chance to flourish within it. Unfortunately, the church often fails to be a truly liberated and vibrant community. Part of the problem is the erosion of truth in the church. Where the Word is not faithfully preached and taught, so that it can be believed and put into practice, there is little hope of building Christian community with thriving relationships. Instead, we get a cold congregation of strangers who do not really know or care about one another, or a cultic huddle (religious group) of individuals brought together not so much by divine truth but by common human need. Such groups will break apart, either through selfishness or in the face of suffering. It is thus so important to fill the church with God's truth in our liturgy, preaching, and teaching. Without the light of God's truth, we cannot hope to build community or deepen relationships, our relationship being mere illusions.
John further writes that relationships in the church are to be characterised by love: "Dear friends, let us love one another" (1 John 4:7). If the basis of relationship in church is truth, its quality is love. Without love, we cannot sincerely worship God, nor can we serve our fellow human beings. The apostle Paul, too, underlines the centrality of love in all our relationships. Love is primary fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). To form and preserve true community, the Spirit works with the Word. The faithfully preaching and studying of the Word and an open reliance on the Holy Spirit are both required for the deepening of relationships. One without the other would lead to lifeless relationships, or ones that are disorderly and superficial.
It is easy to forget in church that we are primarily called to love. If we are not careful, we can be infected with worldly ways, focusing our attention on progress, efficiency, and performance, at the expense of actually loving people. We may think more about how to use and manage individuals than how to love them.
The church is the place for the deepening of relationships. What a wonderful agenda! But success is possible only if we cling to God's truth and love, virtues that should direct and characterise the church. Then we can truly deepen our relationships. And what a wonderful testimony that would be to the truth of God's Word and the power of His Spirit!
Picture posted by James Rosenquist, 4elect.com on 02 April 2019
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJm3JMXvHdU_1gxcXnjJ5EcJQ6KiqN9K2XX7uSGd3sYiFspZ32McCSnvGD8CTQDo1sphkSe6jhVM1sVa9nxyT6xlPNH-qT1V2ts0XVE97A1pz3vGvkCr9PbQPCcuutH_W6iC2Z4aMHjm0QCSWVlKzjZlJ2iqxIShN1wRxFEJkJnV41bfn7NCCXaULDNA4/s1500/rings-684944_1920.jpg
https://www.4elect.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/rings-684944_1920.jpg
https://www.4elect.com/the-spirit-and-the-word/
PHOTO: John further writes that relationships in the church are to be characterised by love: "Dear friends, let us love one another" (1 John 4:7). If the basis of relationship in church is truth, its quality is love. Without love, we cannot sincerely worship God, nor can we serve our fellow human beings. The apostle Paul, too, underlines the centrality of love in all our relationships. Love is primary fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). To form and preserve true community, the Spirit works with the Word. The faithfully preaching and studying of the Word and an open reliance on the Holy Spirit are both required for the deepening of relationships. One without the other would lead to lifeless relationships, or ones that are disorderly and superficial.
Picture posted by Alexandra Serafina
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrrdAZcNVzJDcTzLoR8byqI0wAqKIqdqrunyO3brknanf_47yis5FhtzSHR3_fy7Jo0zjUa4_qMiQC68YztWh-6OmRTayMCqLZ-A01OSRQ3E9j3FJ5KPAfo2iOZ_zjyGJfJKOiNH0OdXOh8uzBq2lmmR78q5f4VAnJmQ_5MeJ4i3teZXu04OD2McKe1Ew/s1024/10b0ba3482cd4cb6173ab1c7727dc526.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/10/b0/ba/10b0ba3482cd4cb6173ab1c7727dc526.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/11892386511948590/
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we pray that the church is the place for the deepening of relationships. May we cling to God's truth and love, virtues that should direct and characterise the church.
May we remember that in church we are primarily called to love. May we focus our attention on loving people, instead of only on progress, efficiency, and performance. May we think more about how to love individuals in church, than of using and managing them.
May we know that the Spirit works with the Word. May we faithfully preach and study the Word, and an open reliance on the Holy Spirit for the deepening of relationships.
Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen."
Picture posted by Jesus is the way the truth and the life
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqZ2Q13pXLbh5A3vFyOgLYPcRXo9MVxufrJGiXzZsutcas4mgbkrXaJ28JRSxLg2KdEnqrIGVKJIs90YSG5w3rzFUmRX5eYapa-etiYonCh5UN28GAaVaZ5sTV5sjwq5I154vIm3RNFAybQcmmyAbwYTVbPd6xoJ0yeKUzq0zp_RD_2Mu62Rg1Xa9q-oQ/s1024/174495657f7dcdb80bbe7f3354e6ffd8.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/17/44/95/174495657f7dcdb80bbe7f3354e6ffd8.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/1055390493920806212/
Chapter 30 - Reflection - Family Scripts,
PHOTO: Nevertheless, God can rewrite and redeem our family scripts if we allow Him to. In Christ, we have received the Holy Spirit, who gives us the strength to make Christ's script our own script. The sinful scripts repeated in turn by our forebears can come to an end with us when we are immersed in the script of God's family. And we can leave behind a godly legacy for generations still to come.
Picture posted by Lulu Anggoman
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we pray that You rewrite and redeem our family scripts. May we received the Holy Spirit, who gives us the strength to make Christ's script our own script.
May the sinful scripts repeated in turn by our forebears can come to an end with us when we are immersed in the script of God's family.
Help us to leave behind a godly legacy for generations still to come.
Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen."
Picture posted by sairaart | Illustrator on Instagram
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAGIZbfldhp4-lKghyphenhyphenKRUarkhoTpLL7AKFJ5IDTT3KX2VY6ZThJ8o8eFQu0Ro9OGCgmib6rdvHfceqqPv53jnqRqTGLwHwXvoKKgqFxQwZWmu10Km43qUpcknsiaRb04W_rYmP1Qhg0uxlTaRSQU822TOh_qn8c5hcO8mVZTTvysxSM2O-sdglIbMq2pM/s1024/1ca2c53c1dc76b779bd0f434ef17878a.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/1c/a2/c5/1ca2c53c1dc76b779bd0f434ef17878a.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/45528646226575088/
Chapter 31 - Reflection - Kingdom or Republic?,
PHOTO: The reality is that Jesus is the enthrone one, whether we acknowledge it or not, dependent in no way on our vote of approval expressed through adoration and praise. In our ancient creeds, we only confess what Scripture already teaches: that Jesus died and rose from the dead, that He ascended into heaven and is now seated on His throne at the right hand of the Father (Ephesians 1:20; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 1:3).
Picture posted by The Rev. Mark D. Riley on 05 May 2022
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we pray that the overwhelming, terrifying depiction of Jesus in Revelation 1:12-18 is seldom remembered by the church. When we meet Jesus, great and awesome, our proper response is not to tell Him to build His throne so that we can collectively enthrone Him, but to fall 'as though dead' at the feet of the enthroned one. Jesus is not an elected king. His kingship is from everlasting to everlasting, independent of our decision and response.
We, humans, with our rebellious and unbelieving hearts may abandon Christian faith for Religious Humanism and the Republic of Heaven, advocating instead a humanistic spirituality that sees God as an evolving, useful cultural idea.
May we learn that Heaven is a kingdom. God is King, far above our democratic processes, opinions, decisions, and choices. We can only fall at the feet of the enthroned one and obey Him without hesitation. Heaven is certainly not a republic.
May we learn it as soon as possible. The sooner we learn it, the better, on earth and in the church.
Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen."
Picture posted by Ngahhoichong
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqbz58Jq9kxqMXG-EKxTekFtqd0csYF5nSN9Prs0QRyDISZF-OFT1Q1lpVSNwp4FaLmNAJIa-OYhRRhp-uWnrXazUwTju-9W0JRcdlj74ygZGBG4v1Xj6lqHm0jMSrBM-2U-yshwuI68437tjdS6cX44Fdjx4EKHUgUqBmmiq0zDuwJmCQplgznqumazE/s1024/9c78228ee8993309eff7ec69a4c98adf.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/9c/78/22/9c78228ee8993309eff7ec69a4c98adf.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/414683078206998000/
Chapter 32 - Reflection - Making Decisions in Church,
PHOTO: The moment we feel comfortable and confident in our own decision-making processes, God's Word disturbs us, convicting (declaring) us of our inadequacy. When it comes to making right decisions in church, the church can only sit at the Master's feet and learn to hear HIs voice - in, against, and beyond expert advice, majority votes, and market surveys.
Picture posted by Faith in GOD - God Confronts Adam and Eve
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoq1ASUsXoU-eMTfBAoV4h_mdrLjiCLt3XlkLXC0SNMxfGiib7LXkaVqorWHKTtRfnt8RBTG6Bg6PuLpEYS_a-J6C1mbGNdWLilQfV6u2tuyhohU5nmNbxxe0cX56mjHtzytFIdJIQmQmAyprlDwBqJ11biVDqMujD6EA6_tcgz7KHSewk9tXxCDC-fqI/s1200/897fe6d1c5066d587de1ac3364bce961.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/89/7f/e6/897fe6d1c5066d587de1ac3364bce961.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/26529085298770728/
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we pray that we may be transformed from a crowd of self-centred individuals into a community of cross-bearing lovers of God and neighbour.
The moment we feel comfortable and confident in our own decision-making processes, may God's Word disturbs us, convicting us of our inadequacy.
When it comes to making right decisions in church, may the church sit at the Master's feet and learn to hear HIs voice - in, against, and beyond expert advice, majority votes, and market surveys.
Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen."
Picture posted by Geysa
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUoZZlkQ0B64sQ1U1t62IIMnKGChxO5VUCKjNX7U-AGQlyCasAPYw2dz8obmqtpuR1EvB4CZJMKcFs-7akgoXx7_Ug10Cq8hzAEPbzXYW_9OAhE9rKIj4tnLJdPkkdlEjxus73eu_JYejsXACaGn5cZC1LLENhSRQlUIvWDR3kJst0SuM_bwkTZ_QPH04/s1024/2b1af6a2756e739132640f660300cb8d.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/2b/1a/f6/2b1af6a2756e739132640f660300cb8d.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/10203536650172032/
Chapter 33 - Reflection - No-frills Church?, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/09/reflection-in-church-no-frills-church.html [33]
PHOTO: From time to time, we hear of no-frills airlines, no-frills hotels, and the like. Will we also see the emergence of no-frills churches?
There is much good in the concept. It could greatly improve the church's spiritual health and maturity. The church would rise to a level of stewardship that powerfully demonstrates the message it tries to preach.
But what exactly does a "no-frills church" mean? I searched for "no-frills churches" on the internet and found several. Their websites did not really explain what was meant by "no-frills". After a while, however, I found that these "frills" consisted of liturgy, elaborate ritual, priesthood, paraments (cloth or tapestry hangings used to adorn the space for worship), and other elements that one would associate with older established churches. In one sense, it is true that the Protestants did away with the "frills" of the medieval church. They simplified the sanctuary, the ministry, and the liturgy, cutting away what they considered to be unnecessary and excessive, existing things that distorted the gospel and obscured the church's true mission.
One needs to remember the logic behind the trimming of such frills in the first place, lest we fall into a sort of anti-liturgical minimalism (stripped to its essentials) that is overly simplistic. A church that does away with what it thinks are liturgical frills may still end up with vain material trappings and an excess of self-indulgent activities. These types of frills are the concern of this chapter.
The logic of a no-frills airline is cutting cost and focusing on the core business, which is to bring passenger from one point to another. Everything else, such as in-flight entertainment, is considered a frill. Some passengers, though not all, prefer it this way. Hence the success of no-frills airlines.
I'm not sure if a similar strategy would work for the church. Modern Christianity has increasingly produced consumer Christians who shop around for churches, looking for various things. American pastor Eugene Peterson rightly pointed out that pastors (and churches) have become more and more like shopkeepers. Their primary concerns are now packing their "product", retaining their "customers", and dealing with the "competition". [1a]
Churches therefore end up spending much on themselves, on buildings packed with facilities, on sanctuaries equipped with state-of-the-art technology, for worshippers' comfort and maximum satisfaction. They may also run a whole array of activities that have very little to do with the core business of the church.
What if churches try to be like the no-frills airlines? Would it work? I have doubts on two counts. First, will consumer Christians buy this? A no-frills church would have little attraction for them. While no-frills airlines charge less to maximise their profits, no-frills churches spend less to maximise what they can give away to the needy. We are not talking about Christians decreasing their giving to the Lord, but about how the church spends the money Christians give. It is like asking full-service airline passengers to fly no-frills airlines but at unreduced prices. Such a proposition would not make sense to consumers.
But our pews must be filled not with consumers, but with disciples of Christ. A no-frills church would make great sense to Christ's disciples. After all, God often showed himself in Scripture without frills. The first Christmas, unlike our contemporary celebrations, was a no-frills event. The birth of Christ took place in a stable, not a luxury hotel or a palace. The visitors that night were poor shepherds, not the who's who of the ancient world. No expensive fireworks lit the sky, but a single star in the heavens guided the wise men. The birth of the living Son of God was undoubtedly a no-frills event.
When the Israelites wandered in the desert, the daily menu God gave them was simple. It was a no-frills diet of manna, just enough for each day (Exodus 16). Indeed, the journey that God invites us on is a no-frills journey.
When Jesus met the rich young ruler, He saw him sinking spiritually under the weight of heavy frills (Matthew 19:16-30). Pitying the man, Jesus told him to sell all his possessions, give to the poor, and then come follow Him. But the man could not part with his frills and remained a lost soul. Jesus himself, on the other hand, had "no place to lay his head" (Matthew 8:20). His was truly a no-frills ministry.
Those who were His authentic disciples learned this lesson quickly. The apostle had left their possessions to follow Christ (Matthew 19:27). Later, Peter declared to a crippled beggar: "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you" (Acts 3:6). The early Christians shared their possessions so that there was no needy person among them (Acts 4:34). They collected money for the poor and cared for the destitute (extremely poor) (Acts 9:36; Romans 15:16). They turned the world upside down. This was a no-frills church.
Today, the church spends far too much on itself, on comfort and cosmetics. For many outside the church, we look like a socialite who frequently self-pampers. Some money is spent on charity, but this is often seen as tokenism (seems like that money is spent on charity). The day we dress in simple clothes and spend our resources helping the poor will be the day we will be believed. There is a radiant power about barefoot saints, and saints who go about simply, spending almost all they have on others, especially the poor and downtrodden. That same radiance will shine from a no-frills church that resembles its God, who, keeping nothing for himself, spent all He had on the cross to redeem a broken world.
Picture posted by Tennessee Baptist and Reflector on 14 September 2024 - Byron Ash, pastor of Cowpunchers Cowboy Church in Shelbyville, back row with cowboy hat, recently baptized an entire family of new believers, the Wagners. They family now regularly attends the church, driving roughly 100 miles roundtrip to be at Cowpunchers each week.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmby_EQSHEA1qFVB2HTSKemFW3lxDt1etOxVxucaTmOTXsAIB7GKaG69fxYXIU9HpS1LXlwwNX6bXMyUh1j235AALOivReD-p8d6i-A0KKZAKjfE6AqPj7n3WH12jYfAIj7blT9Qos8UOVTqWlIK-JkmtrfMxwcKr2im0xSMuG3iXt9SP-straW3u2NE/s698/091124-Cowboy-Church-e1726237031619.jpg
https://thebaptistpaper.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/091124-Cowboy-Church-e1726237031619.jpg
https://thebaptistpaper.org/no-frills-cowboy-church-steers-lost-to-jesus-in-tennessee/
PHOTO: Those who were His authentic disciples learned this lesson quickly. The apostle had left their possessions to follow Christ (Matthew 19:27). Later, Peter declared to a crippled beggar: "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you" (Acts 3:6). The early Christians shared their possessions so that there was no needy person among them (Acts 4:34). They collected money for the poor and cared for the destitute (extremely poor) (Acts 9:36; Romans 15:16). They turned the world upside down. This was a no-frills church.
Picture posted by Bible Art - Acts 3:6-7
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, today, the church spends far too much on itself, on comfort and cosmetics. For many outside the church, we look like a socialite who frequently self-pampers. Some money is spent on charity, but this is often seen as tokenism.
We pray we dress in simple clothes and spend our resources helping the poor so that we will be believed. There is a radiant power about barefoot saints go about simply, spending almost all they have on others, especially the poor and downtrodden.
May that same radiance will shine from a no-frills church that resembles its God, who, keeping nothing for himself, spent all He had on the cross to redeem a broken world.
Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen."
Picture posted by Bible Art - Luke 4:1 - "And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,"
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWuQv_yh1eEi_SLPkf3TaG4GgphGSqubYw9jF3kAeUVFel6agbnw_C_Nmn0l59bPDQdIwesFmVV2JZYjutLl6tje4rP53PDGwhb2gPiuQb62O-INDZm-WftP4DckeS9y3eJ81iAV_BTF8P9KGgQxGH2OdHhCx-hYYFh81PJ7wKYbOxvlO78SmPWE_c1gY/s1024/8f1b481b-385d-4612-8c73-ef94ca9cdd14-compressed.jpg
https://media.bible.art/8f1b481b-385d-4612-8c73-ef94ca9cdd14-compressed.jpg
https://bible.art/p/uLyGSH7T6mXFLUrcStxr
Chapter 34 - Reflection - Revive Us, O Lord, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/09/reflection-in-church-no-frills-church.html [34]
PHOTO: Second, revival in a large area, affecting private individuals in large crowds. One such revival was sparked by the ministry of the English Calvinist preacher George Whitefield, an early associate of Wesley. Whitefield preached to the masses at a time characterised by burgeoning commerce, social anonymity and rootlessness, and the birth of the private self.
Picture posted by Media Store House - Whitefield Preaching
Chapter 35 - Reflection - Worship and Theology,
PHOTO: When A. W. Tozer declared that worship was the "missing jewel" in the church, [1a] it was early 20th century, when the church was more concerned about other things. Today, however, worship has become a central issue. This demonstrates a healthy interest in something that should be a core experience for all Christians.
Unfortunately, conversations about worship often focus on taste rather than truth. This is unsurprising in our day and age, when absolute truth and objective values are unfashionable concepts. Everything is said to be relative, depending on one's opinions and taste. Subjective experience has replaced objective truth. The entertainment industry is plugged in to these postmodern ideas, as their fleeting and often superficial products demonstrate.
Such trends have affected the church and its worship. Much time is spent on entertaining worshippers and ensuring their comfort. But it is precisely such matters that engage the peripheral issue of taste and not the central issue of truth. The question to ask is not "How do we make worship enjoyable?", but "How should we worship God?". This is where theology comes in.
Our Lord Jesus said that His Father in heaven is looking for worshippers who can worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:23). Jesus then declared: "God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in the Spirit and in truth" (John 4:24). Note the close connection between theology and worship. The phrase "God is spirit" is a theological statement, saying something about who God is. This theological statement is quickly followed by a description (or rather, a prescription) of the way God is to be worshipped.
The relationship between right theology and right worship is seen throughout Scripture. Worship is not simply a matter of finding creative ways to express positive sentiments towards God. Before right worship can take place, there must be revelation. We can only worship on the basis of what God has revealed of himself to us. Attempting to worship God without basing it on revelation would lead to idolatry, as we so often discover in the Old Testament.
When Moses was with God on the mountain receiving God's law and commands, the Israelites became impatient and engaged in worship without revelation, or worship without theology (Deuteronomy 9). They ended up with a golden calf. Moses was greatly angered and God's heart was broken by the people's idolatry.
God gave Israel clear and specific instructions on how to worship Him, especially from Exodus 25 onwards and various parts of the book of Leviticus. All these instructions tell us something about what God has revealed concerning himself.
When we come to the New Testament, we meet doubting Thomas, one of Jesus' disciples. Thomas did not believe the testimony of his fellow disciples that the Master had indeed been raised from the dead. So, when the risen Christ appeared to Thomas in bodily form, Christ invited Thomas to feel His nail-pierced hands. The sight of the risen Lord stirred up the apostle's soul. Thomas worshipped Jesus by addressing Him as "my Lord and my God" (John 20:28). Note again the connection between revelation and worship, between right knowledge of God and right worship of God.
Theology is often dismissed as esoteric (secret) or irrelevant, even by Christians. Somehow, theology and worship, or theology and discipleship, are seen as antithetical (contrary to), completely opposed.
But what actually is theology? Literally, "theology" refers to the study of God. It is the disciplined reflection on what Scripture says about God, man, and creation. From this reflection, we develop statements we call "doctrines". Thus, theology is the church's reflection on God's revealed truth. Theology is essential if we want our worship and work to be guided by God's truth.
Let us confine our discussion here to how our doctrines guide our worship. Take, for instance, our belief in the Trinity. We believe in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And yet, in worship, we sometimes get all confused. I remember a young worship leader who would pray to "Father Jesus" during the service! I discussed the matter with him and corrected him. I have also heard leaders addressing the Father in prayer and thanking Him for dying on the cross for us, when in fact they were referring to His Son, Jesus.
The Holy Spirit is a Person, but Christians often think of Him as some impersonal force. I once heard a preacher comparing the Holy Spirit to jet fuel and urging his listeners to have more of the Holy Spirit. Suffice to say that right doctrine and good theology help us to ensure that the right words are used in worship, for words have great influence on us.
Beyond words, right doctrine and good theology also have an impact on our attitudes in worship. If we believe that God is holy and awesome, our worship should reflect the reverence due Him. Alas, such reverence is missing in much of the worship in churches today. If we believe that God is present with us when we worship, we would not be casual or nonchalant before Him, as may sometimes be the case. If we believe that we are sinners, we would come to worship God with repentant and humble hearts. But how many of our services contain adequate time for confession and repentance?
If we believe that the Bible is the Word of God, how much attention should we give to the reading and preaching of the Word? How do our doctrines of the universal church, death, and eternal life affect our services? What truths would an observer of our worship discover about God and man? The way we worship will reveal what we actually believe, and what we actually believe will affect the way we worship.
It is therefore important that we allow doctrine to guide our devotion. Otherwise, our devotion risks being idolatrous or superficial. God's truth matters. It must determine, shape, and inspire our worship. Worship is our response to God's truth. In the words of English hymnwriter and theologian F. W. Faber, "deep theology is the best fuel of devotion, it readily catches fire, and once kindled it burns long". [2] Sound doctrine produces true devotion. True devotion deepens sound doctrine. Doctrine and devotion are not strangers, or even distant cousins. They are more like hammer and nail. They make sense when they are seen together.
Picture posted by Effie Darlene Barba on 15 September 2020, Inspiring Joy in Lifes Toughest Moments
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtVBxxnDgOk8Jb9HG3U-1FIG_XYGdKYdF0lyoH0IS8CETPXxlESh2QP915cYGBvl8L810bPhd9YJiZ1KKQWogBsSfwEESOe0_AZdvzM7D5HU9orU4MahUecxsfBAC-JgkAnzTsoWhalotTfboswFt9khN8Rr2KmfO8iDXGKkSigJcri21gNkZl63iGb-Y/s1024/kacas0354.png
https://i0.wp.com/myglorytoglory.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/kacas0354.jpg
https://myglorytoglory.com/blog/to-the-glory-of-his-grace/
PHOTO: But what actually is theology? Literally, "theology" refers to the study of God. It is the disciplined reflection on what Scripture says about God, man, and creation. From this reflection, we develop statements we call "doctrines". Thus, theology is the church's reflection on God's revealed truth. Theology is essential if we want our worship and work to be guided by God's truth.
Picture posted by G. Connor Salter on 24 June 2024
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we pray we allow doctrine to guide our devotion or our devotion risks being idolatrous or superficial.
God's truth matters. May it determine, shape, and inspire our worship.
Worship is our response to God's truth. May our 'deep theology be the best fuel of devotion, it readily catches fire, and once kindled it burns long'.
May our doctrine and devotion be together because sound doctrine produces true devotion, and true devotion deepens sound doctrine..
Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen."
Picture posted by Bible Art
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZSMrnFf6vwaID25u0ptkIVTiqRmW9EA1JMXSmRQ6bTvy-bOe95tD5smAvKEd4sLXq8PFQpOikO1n3nolZ9CZzJEh6qCEDik8F9aEGHYE4DT_1rqd2lic3Hb55LDScO2GY7ygvmMzpbG4P4s5KS8ABCF4kmFM5B6h4yaF9BhRcQul3V4vUceLQg5-KvJs/s1024/79abee36-1fd0-4a4e-9658-71137fe73e33-compressed.jpg
https://media.bible.art/79abee36-1fd0-4a4e-9658-71137fe73e33-compressed.jpg
https://bible.art/p/wbOFSxWmFlE1y7uemgGA/john-4-16
Chapter 36 - Reflection - Reflections on Theological Education,
PHOTO: To obtain a basic theological degree, candidates study for about three years in seminary. Before this, however, they would have had many more years in church. The church must therefore put into motion the key processes of spiritual formation and traditioning, even before a candidate enters seminary. The seminary would then build on existing foundations, providing more formal and focused training to prepare the candidate for ministry.
Picture posted by Faith On View
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHVQ04ZOuz9FNSH0y6urLoe2pEQhy_6QhcXkUrIxYHCSR2-5VdqraUsDFDEx67TsMBfQmJC7icd-Csrg44c_3JOQSGcUy5Q_9YkhhAQtONHw9RtSxZMplFwHNFqO4rf7jVAYjfDvb58p_t0YLnU97EWimS_hD9aI5qFGJ0TPfL-OFuC8N88pcGW3_lKnw/s1024/A_vibrant_group_of_students_as_jpeg.jpg
https://www.faithonview.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/A_vibrant_group_of_students_as_jpeg.jpg
https://www.faithonview.com/why-is-theological-education-important/
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, Theological education takes place both in church and in seminary. May our church and seminary work together to make theological education work.
May the seminary fulfill its specific task - to form pastors and church workers 'by Master's voice and holy Word'. We pray that the seminary produces pastor-teachers to educate and equip others in the church.
We pray that a good understanding of the complementary roles of church and seminary would richly bless both of these entities.
Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen."
Picture posted by The Golden Arrow
Chapter 37 - Reflection - Church and a Child's Memory,
PHOTO: Among the many Sunday school teachers I encountered as a child, I remember one for his unusual methods. He would line us up and make us recite the Lord's Prayer, the Apostles' Creed, the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes (Being blessed), and so on. He would walk down the line with a wooden ruler in his hand. No one could conceal his ignorance in the collective voice of the class; each student was asked to recite in turn. Failure would be met by a sore palm.
My teacher would be in serious trouble if he taught today. But that aside, we need to think about how we pass on our faith to the next generation. What exactly is it that we need to pass on? Have we done justice to the importance of this task? What consequences will there be if we fail?
To show from history how the church shapes a child's memory, and how this affects society, we turn to historian Michael McDuffee's book, Small-Town Protestantism in Nineteenth-Century Germany. [1a] McDuffee describes how major cultural trends and forces in society were driving secularisation and the erosion of the Christian worldview. People were simply becoming indifferent to the Christian faith. Nevertheless, in small town Germany, Protestant Christians kept their faith alive by preserving their doctrinal identity. They did this by diligently teaching the Christian faith to the young. Pastors and teachers in the church took their educational role seriously, shaping personal and collective childhood memories through good doses of Christian content. This, McDuffee says, helped that generation to "live lost faith".
Scripture instructs us to pass on our faith to the young. When the ancient Israelites kept the first Passover in Egypt, their experience was immediately linked to theology (what they knew about God), liturgy (how they worshipped God), and spiritual education (how they taught their children about God). Note the final element, Moses instructed the Israelites to observe the Passover ceremony as a "lasting ordinance" (Exodus 12:24-25). He also gave instructions on teaching the young: "And when your children ask you, 'What does this ceremony mean to you?' then tell them, "It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord . . .'" (Exodus 12:26-27).
Elsewhere, Moses enjoins (instructs) the people to teach God's commands to the young. "Impress them on your children. Talk about them," he says, "Tie them as symbols on your hands . . . Write them on the door-frames" (Deuteronomy 6:7-9). Israel did not only have a liturgical tradition of remembering God's saving acts (see Psalms 106, 136), but also a tradition of God's commands. "My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart," wrote the sage (profoundly wise man) of Israel on behalf of all spiritually-minded parents and teachers (Proverbs 3:1). This tradition of teaching and passing on the faith, thought imperfectly practised in Israel due to human sin, sustained a remnant that pursued God with all their hearts.
How then do we pass on our faith to the young today? We live in times that are more challenging than the 19th century. Today, the market and mass media are powerful promoters of values, behaviours, and lifestyles that are contrary to the Christian faith. Our best attempts at Christian education seem so feeble when measured against the onslaught of corrupting worldviews. What can we do?
To begin with, we can strengthen existing processes in the church. In denominations where young children are baptised, they are nurtured in the faith as members of the church. When the child has matured, the church prepares him or her for confirmation. Here is where we note some alarming signs. The number of baptised children in many of our churches has fallen. Neither these numbers nor the numbers of young people being confirmed reflect the much larger number of children and teenagers in our churches. Surely, we must do something about the way we nurture this cohort (group).
Even if a young person makes it to confirmation class, we may fail to make the experience a meaningful and significant one. American pastor Walter Wangerin recalls the solemn and stern confirmation class he attended as a young man. [2] While not promoting that exact approach, Wangerin laments that modern Christian educational methods have gone to the other extreme, where "the blither spirits (long-winded talk with no real substance) and contentments of youth have shaped the atmosphere of their religious schoolrooms". He notes with dismay that there is often a lack of seriousness: "No longer need they memorize great portions of Holy Scriptures, that the words may be handy in circumstances yet to come; no longer need they give a good verbal account for the basic, most important tenets (principles) of their faith and salvation."
As a pastor, Wangerin decided to do something about it. He visited families to make three-way covenants between pastor, child, and parent. He initiated a two-year confirmation programme. The first year focused on biblical storytelling (meeting God), while the second year dealt with memorising biblical terms and doctrines (knowing God). He linked doctrine with story, and his church saw a significant change.
Theologians Stanley Hauerwas and William Willimon have also made helpful suggestions about confirmation class. In their book, Resident Aliens, they argue that education should be done primarily in the community and not the classroom. They propose that confirmation candidates be assigned a godly mentor in the congregation so that the relational aspect of personal mentoring would enrich the process of nurture. [3]
They make the important point that passing on the faith to the young must be done in community. One of the weaknesses of a "children church" or a "youth service" is that they separate the young from the wider body of the church despite being sincere attempts to keep the young within the church. A truly integrated, inter-generational church allows the young to be nurtured in community. They can observe the older members and interact with them, receiving the full benefits of godly traditioning.
Whether the Sunday school teacher carries a ruler or candy, the key is that we are responsible for passing on the faith to our young. Many of us who were in that old Sunday school teacher's class have forgotten the pain of freshly caned palms. The pain has passed, but the truth remains.
Picture posted by 지희 성 (Jihee Sung)
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8UmYzhYWp1vhmyC5PHrp7IuXFuT9hjEgSyt3i18xShOr4IjmFMQC5OnNhIxZZT3mra9GZRK8eMV08_dwyEqAjrcFLjrFtDZb8z6zC9DFqqkN55Dm34S0QwC2V7yyvzzvp4P3UVDK3ydWqF1mbibNnAjprvUnwePjRWBEpLV4J6OVxcM_EdH6p7OxYpQo/s936/19a480e99daba141bfa478880ef1cc17.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/19/a4/80/19a480e99daba141bfa478880ef1cc17.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/220676450486788289/
PHOTO: Whether the Sunday school teacher carries a ruler or candy, the key is that we are responsible for passing on the faith to our young. Many of us who were in that old Sunday school teacher's class have forgotten the pain of freshly caned palms. The pain has passed, but the truth remains.
Picture posted by The Gospeler, This Broken Clay by Ann Adams on 21 August 2024
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiStjy2Gk6_t-pBiiL3s40VC3x2ErZEdAheuB1G1dw_qOFxZ3RRLPyUJVy1zWqpMHBYnjs1hNsUeVF3UdONMeO9SFQFXQMgDIXJlICTEGYluosgZglvKWXB2vkoPqUez7RwbBMTBrnSFEBmlDyZ9D9w_3Vb_fBxAj6wswvBHMzzjdlDtK-pkMjGuCVmJjo/s1024/1_cAn_q_nLZj-1eIFAIl2vIw.png
https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:4800/format:webp/1*cAn_q_nLZj-1eIFAIl2vIw.jpeg
https://medium.com/the-gospeler/for-god-so-loved-us-889c715d2ebc
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we pray whether the Sunday school teacher carries a ruler or candy, the key is that we are responsible for passing on the faith to our young.
Many of us who were in that old Sunday school teacher's class have forgotten the pain of freshly caned palms. Although the pain in our childhood memories has passed, may the truth remains.
Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen."
Picture posted by Reddit
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMpsmZFTTUcVTNoDoCQlw6Y-58GbeMZbK1WHYI3sP5PBGviITZ275MeJVDlUKym44AHzfNpveq2TIeptqk6mX2lGvUjjlbNCiuf1gSifjH1KBnx0_dG4AwCHFIhqSt4NwxErRC10QTn1Hb7HuTbLdBpPsettUkLEDrCEq1nrMGA_ije3IxAXAm3rBuoBs/s1024/from-slavery-to-sonship-understanding-galatians-4-v0-74ycvxppc1gd1.png
https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpreview.redd.it%2Ffrom-slavery-to-sonship-understanding-galatians-4-v0-74ycvxppc1gd1.jpg%3Fwidth%3D1024%26format%3Dpjpg%26auto%3Dwebp%26s%3Dd402462e6a6bfa0706839f4882bd012c919c3060
https://www.reddit.com/r/BiblicalStudy/comments/1ehe0z8/from_slavery_to_sonship_understanding_galatians_4/
PHOTO: The ancient world into which Jesus was born was a pretty rough place. Life was short. The average lifespan was 35 to 40 years. [1a] In the international sphere, Rome was the imperial power that ruled a large part of the known world. And decay was setting in. A third of the city's population were slaves. The powerful and rich were bored. They entertained themselves with blood sports and whatever else they fancied.
Posted by Hollywood Bound, Photographs by Mark Shaw - The Sign of the Cross (1932, © The Kobal Collection) - Claudette Colbert as Empress Poppaea in The Sign of the Cross. Produced and directed by Cecil B. DeMille
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLZKQmP4_Jjt28N4OkjRbGWIxr1iKmugKQfNOoOFXPyc1rCQnVhMOGy9Z6b9vM37ufeICHXbGxLedQmflLzGlFc1dXjSzn9psG7Pnd4vuHkkeHkZ7qHAs4RU92mCxK3gwfSF8z7bzXE0A/s1600/HB-Press-7.jpeg
http://www.lisabakerltd.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/HB-Press-7.jpeg
http://www.lisabakerltd.com/blog/hollywood-bound-20-november-reel-art-press/
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2015/09/the-sign-of-cross-1932-kobal-collection.html
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we pray that when we celebrate Christmas, we look at the Messiah and see the light in the darkness.
May we see the light shining in the darkness, and may God give us grace to understand this light.
When Mary, the mother of Jesus, saw all that was happening and heard all that was said, she 'treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart', especially the amazing things that the shepherds had said. May we do the same every Christmas, quietly pondering this mystery: that God in His love has not abandoned us to perish in our mess, but has sent us the Messiah, in whom is all our hope.
In Christ, may we see the glory of God and in Him we have peace. Even in this messy world.
Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen."
Picture posted by The Golden Arrow
Chapter 39 - Reflection - Two Steps Forward, Three Steps Back,
PHOTO: Is society making progress? Do we feel the wind on our faces as we rush into the future?
There are people who assume that this is so. It is evident in the many discussions about changes taking place in society. The contributions to this discussion are divided into "progressives" and "conservatives". The progressives are said to be the ones promoting social development while the conservatives are said to be putting obstacles in their path.
Some have argued that conservatives can only slow down but not stop this process of radical (progressive) change in values and lifestyles. Conservatives, on their part, see some of the key changes and trends emerging in society as representing not progress but decay.
What is your own view?
The rapid and spectacular advance of science and technology following the Enlightenment brought about the notion that improvement and progress are inbuilt mechanisms in history. This seems to be fairly true as far as technology is concerned. Our modes of transport and communications, for instances, have certainly progressed by leaps and bounds. Every change seems to be a step forward. Every innovation is evidence that the new is better than the old.
What appears to be true in technology has been taken by some as a universal principle. Charles Darwin revolutionised biology along these lines with his idea of evolutionary progress. The evolutionary principle has been further applied in the social sciences and even in the study of religion. Such views, however, are like buckets with lots of holes in them. They cannot hold water when put to the test.
There was great faith in human progress, in some circles, towards the end of the 19th century. The path forward looked bright. Everything was seen as an improvement, or a bold step forward. This outlook affected social values, political systems, and economic policy. Some in the church even spoke of a "social gospel", riding the wave of confidence in notions of progress.
Nevertheless, decades of prosperity and technological breakthroughs have revived the prospect of society's relentless (continuous) advancement. Can heaven be built on earth?
The Bible answers with a clear diagnosis of the human condition. All have caught the deadly disease of sin (Romans 3:23). At the centre of society is the human heart, and at the centre of the human heart is sin. The human heart is "deceitful above all things and beyond cure" (Jeremiah 17:9). We have a sinful tendency to want to build a world without God, to want heaven without God (see Genesis 11).
Philip Pullman, whom we met earlier, wrote the His Dark Materials trilogy as a fantasy series in the same genre as the works of C. S. Lewis or J. R. R. Tolkien. He sought to "undo the damage done by C. S. Lewis" by promoting an opposing worldview for children to imbibe (absorb). [1a] His story, like the biblical account, begins in the garden of Eden. However, it sees the transgression of Adam and Eve not as the precursor to humankind's fall, but as the first step towards human liberation. It is therefore not surprising that in the conflict that follows, the church is written off as a bad mistake in history, God is portrayed as weak and ineffectual, and He is finally disposed of. It is very telling that the last words in Pullman's third book, The Amber Spyglass, are "the republic of heaven". The sinful human desire to want heaven without God is as old as the human race.
Any step forward without God cannot be described as "progress" or "maturation". In fact, the opposite words have to be used. The Bible takes a very realistic view of history and speaks often, not of the evolutionary progress of society, but of the inevitable decay of a world that dreams of a "republic of heaven" without God. Eugene Peterson's rendering of 2 Timothy 3:1-5 is instructive:
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLsD7SzFbVeUjFRnB8ux2tBvZLoFUr_s_sg-HFxJE5F-YG00xqH_9vGV2ifu5tMcRuiPstquwwj4kXsChEisH0qm3MWrO7Z_M0UrV46aV5V6x7R_4ymnNDmHO0fmsuTKuiPDvkr3ya0OZ8ooojcJJ2I1mMHJRGMcJecwmExXTONXg2BCNEQK3-PZkg30/s686/hq720.jpg
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/du63d-4Alz0/hq720.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEhCK4FEIIDSFryq4qpAxMIARUAAAAAGAElAADIQj0AgKJD&rs=AOn4CLADpaBRYxE_AvEXfj0d6t9S0aM4ig
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=du63d-4Alz0
PHOTO: There was great faith in human progress, in some circles, towards the end of the 19th century. The path forward looked bright. Everything was seen as an improvement, or a bold step forward. This outlook affected social values, political systems, and economic policy. Some in the church even spoke of a "social gospel", riding the wave of confidence in notions of progress.
Picture posted boy Adobe Stock - Charles Darwin observing wildlife
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtjwo1pRGFVz28UjtKs4y0YyL-02IHFEGr1mCdj6stCujx_Ed9E1SnG6NMMff4LfitOWXXZRO4j1VJ5prHeyJDcE_-jMuoYM5zZkUXkJ4WTpgLASUpDdrX5XgYBPK38KR_vtbhbYSufC24lbTv7P7O5ZYuaWUCUoPLx3gSLvJX4gJiToIfxx0R1NzAKf0/s1000/1000_F_980638737_moA7qnVlGJz1F6GxxViKog10Lt2DS6Yv_1.png
https://as2.ftcdn.net/v2/jpg/09/80/63/87/1000_F_980638737_moA7qnVlGJz1F6GxxViKog10Lt2DS6Yv.jpg
https://stock.adobe.com/search?k=darwinism&asset_id=980638737
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we pray God loves the people of the world, even though the human race has taken the self-destructive path of disobedience.
May we do not disengage ourselves from the world. Instead, amid all its woes and follies, may we live prophetically and with compassion, as salt and light.
Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen."
Picture posted by carmogram
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuQQpLy63f43qYaunAAMMuvZfvCGVLcNyDbaQk5kpxGhyW4A9GZGmguBjjLanrWzbZ5WILr5USbmQCAI0qXY0Be-HDfx252AOKvKK7MFTWdgJtLzK4r40IN7_jz1woNYIQeocAkuVTgl5SXGvdJeWAG-kaeZxXjKTy6qGIp6czU2HH1Vd_CxZauYt0W-Q/s1280/657a1d703e26a642e4d657f5b6141e06.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/65/7a/1d/657a1d703e26a642e4d657f5b6141e06.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/66287425760534399/
Chapter 40 - Reflection - A lesson From Nebuchadnezzar,
PHOTO: Remember King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, who looked at his grand urban creation and said: "Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?" (Daniel 4:30).
Picture posted by CS Lewis Aura on 17 August 2024 - See How God Turned King Nebuchadnezzar into a Beast (Bible Stories)
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkrfyCCbwEeqW3gNq2QnlJcSqAMlkOPInUqFnCNl9HzM8oWuxf9Awn3WII7bYbHuChk7nzlUfF5bdI__pqPkfxkLaS9ay8DWNbwv41ixW-A54jmAHHXYqeyNKE0rH4RQkeIvviyyHIFB1TRfD2Dk6UZHG-3LG5Vi9004Go_t5PIO2jHewJli7IDYXcaO8/s640/sddefault_1.jpg
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we pray that the urban landscape that surrounds us did not inhabit us and feed us with the lie that we are the masters of our destinies, that we built this world. May we enjoy what the city offers and serve God in its streets.
May we not allow the city's illusions to entice and poison our souls. But remind ourselves that God made the world and we are accountable to Him.
May we observe the night sky and marvel at the huge and inscrutable universe He made. May this remedy our pride and dispel the illusion of a man-made world, freeing us to love God and neighbour in our urban environment without being trapped in its snares.
Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen."
Picture generated by Magic Hour AI Generator at https://magichour.ai/dashboard/images/cm3ssl44w05b83yw40pykdcfp - Jesus, a Middle-Eastern male with long brown hair and a robe, stands in a vibrant flowering garden filled with colorful blossoms, set against a backdrop of towering mountains and a bright blue sky. There are many flying birds in flight. The scene includes diverse people, Caucasian women and men, looking at Jesus. Many trees with lush green leaves provided ample shade, creating a cool, serene atmosphere for all. Many varieties of colourful flowers surrounding them, sides, hanging on top and at the bottom. The sun is not too bright.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSMSLWRWa4pTd_LMsaCfOpPPnGk727U_rnX0ztJH3xIrKDJcMiMyucebE6p7WYblXb3Hjv0vccoKRNt8niM1knVkeo75hqt-gtPOvMSt2LAzwB66VsFNwf7wvQP49kLtW5Rx_JV1y-p6a4-GJA3EnVKMZcEYeGEONLH3Et7TWwh2kO_e2X4ENHL0rNyT0/s1344/Jesus-11_1.png
Jesus-11_1.png
https://magichour.ai/dashboard/images/cm3ssl44w05b83yw40pykdcfp
Chapter 41 - Reflection - Saving Christmas . . . From the Marketplace,
PHOTO: Let Christmas be a holy day
As we go about taking back Christmas from the marketplace, we ourselves must be careful that we do not bring only the packaging back into church. Instead, we must hold fast the truth of Christmas: that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son (John 3:16), the indescribable gift in which eternal life is found (2 Corinthians 9:15). We must pray that the world's version of Christmas will not confused the minds and harden the hearts of those who need to hear the good news. Let us save Christmas from the marketplace so that the world might be saved.
Picture posted by Boomplay
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we pray that the Christmas holiday become our holy day again. May we hold fast the truth of Christmas: that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, the indescribable gift in which eternal life is found.
We pray that the world's version of Christmas will not confused the minds and harden the hearts of those who need to hear the good news.
May we save Christmas from the marketplace so that the world might be saved.
Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen."
Picture posted by Anna Andersen
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnebWQ7QuHzQSCQnPFGsv3JKQWwspIyca3yEfVvTQHezgmqjx0NNU3fUY8tsAPcT0G7-7zex6JIOgoXxVLD8SM56e11AX62w6duqy73QmVvBF_5YeDMsl0R2vSWNUMvE231g5IkzTZ9Qth0S9XrYWQu3NPyFwdyBqx9qaBmQKkhC2w1eFJBrSL9NWbH74/s1024/7fec60aa8b9cd038724e97033faf4e69.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/7f/ec/60/7fec60aa8b9cd038724e97033faf4e69.jpg
https://kr.pinterest.com/pin/43558321390609488/
Chapter 42 - Reflection - The Coarsening of Culture,
PHOTO: The devil make Jesus an unsolicited suggestion. He urged Jesus to climb to the highest point of the temple and throw himself down (Matthew 4:5-6). His accursed (detestable) logic was that if Jesus was the Son of God, God would surely command His angels to make sure that Jesus would not be hurt. In fact, the devil simply quoted Scripture without comment. How much more scriptural could one get? The problem is that the devil loves to twist Scripture by taking it out of context. He plucked out a poetic image from the book of Psalm (Psalm 91:11-12), severing it from its proper context and application. We have to be careful when the devil starts quoting Scripture.
William Bennett, the former American secretary for education, once observed a trend that he called the "coarsening of culture". [1a] This can be explained in terms of two modern realities. First, a growing avalanche of information that threatens to bury us in a sea of trivia (pieces of information of little importance or value). Second, a snowballing (increase rapidly in size, intensity, or importance) number of choices that can be made in almost any area of life one can think of. Our days are full of people trying to get our attention, to get us to make the choices they want us to make.
Because an information overload is the default, those wishing to catch the attention of the masses must employ extreme measures. How can a generation of consumers who keep switching channels be made to stay tuned to one channel? This challenge has produced what the writer David shenk describes as "a culture awash in histrionics" (culture filled with drama to attract attention). [2] His argument runs as follows: competition for people's attention generates pressure to "talk louder". As a result, communicators use louder colours, show more flesh, and say outrageous things, all in order to be heard. This can be seen in mass media, social media, advertisements, film, drama, and the like.
This means that almost daily, we encounter content designed to shock, as those who deal with communication and the arts continue to test the limits of what is acceptable. Over the course of time and with countless shifts in our collective psyche (human soul, mind, or spirit), things which once were grossly unacceptable are now regarded as proper and decent. Many feel helpless in the face of crude (vulgar) culture in their social circles and physical surroundings.
Society's increasing crudity and declining standards of decency and respect are causes for great concern. Our calling as Christians is to be preserving salt in the world, and this includes helping to preserve common decency and whatever is good and valuable in our cultures. The danger we face is that even the church may unwittingly embrace the same coarsening of culture we see in our world.
We recall how the devil tempted Jesus to jump from height, to put up a spectacular show (Matthew 4:5-7). Notice that the location of this show was to be the temple, where God was worshipped. How tempting it is to turn the place of worship into the circus, to try to catch the attention of worshippers with entertainment. The Lord Jesus refused to take this path, showing us the way to handle the temptation we face from a coarsening culture.
We may be tempted to speak louder and use whatever means seem effective in an effort to get people's attention. But in so doing we would be going against what the gospel is all about. Rather, we should show forth the beauty of godliness - those characteristics that the Bible describes as the fruit of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). These characteristics will prevent us from being recruited into the ranks of the crude and rude subcultures we are seeing take roots around us. Our speech and conversations would instead be seasoned with the deepness of God's love.
What can we do about the coarsening of culture? On a personal level, we must be filled with the Holy Spirit and submit ourselves to God. Then would we exhibit godliness and the fruit of the Spirit. On the level of the church, we must avoid jumping on bandwagons which promote superficiality and coarseness. I once witnessed a worship leader conducting the service in a way which made the proceedings sound like a game show. My heart is troubled whenever I see crudeness seep into the church. This worship leader meant well. Unfortunately, I think that he confused vibrant worship in the Spirit with the crass (insensitive) showmanship of popular culture. In such things, the church must be extra vigilant.
The Lord Jesus refused to turn the temple where God is worshipped, in beauty, holiness, and fear, into a crude (rough) circus. We must follow His lead. In our communications, publicity, and expression of the faith, we must not import the loudness and superficiality of the world. Instead, we must hold fast whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable (Philippians 4:8). For only then would the medium fit the message.
Picture posted by Jon Moran Photography, uploaded on 13 May 2014 - 'Fallen Angel'
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpk_eDI2DZvlBIyZsFHhF_5gmcTmiYXkwnNW-phPcC6udH6FycMsD0SbfB901BRATnZw6mA7IqZGw6kWGPj8Lbr19eXbh9NYCy26svngrj0XhfHvSrjzbjPEgwm-9kk7Ho_OGElz6Ln-8/s1600/13989412017_2ab3c9cbc6_c.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/2933/13989412017_2ab3c9cbc6_c.jpg
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jonm2001/13989412017
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/05/reflection-spiritual-journey-good-deeds.html
PHOTO: Society's increasing crudity and declining standards of decency and respect are causes for great concern. Our calling as Christians is to be preserving salt in the world, and this includes helping to preserve common decency and whatever is good and valuable in our cultures. The danger we face is that even the church may unwittingly embrace the same coarsening of culture we see in our world.
Picture posted by Robert Krise, MDiv in [Theology & Ministry], Grand Canyon University on October 07, 2021
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5cRqV-RnG-UiKVZK89MNQ35RPAZka232QC7214N3BaANdCGqX8MJQw7oeDHUFiUoeI4fm43gKuMfrbt1ylPSpEaq02SDvVcn0P8Snze0ijVokQCpK429Vr-OAcCI6gB4NlCy4wdeeTOB2ehUqxl8IL6TUQRznWFeX7stcPVafvKOkce23nePz6qm_a0/s750/GettyImages-dv1992014_1.png
https://res.cloudinary.com/grand-canyon-university/image/fetch/w_750,h_564,c_fill,g_faces,q_auto,f_auto/https://www.gcu.edu/sites/default/files/media/GettyImages-dv1992014.jpg
https://www.gcu.edu/blog/theology-ministry/theology-thursday-finding-my-unique-place-gods-family
Chapter 43 - Reflection - The Golden Calf and the Broken Tablets,
PHOTO: Churches have tried to establish a clear stance (mindset) amid debates on homosexuality and the inroads made into society by the LGBTQ movement. One denomination's public statement reads: "We consider the practice of homosexuality to be incompatible with Christian teachings. However, we do recognise that homosexual persons are individuals of sacred worth. They need the ministry and guidance of the Church as well as the spiritual and emotional support of caring fellowship."
The statement maintains that homosexual practice is sinful, contrary to God's will, and forbidden in Scripture. It also expresses the belief that God's grace is available to homosexuals and must he offered to them. These two points reflect faith in a God who is both holy and compassionate (Ezekiel 39:25), righteous and merciful (Psalm 4:1).
Let us consider the statement's first point - that Scripture speaks against homosexual practice.
Those who argue that the gay lifestyle is an acceptable alternative lifestyle rely on two assumptions that are suspect when examined closely.
The first assumption is that gay people were born with their sexual orientation, so their behaviour should be seen by society as normal.
It has been argued that there could be a "gay gene", and that homosexuality is genetically determined and is therefore natural. Others have posited (suggested) a "gay brain", structured or wired in a way that produces homosexual tendencies. Yet others have suggested that "hormones" can explain why some people are gay. None of these explanations have been proven to be the case.
Even if a strong biological basis for homosexuality can be demonstrated, the problem will arises: does biology determine moral values? What if it can be shown that some people are biologically inclined to laziness, greed, selfishness, dishonesty, violence or lust? Would we accept the full and free expression of these impulses, even if they cause harm? We would not.
To put forward an unproven claim as an established fact (that gay people are born that way) is in itself questionable. To assume that morality can be biologically conditioned further weakens the argument.
The second assumption is that popular acceptance determines moral values. Can we distinguish right from wrong simply by looking at the latest polls?
Alfred Kinsey's famous study on human sexuality in 1948 claimed that 10% of the population was gay. [1a] The accuracy of this study has been challenged, and later studies have shown that the figure is significantly lower. But Kinsey's figure served to normalise and legitimise homosexual behaviour. Until 1973, homosexuality was considered to be a mental illness. Now, it is viewed as an alternative lifestyle. It is claimed that there is nothing biologically or psychologically wrong with homosexuals, and that the problem really is one of social and acceptability.
The logic this claim entails is that even though societies like Singapore are still "conservative", they will come to accept gay lifestyles in time. Gay activities hope that their lifestyles can then be integrated into the mainstream. The assumption made here is that such a shift in mainstream opinion constitutes progress, and that the opinion of the majority determines what is right or wrong. Both assumptions stand on shaky ground.
Despite their flaws, the arguments described above, which have a biological and sociological basis, are used both by proponents and opposers of the promotion of gay lifestyle and rights.
As Christians, our primary argument must lie elsewhere. It must be rooted in Scripture: what it teaches, and its authority in the doctrine and life of the church. Perhaps we can start by thinking about norms, and how we find and established them. It is not enough to allow what is normal to determine norms, especially moral norms. Rather we should base such norms on what is normative (deriving from a standard).
The normal is discovered by empirical scientific study (e.g. the normal height of men, the incidence of corruption and brides). As science merely describes what is , whatever is discovered to be normal cannot automatically be assumed to be right. Rather, we need God's revelation, through Scripture, to know what should be. While science (including the brain scans of biology or the surveys of sociology) can show us what is normal, it is Scripture that truly points us to what is normative. Hence, Scripture should take the central place in our reflections on the issue of homosexuality.
When the Israelites were on their way to the promised land, they stopped at Mount Sinai, and Moses climbed the mountain to bring down a copy of God's moral law, the Ten Commandments. On the plains, the people built a golden calf. When Moses later confronted Aaron, who had been with them. Aaron's lame reply was that the people had given gold to throw into the fire and "out came this calf", naturally (Exodus 32:24). The people had previously taken a sort of poll, so it seems, and determined that it was right to build the golden calf.
Their way of moral and religious reasoning based on "natural" process and popular views was strongly oppressed by God. Moses' anger made him fling the tablets he was carrying to the ground, and they broke into pieces (God's law was literally broken). Here, we see a conflict between the normal and the normative in determining the norms. The lesson here is that our search for moral norms must focus on Scripture and what it commands.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj5FJj39RsLMEdCKWx8GMLmJGUgCdJJeZo7xYNsBbfzAghA65WnUSTv7_B_1HPY8DORSOo1AZgtMTrpr52Fv-P_FkG9PPTL2TyqKe7dk6lXiAFlXstXivn1XvmUn2uN_98KU6b30ilRw5bPe0PGhcyUNFKCjsd0M8k3fUR4U0okfgWLjDXTD3cqIUkEKo/s1200/1673047396_7-epornerpics-com-p-porn-naked-women-in-bed-glimpses-of-their-9.jpg
https://epornerpics.com/uploads/posts/2023-01/1673047396_7-epornerpics-com-p-porn-naked-women-in-bed-glimpses-of-their-9.jpg
https://epornerpics.com/15854-naked-women-in-bed-glimpesses-of-their-charms-58-photos.html
PHOTO: The statement maintains that homosexual practice is sinful, contrary to God's will, and forbidden in Scripture. It also expresses the belief that God's grace is available to homosexuals and must he offered to them. These two points reflect faith in a God who is both holy and compassionate (Ezekiel 39:25), righteous and merciful (Psalm 4:1).
Picture posted in Pinterest
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQ8ulsHF7Vd78VW-isOpr9J1KjcxqfH68_4NG7GpbqjKX-mbjP7KEa6GKWHzM6pBysOaH3-cglc3BYIJWh2BphZWt2s3esrtJiUf7pqfACvIH8EUJSopVwfcuFP0B4lbz757Jwok3Oprr74W17C-yNgJ7zVJXulWfUNcj43gNNFCl6VsR9Edua8eTL3o/s998/2e10a87c080d66d9c5351454aa61d15f.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/2e/10/a8/2e10a87c080d66d9c5351454aa61d15f.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/423760646208864854/
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we pray that like our Lord, we must clearly condemn the sin but also, by God's grace, set aside the stones. For it is in Christ and by the Holy Spirit that all sinners, regardless of their sin, are washed, justified, and sanctified.
May we ensure that condemnation of sin does not lead to hatred of sinners. May we stand firm against the sin while being, at the same time, loving and gracious towards the repentant and struggling sinner.
Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen."
Picture posted by Danielle Melo
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FikyW_4jv1Y9Qh8sE5uBP5ITAA_0D5Rygo7CRLY_qUVAgKQ1E_hm75IGIXAAfWoXYLi7MFr5kzMKNdInvy9OpFgc6rhde65fbLzrafNcPRTHEhQx_NiRhtPxffAmcKdi-BBLIv85DMBFz9_boYrhEycADjma1exYFVloWejtJRPMyhqETsNdfljDL90/s1600/5b224690fb841b4e33acdf79aff72b4d_1.png
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/5b/22/46/5b224690fb841b4e33acdf79aff72b4d.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/26529085299067813/
Chapter 44 - Reflection - A Root of Evil,
PHOTO: Moreover, casinos often have criminal elements muscling into their operations. Any casino would have great difficulty avoiding this. How great the social ills that follow in a casino's wake, and how much more so in a tightly-knit and densely populated city-state.
Picture posted by kmf70 on 08 May 2024
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPwUcvuk8L07moVN3pvbyuS4W5Z0OWcoYcF_hCC2r2HOH6TuRggwoIFtat-r-0vrcDTA7c4wSdXtbIbkdW9FiNq53JmkPrJXiIpzuGnO7mrwe2WooJz8eLT7xkVyiCelLTykizs23FDMhSyOcr8r32gsc0yhzX9rqm9PEJHTM4p24Tyv_ekbSdCskogd0/s1024/dhd8jmd-68da117e-e4aa-44af-907e-8cdc3979ecfc.jpg
https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/f5a0e93b-4dfb-4da5-93f8-631af9bb393c/dhd8jmd-68da117e-e4aa-44af-907e-8cdc3979ecfc.jpg?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7InBhdGgiOiJcL2ZcL2Y1YTBlOTNiLTRkZmItNGRhNS05M2Y4LTYzMWFmOWJiMzkzY1wvZGhkOGptZC02OGRhMTE3ZS1lNGFhLTQ0YWYtOTA3ZS04Y2RjMzk3OWVjZmMuanBnIn1dXSwiYXVkIjpbInVybjpzZXJ2aWNlOmZpbGUuZG93bmxvYWQiXX0.l3O3EUHoLMTzoNbSq1emYqdXdc3pcQgw0PtBc3twuQs
https://www.deviantart.com/kmf70/art/Dragons-Demons-and-other-Abstract-Creatures-1050158677
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we pray that we do all we can to prevent gambling addiction for our own good.
Gambling is an illness with spiritual and social aspects. We may not be able to eradicate gambling addiction altogether.
Casinos place our spiritual and social health at stake. May we not gamble our future well-being away.
Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen."
Picture posted by Ty Unruh (2015), Burning Point Ministries
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZ6PPFOG4fuPX8I64LnGIt-YQs3inhQ9SiF3-XrvUVhBOkNLIoGSkBtc93mmR9jgcOmPVI-0hlu5SjEmgfuWTOu7KE0tQdz1quHCygTZFU7aaThQ_8zZdnYm6vYZvQGYA75hyphenhyphen-Yd3sW7ang40vysecK5Knwjaf6YrLYmGBTmu0i5jAsY3j-w0QKD_hbQ/s1500/27B34097-242A-4B2C-AA52-105F431D5717.jpg
https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5519ee2ee4b0caf5831f0fe4/f7014562-931b-42cb-b204-dc2ebc490848/27B34097-242A-4B2C-AA52-105F431D5717.jpg?format=1500w
http://www.burningpointministries.com/money-changers-in-the-charismatic-church
Chapter 45 - Reflection - Strengthening Our Inner Environment,
PHOTO: When the government of Singapore announced plans to develop two casinos in the city-state, their decision, made after much private and public debate, disappointed many who were opposed, including churches. They had cautioned against casinos on the basis of possible detriments to society, both in the immediate and long-term future.
Sufficient evidence from academia and real life informs us that casino gambling presents severe threats to personal, familial, and societal well-being. Certain groups in society, such as the young and the retired, are particularly vulnerable to the lure of the casinos, and face higher risks of gambling addiction as a result. Casinos lead to damaged livelihoods, broken families, and increased levels of social pathology.
Much was said about these dangers. The government responded with various measures aimed at reducing the social fallout from the casinos. While these policies would have helped to a point, human behaviour and social outcomes rarely go according to plan. More work can be done to mitigate social fallout, but prevention is still better than cure.
Still, our concerns went beyond the casinos. For Christians, the casino pointed to the larger issues that concerned us - what sort of society were we becoming?
The world around us is rapidly changing. In a globalised age, these changes can deeply affect us. Many of these changes will be detrimental to our souls and society at large. Our first challenge, therefore, is to discern what is harmful. Our second challenge would be to resist the temptation to adopt these harmful changes, for whatever the reason.
Christians in Singapore may have felt relatively safe in a value ecosystem that was conducive to our holiness. Could the casino issue (and other social trends) be teaching us that this may no longer be the case? Indeed, our basic assumptions, attitudes, and habits in life, as followers of Christ in a secular world, may need to change.
In the first place, we must not expect the state and society to do our work for us. Christians may once have expected the state to discern evil and resist temptation on our behalf, thereby maintaining a stable and decent social environment. But the state is secular and pragmatic (practical), its concern being the nation's security and prosperity. Against the onslaught of globalised structures of sin, Christians must finally realise that the spiritual struggle is not between the world and an idealised nation-state, but between the world and our souls. In other words, the battle is at the very doorstep of our hearts.
If present trends are anything to go by, values and virtues will become increasingly ambiguous in society. While our social environment has retained some good and excellent elements, the godless ways of the world will poison it more and more. It is therefore of utmost importance that we strengthen our inner environment - the spiritual environment of our souls. Our social environment was always sunny and we never thought to bring an umbrella along. But the weather is changing. We'd better bring our spiritual umbrella along, and make sure that they are in good working order.
Maintaining our inner life and spiritual environment should be a top priority for us as Christians. We must dig deep into Scripture and develop a biblical mindset. We must follow Christ faithfully, obeying Him to the fullest. We must let the Spirit shape us into the image of Christ. These holy habits will help us to discern what is harmful and evil, giving us wisdom and strength to withstand the temptations that knock on our doors with increasing brashness (rudeness).
In a worldly environment that is increasingly injurious (harmful) to the practice of godliness, we must live like Daniel and his friends. Under great pressure, they refused to give in by eating food forbidden by their religion, bowing down to man-made idols, or compromising on their spiritual disciplines (Daniel 1:11-16; 3:1-18; 6:6-13). Our Lord Jesus exhibited that same resolve when He was tempted in the wilderness. He refused to give up His principles even when tempted with bread, fame, fortune, and power (Luke 4:1-12). He demonstrated that HIs relationship with His Father was more important than anything else in the world. There are things we should not give up at any price.
Beside strengthening our inner life and spiritual environment, we must also reconsider certain assumptions we may have made in the spiritual formation that goes on in our churches. Pastoral theologian David Augsburger notes that Asian cultures function more on the basis of shame, while Western cultures operate on the basis of guilt. [1a] If this is true, it may be the case in Asian churches that spiritual formation has been carried out more on the basis of shame - where we learned to avoid doing wrong because of humiliation if caught or because of the disapproval of society.
With society's values running increasingly contrary to our Christian faith, we must seriously reconsider our way of spiritual formation and become more intentional about the process. How can we fortify the way individual Christians internalise biblical beliefs and values, so that they would remain faithful to their calling and true to the Lord, regardless of their social environment?
I believe God must be "internalised" in spiritual formation: the God who is above us must also reign within us. Jesus must daily be our Lord as we lead our lives in this fallen world. We cannot escape living in the world. But as Jesus has said, though we are in the world, we are not "of the world" (John 17:15-16). Our identity in Christ, and our loyalty to our triune God, must transcend (go beyond) worldly things.
Returning to the casino issue, what should we do? We must continue to be a prophetic voice, reminding people that gambling is sinful and warning them of the ruinous consequences of gambling addiction. We must educate our Christian community on the dangers of casino gambling, taking measures to strengthen our inner life and spiritual environment, as previously discussed. We must likewise strengthen our family life and values, and reconsider our methods of spiritual formation in the church.
At the same time, we must reach out with pastoral compassion to those who have fallen into the temptation of gambling. As churches, we must find new ways to help and care for these unfortunate people. We must not shut ourselves in and huddle together anxiously. Instead, we must reach out to the world, living responsibly and responsively as disciples and servants of Christ, citizens of our country, and loving neighbours to those around us. We must follow the footsteps of the prophet Daniel, who, despite his difficult circumstances, served society and the state with distinction and dedication.
We must also live as an eschatological (Christian beliefs about the afterlife) people - knowing that the best is always yet to be, that this world is not heaven, and that the kingdom not of this world is coming (John 18:36), when Christ comes in glory to establish His perfect society. And we must also know that His kingdom has already begun in our hearts (Luke 17:21). Already have begun to breathe its pure and invigorating (stimulating) air, even in the murk (darkness) and haze of our present surroundings.
PHOTO:We must also live as an eschatological (Christian beliefs about the afterlife) people - knowing that the best is always yet to be, that this world is not heaven, and that the kingdom not of this world is coming (John 18:36), when Christ comes in glory to establish His perfect society. And we must also know that His kingdom has already begun in our hearts (Luke 17:21). Already have begun to breathe its pure and invigorating (stimulating) air, even in the murk (darkness) and haze of our present surroundings.
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we pray that we live as an eschatological people - knowing that the best is always yet to be, that this world is not heaven, and that the kingdom not of this world is coming, when Christ comes in glory to establish His perfect society.
May we also know that His kingdom has already begun in our hearts. We already have begun to breathe its pure and invigorating air, even in the murk and haze of our present surroundings.
Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen."
Picture posted by Veena Furtado - Little ones with Jesus 🙏💕🙌💖
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1JCIHgiL6hILJmQD6dLgXxRlAetyBovCBrw1X48gpbA1PZ2DwB14Xl9hKWCT3DCyCXU60kVeIxTuEEnpqRLr45ooYb19mwm3yuNZjn97rygSWH1_q86MLfkXh0m4ic7sOyAV0SpeuQK4ijQB8bfjf4O-oeJ1ehyrd5Bsl5dOuS1ZOYvfQo8314Nr1RM0/s981/83201b56db9d4673761e8789408600a4_1.png
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/83/20/1b/83201b56db9d4673761e8789408600a4.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/26529085299067812/
Chapter 46 - Reflection - Reflections on the Tsunami,
PHOTO: It is normal to think that those who suffer on earth are being punished for sins they committed. Bad things happen to bad people and good things happen to good people. However, the book of Job challenges such notions. Bad things can happen to good man. Wicked people can enjoy good times (Psalm 73:2-12). The reality is more complex than is popularly understood. We must not jump into hasty and mistaken judgements.
Picture posted by Bible Art - The cunning serpent, intricate and exotic in appearance, creates the tension and allure present at the pivotal moment of temptation. Soon, the curious woman will do sinful things. Bad things can happen to a good person.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2A9UqeWkW18WVptGLQ3Kej23nmHLo0pPOHCPdLVNp-LaIVsu9RO2o-La3CQ8z6zcUmc07pj66zeMCmPg8fj7Bbd97zN4MOSklTcJYF8bP5458wk_WYFuQ_uOgiW6fpUjijGFONGkhzIW3SReTk0lh8ul1cevnziEP3XcH-nza0k0F0YcVaKedJ_yhSGM/s1024/2844f1ae-6de6-4acc-af30-a42239da33a9-compressed.jpg
https://media.bible.art/2844f1ae-6de6-4acc-af30-a42239da33a9-compressed.jpg
https://bible.art/p/MCdNUz3ykLkzAWZyEW8d/genesis-3:1-now-the-serpent-was-more
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we pray that in the face of disaster, we repent and act with broad and unwavering compassion.
May our eyes be on Christ and His cross. For there, we see a God who groans with us, who is present in our sufferings and calamities. He offers redemption. He shows us how to respond - through self-giving love. His cross urges us to repent and turn to God - for our own good, and for the good of all who need our compassion.
May we praise God for the compassion, in the face of disaster, of Christians in our churches and elsewhere.
May we be like the islanders who showed 'unusual kindness' in Acts 28:2, to Paul and his fellow travellers. Like the victims of that dreadful tsunami, they had been washed ashore on a strange beach, cold and hungry, subject to an angry hurricane and the whims of a violent sea.
Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen."
Picture posted by Liamary
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-_Uaa1Guar4K9EC7gnDY6jnbiUl1A5tO01U2lUBaeZLVIOupwfXYneRHZ5sUcmo05Ouq-BPX9DCznG8xlFJ6Gm0u0LVIgYoLN7kiCTyGzdttAQuWOxYmvtj4jxR74VZU2HMK1Nm6iv_4z-EPEUvSgb-zy-AkTkdQ2fGSY-g5qqZbkwsaSvRVXPKvJZE/s1500/1a11281534b651ee91dfd53b995ff7a9.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/1a/11/28/1a11281534b651ee91dfd53b995ff7a9.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/958140889495842392/
Chapter 47 - Reflection - Wars and Pestilences,
PHOTO: The Bible acknowledges the existence of radical evil. Scripture names the devil and a host of dark forces that seek to destroy and do harm. These principalities and powers are often embedded in the structures of our world and work in collusion with our sinful human hearts. We know little about them; much mystery remains.
Picture posted by Ghoster @Ghoster50nightcafe - Lightning Dragon
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQrCKTfnMZ4B3jpNZFEavoGJPO2WU9Khmpt5CGu1eHNu_Qni4c0O1Li-U6EDXyfIP_sMliwSzzx1CTW8htuRW4_Bmg988ZLrmn8yvAPelretcvD7Yu5jP-jW17Sgz7PC5TM4xi_rPqd_Kb9DtsDWA1QaebpbaGaDxAsf2fsLK3CDiomlLJIKKh-IcXKA/s1600/Hk1hcUAzVqRUQqlx6a8q--1--gyc5v_7.8125x.jpg
https://images.nightcafe.studio/jobs/Hk1hcUAzVqRUQqlx6a8q/Hk1hcUAzVqRUQqlx6a8q--1--gyc5v_7.8125x.jpg?tr=w-1600,c-at_max
https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/Hk1hcUAzVqRUQqlx6a8q
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we pray that we will not panic and behave like practical atheists (professing faith in God but behaving as if there was no God), severely curtailing our worship of God and service for Him.
May we not live recklessly, confusing foolhardiness with faith. Please help us to take precautions, not only for our own safety, but most importantly, for the sake of others. As we take precautions, let us avoid hysteria and panic, for these do not come from faith in an almighty and loving God.
May we not withdraw into narcissistic strategies of self-preservation. Instead, let us break out from self-centred individualism, to show courage and compassion in the face of crisis and in how we respond to those who suffer.
Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen."
Picture posted by Vinsensius Antonius
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRvp2WjGE4R3s6WHzdDpUFz4WcFCqmf3-cTGOPRbnsqZ6Kuysx_K5r180zU3v2y-r5tt4d_eAaK1Z6Znd3zAY8EqPb1Xkn_CkyODRdIZ-6AFJ_nxUKpw7p14YU7JA6KngTDlLuUkYGFhODGLgRMZDOKbVSenUi9eAqKvq-ZckPFFBqFmZd8kAtl5ZKQf0/s1024/314cb181bf770c700b20074cd9eea392_1.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/31/4c/b1/314cb181bf770c700b20074cd9eea392.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/98164466874035862/
PHOTO: Let us recall the key lessons discussed in this chapter.
1. The missionary enterprise must be Spirit led. Christ, through His Spirit and in His sovereignty, will direct the mission by opening and closing doors and by leading us onward.
Picture posted by joseph.bryja on 03 December 2024
Picture downloaded by Instagram Photo Downloader at https://inflact.com/instagram-downloader/photo/
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9rULo-f1MWpMlVS25XFuQh_M31G9ubRr7YXGakdPQh5iqoExAE6zjZ68beST3W_vKps5HjLofwVOp13sl6D2rEiQiVCceXXs_Ha1AMeQDFJ8akxUTroux60sPdsvIlFGVUlnaaZC6o6aTKOBv0dNS01vo4vn5AGwOjSxa5Ks-dtglz0xxEjtQG4hCoYU/s1024/469084293_18160556989323528_1569114228952025534_n.jpg
https://cdn.inflact.com/media/469084293_18160556989323528_1569114228952025534_n.jpg?url=https%3A%2F%2Fscontent.cdninstagram.com%2Fv%2Ft51.2885-15%2F469084293_18160556989323528_1569114228952025534_n.jpg%3Fstp%3Ddst-jpg_e15_tt6%26_nc_ht%3Dinstagram.fsgn5-5.fna.fbcdn.net%26_nc_cat%3D100%26_nc_oc%3DQ6cZ2AHhkY9NS1cGJNrNeaEkXdOcGTUI2G2x2bWZKrcMZ7OTAZxGAopROQknQpb2ZuANTCW5v8xY4xUt5JfeR9oc6_4v%26_nc_ohc%3DF6qEN5LEfuIQ7kNvgHxeAGY%26_nc_gid%3D1e714b8046ef44fb82d42390bfe8f981%26edm%3DANTKIIoBAAAA%26ccb%3D7-5%26oh%3D00_AYCJsWRsO3FR0GnoIB7yNkZXgbo3BVYRoY-86tYUYpyvFQ%26oe%3D67B3E7DA%26_nc_sid%3Dd885a2&time=1739455200&key=13d4e05fb50290f38a2fd0847bb040f3
https://www.instagram.com/joseph.bryja/p/DDGN_kSMz_g/
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we pray that we are enabled by God, for no one id equal to the task of missions of Christ.
Let us praise God for leading us thus far in missions. Let us continue to walk in this procession led by Christ, spreading the fragrance of the knowledge of Jesus everywhere He leads us. Let us be led by the Spirit.
And let us be willing to be spent for the Lord's glory. May Christ be the centre (or the principal) of our mission. And may the cross be the centre (or the principle) of all we do.
Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen."
Picture posted by Kingdom Mindset on 07 January 2025
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNRqGCpPQxJrquPf5_6tnOMNDEtxNqK9udJl82Qa-CwoXKW4BxZr2Sg_ZlkjWzEa3FDm11bDZLnLxUvVAyInbKkaDUMmnVvFO-9Txbao8kEdGwGHyn_PYDxaQ1x9ZDrY5Mc22xH4LOBMzUgsqI3BsZruouiltKfYM_NmCV4_PWlc64_FNKwDi19-FzVII/s1346/Jesus's_Blessing.png
Jesus's_Blessing.png
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dZTp-obOrs
Chapter 49 - Reflection - Are You a Harvester?,
In The Church
There
is no such thing as a private heaven. In our very individualistic
modern society, Christianity is in danger of being reduced to the
self-centred pursuit of private meaning, private pleasure and
self-fulfilment. But our calling as Christians is expressed in terms of
relationships - to love God with all our hearts and to love our
neighbours as ourselves.
We are made for community. The beauty of Christian character is best expressed in community. For us, our primary community is the church, in which we experience being the family of God. We are the children of God, the body of Christ, and the temple of the Holy Spirit. God is, or should be, the very centre of our communal life.
In practice, though, the church is imperfect, for the church is a community of redeemed sinners still in the process of being perfected. Many problems are often faced in our churches. How do we organise ourselves? How do we make decisions? How do we deal with dysfunctional patterns that repeatedly manifest themselves in our communal life? How do we deal with waste and excess? How do we pass on the faith to future generations? How do we train our leaders? How should we order our services of worship?
To live out our identity and vocation as the church, we need a God-centred focus in all that we do. This means drawing our strength from above and returning to the fundamentals of our faith. God must rule us, and we must break out from our own self-centred prisons to be all that God wants us to be.
Chapter 29 - Reflection - Deepening Relationships on Church,
We are made for community. The beauty of Christian character is best expressed in community. For us, our primary community is the church, in which we experience being the family of God. We are the children of God, the body of Christ, and the temple of the Holy Spirit. God is, or should be, the very centre of our communal life.
In practice, though, the church is imperfect, for the church is a community of redeemed sinners still in the process of being perfected. Many problems are often faced in our churches. How do we organise ourselves? How do we make decisions? How do we deal with dysfunctional patterns that repeatedly manifest themselves in our communal life? How do we deal with waste and excess? How do we pass on the faith to future generations? How do we train our leaders? How should we order our services of worship?
To live out our identity and vocation as the church, we need a God-centred focus in all that we do. This means drawing our strength from above and returning to the fundamentals of our faith. God must rule us, and we must break out from our own self-centred prisons to be all that God wants us to be.
Chapter 29 - Reflection - Deepening Relationships on Church,
PHOTO: The one great mistake that the Pharisees of Christ's day made was conflating (combining) religious performance and spirituality. They wrongly thought that the heart of spirituality was living according to a written code. They had mastered the art of impersonal religion, which was essentially task-centred. They had reduced a living and dynamic relationship with God to an obsession with conforming to a largely man-made set of rules. Religion was thus distorted from a loving relationship - what it was meant to be - to technical adherence to a text.
Jesus found it necessary to challenge these false shepherds of Israel who were leading their flock astray. Their faulty understanding of the law had turn it away from the lawgiver, fashioning it into an idol, a heartless set of rules. On the contrary: the law should have been understood in terms of the lawgiver; the law made sense only in relation to grace. Obedience was meaningful only in the context of God's love. Hence, Jesus masterfully summarised the law in terms of love: to love God with all we are, and to love our neighbours as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:37-40). In so doing, He clearly defined Christian discipleship in terms of relationships.
This should not surprise us. The central doctrine of the Christian faith - the Trinity - shows relationship to be at the heart of reality. The creation account in Genesis declares that human beings were created for relationships. Our primal (early) ancestors hid in shame from God and from each other, and were banished from the garden of Eden. Such were the tragic relational consequences of human sin.
The good news is that through Christ, our broken relationships can be restored and enriched. By placing our faith in Him, we were made children of God (John 1:12). We also were once hostile foreigners to God were made God's children through Christ (Ephesians 2:19). The cross of Christ also destroys hostility among people, reconciling enemies and making them brothers and sisters (Ephesians 2:14-16). The church is essentially understood in terms of relationships. Using Paul's great metaphor, the church is the body of Christ. Since we are all related through Christ to one another, we are to love one another (1 Corinthians 12).
Scripture understands the nature of our relationships in church in terms of truth and love. In his first epistle, the apostle John makes this point. The basis of every relationship is to be truth. Without truth, we cannot relate to one another with sincerity. John writes: "If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another" (1 John 1:7). The light of God reveals truth. Without that light, we would not be able to know or love one another - we cannot love in darkness. Those who attempts to love in darkness end up with an illusion of love and superficial, mushy (excessive) sentimentality. The New Age movement, for instance, promotes the idea that we all are inter-related, which is unobjectionable in and of itself. It also talks about love. But it is love in darkness, not true love but an idealised imitation of it, and fails to address the sin and loneliness embedded in our condition. If we want true love, we must return to God, whose truth - who He is and who we are before Him - is unchanging. Only in His faithful presence can true friendship and fellowship develop among people.
The church has been entrusted with God's truth, giving authentic community a chance to flourish within it. Unfortunately, the church often fails to be a truly liberated and vibrant community. Part of the problem is the erosion of truth in the church. Where the Word is not faithfully preached and taught, so that it can be believed and put into practice, there is little hope of building Christian community with thriving relationships. Instead, we get a cold congregation of strangers who do not really know or care about one another, or a cultic huddle (religious group) of individuals brought together not so much by divine truth but by common human need. Such groups will break apart, either through selfishness or in the face of suffering. It is thus so important to fill the church with God's truth in our liturgy, preaching, and teaching. Without the light of God's truth, we cannot hope to build community or deepen relationships, our relationship being mere illusions.
John further writes that relationships in the church are to be characterised by love: "Dear friends, let us love one another" (1 John 4:7). If the basis of relationship in church is truth, its quality is love. Without love, we cannot sincerely worship God, nor can we serve our fellow human beings. The apostle Paul, too, underlines the centrality of love in all our relationships. Love is primary fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). To form and preserve true community, the Spirit works with the Word. The faithfully preaching and studying of the Word and an open reliance on the Holy Spirit are both required for the deepening of relationships. One without the other would lead to lifeless relationships, or ones that are disorderly and superficial.
It is easy to forget in church that we are primarily called to love. If we are not careful, we can be infected with worldly ways, focusing our attention on progress, efficiency, and performance, at the expense of actually loving people. We may think more about how to use and manage individuals than how to love them.
The church is the place for the deepening of relationships. What a wonderful agenda! But success is possible only if we cling to God's truth and love, virtues that should direct and characterise the church. Then we can truly deepen our relationships. And what a wonderful testimony that would be to the truth of God's Word and the power of His Spirit!
Picture posted by James Rosenquist, 4elect.com on 02 April 2019
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJm3JMXvHdU_1gxcXnjJ5EcJQ6KiqN9K2XX7uSGd3sYiFspZ32McCSnvGD8CTQDo1sphkSe6jhVM1sVa9nxyT6xlPNH-qT1V2ts0XVE97A1pz3vGvkCr9PbQPCcuutH_W6iC2Z4aMHjm0QCSWVlKzjZlJ2iqxIShN1wRxFEJkJnV41bfn7NCCXaULDNA4/s1500/rings-684944_1920.jpg
https://www.4elect.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/rings-684944_1920.jpg
https://www.4elect.com/the-spirit-and-the-word/
PHOTO: John further writes that relationships in the church are to be characterised by love: "Dear friends, let us love one another" (1 John 4:7). If the basis of relationship in church is truth, its quality is love. Without love, we cannot sincerely worship God, nor can we serve our fellow human beings. The apostle Paul, too, underlines the centrality of love in all our relationships. Love is primary fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). To form and preserve true community, the Spirit works with the Word. The faithfully preaching and studying of the Word and an open reliance on the Holy Spirit are both required for the deepening of relationships. One without the other would lead to lifeless relationships, or ones that are disorderly and superficial.
Picture posted by Alexandra Serafina
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrrdAZcNVzJDcTzLoR8byqI0wAqKIqdqrunyO3brknanf_47yis5FhtzSHR3_fy7Jo0zjUa4_qMiQC68YztWh-6OmRTayMCqLZ-A01OSRQ3E9j3FJ5KPAfo2iOZ_zjyGJfJKOiNH0OdXOh8uzBq2lmmR78q5f4VAnJmQ_5MeJ4i3teZXu04OD2McKe1Ew/s1024/10b0ba3482cd4cb6173ab1c7727dc526.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/10/b0/ba/10b0ba3482cd4cb6173ab1c7727dc526.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/11892386511948590/
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we pray that the church is the place for the deepening of relationships. May we cling to God's truth and love, virtues that should direct and characterise the church.
May we remember that in church we are primarily called to love. May we focus our attention on loving people, instead of only on progress, efficiency, and performance. May we think more about how to love individuals in church, than of using and managing them.
May we know that the Spirit works with the Word. May we faithfully preach and study the Word, and an open reliance on the Holy Spirit for the deepening of relationships.
Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen."
Picture posted by Jesus is the way the truth and the life
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqZ2Q13pXLbh5A3vFyOgLYPcRXo9MVxufrJGiXzZsutcas4mgbkrXaJ28JRSxLg2KdEnqrIGVKJIs90YSG5w3rzFUmRX5eYapa-etiYonCh5UN28GAaVaZ5sTV5sjwq5I154vIm3RNFAybQcmmyAbwYTVbPd6xoJ0yeKUzq0zp_RD_2Mu62Rg1Xa9q-oQ/s1024/174495657f7dcdb80bbe7f3354e6ffd8.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/17/44/95/174495657f7dcdb80bbe7f3354e6ffd8.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/1055390493920806212/
Chapter 30 - Reflection - Family Scripts,
PHOTO: Family stories often have recurring theme. Some therapists call them "family scripts". It seems as though unwritten but nevertheless powerful scripts find expression, generation after generation.
Researchers have noted that certain behavioural patterns tend to be repeated in family histories. Alcoholism, suicide, domestic violence, disunity, and other patterns of family pathology are examples of family scripts that can be repeated across generations.
The idea of family scripts is not new. The stories of the ancient biblical patriarchs demonstrate a similar understanding. Take for instance Abraham's response to personal danger. God had called him to leave Ur to go to Canaan. When there was a famine in Canaan, Abraham decided to take refuge in Egypt. Before entering Egypt, however, he told his wife Saria: "I know what a beautiful woman you are. When Egyptians see you, they will say, 'This is his wife.' Then they will kill me but will let you live. Say you are my sister, so that . . . my life will be sparred because of you" (Genesis 12:11-13).
Notice Abraham's way of self-preservation. He lied to save his own skin. Worse, he was self-centred, willing to sacrifice his wife's safety and honour for his own survival. In that moment of panic and fear for his life, he ignored all that God had promised him - that he and his wife would produce a great nation (Genesis 12:2). Believing that Sarai was Abraham's unmarried sister, Pharaoh had her taken into his palace to be one of his wives. If not for God's intervention, the truth would not have surfaced and the story would have ended in tragedy.
Years later, there was another famine. Abraham's son, Isaac, fled to the land of the Philistines with his wife, Rebekah. There, he repeated his father's error (Genesis 26:1-11). Fearing for his life, he lied that Rebekah was his sister. When the Philistine king found out the truth, he confronted Isaac, who confessed that he had been afraid of losing his life. And as with Abraham, Isaac lied just after God had promised him that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky.
The details in those two stories have a striking resemblance, as if a script was repeating itself one generation to the next. Other scripts run in this ancient family - favouritism, for example, Isaac favoured his elder son Esau (Genesis 25:28). But Esau's twin, Jacob, plotted with his mother (who favoured him) to deceive his father, who was blind because of old age. He succeeded in diverting Isaac's blessing, meant for Esau, to himself. Years later, Jacob displayed favouritism too, favouring Joseph over his other children (Genesis 37:3).
Further in the Old Testament, family scripts can be identified in the stories of the kings of Israel and Judah. All 19 kings of Israel were judged by Scripture to be evil, guilty of idolatry and other sins. Twelve of the 20 kings of Judah were likewise evil. When the verdict is pronounced on a king, we often find these or similar words "He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, just as his fathers had done" (see for example, 1 Kings 15:3, 26; see also 22:52, where the mother is accused too). Similarly, when a good king is given approval, we find words such as "he did what was right just as his father had done" (see 2 Kings 15:3, 34) or "just as his father [i.e. ancestor] David had done" (2 Kings 18:3).
How are such family scripts passed on? The usual answers are nature (genes), nurture (upbringing), and spirit (spiritual heritage or baggage). All three answers are valid ones.
More importantly, what can be done about family scripts?
As a child, regardless of age, know your family's scripts. Some may be good, others bad. The key thing is to find another script - the one that redeems us. This script is the story of God's redemptive acts in the world, more specifically, the story of Jesus. The script is found in Scripture. We begin living inside it when we put our faith in Jesus and are baptised. For in our baptism we are identified with Christ; we are dead and buried with Christ, we are raised with Christ into new life (Romans 6:4).
In this way, Jesus' script becomes our lives' script. It frees us from bondage to all other scripts that would dictate our lives. It shows us that in the scripts we bring to Him, there are good things that already resonate with His script. We are thankful that the heavenly scriptwriter had been at work in our lives before we came to know Him. Indeed, in Christ, we thank God for the positive things in our family scripts (see 2 Timothy 3:15) and break free from the negative things.
As parent, recognise the influence you have on your children. Be aware of the tremendous power of modelling. As our children tend to mimic our attitudes and actions, you can make a positive difference in their lives. But what if your family script is bad? Will you inevitably pass those negative scripts down to your children and their descendants? Probably, if you are not careful, although the outcome also depends on factors such as your children's own character, experience, and other influences.
Nevertheless, God can rewrite and redeem our family scripts if we allow Him to. In Christ, we have received the Holy Spirit, who gives us the strength to make Christ's script our own script. The sinful scripts repeated in turn by our forebears can come to an end with us when we are immersed in the script of God's family. And we can leave behind a godly legacy for generations still to come.
Consider, then, the script you have received, the script you are living out, and the script you will pass on.
Picture posted by Captive Photography
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhphUImwAnoLzSLjMv43_csJPThEyn5mfBRwGG7tvcd1AgpJnRSMBMWdgfwnJMrZuldFo2ega1pf2Rr62LesT5bh8VLHLiEfn8P0bBGpdZuSG242jBrBKsL5DtsAeTfDDhB1lhlEfMWdVkmFWUKKbZmBqd9RVZG3lxcSyLZSSs7vXBU87YRERZwLIHxr0s/s1920/AntVic-Surrey-Wedding-606.jpg
https://www.captivephoto.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/AntVic-Surrey-Wedding-606.jpg
https://www.captivephoto.co.uk/wedding-group-photos/
Researchers have noted that certain behavioural patterns tend to be repeated in family histories. Alcoholism, suicide, domestic violence, disunity, and other patterns of family pathology are examples of family scripts that can be repeated across generations.
The idea of family scripts is not new. The stories of the ancient biblical patriarchs demonstrate a similar understanding. Take for instance Abraham's response to personal danger. God had called him to leave Ur to go to Canaan. When there was a famine in Canaan, Abraham decided to take refuge in Egypt. Before entering Egypt, however, he told his wife Saria: "I know what a beautiful woman you are. When Egyptians see you, they will say, 'This is his wife.' Then they will kill me but will let you live. Say you are my sister, so that . . . my life will be sparred because of you" (Genesis 12:11-13).
Notice Abraham's way of self-preservation. He lied to save his own skin. Worse, he was self-centred, willing to sacrifice his wife's safety and honour for his own survival. In that moment of panic and fear for his life, he ignored all that God had promised him - that he and his wife would produce a great nation (Genesis 12:2). Believing that Sarai was Abraham's unmarried sister, Pharaoh had her taken into his palace to be one of his wives. If not for God's intervention, the truth would not have surfaced and the story would have ended in tragedy.
Years later, there was another famine. Abraham's son, Isaac, fled to the land of the Philistines with his wife, Rebekah. There, he repeated his father's error (Genesis 26:1-11). Fearing for his life, he lied that Rebekah was his sister. When the Philistine king found out the truth, he confronted Isaac, who confessed that he had been afraid of losing his life. And as with Abraham, Isaac lied just after God had promised him that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky.
The details in those two stories have a striking resemblance, as if a script was repeating itself one generation to the next. Other scripts run in this ancient family - favouritism, for example, Isaac favoured his elder son Esau (Genesis 25:28). But Esau's twin, Jacob, plotted with his mother (who favoured him) to deceive his father, who was blind because of old age. He succeeded in diverting Isaac's blessing, meant for Esau, to himself. Years later, Jacob displayed favouritism too, favouring Joseph over his other children (Genesis 37:3).
Further in the Old Testament, family scripts can be identified in the stories of the kings of Israel and Judah. All 19 kings of Israel were judged by Scripture to be evil, guilty of idolatry and other sins. Twelve of the 20 kings of Judah were likewise evil. When the verdict is pronounced on a king, we often find these or similar words "He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, just as his fathers had done" (see for example, 1 Kings 15:3, 26; see also 22:52, where the mother is accused too). Similarly, when a good king is given approval, we find words such as "he did what was right just as his father had done" (see 2 Kings 15:3, 34) or "just as his father [i.e. ancestor] David had done" (2 Kings 18:3).
How are such family scripts passed on? The usual answers are nature (genes), nurture (upbringing), and spirit (spiritual heritage or baggage). All three answers are valid ones.
More importantly, what can be done about family scripts?
As a child, regardless of age, know your family's scripts. Some may be good, others bad. The key thing is to find another script - the one that redeems us. This script is the story of God's redemptive acts in the world, more specifically, the story of Jesus. The script is found in Scripture. We begin living inside it when we put our faith in Jesus and are baptised. For in our baptism we are identified with Christ; we are dead and buried with Christ, we are raised with Christ into new life (Romans 6:4).
In this way, Jesus' script becomes our lives' script. It frees us from bondage to all other scripts that would dictate our lives. It shows us that in the scripts we bring to Him, there are good things that already resonate with His script. We are thankful that the heavenly scriptwriter had been at work in our lives before we came to know Him. Indeed, in Christ, we thank God for the positive things in our family scripts (see 2 Timothy 3:15) and break free from the negative things.
As parent, recognise the influence you have on your children. Be aware of the tremendous power of modelling. As our children tend to mimic our attitudes and actions, you can make a positive difference in their lives. But what if your family script is bad? Will you inevitably pass those negative scripts down to your children and their descendants? Probably, if you are not careful, although the outcome also depends on factors such as your children's own character, experience, and other influences.
Nevertheless, God can rewrite and redeem our family scripts if we allow Him to. In Christ, we have received the Holy Spirit, who gives us the strength to make Christ's script our own script. The sinful scripts repeated in turn by our forebears can come to an end with us when we are immersed in the script of God's family. And we can leave behind a godly legacy for generations still to come.
Consider, then, the script you have received, the script you are living out, and the script you will pass on.
Picture posted by Captive Photography
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhphUImwAnoLzSLjMv43_csJPThEyn5mfBRwGG7tvcd1AgpJnRSMBMWdgfwnJMrZuldFo2ega1pf2Rr62LesT5bh8VLHLiEfn8P0bBGpdZuSG242jBrBKsL5DtsAeTfDDhB1lhlEfMWdVkmFWUKKbZmBqd9RVZG3lxcSyLZSSs7vXBU87YRERZwLIHxr0s/s1920/AntVic-Surrey-Wedding-606.jpg
https://www.captivephoto.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/AntVic-Surrey-Wedding-606.jpg
https://www.captivephoto.co.uk/wedding-group-photos/
PHOTO: Nevertheless, God can rewrite and redeem our family scripts if we allow Him to. In Christ, we have received the Holy Spirit, who gives us the strength to make Christ's script our own script. The sinful scripts repeated in turn by our forebears can come to an end with us when we are immersed in the script of God's family. And we can leave behind a godly legacy for generations still to come.
Picture posted by Lulu Anggoman
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQPbiqFdKainIrEF5PISY84VlPDNZ4-knLVaDEha3yWXQR0Rv_jhPopqjL-7rgyUR-g-WpujslyloLhAlHDo9Vxd9vBKRpduz0Q9rTfDZm02N1osLFxNtYVueBzY_DazHNhRG0CSyJ9veA08rwiUQWwGH6hSX8qiYNJRM3oXmDnHUgAd0GaPJOk23A9VA/s1024/f88862c398471dfdf37cb8d99a4cf492.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/f8/88/62/f88862c398471dfdf37cb8d99a4cf492.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/230035493461034181/
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/f8/88/62/f88862c398471dfdf37cb8d99a4cf492.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/230035493461034181/
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we pray that You rewrite and redeem our family scripts. May we received the Holy Spirit, who gives us the strength to make Christ's script our own script.
May the sinful scripts repeated in turn by our forebears can come to an end with us when we are immersed in the script of God's family.
Help us to leave behind a godly legacy for generations still to come.
Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen."
Picture posted by sairaart | Illustrator on Instagram
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAGIZbfldhp4-lKghyphenhyphenKRUarkhoTpLL7AKFJ5IDTT3KX2VY6ZThJ8o8eFQu0Ro9OGCgmib6rdvHfceqqPv53jnqRqTGLwHwXvoKKgqFxQwZWmu10Km43qUpcknsiaRb04W_rYmP1Qhg0uxlTaRSQU822TOh_qn8c5hcO8mVZTTvysxSM2O-sdglIbMq2pM/s1024/1ca2c53c1dc76b779bd0f434ef17878a.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/1c/a2/c5/1ca2c53c1dc76b779bd0f434ef17878a.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/45528646226575088/
Chapter 31 - Reflection - Kingdom or Republic?,
PHOTO: There
have been several attempts to unseat God from His heavenly throne.
Lucifer and his rebellious angel friends tried it a very long time ago -
and failed (Isaiah 14:12; Revelation 12: 7-9).
They have refused to accept defeat, and for some perplexing (puzzling)
purpose of God have been allowed to roam the earth, living in their
destructive delusion and seducing human beings to join them, until the
final reckoning before God.
There have been similar attempts on earth to dethrone God. Atheists have tried to show that God does not exist. Secularism (uninvolved with religion) has now become a giant umbrella under which human rebellion and hubris (pride) are nurtured. Under its shade stand numerous attempts to declare the death, disappearance, or diminishing of God.
One such attempt was made by award-winning British author Philip Pullman. In his bestselling His Dark Materials trilogy, Pullman portrays God as an irrelevant, confused, and weakened old being, and the church as a corrupt and cruel institution that must be dismantled. In the third volume, The Amber Spyglass, he has an angel describe God as deceptive:
[The angel] said quietly, "The Authority, God the Creator, the Lord, Yahweh, El, Adonai, the King, the Father, the Almighty - those were the names he gave himself. He was never the creator. He was an angel like ourselves - the first angel, true, the most powerful, but he was formed of Dust as we are . . . The first angels condensed out of Dust, and the Authority was the first of all. He told all who came after him that he had created them, but it was a lie." [1a]
To readers of the Bible, this would sound all too familiar (see Genesis 3:1-5). Pullman has publicly said that his works were an attempt to replace the worldview or another British writer for an earlier generation - C. S. Lewis - whose Narnia series raised generations of children on the story of Christ and the salvation He offers. Making his underlying beliefs and motives clear, Pullman told an Oxford literary conference in August 2000.
"We're used to kingdom of heaven; but you can tell from the general thrust of the book that I'm of the devil's party, like Milton. And I think it's time we thought about a republic of heaven instead of the kingdom of heaven. The king is dead. That's to say I believe the king is dead. I'm an atheist. But we need heaven nonetheless, we need all the things that heaven meant, we need joy, we need a sense of meaning and purpose in our lives, we need a connection with the universe, we need all the things the kingdom of heaven used to promise to but failed to deliver." [2]
It is no surprise, therefore, that Pullman's series ends with the "Republic of Heaven". Christians would reject such grand illusions. But the republic of heaven finds expression in unexpected places, even among the people of God. Deadly humanism and secularism have subtly infiltrated the church.
At times, this is obvious. The British writer David Boulton, once nurtured in the Plymouth Brethren Gospel Hall, abandons Christian faith in The Trouble with God: Religious Humanism and the Republic of Heaven, advocating instead a humanistic spirituality that sees God as an evolving, useful cultural idea. But the trouble, of course, is not with God; it is with us humans, with our rebellious and unbelieving hearts.
Sometimes, the infiltration of the republic of heaven into the church is more subtle (minute). Take, for instance, some of the songs we sing at our worship services, which express our enthroning of Jesus as Lord! The great weakness of these songs lies in faulty theology, although I am quite sure that the songwriters meant well and wanted only to express heartfelt devotional sentiments.
The problem is that the words of these songs put us at the centre of the universe, emphasising our praise of Jesus. We are the ones who enthrone Jesus and proclaim Him as King, as if our song and our worship serve to make Him Lord, King, and Saviour - and we ask Him to build His throne as we affirm His kingship.
The reality is that Jesus is the enthrone one, whether we acknowledge it or not, dependent in no way on our vote of approval expressed through adoration and praise. In our ancient creeds, we only confess what Scripture already teaches: that Jesus died and rose from the dead, that He ascended into heaven and is now seated on His throne at the right hand of the Father (Ephesians 1:20; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 1:3).
This Jesus is portrayed in Scripture in various ways. But the overwhelming, terrifying depiction of Jesus in Revelation 1:12-18 is seldom remembered by the church. When we meet Jesus, great and awesome, our proper response is not to tell Him to build His throne so that we can collectively enthrone Him, but to fall "as though dead" at the feet of the enthroned one. Jesus is not an elected king. His kingship is from everlasting to everlasting, independent of our decision and response.
The point is that heaven is a kingdom (authority of God), not a republic (a state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, and which has an elected or nominated president rather than a monarch). Efforts, either to dethrone God, or (perhaps as a reaction to this) to enthrone Him, take us away from the truth of God's eternal rule (Psalm 102:12). They make us man-centred.
Scripture is full of visions of God's eternal throne (Isaiah 6:1-3; Ezekiel 1; Revelation 4). His position is neither strengthened by our affirmation nor threatened by our rebellion. In fact, "the One enthroned in heaven laughs" at such folly, saying, "I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain" (Psalm 2:4-6). We are called to serve the Lord "with fear" and to "celebrate his rule with trembling" (Psalm 2:11).
Heaven is a kingdom. God is King, far above our democratic processes, opinions, decisions, and choices. We can only fall at the feet of the enthroned one and obey Him without hesitation. Heaven is certainly not a republic. The sooner we learn it, the better, on earth and in the church.
Picture posted by Jardim De Princesa
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic37kADGvV-Dz38jWYUNWxF3OtXVD7lT89kxG0GBVW4t7Es6C8-hDEU7powV192wV0cU6tuaUq-5E_kIRRcAVuBnFnpb_IMZYpt1ecG5myONmKIWxPZy3imFxV4pEOFF_mpTGyg1ukc80lip9NvMSRENMY8_5DBNe5nnZl8IpmR0CIg44Zh2Q-w-Ls36I/s1024/e9884674af36f1be669904e92a0ef45f.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/e9/88/46/e9884674af36f1be669904e92a0ef45f.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/543387511309153504/
There have been similar attempts on earth to dethrone God. Atheists have tried to show that God does not exist. Secularism (uninvolved with religion) has now become a giant umbrella under which human rebellion and hubris (pride) are nurtured. Under its shade stand numerous attempts to declare the death, disappearance, or diminishing of God.
One such attempt was made by award-winning British author Philip Pullman. In his bestselling His Dark Materials trilogy, Pullman portrays God as an irrelevant, confused, and weakened old being, and the church as a corrupt and cruel institution that must be dismantled. In the third volume, The Amber Spyglass, he has an angel describe God as deceptive:
[The angel] said quietly, "The Authority, God the Creator, the Lord, Yahweh, El, Adonai, the King, the Father, the Almighty - those were the names he gave himself. He was never the creator. He was an angel like ourselves - the first angel, true, the most powerful, but he was formed of Dust as we are . . . The first angels condensed out of Dust, and the Authority was the first of all. He told all who came after him that he had created them, but it was a lie." [1a]
To readers of the Bible, this would sound all too familiar (see Genesis 3:1-5). Pullman has publicly said that his works were an attempt to replace the worldview or another British writer for an earlier generation - C. S. Lewis - whose Narnia series raised generations of children on the story of Christ and the salvation He offers. Making his underlying beliefs and motives clear, Pullman told an Oxford literary conference in August 2000.
"We're used to kingdom of heaven; but you can tell from the general thrust of the book that I'm of the devil's party, like Milton. And I think it's time we thought about a republic of heaven instead of the kingdom of heaven. The king is dead. That's to say I believe the king is dead. I'm an atheist. But we need heaven nonetheless, we need all the things that heaven meant, we need joy, we need a sense of meaning and purpose in our lives, we need a connection with the universe, we need all the things the kingdom of heaven used to promise to but failed to deliver." [2]
It is no surprise, therefore, that Pullman's series ends with the "Republic of Heaven". Christians would reject such grand illusions. But the republic of heaven finds expression in unexpected places, even among the people of God. Deadly humanism and secularism have subtly infiltrated the church.
At times, this is obvious. The British writer David Boulton, once nurtured in the Plymouth Brethren Gospel Hall, abandons Christian faith in The Trouble with God: Religious Humanism and the Republic of Heaven, advocating instead a humanistic spirituality that sees God as an evolving, useful cultural idea. But the trouble, of course, is not with God; it is with us humans, with our rebellious and unbelieving hearts.
Sometimes, the infiltration of the republic of heaven into the church is more subtle (minute). Take, for instance, some of the songs we sing at our worship services, which express our enthroning of Jesus as Lord! The great weakness of these songs lies in faulty theology, although I am quite sure that the songwriters meant well and wanted only to express heartfelt devotional sentiments.
The problem is that the words of these songs put us at the centre of the universe, emphasising our praise of Jesus. We are the ones who enthrone Jesus and proclaim Him as King, as if our song and our worship serve to make Him Lord, King, and Saviour - and we ask Him to build His throne as we affirm His kingship.
The reality is that Jesus is the enthrone one, whether we acknowledge it or not, dependent in no way on our vote of approval expressed through adoration and praise. In our ancient creeds, we only confess what Scripture already teaches: that Jesus died and rose from the dead, that He ascended into heaven and is now seated on His throne at the right hand of the Father (Ephesians 1:20; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 1:3).
This Jesus is portrayed in Scripture in various ways. But the overwhelming, terrifying depiction of Jesus in Revelation 1:12-18 is seldom remembered by the church. When we meet Jesus, great and awesome, our proper response is not to tell Him to build His throne so that we can collectively enthrone Him, but to fall "as though dead" at the feet of the enthroned one. Jesus is not an elected king. His kingship is from everlasting to everlasting, independent of our decision and response.
The point is that heaven is a kingdom (authority of God), not a republic (a state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, and which has an elected or nominated president rather than a monarch). Efforts, either to dethrone God, or (perhaps as a reaction to this) to enthrone Him, take us away from the truth of God's eternal rule (Psalm 102:12). They make us man-centred.
Scripture is full of visions of God's eternal throne (Isaiah 6:1-3; Ezekiel 1; Revelation 4). His position is neither strengthened by our affirmation nor threatened by our rebellion. In fact, "the One enthroned in heaven laughs" at such folly, saying, "I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain" (Psalm 2:4-6). We are called to serve the Lord "with fear" and to "celebrate his rule with trembling" (Psalm 2:11).
Heaven is a kingdom. God is King, far above our democratic processes, opinions, decisions, and choices. We can only fall at the feet of the enthroned one and obey Him without hesitation. Heaven is certainly not a republic. The sooner we learn it, the better, on earth and in the church.
Picture posted by Jardim De Princesa
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic37kADGvV-Dz38jWYUNWxF3OtXVD7lT89kxG0GBVW4t7Es6C8-hDEU7powV192wV0cU6tuaUq-5E_kIRRcAVuBnFnpb_IMZYpt1ecG5myONmKIWxPZy3imFxV4pEOFF_mpTGyg1ukc80lip9NvMSRENMY8_5DBNe5nnZl8IpmR0CIg44Zh2Q-w-Ls36I/s1024/e9884674af36f1be669904e92a0ef45f.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/e9/88/46/e9884674af36f1be669904e92a0ef45f.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/543387511309153504/
PHOTO: The reality is that Jesus is the enthrone one, whether we acknowledge it or not, dependent in no way on our vote of approval expressed through adoration and praise. In our ancient creeds, we only confess what Scripture already teaches: that Jesus died and rose from the dead, that He ascended into heaven and is now seated on His throne at the right hand of the Father (Ephesians 1:20; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 1:3).
Picture posted by The Rev. Mark D. Riley on 05 May 2022
Picture is enlarged by AI-powered image upscaler from depositphotos at https://depositphotos.com/upscaler.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=button2&utm_campaign=ntf_upscaler&utm_content=en&iterable_campaign=2704095&iterable_template=3704971
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5TEiNTYy7vZBpmxnmsnMgnp2zdm4M5_7UsKZGjj93mycpEFs8ugvZkyOvxlDNxKHlza_QYTN0LyFKwsKrCg1RXkIV_vTDg1unkdqvNxoa8n5gHXJHf5hutAYU6m2VG8LJJuXOyb9G6jplM5NtE6q1VdjH3oISkR6cZmuGRZPdesORviXzw48aJEgt-s0/s1568/Trinity-1040x1568.jpg
https://dq5pwpg1q8ru0.cloudfront.net/2022/05/05/10/58/08/d72161a7-abac-4222-b685-abcc89d7af72/Trinity.jpg
https://www.saintfrancisvb.net/blog/who-jesus-christ-is
https://dq5pwpg1q8ru0.cloudfront.net/2022/05/05/10/58/08/d72161a7-abac-4222-b685-abcc89d7af72/Trinity.jpg
https://www.saintfrancisvb.net/blog/who-jesus-christ-is
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we pray that the overwhelming, terrifying depiction of Jesus in Revelation 1:12-18 is seldom remembered by the church. When we meet Jesus, great and awesome, our proper response is not to tell Him to build His throne so that we can collectively enthrone Him, but to fall 'as though dead' at the feet of the enthroned one. Jesus is not an elected king. His kingship is from everlasting to everlasting, independent of our decision and response.
We, humans, with our rebellious and unbelieving hearts may abandon Christian faith for Religious Humanism and the Republic of Heaven, advocating instead a humanistic spirituality that sees God as an evolving, useful cultural idea.
May we learn that Heaven is a kingdom. God is King, far above our democratic processes, opinions, decisions, and choices. We can only fall at the feet of the enthroned one and obey Him without hesitation. Heaven is certainly not a republic.
May we learn it as soon as possible. The sooner we learn it, the better, on earth and in the church.
Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen."
Picture posted by Ngahhoichong
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqbz58Jq9kxqMXG-EKxTekFtqd0csYF5nSN9Prs0QRyDISZF-OFT1Q1lpVSNwp4FaLmNAJIa-OYhRRhp-uWnrXazUwTju-9W0JRcdlj74ygZGBG4v1Xj6lqHm0jMSrBM-2U-yshwuI68437tjdS6cX44Fdjx4EKHUgUqBmmiq0zDuwJmCQplgznqumazE/s1024/9c78228ee8993309eff7ec69a4c98adf.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/9c/78/22/9c78228ee8993309eff7ec69a4c98adf.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/414683078206998000/
Chapter 32 - Reflection - Making Decisions in Church,
PHOTO: The
calm blue sea was a sight to behold at Crete, the Mediterranean island I
was visiting for a consultation. I tried to imagine the stormy waves
which caused a shipwreck a long time ago, the incident Luke the
evangelist recorded in Acts 27.
Paul had found it most difficult to convince his fellow travellers that they were on the verge of a potentially fatal decision. They had already experienced many difficulties on their journey. They changed ships and had to land at the ironically named Fair Havens (Acts 27:8). They now had to decide whether to continue sailing. Paul warned them against this for he perceived that setting sail at that time would be very dangerous (Acts 27:9-10). But he was up against a triumvirate (a group of three people who work together, especially when they are in charge of something) of powerful voices.
First, there were the experts. Both the pilot and the ship's owner advised that they should sail (Acts 27:11). Who could argue against the experts? After all, they would have known more than anyone else about ships, seas, and weather. When specific advice is sought, the experts have the loudest and most persuasive voice. They hold the microphone. Paul, the humble prisoner, had to manage without one.
Second, there was the majority. The travellers must have taken a vote and found that the majority agreed with the experts' decision to set sail (Acts 27:11). Paul's lonely voice was all too easily drowned by the popular vote.
Third, there were the circumstances. A "gentle south wind began to blow" - a confirmation, it seemed, of the wisdom of the majority's decision made on expert advice (Acts 27:13). This hardened their resolve and Paul ultimately could not convince them otherwise. Once they set sail, however, the gentle wind showed its true colours. It gave way to a fierce hurricane that resulted in shipwreck. It was only by the grace of God that all were saved from certain death.
This incident in the Bible can help us to reflect on how we make decisions in our churches. It is possible for us to make the wrong call, even with expert advice, a majority vote, and careful analysis of the circumstances.
How might expertise go wrong? For a start, specialised knowledge can be narrow and myopic (short-sighted), overly focused on the intricacies (complications) of the subject matter at hand, in contrast to a broader biblical wisdom that is wider in scope and deeper in its understanding of reality. Furthermore, expertise, as it is understood in the modern world, cannot be equated to spiritual maturity.
Asking experts to run the church may not be the wisest decision. When choosing church leaders, we must ensure that our focus does not shift from holy people to clever people. Of course, purity and professionalism, or character and competence, are not mutually exclusive (they cannot exist or happen together at the same time). But it is foolhardy to assume that competence guarantees character and that success in the marketplace is evidence of sound inner spirituality. If we are dazzled by the experts of the world and listen more intently to them than God's Word, we should do well to remember that success in the market place and success in God's kingdom operate on very different principles.
The contemporary church is often guided by what is popular with people who thrive in the world. We visit the same cinemas, restaurants, shopping centres, and holiday resorts. We watch the same TV shows, listen to the same songs, and surf the same internet. It is easy to like what is popular in the world. It is also easy to bring all that into the church. Yet, popular tastes and majority opinion can be wrong. They are not infallible sources of guidance. The church that relies more on opinion polls than on the Word and the Spirit is in great danger.
Finally, the church lives in two worlds, one visible and the other invisible. The greater part of reality is the unseen world, a truth we must remember when tempted to make decisions based chiefly on pragmatic (sensible) readings of the circumstances. Our heritage as the people of God includes invisible angel armies, a burning bush, and God's still small voice. To see beyond our finite human horizons, we must be devoted to prayer and Bible study, two disciplines which are, incidentally, among the primary tasks of pastors and those in positions of spiritual leaderships (Acts 6:4). unfortunately, our spiritual leaders are often so busy that their eyes are fixed only on horizons everyone else can see, neglecting the unseen realities that they are especially called to discern. Notice that everyone felt the gentle south wind, but it was Paul, the spiritual leader, who could see beyond overt (plain) circumstances and sense the coming hurricane (Acts 27:13-14).
Experts, the majority, and circumstances (or the professional, the popular, and the pragmatic) all have rightful places in guiding the church's decision-making, but we may have given them too much weight. They can all lead us astray in the absence of prayer and the faith handed down to us in God's Word. Paul had a better experience with another group of people - the church at Antioch (Acts 13:1-3). There, too, the people made a decision. They sent Paul and Barnabas on a missionary enterprise. Their decision was a godly one because it was made in the context of worship, prayer, and loving fellowship. Corporate guidance in the church, after all, is not essentially a management technique. It has to do with relationships, both vertical and horizontal.
The people in Acts 27 were a disparate (different) crowd while those in Acts 13 were a community, It is very difficult to make godly decisions in a crowd. Godly decisions cannot be planted in the barren (infertile) soil of a crowd. Rather, they are planted, bud and bloom and bear fruit in the fertile soil of authentic community. As churches, our best hope of making good and godly corporate choices is in allowing God to transform us from a crowd of self-centred individuals into a community of cross-bearing lovers of God and neighbour.
The moment we feel comfortable and confident in our own decision-making processes, God's Word disturbs us, convicting (declaring) us of our inadequacy. When it comes to making right decisions in church, the church can only sit at the Master's feet and learn to hear HIs voice - in, against, and beyond expert advice, majority votes, and market surveys.
Picture posted by 1africa.tv
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwI7x-y1jUXt63NJAk3S9_eMAzdqo-zRfbYcvGltgYY9yHNCkrY81ihyEF3e9HMJu3KSdlCj78pzBkUx_Mf8xJHj0UASyRczb1gAN0oJVYw8uJ4jiJiffjH5lHXy0NFQqvL_HJc69ZS670s7Q1EuRof80zFAr-yqezX5So0iZj2dX97MN9YDOZrw6sgBE/s696/crossroads-1-696x696_1.png
https://www.1africa.tv/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/crossroads-1-696x696.jpg
https://www.1africa.tv/do-shortcuts-work/
Paul had found it most difficult to convince his fellow travellers that they were on the verge of a potentially fatal decision. They had already experienced many difficulties on their journey. They changed ships and had to land at the ironically named Fair Havens (Acts 27:8). They now had to decide whether to continue sailing. Paul warned them against this for he perceived that setting sail at that time would be very dangerous (Acts 27:9-10). But he was up against a triumvirate (a group of three people who work together, especially when they are in charge of something) of powerful voices.
First, there were the experts. Both the pilot and the ship's owner advised that they should sail (Acts 27:11). Who could argue against the experts? After all, they would have known more than anyone else about ships, seas, and weather. When specific advice is sought, the experts have the loudest and most persuasive voice. They hold the microphone. Paul, the humble prisoner, had to manage without one.
Second, there was the majority. The travellers must have taken a vote and found that the majority agreed with the experts' decision to set sail (Acts 27:11). Paul's lonely voice was all too easily drowned by the popular vote.
Third, there were the circumstances. A "gentle south wind began to blow" - a confirmation, it seemed, of the wisdom of the majority's decision made on expert advice (Acts 27:13). This hardened their resolve and Paul ultimately could not convince them otherwise. Once they set sail, however, the gentle wind showed its true colours. It gave way to a fierce hurricane that resulted in shipwreck. It was only by the grace of God that all were saved from certain death.
This incident in the Bible can help us to reflect on how we make decisions in our churches. It is possible for us to make the wrong call, even with expert advice, a majority vote, and careful analysis of the circumstances.
How might expertise go wrong? For a start, specialised knowledge can be narrow and myopic (short-sighted), overly focused on the intricacies (complications) of the subject matter at hand, in contrast to a broader biblical wisdom that is wider in scope and deeper in its understanding of reality. Furthermore, expertise, as it is understood in the modern world, cannot be equated to spiritual maturity.
Asking experts to run the church may not be the wisest decision. When choosing church leaders, we must ensure that our focus does not shift from holy people to clever people. Of course, purity and professionalism, or character and competence, are not mutually exclusive (they cannot exist or happen together at the same time). But it is foolhardy to assume that competence guarantees character and that success in the marketplace is evidence of sound inner spirituality. If we are dazzled by the experts of the world and listen more intently to them than God's Word, we should do well to remember that success in the market place and success in God's kingdom operate on very different principles.
The contemporary church is often guided by what is popular with people who thrive in the world. We visit the same cinemas, restaurants, shopping centres, and holiday resorts. We watch the same TV shows, listen to the same songs, and surf the same internet. It is easy to like what is popular in the world. It is also easy to bring all that into the church. Yet, popular tastes and majority opinion can be wrong. They are not infallible sources of guidance. The church that relies more on opinion polls than on the Word and the Spirit is in great danger.
Finally, the church lives in two worlds, one visible and the other invisible. The greater part of reality is the unseen world, a truth we must remember when tempted to make decisions based chiefly on pragmatic (sensible) readings of the circumstances. Our heritage as the people of God includes invisible angel armies, a burning bush, and God's still small voice. To see beyond our finite human horizons, we must be devoted to prayer and Bible study, two disciplines which are, incidentally, among the primary tasks of pastors and those in positions of spiritual leaderships (Acts 6:4). unfortunately, our spiritual leaders are often so busy that their eyes are fixed only on horizons everyone else can see, neglecting the unseen realities that they are especially called to discern. Notice that everyone felt the gentle south wind, but it was Paul, the spiritual leader, who could see beyond overt (plain) circumstances and sense the coming hurricane (Acts 27:13-14).
Experts, the majority, and circumstances (or the professional, the popular, and the pragmatic) all have rightful places in guiding the church's decision-making, but we may have given them too much weight. They can all lead us astray in the absence of prayer and the faith handed down to us in God's Word. Paul had a better experience with another group of people - the church at Antioch (Acts 13:1-3). There, too, the people made a decision. They sent Paul and Barnabas on a missionary enterprise. Their decision was a godly one because it was made in the context of worship, prayer, and loving fellowship. Corporate guidance in the church, after all, is not essentially a management technique. It has to do with relationships, both vertical and horizontal.
The people in Acts 27 were a disparate (different) crowd while those in Acts 13 were a community, It is very difficult to make godly decisions in a crowd. Godly decisions cannot be planted in the barren (infertile) soil of a crowd. Rather, they are planted, bud and bloom and bear fruit in the fertile soil of authentic community. As churches, our best hope of making good and godly corporate choices is in allowing God to transform us from a crowd of self-centred individuals into a community of cross-bearing lovers of God and neighbour.
The moment we feel comfortable and confident in our own decision-making processes, God's Word disturbs us, convicting (declaring) us of our inadequacy. When it comes to making right decisions in church, the church can only sit at the Master's feet and learn to hear HIs voice - in, against, and beyond expert advice, majority votes, and market surveys.
Picture posted by 1africa.tv
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwI7x-y1jUXt63NJAk3S9_eMAzdqo-zRfbYcvGltgYY9yHNCkrY81ihyEF3e9HMJu3KSdlCj78pzBkUx_Mf8xJHj0UASyRczb1gAN0oJVYw8uJ4jiJiffjH5lHXy0NFQqvL_HJc69ZS670s7Q1EuRof80zFAr-yqezX5So0iZj2dX97MN9YDOZrw6sgBE/s696/crossroads-1-696x696_1.png
https://www.1africa.tv/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/crossroads-1-696x696.jpg
https://www.1africa.tv/do-shortcuts-work/
PHOTO: The moment we feel comfortable and confident in our own decision-making processes, God's Word disturbs us, convicting (declaring) us of our inadequacy. When it comes to making right decisions in church, the church can only sit at the Master's feet and learn to hear HIs voice - in, against, and beyond expert advice, majority votes, and market surveys.
Picture posted by Faith in GOD - God Confronts Adam and Eve
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoq1ASUsXoU-eMTfBAoV4h_mdrLjiCLt3XlkLXC0SNMxfGiib7LXkaVqorWHKTtRfnt8RBTG6Bg6PuLpEYS_a-J6C1mbGNdWLilQfV6u2tuyhohU5nmNbxxe0cX56mjHtzytFIdJIQmQmAyprlDwBqJ11biVDqMujD6EA6_tcgz7KHSewk9tXxCDC-fqI/s1200/897fe6d1c5066d587de1ac3364bce961.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/89/7f/e6/897fe6d1c5066d587de1ac3364bce961.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/26529085298770728/
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we pray that we may be transformed from a crowd of self-centred individuals into a community of cross-bearing lovers of God and neighbour.
The moment we feel comfortable and confident in our own decision-making processes, may God's Word disturbs us, convicting us of our inadequacy.
When it comes to making right decisions in church, may the church sit at the Master's feet and learn to hear HIs voice - in, against, and beyond expert advice, majority votes, and market surveys.
Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen."
Picture posted by Geysa
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUoZZlkQ0B64sQ1U1t62IIMnKGChxO5VUCKjNX7U-AGQlyCasAPYw2dz8obmqtpuR1EvB4CZJMKcFs-7akgoXx7_Ug10Cq8hzAEPbzXYW_9OAhE9rKIj4tnLJdPkkdlEjxus73eu_JYejsXACaGn5cZC1LLENhSRQlUIvWDR3kJst0SuM_bwkTZ_QPH04/s1024/2b1af6a2756e739132640f660300cb8d.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/2b/1a/f6/2b1af6a2756e739132640f660300cb8d.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/10203536650172032/
Chapter 33 - Reflection - No-frills Church?, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/09/reflection-in-church-no-frills-church.html [33]
PHOTO: From time to time, we hear of no-frills airlines, no-frills hotels, and the like. Will we also see the emergence of no-frills churches?
There is much good in the concept. It could greatly improve the church's spiritual health and maturity. The church would rise to a level of stewardship that powerfully demonstrates the message it tries to preach.
But what exactly does a "no-frills church" mean? I searched for "no-frills churches" on the internet and found several. Their websites did not really explain what was meant by "no-frills". After a while, however, I found that these "frills" consisted of liturgy, elaborate ritual, priesthood, paraments (cloth or tapestry hangings used to adorn the space for worship), and other elements that one would associate with older established churches. In one sense, it is true that the Protestants did away with the "frills" of the medieval church. They simplified the sanctuary, the ministry, and the liturgy, cutting away what they considered to be unnecessary and excessive, existing things that distorted the gospel and obscured the church's true mission.
One needs to remember the logic behind the trimming of such frills in the first place, lest we fall into a sort of anti-liturgical minimalism (stripped to its essentials) that is overly simplistic. A church that does away with what it thinks are liturgical frills may still end up with vain material trappings and an excess of self-indulgent activities. These types of frills are the concern of this chapter.
The logic of a no-frills airline is cutting cost and focusing on the core business, which is to bring passenger from one point to another. Everything else, such as in-flight entertainment, is considered a frill. Some passengers, though not all, prefer it this way. Hence the success of no-frills airlines.
I'm not sure if a similar strategy would work for the church. Modern Christianity has increasingly produced consumer Christians who shop around for churches, looking for various things. American pastor Eugene Peterson rightly pointed out that pastors (and churches) have become more and more like shopkeepers. Their primary concerns are now packing their "product", retaining their "customers", and dealing with the "competition". [1a]
Churches therefore end up spending much on themselves, on buildings packed with facilities, on sanctuaries equipped with state-of-the-art technology, for worshippers' comfort and maximum satisfaction. They may also run a whole array of activities that have very little to do with the core business of the church.
What if churches try to be like the no-frills airlines? Would it work? I have doubts on two counts. First, will consumer Christians buy this? A no-frills church would have little attraction for them. While no-frills airlines charge less to maximise their profits, no-frills churches spend less to maximise what they can give away to the needy. We are not talking about Christians decreasing their giving to the Lord, but about how the church spends the money Christians give. It is like asking full-service airline passengers to fly no-frills airlines but at unreduced prices. Such a proposition would not make sense to consumers.
But our pews must be filled not with consumers, but with disciples of Christ. A no-frills church would make great sense to Christ's disciples. After all, God often showed himself in Scripture without frills. The first Christmas, unlike our contemporary celebrations, was a no-frills event. The birth of Christ took place in a stable, not a luxury hotel or a palace. The visitors that night were poor shepherds, not the who's who of the ancient world. No expensive fireworks lit the sky, but a single star in the heavens guided the wise men. The birth of the living Son of God was undoubtedly a no-frills event.
When the Israelites wandered in the desert, the daily menu God gave them was simple. It was a no-frills diet of manna, just enough for each day (Exodus 16). Indeed, the journey that God invites us on is a no-frills journey.
When Jesus met the rich young ruler, He saw him sinking spiritually under the weight of heavy frills (Matthew 19:16-30). Pitying the man, Jesus told him to sell all his possessions, give to the poor, and then come follow Him. But the man could not part with his frills and remained a lost soul. Jesus himself, on the other hand, had "no place to lay his head" (Matthew 8:20). His was truly a no-frills ministry.
Those who were His authentic disciples learned this lesson quickly. The apostle had left their possessions to follow Christ (Matthew 19:27). Later, Peter declared to a crippled beggar: "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you" (Acts 3:6). The early Christians shared their possessions so that there was no needy person among them (Acts 4:34). They collected money for the poor and cared for the destitute (extremely poor) (Acts 9:36; Romans 15:16). They turned the world upside down. This was a no-frills church.
Today, the church spends far too much on itself, on comfort and cosmetics. For many outside the church, we look like a socialite who frequently self-pampers. Some money is spent on charity, but this is often seen as tokenism (seems like that money is spent on charity). The day we dress in simple clothes and spend our resources helping the poor will be the day we will be believed. There is a radiant power about barefoot saints, and saints who go about simply, spending almost all they have on others, especially the poor and downtrodden. That same radiance will shine from a no-frills church that resembles its God, who, keeping nothing for himself, spent all He had on the cross to redeem a broken world.
Picture posted by Tennessee Baptist and Reflector on 14 September 2024 - Byron Ash, pastor of Cowpunchers Cowboy Church in Shelbyville, back row with cowboy hat, recently baptized an entire family of new believers, the Wagners. They family now regularly attends the church, driving roughly 100 miles roundtrip to be at Cowpunchers each week.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmby_EQSHEA1qFVB2HTSKemFW3lxDt1etOxVxucaTmOTXsAIB7GKaG69fxYXIU9HpS1LXlwwNX6bXMyUh1j235AALOivReD-p8d6i-A0KKZAKjfE6AqPj7n3WH12jYfAIj7blT9Qos8UOVTqWlIK-JkmtrfMxwcKr2im0xSMuG3iXt9SP-straW3u2NE/s698/091124-Cowboy-Church-e1726237031619.jpg
https://thebaptistpaper.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/091124-Cowboy-Church-e1726237031619.jpg
https://thebaptistpaper.org/no-frills-cowboy-church-steers-lost-to-jesus-in-tennessee/
PHOTO: Those who were His authentic disciples learned this lesson quickly. The apostle had left their possessions to follow Christ (Matthew 19:27). Later, Peter declared to a crippled beggar: "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you" (Acts 3:6). The early Christians shared their possessions so that there was no needy person among them (Acts 4:34). They collected money for the poor and cared for the destitute (extremely poor) (Acts 9:36; Romans 15:16). They turned the world upside down. This was a no-frills church.
Picture posted by Bible Art - Acts 3:6-7
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIuYuFGq2pdv1lfqWqN3xH0cnNCN6jwtMrEoSPCJXRlu89WbS7qMfFfy8wd48gkYgaRvgBXXsu72Nxr4kUajs2RRqR4geX8XdFjorlZ4vP3qJvVBo6RMCZ82DmOQHW6zUaIIrqbE_OQ86kYrAKTC75bCd2kkJ8KsoKGGOiTW0Epdq8KZb-EiSBdrzOLoQ/s1024/711d639f-a793-4f51-9cad-870427ae67a3-compressed.jpg
https://media.bible.art/711d639f-a793-4f51-9cad-870427ae67a3-compressed.jpg
https://bible.art/p/n1GW4jaZI5pFAAYW9Oru/acts-3-6-7
https://media.bible.art/711d639f-a793-4f51-9cad-870427ae67a3-compressed.jpg
https://bible.art/p/n1GW4jaZI5pFAAYW9Oru/acts-3-6-7
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, today, the church spends far too much on itself, on comfort and cosmetics. For many outside the church, we look like a socialite who frequently self-pampers. Some money is spent on charity, but this is often seen as tokenism.
We pray we dress in simple clothes and spend our resources helping the poor so that we will be believed. There is a radiant power about barefoot saints go about simply, spending almost all they have on others, especially the poor and downtrodden.
May that same radiance will shine from a no-frills church that resembles its God, who, keeping nothing for himself, spent all He had on the cross to redeem a broken world.
Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen."
Picture posted by Bible Art - Luke 4:1 - "And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,"
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWuQv_yh1eEi_SLPkf3TaG4GgphGSqubYw9jF3kAeUVFel6agbnw_C_Nmn0l59bPDQdIwesFmVV2JZYjutLl6tje4rP53PDGwhb2gPiuQb62O-INDZm-WftP4DckeS9y3eJ81iAV_BTF8P9KGgQxGH2OdHhCx-hYYFh81PJ7wKYbOxvlO78SmPWE_c1gY/s1024/8f1b481b-385d-4612-8c73-ef94ca9cdd14-compressed.jpg
https://media.bible.art/8f1b481b-385d-4612-8c73-ef94ca9cdd14-compressed.jpg
https://bible.art/p/uLyGSH7T6mXFLUrcStxr
Chapter 34 - Reflection - Revive Us, O Lord, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/09/reflection-in-church-no-frills-church.html [34]
PHOTO: Imagine
what would happen if John Wesley's experience on May 24, 1738 was
reproduced thousandfold among us. Most of us would describe it as a
revival, or great awakening, or renewal. Wesley's experience sparked his
long ministry of revival in Britain and later America. Methodism became
a renewal movement which he hoped would strengthen the Church of
England.
Let us look again at Wesley's own description of his experience:
In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading Luther's preface to the Epistle to the Romans. About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death. [1a]
In these oft-quoted words are captured the two essential components of revival, found also in Wesley's understanding of the Methodist calling: to spread "scriptural holiness". In this phrase, we find the dual foundations of revival - Scripture and holiness.
Notice how Wesley was listening to Luther's preface to Romans at the time of his Aldersgate experience. Revival is connected to the discovery and rediscovery of Scripture. It is no surprise that Wesley would gather a group of preachers for the proclamation of the gospel, essentially calling them to a ministry of the Word. Wesley, who recruited, appointed, and supervised them, expected them to share his high regard for Scripture, expressed in how he described himself: homo unius libri (a man of one book - the Bible). Scripture was central to the Wesleyan revival.
The early Methodists were not the only ones to be revived by Scripture. When the Jewish exiles returned to the promised land from Babylon, God sent Ezra to encourage them Ezra brought before the people the Word of God, reading from it and explaining it. A great change came upon the people that day (Nehemiah 8). Witness again the centrality of Scripture to revival.
The other foundation of revival is a focus on holiness. Wesley defined salvation as being saved "from the law of sin and death". For a long time, he had earnestly sought holiness, and finally, he knew the freedom that comes from the Holy Spirit. He now had the profound assurance that his sins were forgiven by God through Christ, and thus in Christ he had been given victory over sin and power to be holy. To Wesley, holiness is applied to both the personal and social spheres of life. Personal holiness has to do with who we are in relation to God and social holiness has to do with righteous relationships with others.
Wesley's experience echoed Ezra's. The people in Ezra's day wept as they were convicted of their sins and repented with much humility. Revival always produces repentance and humility, signs of hearts hungering to be holy.
Scripture and holiness are therefore the hallmarks of true revival. We must remember this, for revival can come in many forms. The 18th century saw several revivals (or awakenings) in Britain, America, and Europe. Theologian Richard Steele identifies four different models of revival: [2]
First, revival in a local community spearheaded by the local pastor. This was the case for the spiritual awakening in New England, which centred around the ministry of Jonathan Edwards, the Congregationalist pastor and theologian.
Second, revival in a large area, affecting private individuals in large crowds. One such revival was sparked by the ministry of the English Calvinist preacher George Whitefield, an early associate of Wesley. Whitefield preached to the masses at a time characterised by burgeoning commerce, social anonymity and rootlessness, and the birth of the private self.
The third model involves spiritual renewal through dynamic small groups, which Steele associates with Count Zinzendorf, who led the Moravian Brethren in Saxony.
Steele attributes the fourth model to Wesley, whose approach to revival was eclectic (wide-ranging) and a hybrid (combination) of the others.
If the forms of revival are so varied, how could we tell true and false revival apart? Wesley offers five characteristics of true revival: new discernment (self-knowledge and a sense for holiness), direction (a sense of purpose in life), desire (holy passions and inclinations), dealings (renewed relationships), and deeds (actions springing from love of God and neighbour).
It is helpful to return to where we begin. The two key characteristics of true revival are a return to Scripture and evidence of personal and social holiness. Revival is often mistakenly thought of as the discovery of something new. It is, to the contrary, the rediscovery of something old. In revival, the ancient ways of God are rediscovered, with the freshness of immediate experience.
Revival is also misunderstood when it becomes an end in itself. That is revivalism and not revival. Revivalism is the need for constant novelty, an insatiable restlessness fuelled by superficial stirrings of the soul. It is like surface waves and ripples on the face of a body of water. True revival, on the other hand, is like a deep powerful current, producing lasting transformation of the soul, bringing forth humility, holiness, and love.
We who follow Christ can pray that God will revive us (Psalm 80:18). We can show that we mean what we pray by returning to Scripture and holiness. Then our Lord can place His wounded hands into the chasm (abyss) of our souls, bringing about new life within us, among us, and through us.
Picture posted b y Matt Brown, think eternity - Signposts of Revival
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS76dk29wcOqkbHS09gIwk59biFTyOSDXKOI2sK8wcr3lrxK8gtZ05Mi2A8UZZMmveledb33zP0DAuCb0Z8nFSZmxEK16llxfSI_T_Axf-ActOIB_YWXOZdSLgaPHUHQoBxckMCsR4_w858SZteXl7vpPsYGUc01cLc1OmHSDrMOTYrvWR4rar454Wmdo/s1500/signposts-revival.jpg
https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/601093fd30ef2d697a10ecba/1615569701654-4US04YHDFZTNG1J6XYR9/signposts-revival.jpg?format=1500w&content-type=image%2Fjpeg
https://thinke.org/blog/signposts-revival
Let us look again at Wesley's own description of his experience:
In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading Luther's preface to the Epistle to the Romans. About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death. [1a]
In these oft-quoted words are captured the two essential components of revival, found also in Wesley's understanding of the Methodist calling: to spread "scriptural holiness". In this phrase, we find the dual foundations of revival - Scripture and holiness.
Notice how Wesley was listening to Luther's preface to Romans at the time of his Aldersgate experience. Revival is connected to the discovery and rediscovery of Scripture. It is no surprise that Wesley would gather a group of preachers for the proclamation of the gospel, essentially calling them to a ministry of the Word. Wesley, who recruited, appointed, and supervised them, expected them to share his high regard for Scripture, expressed in how he described himself: homo unius libri (a man of one book - the Bible). Scripture was central to the Wesleyan revival.
The early Methodists were not the only ones to be revived by Scripture. When the Jewish exiles returned to the promised land from Babylon, God sent Ezra to encourage them Ezra brought before the people the Word of God, reading from it and explaining it. A great change came upon the people that day (Nehemiah 8). Witness again the centrality of Scripture to revival.
The other foundation of revival is a focus on holiness. Wesley defined salvation as being saved "from the law of sin and death". For a long time, he had earnestly sought holiness, and finally, he knew the freedom that comes from the Holy Spirit. He now had the profound assurance that his sins were forgiven by God through Christ, and thus in Christ he had been given victory over sin and power to be holy. To Wesley, holiness is applied to both the personal and social spheres of life. Personal holiness has to do with who we are in relation to God and social holiness has to do with righteous relationships with others.
Wesley's experience echoed Ezra's. The people in Ezra's day wept as they were convicted of their sins and repented with much humility. Revival always produces repentance and humility, signs of hearts hungering to be holy.
Scripture and holiness are therefore the hallmarks of true revival. We must remember this, for revival can come in many forms. The 18th century saw several revivals (or awakenings) in Britain, America, and Europe. Theologian Richard Steele identifies four different models of revival: [2]
First, revival in a local community spearheaded by the local pastor. This was the case for the spiritual awakening in New England, which centred around the ministry of Jonathan Edwards, the Congregationalist pastor and theologian.
Second, revival in a large area, affecting private individuals in large crowds. One such revival was sparked by the ministry of the English Calvinist preacher George Whitefield, an early associate of Wesley. Whitefield preached to the masses at a time characterised by burgeoning commerce, social anonymity and rootlessness, and the birth of the private self.
The third model involves spiritual renewal through dynamic small groups, which Steele associates with Count Zinzendorf, who led the Moravian Brethren in Saxony.
Steele attributes the fourth model to Wesley, whose approach to revival was eclectic (wide-ranging) and a hybrid (combination) of the others.
If the forms of revival are so varied, how could we tell true and false revival apart? Wesley offers five characteristics of true revival: new discernment (self-knowledge and a sense for holiness), direction (a sense of purpose in life), desire (holy passions and inclinations), dealings (renewed relationships), and deeds (actions springing from love of God and neighbour).
It is helpful to return to where we begin. The two key characteristics of true revival are a return to Scripture and evidence of personal and social holiness. Revival is often mistakenly thought of as the discovery of something new. It is, to the contrary, the rediscovery of something old. In revival, the ancient ways of God are rediscovered, with the freshness of immediate experience.
Revival is also misunderstood when it becomes an end in itself. That is revivalism and not revival. Revivalism is the need for constant novelty, an insatiable restlessness fuelled by superficial stirrings of the soul. It is like surface waves and ripples on the face of a body of water. True revival, on the other hand, is like a deep powerful current, producing lasting transformation of the soul, bringing forth humility, holiness, and love.
We who follow Christ can pray that God will revive us (Psalm 80:18). We can show that we mean what we pray by returning to Scripture and holiness. Then our Lord can place His wounded hands into the chasm (abyss) of our souls, bringing about new life within us, among us, and through us.
Picture posted b y Matt Brown, think eternity - Signposts of Revival
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS76dk29wcOqkbHS09gIwk59biFTyOSDXKOI2sK8wcr3lrxK8gtZ05Mi2A8UZZMmveledb33zP0DAuCb0Z8nFSZmxEK16llxfSI_T_Axf-ActOIB_YWXOZdSLgaPHUHQoBxckMCsR4_w858SZteXl7vpPsYGUc01cLc1OmHSDrMOTYrvWR4rar454Wmdo/s1500/signposts-revival.jpg
https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/601093fd30ef2d697a10ecba/1615569701654-4US04YHDFZTNG1J6XYR9/signposts-revival.jpg?format=1500w&content-type=image%2Fjpeg
https://thinke.org/blog/signposts-revival
PHOTO: Second, revival in a large area, affecting private individuals in large crowds. One such revival was sparked by the ministry of the English Calvinist preacher George Whitefield, an early associate of Wesley. Whitefield preached to the masses at a time characterised by burgeoning commerce, social anonymity and rootlessness, and the birth of the private self.
Picture posted by Media Store House - Whitefield Preaching
Picture is enlarged by AI-powered image upscaler from depositphotos at https://depositphotos.com/upscaler.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=button2&utm_campaign=ntf_upscaler&utm_content=en&iterable_campaign=2704095&iterable_template=3704971
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVFQh_fBvVHSNYaJdEszYGCLZ19nAUaVuZq1qjGTpZRssuU1qfy_58xgFZ7I81DcTjVrG5qTkwQ__VzfvNifdrQZ1V6Nc9EBg4JD5PlAs2kMcTUwxHzADU8mSn5pPcp_GkIWYtklgi2TGkMTK95q7cAi2yPHepYUUhMvWHkNCT2GxfSPj0Q7fZ8GwoQx0/s1200/whitefield-preaching-engraving-22692360-1200x828.jpg
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVFQh_fBvVHSNYaJdEszYGCLZ19nAUaVuZq1qjGTpZRssuU1qfy_58xgFZ7I81DcTjVrG5qTkwQ__VzfvNifdrQZ1V6Nc9EBg4JD5PlAs2kMcTUwxHzADU8mSn5pPcp_GkIWYtklgi2TGkMTK95q7cAi2yPHepYUUhMvWHkNCT2GxfSPj0Q7fZ8GwoQx0/s1200/whitefield-preaching-engraving-22692360-1200x828.jpg
PHOTO: "Dear
Lord, we pray that You will revive us. May we show that we mean what we
pray by returning to Scripture and holiness. Then may our Lord place
His wounded hands into the chasm of our souls, bringing about new life
within us, among us, and through us.
Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen."
Picture posted by Prof. Mel
Picture posted by Prof. Mel
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFMesDNeKR67oS7txb-SJLGRbMhv6oCfFe213Gfmv9cpc9_QNulL6FQy-8SSRBkHIl1xbJnaKKqE2Xj_wSPpmIoYShwS7fpreVWfBrfPOyrtSP2zDjTM3CUh6c8wu54KQfUgP0Epql1422tgpF6kaRaDviH_UNid5U_re87BhiXeVMrxb8KzxDqK__CCY/s1024/cff80ba8cd18fca416d0f17f6537f4b0.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/cf/f8/0b/cff80ba8cd18fca416d0f17f6537f4b0.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/3729612236602338/
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/cf/f8/0b/cff80ba8cd18fca416d0f17f6537f4b0.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/3729612236602338/
Chapter 35 - Reflection - Worship and Theology,
PHOTO: When A. W. Tozer declared that worship was the "missing jewel" in the church, [1a] it was early 20th century, when the church was more concerned about other things. Today, however, worship has become a central issue. This demonstrates a healthy interest in something that should be a core experience for all Christians.
Unfortunately, conversations about worship often focus on taste rather than truth. This is unsurprising in our day and age, when absolute truth and objective values are unfashionable concepts. Everything is said to be relative, depending on one's opinions and taste. Subjective experience has replaced objective truth. The entertainment industry is plugged in to these postmodern ideas, as their fleeting and often superficial products demonstrate.
Such trends have affected the church and its worship. Much time is spent on entertaining worshippers and ensuring their comfort. But it is precisely such matters that engage the peripheral issue of taste and not the central issue of truth. The question to ask is not "How do we make worship enjoyable?", but "How should we worship God?". This is where theology comes in.
Our Lord Jesus said that His Father in heaven is looking for worshippers who can worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:23). Jesus then declared: "God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in the Spirit and in truth" (John 4:24). Note the close connection between theology and worship. The phrase "God is spirit" is a theological statement, saying something about who God is. This theological statement is quickly followed by a description (or rather, a prescription) of the way God is to be worshipped.
The relationship between right theology and right worship is seen throughout Scripture. Worship is not simply a matter of finding creative ways to express positive sentiments towards God. Before right worship can take place, there must be revelation. We can only worship on the basis of what God has revealed of himself to us. Attempting to worship God without basing it on revelation would lead to idolatry, as we so often discover in the Old Testament.
When Moses was with God on the mountain receiving God's law and commands, the Israelites became impatient and engaged in worship without revelation, or worship without theology (Deuteronomy 9). They ended up with a golden calf. Moses was greatly angered and God's heart was broken by the people's idolatry.
God gave Israel clear and specific instructions on how to worship Him, especially from Exodus 25 onwards and various parts of the book of Leviticus. All these instructions tell us something about what God has revealed concerning himself.
When we come to the New Testament, we meet doubting Thomas, one of Jesus' disciples. Thomas did not believe the testimony of his fellow disciples that the Master had indeed been raised from the dead. So, when the risen Christ appeared to Thomas in bodily form, Christ invited Thomas to feel His nail-pierced hands. The sight of the risen Lord stirred up the apostle's soul. Thomas worshipped Jesus by addressing Him as "my Lord and my God" (John 20:28). Note again the connection between revelation and worship, between right knowledge of God and right worship of God.
Theology is often dismissed as esoteric (secret) or irrelevant, even by Christians. Somehow, theology and worship, or theology and discipleship, are seen as antithetical (contrary to), completely opposed.
But what actually is theology? Literally, "theology" refers to the study of God. It is the disciplined reflection on what Scripture says about God, man, and creation. From this reflection, we develop statements we call "doctrines". Thus, theology is the church's reflection on God's revealed truth. Theology is essential if we want our worship and work to be guided by God's truth.
Let us confine our discussion here to how our doctrines guide our worship. Take, for instance, our belief in the Trinity. We believe in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And yet, in worship, we sometimes get all confused. I remember a young worship leader who would pray to "Father Jesus" during the service! I discussed the matter with him and corrected him. I have also heard leaders addressing the Father in prayer and thanking Him for dying on the cross for us, when in fact they were referring to His Son, Jesus.
The Holy Spirit is a Person, but Christians often think of Him as some impersonal force. I once heard a preacher comparing the Holy Spirit to jet fuel and urging his listeners to have more of the Holy Spirit. Suffice to say that right doctrine and good theology help us to ensure that the right words are used in worship, for words have great influence on us.
Beyond words, right doctrine and good theology also have an impact on our attitudes in worship. If we believe that God is holy and awesome, our worship should reflect the reverence due Him. Alas, such reverence is missing in much of the worship in churches today. If we believe that God is present with us when we worship, we would not be casual or nonchalant before Him, as may sometimes be the case. If we believe that we are sinners, we would come to worship God with repentant and humble hearts. But how many of our services contain adequate time for confession and repentance?
If we believe that the Bible is the Word of God, how much attention should we give to the reading and preaching of the Word? How do our doctrines of the universal church, death, and eternal life affect our services? What truths would an observer of our worship discover about God and man? The way we worship will reveal what we actually believe, and what we actually believe will affect the way we worship.
It is therefore important that we allow doctrine to guide our devotion. Otherwise, our devotion risks being idolatrous or superficial. God's truth matters. It must determine, shape, and inspire our worship. Worship is our response to God's truth. In the words of English hymnwriter and theologian F. W. Faber, "deep theology is the best fuel of devotion, it readily catches fire, and once kindled it burns long". [2] Sound doctrine produces true devotion. True devotion deepens sound doctrine. Doctrine and devotion are not strangers, or even distant cousins. They are more like hammer and nail. They make sense when they are seen together.
Picture posted by Effie Darlene Barba on 15 September 2020, Inspiring Joy in Lifes Toughest Moments
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtVBxxnDgOk8Jb9HG3U-1FIG_XYGdKYdF0lyoH0IS8CETPXxlESh2QP915cYGBvl8L810bPhd9YJiZ1KKQWogBsSfwEESOe0_AZdvzM7D5HU9orU4MahUecxsfBAC-JgkAnzTsoWhalotTfboswFt9khN8Rr2KmfO8iDXGKkSigJcri21gNkZl63iGb-Y/s1024/kacas0354.png
https://i0.wp.com/myglorytoglory.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/kacas0354.jpg
https://myglorytoglory.com/blog/to-the-glory-of-his-grace/
PHOTO: But what actually is theology? Literally, "theology" refers to the study of God. It is the disciplined reflection on what Scripture says about God, man, and creation. From this reflection, we develop statements we call "doctrines". Thus, theology is the church's reflection on God's revealed truth. Theology is essential if we want our worship and work to be guided by God's truth.
Picture posted by G. Connor Salter on 24 June 2024
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMH7YWf8cXvw4ssfj24pn6WcQ3mxgT__lh_r4gyKJ_qas2fTPpCiXY6iZdxvh9WOSHLIgnCwgG63l_vjo2I7YsgaoX2DbDvbLp0FLUSPVghdA5oIv8wPNE4K7TYeBdZv9O_kX4fCsvv1tWQwx18aq9k_QmDfHGIWQWeHLYjO0bJOSIuIe2xkNqspwPtJA/s950/36454-god-in-storm-clouds_source_file.png
https://i.swncdn.com/media/950w/via/images/2024/06/19/36454/36454-god-in-storm-clouds_source_file.webp
https://www.christianity.com/wiki/god/do-we-know-what-god-looks-like.html
https://i.swncdn.com/media/950w/via/images/2024/06/19/36454/36454-god-in-storm-clouds_source_file.webp
https://www.christianity.com/wiki/god/do-we-know-what-god-looks-like.html
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we pray we allow doctrine to guide our devotion or our devotion risks being idolatrous or superficial.
God's truth matters. May it determine, shape, and inspire our worship.
Worship is our response to God's truth. May our 'deep theology be the best fuel of devotion, it readily catches fire, and once kindled it burns long'.
May our doctrine and devotion be together because sound doctrine produces true devotion, and true devotion deepens sound doctrine..
Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen."
Picture posted by Bible Art
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZSMrnFf6vwaID25u0ptkIVTiqRmW9EA1JMXSmRQ6bTvy-bOe95tD5smAvKEd4sLXq8PFQpOikO1n3nolZ9CZzJEh6qCEDik8F9aEGHYE4DT_1rqd2lic3Hb55LDScO2GY7ygvmMzpbG4P4s5KS8ABCF4kmFM5B6h4yaF9BhRcQul3V4vUceLQg5-KvJs/s1024/79abee36-1fd0-4a4e-9658-71137fe73e33-compressed.jpg
https://media.bible.art/79abee36-1fd0-4a4e-9658-71137fe73e33-compressed.jpg
https://bible.art/p/wbOFSxWmFlE1y7uemgGA/john-4-16
Chapter 36 - Reflection - Reflections on Theological Education,
PHOTO: We
generally expect pastors and church workers to have completed a
programme of formal theological education. And why not? After all, don't
we expect doctors, pilots, and bus drivers, in whose hands we often
entrust our lives, to have been trained and certified?
But what exactly is theological education? What do people do in seminaries such as Trinity Theological College (TTC) in Singapore? For people who have never stepped into a seminary or attended a seminary class, the answer is probably a mystery. Some even consider theological education a waste of time, joking unkindly that the seminary is a cemetery where one's faith gets buried. Such sayings reflect a serious misunderstanding of what theological education is all about, and what it seeks to achieve.
Theologian Edward Farley divides the history of theological education in America into three parts. [1a] The first period spanned the 17th and 18th centuries - a "period of pious (religious) learning" when theological studies were considered to be an "exercise in piety". In the second period, from the 19th century to the middle of the 20th century, theological education was regarded as "specialized learning . . . in which the student is exposed to a considerable number of scholarly methods and disciplines, known now as the departments or areas of the theological school". The third period, in the later half of the 20th century, saw seminaries increasingly focus on "professional education", training professional ministers for specialised functions. In these three periods, emphasis was placed on spirituality, scholarship, and skills respectively.
Problems arise when we start to debate which of these three emphases is the most important and should therefore be the central focus of theological education. From time to time, we hear complaints that a certain pastor lacks skills necessary for effective ministry (such as preaching or leadership), and that the seminary should have focused on developing these. Others may express concern that a pastor's lack of academic rigour (thoroughness) might not meet the needs of his well-educated and cerebral congregation. Yet others may wish that their pastor was "more spiritual".
Actually, the seminary embraces all three goals. It aims to develop spirituality, scholarship, and skill, through a process of spiritual formation and "traditioning". Seminaries seek to shape people by Word and Spirit, and to ground them in the ways of the church's faith. Here is where we must note that theological education takes place not only in the seminary. It also happens at church.
To obtain a basic theological degree, candidates study for about three years in seminary. Before this, however, they would have had many more years in church. The church must therefore put into motion the key processes of spiritual formation and traditioning, even before a candidate enters seminary. The seminary would then build on existing foundations, providing more formal and focused training to prepare the candidate for ministry.
These days, seminaries also provide theological education for laypeople wishing to enlarge their capacity to serve. While this is encouraging, the seminary must not lose sight of its primary role - that of forming pastors and full-time church workers, the ones who should have charge over the education of lay church members.
Indeed, one skill that must be imparted to the seminarian is teaching. One of the pastor's duties is to equip members for service (Ephesians 4:12). Furthermore, the central skill in the pastoral ministry is being "able to teach" (1 Timothy 3:2). A failure of the church's teaching ministry would lead to impoverished members and overburdened seminaries that have to respond to the need for theological education among church members.
How the seminary delivers theological education is another matter we must seriously consider. As I maintain in this chapter, seminaries and formal processes of theological education exist for very good reasons. What I believe we need, however, are more robust system of mentoring and apprenticeship. These processes have precedence in the history of the church and would enrich and complement the seminary's curriculum. I call on church and seminary alike to pay heed.
Theological education takes place both in church and in seminary. Therefore, church and seminary must work together to make theological education work. The seminary has a specific task - to form pastors and church workers "by Master's voice and holy Word", in the words of the TTC anthem. The seminary produces pastor-teachers to educate and equip others in the church. A good understanding of the complementary roles of church and seminary would richly bless both of these entities.
But what exactly is theological education? What do people do in seminaries such as Trinity Theological College (TTC) in Singapore? For people who have never stepped into a seminary or attended a seminary class, the answer is probably a mystery. Some even consider theological education a waste of time, joking unkindly that the seminary is a cemetery where one's faith gets buried. Such sayings reflect a serious misunderstanding of what theological education is all about, and what it seeks to achieve.
Theologian Edward Farley divides the history of theological education in America into three parts. [1a] The first period spanned the 17th and 18th centuries - a "period of pious (religious) learning" when theological studies were considered to be an "exercise in piety". In the second period, from the 19th century to the middle of the 20th century, theological education was regarded as "specialized learning . . . in which the student is exposed to a considerable number of scholarly methods and disciplines, known now as the departments or areas of the theological school". The third period, in the later half of the 20th century, saw seminaries increasingly focus on "professional education", training professional ministers for specialised functions. In these three periods, emphasis was placed on spirituality, scholarship, and skills respectively.
Problems arise when we start to debate which of these three emphases is the most important and should therefore be the central focus of theological education. From time to time, we hear complaints that a certain pastor lacks skills necessary for effective ministry (such as preaching or leadership), and that the seminary should have focused on developing these. Others may express concern that a pastor's lack of academic rigour (thoroughness) might not meet the needs of his well-educated and cerebral congregation. Yet others may wish that their pastor was "more spiritual".
Actually, the seminary embraces all three goals. It aims to develop spirituality, scholarship, and skill, through a process of spiritual formation and "traditioning". Seminaries seek to shape people by Word and Spirit, and to ground them in the ways of the church's faith. Here is where we must note that theological education takes place not only in the seminary. It also happens at church.
To obtain a basic theological degree, candidates study for about three years in seminary. Before this, however, they would have had many more years in church. The church must therefore put into motion the key processes of spiritual formation and traditioning, even before a candidate enters seminary. The seminary would then build on existing foundations, providing more formal and focused training to prepare the candidate for ministry.
These days, seminaries also provide theological education for laypeople wishing to enlarge their capacity to serve. While this is encouraging, the seminary must not lose sight of its primary role - that of forming pastors and full-time church workers, the ones who should have charge over the education of lay church members.
Indeed, one skill that must be imparted to the seminarian is teaching. One of the pastor's duties is to equip members for service (Ephesians 4:12). Furthermore, the central skill in the pastoral ministry is being "able to teach" (1 Timothy 3:2). A failure of the church's teaching ministry would lead to impoverished members and overburdened seminaries that have to respond to the need for theological education among church members.
How the seminary delivers theological education is another matter we must seriously consider. As I maintain in this chapter, seminaries and formal processes of theological education exist for very good reasons. What I believe we need, however, are more robust system of mentoring and apprenticeship. These processes have precedence in the history of the church and would enrich and complement the seminary's curriculum. I call on church and seminary alike to pay heed.
Theological education takes place both in church and in seminary. Therefore, church and seminary must work together to make theological education work. The seminary has a specific task - to form pastors and church workers "by Master's voice and holy Word", in the words of the TTC anthem. The seminary produces pastor-teachers to educate and equip others in the church. A good understanding of the complementary roles of church and seminary would richly bless both of these entities.
Picture posted by Photo Lab from Combo by Jl Po
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhczIiKtBb_LtNuYEK9XbOLJov-5_vsJw4ooZMvvRcrlGK4czvzhruo6SKm8NxvlSoTzAprMJ3AQ7rlm8AV9w7QPceC5q5NTmgTuBpZR-oV7dojRumvh9FRnHLAGo_iUbT4jV0ixzPpnjepXiTOsWPwuBfQE6w-FANTVsKjg4J5nUGYmf-naoP4hlmnALk/s960/86f567df37f21fa496c7e77e67bc4553679abbe7_m_11.png
https://storage.ws.pho.to/s2/86f567df37f21fa496c7e77e67bc4553679abbe7_m.jpeg
https://photolab.me/d/41964501
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhczIiKtBb_LtNuYEK9XbOLJov-5_vsJw4ooZMvvRcrlGK4czvzhruo6SKm8NxvlSoTzAprMJ3AQ7rlm8AV9w7QPceC5q5NTmgTuBpZR-oV7dojRumvh9FRnHLAGo_iUbT4jV0ixzPpnjepXiTOsWPwuBfQE6w-FANTVsKjg4J5nUGYmf-naoP4hlmnALk/s960/86f567df37f21fa496c7e77e67bc4553679abbe7_m_11.png
https://storage.ws.pho.to/s2/86f567df37f21fa496c7e77e67bc4553679abbe7_m.jpeg
https://photolab.me/d/41964501
PHOTO: To obtain a basic theological degree, candidates study for about three years in seminary. Before this, however, they would have had many more years in church. The church must therefore put into motion the key processes of spiritual formation and traditioning, even before a candidate enters seminary. The seminary would then build on existing foundations, providing more formal and focused training to prepare the candidate for ministry.
Picture posted by Faith On View
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHVQ04ZOuz9FNSH0y6urLoe2pEQhy_6QhcXkUrIxYHCSR2-5VdqraUsDFDEx67TsMBfQmJC7icd-Csrg44c_3JOQSGcUy5Q_9YkhhAQtONHw9RtSxZMplFwHNFqO4rf7jVAYjfDvb58p_t0YLnU97EWimS_hD9aI5qFGJ0TPfL-OFuC8N88pcGW3_lKnw/s1024/A_vibrant_group_of_students_as_jpeg.jpg
https://www.faithonview.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/A_vibrant_group_of_students_as_jpeg.jpg
https://www.faithonview.com/why-is-theological-education-important/
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, Theological education takes place both in church and in seminary. May our church and seminary work together to make theological education work.
May the seminary fulfill its specific task - to form pastors and church workers 'by Master's voice and holy Word'. We pray that the seminary produces pastor-teachers to educate and equip others in the church.
We pray that a good understanding of the complementary roles of church and seminary would richly bless both of these entities.
Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen."
Picture posted by The Golden Arrow
Picture is enlarged by AI-powered image upscaler from depositphotos at https://depositphotos.com/upscaler.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=button2&utm_campaign=ntf_upscaler&utm_content=en&iterable_campaign=2704095&iterable_template=3704971
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ZmXhlQ3sNHO1OAysXPmR1Ixq1rSqIakLvT53wSGDIUXnSbI5gKTbQzpRu6WOjvoheSPZy9y1pEpfdnLC1VCu9t7l8_RTIeLcpj0ENK7RlsH0D84cBOiS5C5nRuErdCT-i6SoOIUijlAIMoooRPNfjGkyC5mLlg33OM9_NR7KZYWKWeH6zVC-i6EsTXU/s1522/8ad9c0362242a05e754b0325a4485514-870x1522.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/8a/d9/c0/8ad9c0362242a05e754b0325a4485514.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/83105555618044546/
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/8a/d9/c0/8ad9c0362242a05e754b0325a4485514.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/83105555618044546/
Chapter 37 - Reflection - Church and a Child's Memory,
PHOTO: Among the many Sunday school teachers I encountered as a child, I remember one for his unusual methods. He would line us up and make us recite the Lord's Prayer, the Apostles' Creed, the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes (Being blessed), and so on. He would walk down the line with a wooden ruler in his hand. No one could conceal his ignorance in the collective voice of the class; each student was asked to recite in turn. Failure would be met by a sore palm.
My teacher would be in serious trouble if he taught today. But that aside, we need to think about how we pass on our faith to the next generation. What exactly is it that we need to pass on? Have we done justice to the importance of this task? What consequences will there be if we fail?
To show from history how the church shapes a child's memory, and how this affects society, we turn to historian Michael McDuffee's book, Small-Town Protestantism in Nineteenth-Century Germany. [1a] McDuffee describes how major cultural trends and forces in society were driving secularisation and the erosion of the Christian worldview. People were simply becoming indifferent to the Christian faith. Nevertheless, in small town Germany, Protestant Christians kept their faith alive by preserving their doctrinal identity. They did this by diligently teaching the Christian faith to the young. Pastors and teachers in the church took their educational role seriously, shaping personal and collective childhood memories through good doses of Christian content. This, McDuffee says, helped that generation to "live lost faith".
Scripture instructs us to pass on our faith to the young. When the ancient Israelites kept the first Passover in Egypt, their experience was immediately linked to theology (what they knew about God), liturgy (how they worshipped God), and spiritual education (how they taught their children about God). Note the final element, Moses instructed the Israelites to observe the Passover ceremony as a "lasting ordinance" (Exodus 12:24-25). He also gave instructions on teaching the young: "And when your children ask you, 'What does this ceremony mean to you?' then tell them, "It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord . . .'" (Exodus 12:26-27).
Elsewhere, Moses enjoins (instructs) the people to teach God's commands to the young. "Impress them on your children. Talk about them," he says, "Tie them as symbols on your hands . . . Write them on the door-frames" (Deuteronomy 6:7-9). Israel did not only have a liturgical tradition of remembering God's saving acts (see Psalms 106, 136), but also a tradition of God's commands. "My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart," wrote the sage (profoundly wise man) of Israel on behalf of all spiritually-minded parents and teachers (Proverbs 3:1). This tradition of teaching and passing on the faith, thought imperfectly practised in Israel due to human sin, sustained a remnant that pursued God with all their hearts.
How then do we pass on our faith to the young today? We live in times that are more challenging than the 19th century. Today, the market and mass media are powerful promoters of values, behaviours, and lifestyles that are contrary to the Christian faith. Our best attempts at Christian education seem so feeble when measured against the onslaught of corrupting worldviews. What can we do?
To begin with, we can strengthen existing processes in the church. In denominations where young children are baptised, they are nurtured in the faith as members of the church. When the child has matured, the church prepares him or her for confirmation. Here is where we note some alarming signs. The number of baptised children in many of our churches has fallen. Neither these numbers nor the numbers of young people being confirmed reflect the much larger number of children and teenagers in our churches. Surely, we must do something about the way we nurture this cohort (group).
Even if a young person makes it to confirmation class, we may fail to make the experience a meaningful and significant one. American pastor Walter Wangerin recalls the solemn and stern confirmation class he attended as a young man. [2] While not promoting that exact approach, Wangerin laments that modern Christian educational methods have gone to the other extreme, where "the blither spirits (long-winded talk with no real substance) and contentments of youth have shaped the atmosphere of their religious schoolrooms". He notes with dismay that there is often a lack of seriousness: "No longer need they memorize great portions of Holy Scriptures, that the words may be handy in circumstances yet to come; no longer need they give a good verbal account for the basic, most important tenets (principles) of their faith and salvation."
As a pastor, Wangerin decided to do something about it. He visited families to make three-way covenants between pastor, child, and parent. He initiated a two-year confirmation programme. The first year focused on biblical storytelling (meeting God), while the second year dealt with memorising biblical terms and doctrines (knowing God). He linked doctrine with story, and his church saw a significant change.
Theologians Stanley Hauerwas and William Willimon have also made helpful suggestions about confirmation class. In their book, Resident Aliens, they argue that education should be done primarily in the community and not the classroom. They propose that confirmation candidates be assigned a godly mentor in the congregation so that the relational aspect of personal mentoring would enrich the process of nurture. [3]
They make the important point that passing on the faith to the young must be done in community. One of the weaknesses of a "children church" or a "youth service" is that they separate the young from the wider body of the church despite being sincere attempts to keep the young within the church. A truly integrated, inter-generational church allows the young to be nurtured in community. They can observe the older members and interact with them, receiving the full benefits of godly traditioning.
Whether the Sunday school teacher carries a ruler or candy, the key is that we are responsible for passing on the faith to our young. Many of us who were in that old Sunday school teacher's class have forgotten the pain of freshly caned palms. The pain has passed, but the truth remains.
Picture posted by 지희 성 (Jihee Sung)
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8UmYzhYWp1vhmyC5PHrp7IuXFuT9hjEgSyt3i18xShOr4IjmFMQC5OnNhIxZZT3mra9GZRK8eMV08_dwyEqAjrcFLjrFtDZb8z6zC9DFqqkN55Dm34S0QwC2V7yyvzzvp4P3UVDK3ydWqF1mbibNnAjprvUnwePjRWBEpLV4J6OVxcM_EdH6p7OxYpQo/s936/19a480e99daba141bfa478880ef1cc17.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/19/a4/80/19a480e99daba141bfa478880ef1cc17.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/220676450486788289/
PHOTO: Whether the Sunday school teacher carries a ruler or candy, the key is that we are responsible for passing on the faith to our young. Many of us who were in that old Sunday school teacher's class have forgotten the pain of freshly caned palms. The pain has passed, but the truth remains.
Picture posted by The Gospeler, This Broken Clay by Ann Adams on 21 August 2024
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiStjy2Gk6_t-pBiiL3s40VC3x2ErZEdAheuB1G1dw_qOFxZ3RRLPyUJVy1zWqpMHBYnjs1hNsUeVF3UdONMeO9SFQFXQMgDIXJlICTEGYluosgZglvKWXB2vkoPqUez7RwbBMTBrnSFEBmlDyZ9D9w_3Vb_fBxAj6wswvBHMzzjdlDtK-pkMjGuCVmJjo/s1024/1_cAn_q_nLZj-1eIFAIl2vIw.png
https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:4800/format:webp/1*cAn_q_nLZj-1eIFAIl2vIw.jpeg
https://medium.com/the-gospeler/for-god-so-loved-us-889c715d2ebc
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we pray whether the Sunday school teacher carries a ruler or candy, the key is that we are responsible for passing on the faith to our young.
Many of us who were in that old Sunday school teacher's class have forgotten the pain of freshly caned palms. Although the pain in our childhood memories has passed, may the truth remains.
Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen."
Picture posted by Reddit
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMpsmZFTTUcVTNoDoCQlw6Y-58GbeMZbK1WHYI3sP5PBGviITZ275MeJVDlUKym44AHzfNpveq2TIeptqk6mX2lGvUjjlbNCiuf1gSifjH1KBnx0_dG4AwCHFIhqSt4NwxErRC10QTn1Hb7HuTbLdBpPsettUkLEDrCEq1nrMGA_ije3IxAXAm3rBuoBs/s1024/from-slavery-to-sonship-understanding-galatians-4-v0-74ycvxppc1gd1.png
https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpreview.redd.it%2Ffrom-slavery-to-sonship-understanding-galatians-4-v0-74ycvxppc1gd1.jpg%3Fwidth%3D1024%26format%3Dpjpg%26auto%3Dwebp%26s%3Dd402462e6a6bfa0706839f4882bd012c919c3060
https://www.reddit.com/r/BiblicalStudy/comments/1ehe0z8/from_slavery_to_sonship_understanding_galatians_4/
In The World
The
world is in rebellion mode. It has always been that way since human
beings decided to find their future without God. Even as God's redeemed
people, Christians live in this world. We cannot avoid living in it, but
we must no longer be shaped and conformed to its sinful habits and
lifestyles. Instead, we are to live as salt and light in this world (Matthew 5:13-16), as God's witnesses, children, and servants.
Though the world's broad and easy way leads to destruction, we are to continue living in the world. God loves the people of this world and wants to redeem them through our witness, obedience, and service. Hence, we are to immunise ourselves against the worsening environment around us. We must speak out prophetically against all that is evil, unjust, and sinful.
We must also reach out to our neighbours with God's love and compassion. There is more than enough suffering in this world, caused both by the sinful behaviour of human beings and the natural disasters that strike our world regularly. In all of these, the church has the responsibility to proclaim the truth and to practise it with faithfulness and love.
Somehow, in our relationship to this world, we have to bring together two sentiments. The first is expressed in the gospel song "This world is not my home, I'm just a-passing through", and the second is expressed in the hymn, "This is my Father's world". They are two sides of the same coin, showing that the world ultimately belongs to God. Though it has turned away for God's love, God wants to redeem it - through our obedience and faithfulness to Him.
Chapter 38 - Reflection - The Mess and the Messiah,
Though the world's broad and easy way leads to destruction, we are to continue living in the world. God loves the people of this world and wants to redeem them through our witness, obedience, and service. Hence, we are to immunise ourselves against the worsening environment around us. We must speak out prophetically against all that is evil, unjust, and sinful.
We must also reach out to our neighbours with God's love and compassion. There is more than enough suffering in this world, caused both by the sinful behaviour of human beings and the natural disasters that strike our world regularly. In all of these, the church has the responsibility to proclaim the truth and to practise it with faithfulness and love.
Somehow, in our relationship to this world, we have to bring together two sentiments. The first is expressed in the gospel song "This world is not my home, I'm just a-passing through", and the second is expressed in the hymn, "This is my Father's world". They are two sides of the same coin, showing that the world ultimately belongs to God. Though it has turned away for God's love, God wants to redeem it - through our obedience and faithfulness to Him.
Chapter 38 - Reflection - The Mess and the Messiah,
PHOTO: The ancient world into which Jesus was born was a pretty rough place. Life was short. The average lifespan was 35 to 40 years. [1a]
In the international sphere, Rome was the imperial power that ruled a
large part of the known world. And decay was setting in. A third of the
city's population were slaves. The powerful and rich were bored. They
entertained themselves with blood sports and whatever else they fancied.
In many parts of the world, raw power ruled the day. The man who wielded the sword was king. The wealthy man owned the world. The ordinary people on the streets and in the fields went about their daily existence often with great difficulty. Democracy, though it was idealised in ancient Athens, was not practised in Jesus' day. In many places, life was best described in the words of Thomas Hobbes, the 17th-century English philosopher. He said: "No arts; no letters; no society; and which is worst of all, continual fear and danger of violent death, and the life of man solitary (lonely), poor, nasty, brutish, and short." [2]
Life indeed was poor, nasty, brutish, and short for many. And so it must have been for the poor shepherds who watched their flocks in the cold Judean (Judaea, the southern part of ancient Palestine) night in the fields outside Bethlehem (Luke 2:8-20). And to them was announced the good news that the Messiah was born. The angels appeared and sang about divine glory and world peace. The angels went into Bethlehem and found the baby lying in a manger. Though the stable where Jesus was found was the humblest of places, the shepherd knew in their hearts that this was a special baby. They were convinced that what they saw when heaven opened up, and what they heard when the angels sang their tidings (news), were true.
The shepherds must have felt at home in the humble stable. As people who lived in poverty, it was the kind of place they were used to. Just as well that Jesus was not born in some fancy palace lined with gold and silver. They would not have gained entry. Even if allowed in, they would have felt terribly out of place. The more worldly among them would have had their eyes glued to the trappings of luxury instead of the baby. Just as well that Jesus was born in the stable of an overcrowded inn. It was a place that poor and simple people could relate to.
The shepherds returned to their flocks and to their poor lives with a new spirit. They were glorifying and praising God. Their difficult circumstances may not have changed much. But they were changed men.
While the world has moved on over the centuries, the human condition has remained the same. Slavery still exists in new forms. Mindless violence continues to terrorise many parts of the world. Events at the beginning of the new millennium (the 21st century began on 1 January 2001 and will continue through 31 December 2100. The 3rd millennium began with AD 2001 and will continue through AD 3000.), including the tragedies of September 11, 2001, the Bali bombing, the hostage taking in Moscow, and the sniper shootings in Maryland in 2002, among many others, have made us more aware that even in modern times, we live in a fragile and unpredictable world.
In spite of all the advances in science and technology, the depiction of ideal lifestyles in social media, and the feeling that we are in control of our lives, we know that we live in a messy world. An alien who spent a week on earth would probably come to that same conclusion.
The apostle John describes the condition of the world as "darkness" (John 1:5). Paul describes the human condition as "without hope and without God in the world" (Ephesians 2:12). Imagine reading our newspapers and watching the evening news, without hope and without God in the world. What a terrible and frightening thought!
Jesus the Messiah came to a messy world. He was not afraid of the mess. He did not stay at a safe distance to deal with he mess. He could have tried to save us while remaining safely in heaven. But He came down: "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us" (John 1:14). He emptied himself and took the form of a servant. He became vulnerable. He touched lepers without gloves. He took on a life of poverty. He had no place to call His own. He did not even carry cash with Him. He experienced what it means to be homeless and poor. He experienced being beaten up violently. He was spat on and called names. He was stripped and hung on a rough cross, dying a public and humiliating death. He knew all about the human mess in this world. He entered the mess as the Messiah.
Whenever we celebrate Christmas, our celebrations may be coloured by the pessimism and anxiety we see around us. Terrorism, economic uncertainty, worries about the future - we seem to be living in the era of bad news. The world is in a mess.
But it is precisely in these circumstances that we need to hear the good news afresh. In Christ, we have the Saviour, the Messiah. He knows all about the mess we human beings can get ourselves into. Looking at the mess without the Messiah turns our lives and our distant horizons into darkness. But when we look at the Messiah, then we see the light in the darkness. John declared: "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it" (John 1:5). May we see the light shining in the darkness, and may God give us grace to understand this light.
When Mary, the mother of Jesus, saw all that was happening and heard all that was said, she "treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart" (Luke 2:19). Let us do the same every Christmas, quietly pondering this mystery: that God in His love has not abandoned us to perish in our mess, but has sent us the Messiah, in whom is all our hope. In Christ, we see the glory of God and in Him we have peace. Even in this messy world.
In many parts of the world, raw power ruled the day. The man who wielded the sword was king. The wealthy man owned the world. The ordinary people on the streets and in the fields went about their daily existence often with great difficulty. Democracy, though it was idealised in ancient Athens, was not practised in Jesus' day. In many places, life was best described in the words of Thomas Hobbes, the 17th-century English philosopher. He said: "No arts; no letters; no society; and which is worst of all, continual fear and danger of violent death, and the life of man solitary (lonely), poor, nasty, brutish, and short." [2]
Life indeed was poor, nasty, brutish, and short for many. And so it must have been for the poor shepherds who watched their flocks in the cold Judean (Judaea, the southern part of ancient Palestine) night in the fields outside Bethlehem (Luke 2:8-20). And to them was announced the good news that the Messiah was born. The angels appeared and sang about divine glory and world peace. The angels went into Bethlehem and found the baby lying in a manger. Though the stable where Jesus was found was the humblest of places, the shepherd knew in their hearts that this was a special baby. They were convinced that what they saw when heaven opened up, and what they heard when the angels sang their tidings (news), were true.
The shepherds must have felt at home in the humble stable. As people who lived in poverty, it was the kind of place they were used to. Just as well that Jesus was not born in some fancy palace lined with gold and silver. They would not have gained entry. Even if allowed in, they would have felt terribly out of place. The more worldly among them would have had their eyes glued to the trappings of luxury instead of the baby. Just as well that Jesus was born in the stable of an overcrowded inn. It was a place that poor and simple people could relate to.
The shepherds returned to their flocks and to their poor lives with a new spirit. They were glorifying and praising God. Their difficult circumstances may not have changed much. But they were changed men.
While the world has moved on over the centuries, the human condition has remained the same. Slavery still exists in new forms. Mindless violence continues to terrorise many parts of the world. Events at the beginning of the new millennium (the 21st century began on 1 January 2001 and will continue through 31 December 2100. The 3rd millennium began with AD 2001 and will continue through AD 3000.), including the tragedies of September 11, 2001, the Bali bombing, the hostage taking in Moscow, and the sniper shootings in Maryland in 2002, among many others, have made us more aware that even in modern times, we live in a fragile and unpredictable world.
In spite of all the advances in science and technology, the depiction of ideal lifestyles in social media, and the feeling that we are in control of our lives, we know that we live in a messy world. An alien who spent a week on earth would probably come to that same conclusion.
The apostle John describes the condition of the world as "darkness" (John 1:5). Paul describes the human condition as "without hope and without God in the world" (Ephesians 2:12). Imagine reading our newspapers and watching the evening news, without hope and without God in the world. What a terrible and frightening thought!
Jesus the Messiah came to a messy world. He was not afraid of the mess. He did not stay at a safe distance to deal with he mess. He could have tried to save us while remaining safely in heaven. But He came down: "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us" (John 1:14). He emptied himself and took the form of a servant. He became vulnerable. He touched lepers without gloves. He took on a life of poverty. He had no place to call His own. He did not even carry cash with Him. He experienced what it means to be homeless and poor. He experienced being beaten up violently. He was spat on and called names. He was stripped and hung on a rough cross, dying a public and humiliating death. He knew all about the human mess in this world. He entered the mess as the Messiah.
Whenever we celebrate Christmas, our celebrations may be coloured by the pessimism and anxiety we see around us. Terrorism, economic uncertainty, worries about the future - we seem to be living in the era of bad news. The world is in a mess.
But it is precisely in these circumstances that we need to hear the good news afresh. In Christ, we have the Saviour, the Messiah. He knows all about the mess we human beings can get ourselves into. Looking at the mess without the Messiah turns our lives and our distant horizons into darkness. But when we look at the Messiah, then we see the light in the darkness. John declared: "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it" (John 1:5). May we see the light shining in the darkness, and may God give us grace to understand this light.
When Mary, the mother of Jesus, saw all that was happening and heard all that was said, she "treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart" (Luke 2:19). Let us do the same every Christmas, quietly pondering this mystery: that God in His love has not abandoned us to perish in our mess, but has sent us the Messiah, in whom is all our hope. In Christ, we see the glory of God and in Him we have peace. Even in this messy world.
Picture posted by jambulart, Adobe Stock
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoWbExx56xmj0JNR0Ng9y1BwetErqkNDvI1JD_Evbe3WeIysmEFIafdouATIhYkWb8-RtrL-ZuwQwPgpFKQn2LWy-KLbHN-6CV2suE0sf_Ov_5Ukx6-JGfbkTJTmLw2GlXSgVs2Fz6QzKgFBsPaKwYIUreecx5YfdIvIYHBhzFOkfEoFKoCnjAMWmRLcU/s1000/1000_F_578906941_KbDqi6IcZAI13VvjtPmqLMUGfhlmz6rp_1.png
https://as2.ftcdn.net/v2/jpg/05/78/90/69/1000_F_578906941_KbDqi6IcZAI13VvjtPmqLMUGfhlmz6rp.jpg
https://stock.adobe.com/bg/images/earth-damage-burning-globe-earth-generative-ai/578907128?asset_id=578907021
https://as2.ftcdn.net/v2/jpg/05/78/90/69/1000_F_578906941_KbDqi6IcZAI13VvjtPmqLMUGfhlmz6rp.jpg
https://stock.adobe.com/bg/images/earth-damage-burning-globe-earth-generative-ai/578907128?asset_id=578907021
PHOTO: The ancient world into which Jesus was born was a pretty rough place. Life was short. The average lifespan was 35 to 40 years. [1a] In the international sphere, Rome was the imperial power that ruled a large part of the known world. And decay was setting in. A third of the city's population were slaves. The powerful and rich were bored. They entertained themselves with blood sports and whatever else they fancied.
Posted by Hollywood Bound, Photographs by Mark Shaw - The Sign of the Cross (1932, © The Kobal Collection) - Claudette Colbert as Empress Poppaea in The Sign of the Cross. Produced and directed by Cecil B. DeMille
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLZKQmP4_Jjt28N4OkjRbGWIxr1iKmugKQfNOoOFXPyc1rCQnVhMOGy9Z6b9vM37ufeICHXbGxLedQmflLzGlFc1dXjSzn9psG7Pnd4vuHkkeHkZ7qHAs4RU92mCxK3gwfSF8z7bzXE0A/s1600/HB-Press-7.jpeg
http://www.lisabakerltd.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/HB-Press-7.jpeg
http://www.lisabakerltd.com/blog/hollywood-bound-20-november-reel-art-press/
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2015/09/the-sign-of-cross-1932-kobal-collection.html
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we pray that when we celebrate Christmas, we look at the Messiah and see the light in the darkness.
May we see the light shining in the darkness, and may God give us grace to understand this light.
When Mary, the mother of Jesus, saw all that was happening and heard all that was said, she 'treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart', especially the amazing things that the shepherds had said. May we do the same every Christmas, quietly pondering this mystery: that God in His love has not abandoned us to perish in our mess, but has sent us the Messiah, in whom is all our hope.
In Christ, may we see the glory of God and in Him we have peace. Even in this messy world.
Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen."
Picture posted by The Golden Arrow
Picture is enlarged by AI-powered image upscaler from depositphotos at https://depositphotos.com/upscaler.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=button2&utm_campaign=ntf_upscaler&utm_content=en&iterable_campaign=2704095&iterable_template=3704971
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNwtbT8ZHJxUqxMTW6BlKq6ORD_5vPyN9uSkV4fHVnvl_T9tGOKuaGiWtwQQSMdCtvOdPQzxLtio4YfrhQo64LZMFincxxVoZKH_tKGlzEb3zScFhCBBHAdLhWYzvex0L4CN3r_53Y4rAEAlKYaeSuc_PbfE_PsVntFv39-IUNR0x0i5gmbA_loDrgpjQ/s1522/3c41b3bdc707a2ad55688232361c4ce2-870x1522_1.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/3c/41/b3/3c41b3bdc707a2ad55688232361c4ce2.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/426153183527798369/
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/3c/41/b3/3c41b3bdc707a2ad55688232361c4ce2.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/426153183527798369/
Chapter 39 - Reflection - Two Steps Forward, Three Steps Back,
PHOTO: Is society making progress? Do we feel the wind on our faces as we rush into the future?
There are people who assume that this is so. It is evident in the many discussions about changes taking place in society. The contributions to this discussion are divided into "progressives" and "conservatives". The progressives are said to be the ones promoting social development while the conservatives are said to be putting obstacles in their path.
Some have argued that conservatives can only slow down but not stop this process of radical (progressive) change in values and lifestyles. Conservatives, on their part, see some of the key changes and trends emerging in society as representing not progress but decay.
What is your own view?
The rapid and spectacular advance of science and technology following the Enlightenment brought about the notion that improvement and progress are inbuilt mechanisms in history. This seems to be fairly true as far as technology is concerned. Our modes of transport and communications, for instances, have certainly progressed by leaps and bounds. Every change seems to be a step forward. Every innovation is evidence that the new is better than the old.
What appears to be true in technology has been taken by some as a universal principle. Charles Darwin revolutionised biology along these lines with his idea of evolutionary progress. The evolutionary principle has been further applied in the social sciences and even in the study of religion. Such views, however, are like buckets with lots of holes in them. They cannot hold water when put to the test.
There was great faith in human progress, in some circles, towards the end of the 19th century. The path forward looked bright. Everything was seen as an improvement, or a bold step forward. This outlook affected social values, political systems, and economic policy. Some in the church even spoke of a "social gospel", riding the wave of confidence in notions of progress.
Nevertheless, decades of prosperity and technological breakthroughs have revived the prospect of society's relentless (continuous) advancement. Can heaven be built on earth?
The Bible answers with a clear diagnosis of the human condition. All have caught the deadly disease of sin (Romans 3:23). At the centre of society is the human heart, and at the centre of the human heart is sin. The human heart is "deceitful above all things and beyond cure" (Jeremiah 17:9). We have a sinful tendency to want to build a world without God, to want heaven without God (see Genesis 11).
Philip Pullman, whom we met earlier, wrote the His Dark Materials trilogy as a fantasy series in the same genre as the works of C. S. Lewis or J. R. R. Tolkien. He sought to "undo the damage done by C. S. Lewis" by promoting an opposing worldview for children to imbibe (absorb). [1a] His story, like the biblical account, begins in the garden of Eden. However, it sees the transgression of Adam and Eve not as the precursor to humankind's fall, but as the first step towards human liberation. It is therefore not surprising that in the conflict that follows, the church is written off as a bad mistake in history, God is portrayed as weak and ineffectual, and He is finally disposed of. It is very telling that the last words in Pullman's third book, The Amber Spyglass, are "the republic of heaven". The sinful human desire to want heaven without God is as old as the human race.
Any step forward without God cannot be described as "progress" or "maturation". In fact, the opposite words have to be used. The Bible takes a very realistic view of history and speaks often, not of the evolutionary progress of society, but of the inevitable decay of a world that dreams of a "republic of heaven" without God. Eugene Peterson's rendering of 2 Timothy 3:1-5 is instructive:
Don't
be naive. There are difficult times ahead. As the end approaches,
people are going to be self-absorbed, money-hungry, self-promoting,
stuck up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, dog-cat-dog,
unbending, slanderers, impulsively wild, savage, cynical, treacherous,
ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust, and allergic to God.
Such words challenge the notion that every innovation in society is a step forward.
Those in society who argue against progressivism should not be written off as irrelevant conservatives. It is dangerous to make an observation from the world of technology (that things always get better) into the universal rule for all of life.
What can you do as a Christian, amid all these sweeping changes around you?
First, draw near to God. Wanting heaven without God is an old sinful desire, widely attested throughout human history. You will see signs of it all around you. The only way to prevent yourself from being swept away by it is to let God reign within you. As the Scottish theologian P. T. Forsyth said: "Unless there is within us that which is above us, we shall soon yield to that which is about us." [2]
Second, learn to debunk the assumptions that underlie every worldly argument (2 Corinthians 10:5). Everyone has faith in something, whether or not he express it as such. We have seen how the notion of inevitable social progress can itself be said to be an article of faith.
Third, pray. God loves the people of the world, even though the human race has taken the self-destructive path of disobedience. Because of this, we must not disengage ourselves from the world. Instead, amid all its woes and follies, we must live prophetically and with compassion, as salt and light.
Picture posted by David HoffmanThose in society who argue against progressivism should not be written off as irrelevant conservatives. It is dangerous to make an observation from the world of technology (that things always get better) into the universal rule for all of life.
What can you do as a Christian, amid all these sweeping changes around you?
First, draw near to God. Wanting heaven without God is an old sinful desire, widely attested throughout human history. You will see signs of it all around you. The only way to prevent yourself from being swept away by it is to let God reign within you. As the Scottish theologian P. T. Forsyth said: "Unless there is within us that which is above us, we shall soon yield to that which is about us." [2]
Second, learn to debunk the assumptions that underlie every worldly argument (2 Corinthians 10:5). Everyone has faith in something, whether or not he express it as such. We have seen how the notion of inevitable social progress can itself be said to be an article of faith.
Third, pray. God loves the people of the world, even though the human race has taken the self-destructive path of disobedience. Because of this, we must not disengage ourselves from the world. Instead, amid all its woes and follies, we must live prophetically and with compassion, as salt and light.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLsD7SzFbVeUjFRnB8ux2tBvZLoFUr_s_sg-HFxJE5F-YG00xqH_9vGV2ifu5tMcRuiPstquwwj4kXsChEisH0qm3MWrO7Z_M0UrV46aV5V6x7R_4ymnNDmHO0fmsuTKuiPDvkr3ya0OZ8ooojcJJ2I1mMHJRGMcJecwmExXTONXg2BCNEQK3-PZkg30/s686/hq720.jpg
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/du63d-4Alz0/hq720.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEhCK4FEIIDSFryq4qpAxMIARUAAAAAGAElAADIQj0AgKJD&rs=AOn4CLADpaBRYxE_AvEXfj0d6t9S0aM4ig
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=du63d-4Alz0
PHOTO: There was great faith in human progress, in some circles, towards the end of the 19th century. The path forward looked bright. Everything was seen as an improvement, or a bold step forward. This outlook affected social values, political systems, and economic policy. Some in the church even spoke of a "social gospel", riding the wave of confidence in notions of progress.
Picture posted boy Adobe Stock - Charles Darwin observing wildlife
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtjwo1pRGFVz28UjtKs4y0YyL-02IHFEGr1mCdj6stCujx_Ed9E1SnG6NMMff4LfitOWXXZRO4j1VJ5prHeyJDcE_-jMuoYM5zZkUXkJ4WTpgLASUpDdrX5XgYBPK38KR_vtbhbYSufC24lbTv7P7O5ZYuaWUCUoPLx3gSLvJX4gJiToIfxx0R1NzAKf0/s1000/1000_F_980638737_moA7qnVlGJz1F6GxxViKog10Lt2DS6Yv_1.png
https://as2.ftcdn.net/v2/jpg/09/80/63/87/1000_F_980638737_moA7qnVlGJz1F6GxxViKog10Lt2DS6Yv.jpg
https://stock.adobe.com/search?k=darwinism&asset_id=980638737
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we pray God loves the people of the world, even though the human race has taken the self-destructive path of disobedience.
May we do not disengage ourselves from the world. Instead, amid all its woes and follies, may we live prophetically and with compassion, as salt and light.
Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen."
Picture posted by carmogram
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuQQpLy63f43qYaunAAMMuvZfvCGVLcNyDbaQk5kpxGhyW4A9GZGmguBjjLanrWzbZ5WILr5USbmQCAI0qXY0Be-HDfx252AOKvKK7MFTWdgJtLzK4r40IN7_jz1woNYIQeocAkuVTgl5SXGvdJeWAG-kaeZxXjKTy6qGIp6czU2HH1Vd_CxZauYt0W-Q/s1280/657a1d703e26a642e4d657f5b6141e06.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/65/7a/1d/657a1d703e26a642e4d657f5b6141e06.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/66287425760534399/
Chapter 40 - Reflection - A lesson From Nebuchadnezzar,
PHOTO: A
peculiar group of Christian men and women began leaving the cities
where churches flourished in the ancient world. In search of solitude,
they went into the desert places, far removed from the hustle and bustle
of the urban centres. This took place in the fourth century, when
Christianity had become a respectable religion. Persecution had ceased
following the convention of the Roman emperor Constantine. The church
was becoming part of the establishment and was beginning to enjoy wealth
and power.
Perhaps these Christians, who have come to be known as the Desert Fathers (and Mothers), saw growing corruption in the church. With the cessation of persecution, the church was being seduced by the world. The voices an noises of urban life were too much for these Christians, who sought to live out the gospel faithfully. In a world that no longer put faithful witnesses to death, the sought new forms of martyrdom (suffering) in the barren, harsh, and lonely deserts.
They deserted the thriving cities in pursuit of spiritual discipline and holiness. They lived alone, or in small communities, in remote parts of the wilderness. They spent much time in prayer and the reading of Scripture. They had an intimate knowledge of cold nights, biting hunger, intense struggles with temptation, sin, and the dark forces of this world. They knew their spiritual condition well and were well-versed in the art of spiritual direction, guiding the soul through the treacherous labyrinth (maze) of this world.
They developed a collective wisdom addressing the spiritual life an eternity, largely unappreciated in this busy modern age. Yes, there are collections of their sayings, such as the British theologian Benedicta Ward's Saying of the Desert Fathers. However, these go unknown or unread by many.
What relevance do these disciples in the desert have for Christians today? Let me make just one point: we live in an increasing urbanised world.
In 1900, the world's population stood at around 1.6 billion, and 213 million people lived in urban areas. In 2000, there were 6.1 billion people, of which 2.9 billion were urban dwellers. [1a] It is estimated that in 2025, 56% of a total global population of 8.2 billion will live in urban areas. [2] The trend is obvious: mass migration from the rural to the urban. Cities are developing into sprawling jungles of concrete, road networks, and crowded neighbourhoods, fighting with one another for space. The number of cities with a population of more than a million has massively grown over the past century. According to a recent United Nations estimate, 43 megacities (with population of over 10 million) may exist in the year 2030. [3]
The largest city in the world is Tokyo with a population of 37.8 million. Asian cities such as Jakarta, Delhi, Manila, Seoul, Shanghai, Beijing, and Mumbai, are not far off. [4] These cities are characterised by tightly built structures and densely situated dwellings, as well as severe noise and environment pollution.
It is estimated that 1.2 billion Christians live in such urban centres. Many of us, in fact, prefer living in the city, with all its convenience and glitter. However, we must be careful not to uncritically imbibe (absorb) the underlying theological message that highly urbanised environments convey.
The urban world is largely man-made. God is soon forgotten in such a world. Human achievement is worshipped, and our utter dependence on God is forgotten. Contrast this with the message of the desert. There, one would be hard-pressed to find a man-made object. Everything in the desert points to a God who makes things and sustains them.
The ancient Israelites were slaves in urban Egypt, forced to toil on massive construction projects. When God delivered them from captivity, He displayed His awesome power by parting the Red Sea and speaking on the mountain. They passed by majestic mountains by day and crossed the desert's dunes by night. The star-filled sky would have declared God's glory to them. Yet, their faith failed. They longed for the urban delights of Egypt - meat, garlic, and Onions, among other foodstuffs - even though God provided simple manna from heaven (Numbers 11:4-6). They missed the point of the desert, which was meant to take the world out of them.
Jesus went into the desert too. The desert brought Him face to face with the deep realities of life, often obscured (hidden) by urban artificiality (deception). This is why He often chose, in the course of HIs busy ministry, to go to desert places for prayer and fellowship with the Father. He must have witnessed countless times, alone, the beautiful sight of the rising sun on cold desert dunes (hills of sand piled up by the wind).
What about us in the city? We may not have deserts to go to for quiet time. The urban landscape surrounds us, but we must not let it inhabit us and feed us with the lie that we are the masters of our destinies, that we built this world.
Remember King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, who looked at his grand urban creation and said: "Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?" (Daniel 4:30). He was intoxicated with pride and went mad in his hubris (excessive pride). He lived like an animal, roaming the wilderness. That did his soul a lot of good. One day, he looked up at the heavens - at the work of God's hands, and in his humility, his sanity was restored.
All this does not mean that Christians should not live in urban settings. We can enjoy what the city offers and serve God in its streets. But we must not allow the city's illusions to entice and poison our souls. Ever so often, we must remind ourselves that God made the world and we are accountable to Him. In our situation, we could visit parks or walk by the seaside. Or, we could simply observe the night sky and marvel at the huge and inscrutable (mysterious) universe He made. This would remedy our pride and dispel the illusion of a man-made world, freeing us to love God and neighbour in our urban environment without being trapped in its snares.
Picture posted by NIV, HarperCollins Publishers
Perhaps these Christians, who have come to be known as the Desert Fathers (and Mothers), saw growing corruption in the church. With the cessation of persecution, the church was being seduced by the world. The voices an noises of urban life were too much for these Christians, who sought to live out the gospel faithfully. In a world that no longer put faithful witnesses to death, the sought new forms of martyrdom (suffering) in the barren, harsh, and lonely deserts.
They deserted the thriving cities in pursuit of spiritual discipline and holiness. They lived alone, or in small communities, in remote parts of the wilderness. They spent much time in prayer and the reading of Scripture. They had an intimate knowledge of cold nights, biting hunger, intense struggles with temptation, sin, and the dark forces of this world. They knew their spiritual condition well and were well-versed in the art of spiritual direction, guiding the soul through the treacherous labyrinth (maze) of this world.
They developed a collective wisdom addressing the spiritual life an eternity, largely unappreciated in this busy modern age. Yes, there are collections of their sayings, such as the British theologian Benedicta Ward's Saying of the Desert Fathers. However, these go unknown or unread by many.
What relevance do these disciples in the desert have for Christians today? Let me make just one point: we live in an increasing urbanised world.
In 1900, the world's population stood at around 1.6 billion, and 213 million people lived in urban areas. In 2000, there were 6.1 billion people, of which 2.9 billion were urban dwellers. [1a] It is estimated that in 2025, 56% of a total global population of 8.2 billion will live in urban areas. [2] The trend is obvious: mass migration from the rural to the urban. Cities are developing into sprawling jungles of concrete, road networks, and crowded neighbourhoods, fighting with one another for space. The number of cities with a population of more than a million has massively grown over the past century. According to a recent United Nations estimate, 43 megacities (with population of over 10 million) may exist in the year 2030. [3]
The largest city in the world is Tokyo with a population of 37.8 million. Asian cities such as Jakarta, Delhi, Manila, Seoul, Shanghai, Beijing, and Mumbai, are not far off. [4] These cities are characterised by tightly built structures and densely situated dwellings, as well as severe noise and environment pollution.
It is estimated that 1.2 billion Christians live in such urban centres. Many of us, in fact, prefer living in the city, with all its convenience and glitter. However, we must be careful not to uncritically imbibe (absorb) the underlying theological message that highly urbanised environments convey.
The urban world is largely man-made. God is soon forgotten in such a world. Human achievement is worshipped, and our utter dependence on God is forgotten. Contrast this with the message of the desert. There, one would be hard-pressed to find a man-made object. Everything in the desert points to a God who makes things and sustains them.
The ancient Israelites were slaves in urban Egypt, forced to toil on massive construction projects. When God delivered them from captivity, He displayed His awesome power by parting the Red Sea and speaking on the mountain. They passed by majestic mountains by day and crossed the desert's dunes by night. The star-filled sky would have declared God's glory to them. Yet, their faith failed. They longed for the urban delights of Egypt - meat, garlic, and Onions, among other foodstuffs - even though God provided simple manna from heaven (Numbers 11:4-6). They missed the point of the desert, which was meant to take the world out of them.
Jesus went into the desert too. The desert brought Him face to face with the deep realities of life, often obscured (hidden) by urban artificiality (deception). This is why He often chose, in the course of HIs busy ministry, to go to desert places for prayer and fellowship with the Father. He must have witnessed countless times, alone, the beautiful sight of the rising sun on cold desert dunes (hills of sand piled up by the wind).
What about us in the city? We may not have deserts to go to for quiet time. The urban landscape surrounds us, but we must not let it inhabit us and feed us with the lie that we are the masters of our destinies, that we built this world.
Remember King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, who looked at his grand urban creation and said: "Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?" (Daniel 4:30). He was intoxicated with pride and went mad in his hubris (excessive pride). He lived like an animal, roaming the wilderness. That did his soul a lot of good. One day, he looked up at the heavens - at the work of God's hands, and in his humility, his sanity was restored.
All this does not mean that Christians should not live in urban settings. We can enjoy what the city offers and serve God in its streets. But we must not allow the city's illusions to entice and poison our souls. Ever so often, we must remind ourselves that God made the world and we are accountable to Him. In our situation, we could visit parks or walk by the seaside. Or, we could simply observe the night sky and marvel at the huge and inscrutable (mysterious) universe He made. This would remedy our pride and dispel the illusion of a man-made world, freeing us to love God and neighbour in our urban environment without being trapped in its snares.
Picture posted by NIV, HarperCollins Publishers
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC88GhAxNg4RqguTEh0RngCR8zYQ01S6KT_sbLhtbTN5g8yv2O3yo8G6xUM-uYmcTv_Z2GTUSzc0ISGVGDczly6Z8PuwrX3jqlkfc8OuBx3nm1yXKytdfN2VilxGbx7GVCUC6-Y4uIkbjph9s8YVDi4qQZ70eEY5upPT33j-QeAfMUYfIMDXm4BnFEQcM/s1024/4.8.24_Who_Were_the_Very_First_Christians-1024x683-1.jpg
https://s45600.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/4.8.24_Who_Were_the_Very_First_Christians-1024x683-1.jpg
https://www.thenivbible.com/blog/origins-of-christianity-who-when-where-were-the-first-christians/
https://s45600.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/4.8.24_Who_Were_the_Very_First_Christians-1024x683-1.jpg
https://www.thenivbible.com/blog/origins-of-christianity-who-when-where-were-the-first-christians/
PHOTO: Remember King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, who looked at his grand urban creation and said: "Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?" (Daniel 4:30).
Picture posted by CS Lewis Aura on 17 August 2024 - See How God Turned King Nebuchadnezzar into a Beast (Bible Stories)
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkrfyCCbwEeqW3gNq2QnlJcSqAMlkOPInUqFnCNl9HzM8oWuxf9Awn3WII7bYbHuChk7nzlUfF5bdI__pqPkfxkLaS9ay8DWNbwv41ixW-A54jmAHHXYqeyNKE0rH4RQkeIvviyyHIFB1TRfD2Dk6UZHG-3LG5Vi9004Go_t5PIO2jHewJli7IDYXcaO8/s640/sddefault_1.jpg
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4MPdYNpLqtU/sddefault.jpg - (sddefault_1.jpg)
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we pray that the urban landscape that surrounds us did not inhabit us and feed us with the lie that we are the masters of our destinies, that we built this world. May we enjoy what the city offers and serve God in its streets.
May we not allow the city's illusions to entice and poison our souls. But remind ourselves that God made the world and we are accountable to Him.
May we observe the night sky and marvel at the huge and inscrutable universe He made. May this remedy our pride and dispel the illusion of a man-made world, freeing us to love God and neighbour in our urban environment without being trapped in its snares.
Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen."
Picture generated by Magic Hour AI Generator at https://magichour.ai/dashboard/images/cm3ssl44w05b83yw40pykdcfp - Jesus, a Middle-Eastern male with long brown hair and a robe, stands in a vibrant flowering garden filled with colorful blossoms, set against a backdrop of towering mountains and a bright blue sky. There are many flying birds in flight. The scene includes diverse people, Caucasian women and men, looking at Jesus. Many trees with lush green leaves provided ample shade, creating a cool, serene atmosphere for all. Many varieties of colourful flowers surrounding them, sides, hanging on top and at the bottom. The sun is not too bright.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSMSLWRWa4pTd_LMsaCfOpPPnGk727U_rnX0ztJH3xIrKDJcMiMyucebE6p7WYblXb3Hjv0vccoKRNt8niM1knVkeo75hqt-gtPOvMSt2LAzwB66VsFNwf7wvQP49kLtW5Rx_JV1y-p6a4-GJA3EnVKMZcEYeGEONLH3Et7TWwh2kO_e2X4ENHL0rNyT0/s1344/Jesus-11_1.png
Jesus-11_1.png
https://magichour.ai/dashboard/images/cm3ssl44w05b83yw40pykdcfp
Chapter 41 - Reflection - Saving Christmas . . . From the Marketplace,
PHOTO: When
Christmas is around the corner, shopping districts are lit up like a
carnival. Shoppers congregate at stores and malls, eyeing the goods
displayed to capture their attention. Cards have to be sent, gifts have
to be bought, parties need to be organised. Everybody seems to be
celebrating Christmas these days. It has become a festival for all.
Christmas is for everyone. Shouldn't we rejoice?
On the surface, this would be so. The good news of Jesus is, indeed, for all. But when we dive deeper, we find a problem - for most, Christmas has become a secular festival (separation from religious or spiritual concerns).
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbsgX8KA5pDbGL1IxAqyjCXDFbAGROTjXcX9AS_b6SveLtEtImf2sXfBW4eYI5d0_2dLblok6rOnUV0rBQb9GUf6D7bS1PvtMMrcrBv9-Yy8oD-RaGRgykGcL8qofExIWwV-hC1ArUwzR-WuI65tj-l4PU1EWpnZrBI2oxuz6wTI6kJ-JNkSqgOxGheU/s768/1916_Christmas2-768x507.jpg
https://amanacolonies.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/1916_Christmas2-768x507.jpg
https://amanacolonies.com/places/united-states/iowa/amana/gifts-books/international-christmas-market/
On the surface, this would be so. The good news of Jesus is, indeed, for all. But when we dive deeper, we find a problem - for most, Christmas has become a secular festival (separation from religious or spiritual concerns).
Christmas secularised
It is true that Christmas, as celebrated by the church, was a Christianised version of a pagan festival (ungodly). The year-end festival was infused (filled) with biblical meaning: the feast of the incarnation (God took human form in the body of Christ) of God, the birth of Jesus Christ. A similar process took place in the way Easter festivities were developed by the church.
While Easter has remained very much a Christian festival, celebrated with reverence by the church, Christmas, on the other hand, has sorely (severely) suffered in secular hands. It has been hijacked by the shopping industry, stripped of its essential meaning, and put forward as a secular celebration. The holy day has become a secular holiday. Even when moral meaning is attached to Christmas, only nice humanist principles such as goodwill and gift-giving are on offer.
While Easter has remained very much a Christian festival, celebrated with reverence by the church, Christmas, on the other hand, has sorely (severely) suffered in secular hands. It has been hijacked by the shopping industry, stripped of its essential meaning, and put forward as a secular celebration. The holy day has become a secular holiday. Even when moral meaning is attached to Christmas, only nice humanist principles such as goodwill and gift-giving are on offer.
Christmas trivialised
Still, let us refrain from the insular (narrow-minded)
mindset that Christmas should be kept exclusively for ourselves. After
all, the Lord himself commanded us to share His good news with others.
The secularisation (separation from religious) of Christmas does remain a valid concern, especially the trivialisation (to belittle)
of Christmas - the trampling underfoot of the truth of Christmas by
secular customs. How should we respond to Christmas decorations and
greetings outside the doors of bars, nightclubs, and places of ill
repute? Such things are hindrances to the Great Commission.
Christmas gifts consist of both the gift and the packaging. In our age, however, the externals have become more important than the content. Catching the spirit of the age, we may have allowed the truth of Christmas to be wrapped out of sight by the popular Christmas of the marketplace. It is time for the church to take back Christmas from the marketplace. Let the holiday become our holy day again.
Christmas gifts consist of both the gift and the packaging. In our age, however, the externals have become more important than the content. Catching the spirit of the age, we may have allowed the truth of Christmas to be wrapped out of sight by the popular Christmas of the marketplace. It is time for the church to take back Christmas from the marketplace. Let the holiday become our holy day again.
Let Christmas be a holy day
As
we go about taking back Christmas from the marketplace, we ourselves
must be careful that we do not bring only the packaging back into
church. Instead, we must hold fast the truth of Christmas: that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son (John 3:16), the indescribable gift in which eternal life is found (2 Corinthians 9:15).
We must pray that the world's version of Christmas will not confused
the minds and harden the hearts of those who need to hear the good news.
Let us save Christmas from the marketplace so that the world might be
saved.
Picture posted by AMANA, International Christmas Markethttps://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbsgX8KA5pDbGL1IxAqyjCXDFbAGROTjXcX9AS_b6SveLtEtImf2sXfBW4eYI5d0_2dLblok6rOnUV0rBQb9GUf6D7bS1PvtMMrcrBv9-Yy8oD-RaGRgykGcL8qofExIWwV-hC1ArUwzR-WuI65tj-l4PU1EWpnZrBI2oxuz6wTI6kJ-JNkSqgOxGheU/s768/1916_Christmas2-768x507.jpg
https://amanacolonies.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/1916_Christmas2-768x507.jpg
https://amanacolonies.com/places/united-states/iowa/amana/gifts-books/international-christmas-market/
PHOTO: Let Christmas be a holy day
As we go about taking back Christmas from the marketplace, we ourselves must be careful that we do not bring only the packaging back into church. Instead, we must hold fast the truth of Christmas: that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son (John 3:16), the indescribable gift in which eternal life is found (2 Corinthians 9:15). We must pray that the world's version of Christmas will not confused the minds and harden the hearts of those who need to hear the good news. Let us save Christmas from the marketplace so that the world might be saved.
Picture posted by Boomplay
Picture is enlarged by AI-powered image upscaler from depositphotos at https://depositphotos.com/upscaler.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=button2&utm_campaign=ntf_upscaler&utm_content=en&iterable_campaign=2704095&iterable_template=3704971
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Hlo5nTud5fBqowj9G7eo_MjF_e5aSqzxHnSYDL0CLopH9I-D-2Ykn7cyhZawa2U34FsDCpUsm-fRljCUEQZ_xkPUsphxVW_evG4qxzkYyabbO6dHjACnDcHJidaUdVMf3Z23g4_tBGCVIvT0LSmkzcHagVLTHaxm0aQZwYzXZHVN0n6SHxvWQ64dHLU/s928/842365205b55488fb28d6ed5d0fe82f6H3000W3000_464_464-928x928.jpg
https://source.boomplaymusic.com/group10/M00/11/11/842365205b55488fb28d6ed5d0fe82f6H3000W3000_464_464.jpg
https://www.boomplay.com/songs/188924212
https://source.boomplaymusic.com/group10/M00/11/11/842365205b55488fb28d6ed5d0fe82f6H3000W3000_464_464.jpg
https://www.boomplay.com/songs/188924212
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we pray that the Christmas holiday become our holy day again. May we hold fast the truth of Christmas: that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, the indescribable gift in which eternal life is found.
We pray that the world's version of Christmas will not confused the minds and harden the hearts of those who need to hear the good news.
May we save Christmas from the marketplace so that the world might be saved.
Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen."
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnebWQ7QuHzQSCQnPFGsv3JKQWwspIyca3yEfVvTQHezgmqjx0NNU3fUY8tsAPcT0G7-7zex6JIOgoXxVLD8SM56e11AX62w6duqy73QmVvBF_5YeDMsl0R2vSWNUMvE231g5IkzTZ9Qth0S9XrYWQu3NPyFwdyBqx9qaBmQKkhC2w1eFJBrSL9NWbH74/s1024/7fec60aa8b9cd038724e97033faf4e69.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/7f/ec/60/7fec60aa8b9cd038724e97033faf4e69.jpg
https://kr.pinterest.com/pin/43558321390609488/
Chapter 42 - Reflection - The Coarsening of Culture,
PHOTO: The devil make Jesus an unsolicited suggestion. He urged Jesus to climb to the highest point of the temple and throw himself down (Matthew 4:5-6). His accursed (detestable) logic was that if Jesus was the Son of God, God would surely command His angels to make sure that Jesus would not be hurt. In fact, the devil simply quoted Scripture without comment. How much more scriptural could one get? The problem is that the devil loves to twist Scripture by taking it out of context. He plucked out a poetic image from the book of Psalm (Psalm 91:11-12), severing it from its proper context and application. We have to be careful when the devil starts quoting Scripture.
William Bennett, the former American secretary for education, once observed a trend that he called the "coarsening of culture". [1a] This can be explained in terms of two modern realities. First, a growing avalanche of information that threatens to bury us in a sea of trivia (pieces of information of little importance or value). Second, a snowballing (increase rapidly in size, intensity, or importance) number of choices that can be made in almost any area of life one can think of. Our days are full of people trying to get our attention, to get us to make the choices they want us to make.
Because an information overload is the default, those wishing to catch the attention of the masses must employ extreme measures. How can a generation of consumers who keep switching channels be made to stay tuned to one channel? This challenge has produced what the writer David shenk describes as "a culture awash in histrionics" (culture filled with drama to attract attention). [2] His argument runs as follows: competition for people's attention generates pressure to "talk louder". As a result, communicators use louder colours, show more flesh, and say outrageous things, all in order to be heard. This can be seen in mass media, social media, advertisements, film, drama, and the like.
This means that almost daily, we encounter content designed to shock, as those who deal with communication and the arts continue to test the limits of what is acceptable. Over the course of time and with countless shifts in our collective psyche (human soul, mind, or spirit), things which once were grossly unacceptable are now regarded as proper and decent. Many feel helpless in the face of crude (vulgar) culture in their social circles and physical surroundings.
Society's increasing crudity and declining standards of decency and respect are causes for great concern. Our calling as Christians is to be preserving salt in the world, and this includes helping to preserve common decency and whatever is good and valuable in our cultures. The danger we face is that even the church may unwittingly embrace the same coarsening of culture we see in our world.
We recall how the devil tempted Jesus to jump from height, to put up a spectacular show (Matthew 4:5-7). Notice that the location of this show was to be the temple, where God was worshipped. How tempting it is to turn the place of worship into the circus, to try to catch the attention of worshippers with entertainment. The Lord Jesus refused to take this path, showing us the way to handle the temptation we face from a coarsening culture.
We may be tempted to speak louder and use whatever means seem effective in an effort to get people's attention. But in so doing we would be going against what the gospel is all about. Rather, we should show forth the beauty of godliness - those characteristics that the Bible describes as the fruit of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). These characteristics will prevent us from being recruited into the ranks of the crude and rude subcultures we are seeing take roots around us. Our speech and conversations would instead be seasoned with the deepness of God's love.
What can we do about the coarsening of culture? On a personal level, we must be filled with the Holy Spirit and submit ourselves to God. Then would we exhibit godliness and the fruit of the Spirit. On the level of the church, we must avoid jumping on bandwagons which promote superficiality and coarseness. I once witnessed a worship leader conducting the service in a way which made the proceedings sound like a game show. My heart is troubled whenever I see crudeness seep into the church. This worship leader meant well. Unfortunately, I think that he confused vibrant worship in the Spirit with the crass (insensitive) showmanship of popular culture. In such things, the church must be extra vigilant.
The Lord Jesus refused to turn the temple where God is worshipped, in beauty, holiness, and fear, into a crude (rough) circus. We must follow His lead. In our communications, publicity, and expression of the faith, we must not import the loudness and superficiality of the world. Instead, we must hold fast whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable (Philippians 4:8). For only then would the medium fit the message.
Picture posted by Jon Moran Photography, uploaded on 13 May 2014 - 'Fallen Angel'
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpk_eDI2DZvlBIyZsFHhF_5gmcTmiYXkwnNW-phPcC6udH6FycMsD0SbfB901BRATnZw6mA7IqZGw6kWGPj8Lbr19eXbh9NYCy26svngrj0XhfHvSrjzbjPEgwm-9kk7Ho_OGElz6Ln-8/s1600/13989412017_2ab3c9cbc6_c.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/2933/13989412017_2ab3c9cbc6_c.jpg
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jonm2001/13989412017
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/05/reflection-spiritual-journey-good-deeds.html
PHOTO: Society's increasing crudity and declining standards of decency and respect are causes for great concern. Our calling as Christians is to be preserving salt in the world, and this includes helping to preserve common decency and whatever is good and valuable in our cultures. The danger we face is that even the church may unwittingly embrace the same coarsening of culture we see in our world.
Picture posted by Robert Krise, MDiv in [Theology & Ministry], Grand Canyon University on October 07, 2021
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5cRqV-RnG-UiKVZK89MNQ35RPAZka232QC7214N3BaANdCGqX8MJQw7oeDHUFiUoeI4fm43gKuMfrbt1ylPSpEaq02SDvVcn0P8Snze0ijVokQCpK429Vr-OAcCI6gB4NlCy4wdeeTOB2ehUqxl8IL6TUQRznWFeX7stcPVafvKOkce23nePz6qm_a0/s750/GettyImages-dv1992014_1.png
https://res.cloudinary.com/grand-canyon-university/image/fetch/w_750,h_564,c_fill,g_faces,q_auto,f_auto/https://www.gcu.edu/sites/default/files/media/GettyImages-dv1992014.jpg
https://www.gcu.edu/blog/theology-ministry/theology-thursday-finding-my-unique-place-gods-family
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/12/reflection-in-world-coarsening-of.html
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we pray that we follow Jesus lead, and refused to turn the temple where God is worshipped, in beauty, holiness, and fear, into a crude circus. May we be filled with the Holy Spirit and submit ourselves to God.
May our communications, publicity, and expression of the faith, do not import the loudness and superficiality of the world. But instead, hold fast whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable.
May then the medium, our means of communication, fit the message.
Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen."
Picture posted by Bible Art - This verse encourages believers to follow the example of Jesus Christ in putting others' needs above their own and serving one another with humility and love.
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we pray that we follow Jesus lead, and refused to turn the temple where God is worshipped, in beauty, holiness, and fear, into a crude circus. May we be filled with the Holy Spirit and submit ourselves to God.
May our communications, publicity, and expression of the faith, do not import the loudness and superficiality of the world. But instead, hold fast whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable.
May then the medium, our means of communication, fit the message.
Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen."
Picture posted by Bible Art - This verse encourages believers to follow the example of Jesus Christ in putting others' needs above their own and serving one another with humility and love.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUsQvYx6Y0Y1Ue2-mqqZimbNDvE_dkTY1NqIXFUBrVpbcljKIoqwR45SC7cIJEZq_GTNq6pVp4f2Y7n-OI9o1B6RUFi0d99P6prfG0uGfeEaiaMF5tkb9anuXAgUdGhkKPwm9VKAU9_Ek3E-iXxYP5AJiQKBgLKjE8VM0Zm9Qkbd2LC9C2rG5VEpaQJnU/s1024/2d46ea07-c7bc-4497-814c-308c4bbd67f0-compressed.jpg
https://media.bible.art/2d46ea07-c7bc-4497-814c-308c4bbd67f0-compressed.jpg
https://bible.art/p/36n11xDV1i56o6ze4Ilm
https://bible.art/meaning/philippians-2%3A26
https://media.bible.art/2d46ea07-c7bc-4497-814c-308c4bbd67f0-compressed.jpg
https://bible.art/p/36n11xDV1i56o6ze4Ilm
https://bible.art/meaning/philippians-2%3A26
Chapter 43 - Reflection - The Golden Calf and the Broken Tablets,
PHOTO: Churches have tried to establish a clear stance (mindset) amid debates on homosexuality and the inroads made into society by the LGBTQ movement. One denomination's public statement reads: "We consider the practice of homosexuality to be incompatible with Christian teachings. However, we do recognise that homosexual persons are individuals of sacred worth. They need the ministry and guidance of the Church as well as the spiritual and emotional support of caring fellowship."
The statement maintains that homosexual practice is sinful, contrary to God's will, and forbidden in Scripture. It also expresses the belief that God's grace is available to homosexuals and must he offered to them. These two points reflect faith in a God who is both holy and compassionate (Ezekiel 39:25), righteous and merciful (Psalm 4:1).
Let us consider the statement's first point - that Scripture speaks against homosexual practice.
Those who argue that the gay lifestyle is an acceptable alternative lifestyle rely on two assumptions that are suspect when examined closely.
The first assumption is that gay people were born with their sexual orientation, so their behaviour should be seen by society as normal.
It has been argued that there could be a "gay gene", and that homosexuality is genetically determined and is therefore natural. Others have posited (suggested) a "gay brain", structured or wired in a way that produces homosexual tendencies. Yet others have suggested that "hormones" can explain why some people are gay. None of these explanations have been proven to be the case.
Even if a strong biological basis for homosexuality can be demonstrated, the problem will arises: does biology determine moral values? What if it can be shown that some people are biologically inclined to laziness, greed, selfishness, dishonesty, violence or lust? Would we accept the full and free expression of these impulses, even if they cause harm? We would not.
To put forward an unproven claim as an established fact (that gay people are born that way) is in itself questionable. To assume that morality can be biologically conditioned further weakens the argument.
The second assumption is that popular acceptance determines moral values. Can we distinguish right from wrong simply by looking at the latest polls?
Alfred Kinsey's famous study on human sexuality in 1948 claimed that 10% of the population was gay. [1a] The accuracy of this study has been challenged, and later studies have shown that the figure is significantly lower. But Kinsey's figure served to normalise and legitimise homosexual behaviour. Until 1973, homosexuality was considered to be a mental illness. Now, it is viewed as an alternative lifestyle. It is claimed that there is nothing biologically or psychologically wrong with homosexuals, and that the problem really is one of social and acceptability.
The logic this claim entails is that even though societies like Singapore are still "conservative", they will come to accept gay lifestyles in time. Gay activities hope that their lifestyles can then be integrated into the mainstream. The assumption made here is that such a shift in mainstream opinion constitutes progress, and that the opinion of the majority determines what is right or wrong. Both assumptions stand on shaky ground.
Despite their flaws, the arguments described above, which have a biological and sociological basis, are used both by proponents and opposers of the promotion of gay lifestyle and rights.
As Christians, our primary argument must lie elsewhere. It must be rooted in Scripture: what it teaches, and its authority in the doctrine and life of the church. Perhaps we can start by thinking about norms, and how we find and established them. It is not enough to allow what is normal to determine norms, especially moral norms. Rather we should base such norms on what is normative (deriving from a standard).
The normal is discovered by empirical scientific study (e.g. the normal height of men, the incidence of corruption and brides). As science merely describes what is , whatever is discovered to be normal cannot automatically be assumed to be right. Rather, we need God's revelation, through Scripture, to know what should be. While science (including the brain scans of biology or the surveys of sociology) can show us what is normal, it is Scripture that truly points us to what is normative. Hence, Scripture should take the central place in our reflections on the issue of homosexuality.
When the Israelites were on their way to the promised land, they stopped at Mount Sinai, and Moses climbed the mountain to bring down a copy of God's moral law, the Ten Commandments. On the plains, the people built a golden calf. When Moses later confronted Aaron, who had been with them. Aaron's lame reply was that the people had given gold to throw into the fire and "out came this calf", naturally (Exodus 32:24). The people had previously taken a sort of poll, so it seems, and determined that it was right to build the golden calf.
Their way of moral and religious reasoning based on "natural" process and popular views was strongly oppressed by God. Moses' anger made him fling the tablets he was carrying to the ground, and they broke into pieces (God's law was literally broken). Here, we see a conflict between the normal and the normative in determining the norms. The lesson here is that our search for moral norms must focus on Scripture and what it commands.
Scripture' Normative Teaching On Homosexuality
Bible scholar Robert Gagnon, in his excellent book The Bible and Homosexual Practice, provides a thorough study of the matter. [2] He examines key verse (such as Leviticus 18:22, 20:13; Romans 1:24-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9; 1 Timothy 1:10)
and concludes that Scripture's clear teaching is that homosexuality is a
sin. These who may try to reinterpret Scripture in support of
homosexuality would find it difficult to refute Gagnon, who only
reiterates the church's historical and scriptural position. On this
matter, we must be clear in holding firmly to Scripture's teaching.
We now come to the second point mentioned in the statement above - that we should offer homosexuals the gospel of God's forgiveness, grace, and transformative power.
The Bible declares that all have sinned and are in need of God's grace. When we condemn sins, we must also work with God to redeem sinners. God loves all that He has made, whether or not they please Him, and Jesus taught that God gives sunshine and much-needed rain to both the righteous and the unrighteous (Matthew 5:45). When providing for His creatures' needs, God demonstrates a loving non-discrimination. Homosexual people, as human beings with human dignity, have basic rights, such as the right to healthcare and employment. Like all human beings who contain a mixture of sin and grace, homosexual people will exhibit praiseworthy character traits despite their persistence in a particular sinful practice. We must also note that while we condemn homosexual practice, we must condemn with equal strength and conviction the other sins listed in, say, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 stealing, greed, drunkenness, slandering, and idolatry, or the more deadly sins, such as pride.
We must be careful not to outdo and contradict God by rejecting people, or denying them their needs as God-created individuals because of their unrighteous acts. What we must oppose is the active and vocal promotion of a gay lifestyles; we must strongly object to attempt, in the arts and media for instance, to endorse (declare one's public approval or support), normalise, or idealise homosexual practice. Since we believe that such practices are contrary to the values we hope society will live by, we must fulfil our role as salt and light by our public stance (attitude).
In church, we must also make it clear that homosexual practice is sinful and unacceptable. Yet, all sinners who are repentant and seek God's grace, healing and transformation are welcome in the Christian family (see 1 Corinthians 6:11, which suggests that some members of the Corinthian church were practicing homosexuals who repented, alongside those who had repented from other sins). The church, after all, is a fellowship of repentant and forgiven sinners who are being transformed into Christlike holiness and love. We must sympathise with our brothers and sisters who struggle with homosexuality and love them. They must find in Christian community the tender kindness of divine grace that Jesus always showed to those who had failed morally but turned to God in repentance. We must ensure that condemnation of sin does not lead to hatred of sinners. We must stand firm against the sin while being, at the same time, loving and gracious towards the repentant and struggling sinner.
We now come to the second point mentioned in the statement above - that we should offer homosexuals the gospel of God's forgiveness, grace, and transformative power.
The Bible declares that all have sinned and are in need of God's grace. When we condemn sins, we must also work with God to redeem sinners. God loves all that He has made, whether or not they please Him, and Jesus taught that God gives sunshine and much-needed rain to both the righteous and the unrighteous (Matthew 5:45). When providing for His creatures' needs, God demonstrates a loving non-discrimination. Homosexual people, as human beings with human dignity, have basic rights, such as the right to healthcare and employment. Like all human beings who contain a mixture of sin and grace, homosexual people will exhibit praiseworthy character traits despite their persistence in a particular sinful practice. We must also note that while we condemn homosexual practice, we must condemn with equal strength and conviction the other sins listed in, say, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 stealing, greed, drunkenness, slandering, and idolatry, or the more deadly sins, such as pride.
We must be careful not to outdo and contradict God by rejecting people, or denying them their needs as God-created individuals because of their unrighteous acts. What we must oppose is the active and vocal promotion of a gay lifestyles; we must strongly object to attempt, in the arts and media for instance, to endorse (declare one's public approval or support), normalise, or idealise homosexual practice. Since we believe that such practices are contrary to the values we hope society will live by, we must fulfil our role as salt and light by our public stance (attitude).
In church, we must also make it clear that homosexual practice is sinful and unacceptable. Yet, all sinners who are repentant and seek God's grace, healing and transformation are welcome in the Christian family (see 1 Corinthians 6:11, which suggests that some members of the Corinthian church were practicing homosexuals who repented, alongside those who had repented from other sins). The church, after all, is a fellowship of repentant and forgiven sinners who are being transformed into Christlike holiness and love. We must sympathise with our brothers and sisters who struggle with homosexuality and love them. They must find in Christian community the tender kindness of divine grace that Jesus always showed to those who had failed morally but turned to God in repentance. We must ensure that condemnation of sin does not lead to hatred of sinners. We must stand firm against the sin while being, at the same time, loving and gracious towards the repentant and struggling sinner.
Jesus Is Our Best Example
When asked to judge and throw stones at a woman caught in adultery, Jesus told her: "Neither do I condemn you . . . Go now and leave your life of sin" (John 8:11).
A clear judgement is pronounced on the sin, but grace is offered to the
one caught in sin. Like our Lord, we must clearly condemn the sin but
also, by God's grace, set aside the stones. For it is in Christ and by
the Holy Spirit that all sinners, regardless of their sin, are washed,
justified, and sanctified (1 Corinthians 6:11). There are no exceptions, and no other way.
Picture posted by epornerpics.comhttps://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj5FJj39RsLMEdCKWx8GMLmJGUgCdJJeZo7xYNsBbfzAghA65WnUSTv7_B_1HPY8DORSOo1AZgtMTrpr52Fv-P_FkG9PPTL2TyqKe7dk6lXiAFlXstXivn1XvmUn2uN_98KU6b30ilRw5bPe0PGhcyUNFKCjsd0M8k3fUR4U0okfgWLjDXTD3cqIUkEKo/s1200/1673047396_7-epornerpics-com-p-porn-naked-women-in-bed-glimpses-of-their-9.jpg
https://epornerpics.com/uploads/posts/2023-01/1673047396_7-epornerpics-com-p-porn-naked-women-in-bed-glimpses-of-their-9.jpg
https://epornerpics.com/15854-naked-women-in-bed-glimpesses-of-their-charms-58-photos.html
PHOTO: The statement maintains that homosexual practice is sinful, contrary to God's will, and forbidden in Scripture. It also expresses the belief that God's grace is available to homosexuals and must he offered to them. These two points reflect faith in a God who is both holy and compassionate (Ezekiel 39:25), righteous and merciful (Psalm 4:1).
Picture posted in Pinterest
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQ8ulsHF7Vd78VW-isOpr9J1KjcxqfH68_4NG7GpbqjKX-mbjP7KEa6GKWHzM6pBysOaH3-cglc3BYIJWh2BphZWt2s3esrtJiUf7pqfACvIH8EUJSopVwfcuFP0B4lbz757Jwok3Oprr74W17C-yNgJ7zVJXulWfUNcj43gNNFCl6VsR9Edua8eTL3o/s998/2e10a87c080d66d9c5351454aa61d15f.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/2e/10/a8/2e10a87c080d66d9c5351454aa61d15f.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/423760646208864854/
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we pray that like our Lord, we must clearly condemn the sin but also, by God's grace, set aside the stones. For it is in Christ and by the Holy Spirit that all sinners, regardless of their sin, are washed, justified, and sanctified.
May we ensure that condemnation of sin does not lead to hatred of sinners. May we stand firm against the sin while being, at the same time, loving and gracious towards the repentant and struggling sinner.
Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen."
Picture posted by Danielle Melo
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FikyW_4jv1Y9Qh8sE5uBP5ITAA_0D5Rygo7CRLY_qUVAgKQ1E_hm75IGIXAAfWoXYLi7MFr5kzMKNdInvy9OpFgc6rhde65fbLzrafNcPRTHEhQx_NiRhtPxffAmcKdi-BBLIv85DMBFz9_boYrhEycADjma1exYFVloWejtJRPMyhqETsNdfljDL90/s1600/5b224690fb841b4e33acdf79aff72b4d_1.png
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/5b/22/46/5b224690fb841b4e33acdf79aff72b4d.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/26529085299067813/
Chapter 44 - Reflection - A Root of Evil,
PHOTO: About
two decades ago, casino operators were angling to set up shop in
Singapore. Churches in the city-state made their views known concerning
the matter. The Social Principles of the Methodist Church in Singapore, for instance, address gambling in a section titled "The Sphere of Social Well-being":
a)
Gambling is an expression of one's desire to instant wealth. It is a
form of bondage and a social sickness motivated by greed and covetousness (a feeling of extreme greed for material wealth or possessions, especially for things that belong to someone else).
It is also a menace to society as it compromises the best interests of
moral, social, economic, and spiritual life of the community.
b) We do not subscribe to any form of gambling.
Many churches are against any form of gambling for two reasons. First, it is a spiritual sickness. Gambling creates greed of the kind that is identified in Colossians 3:5 as a form of idolatry. Gambling is often motivated by an excessive and irrational greed that becomes an uncontrollable psychological and spiritual force within. Hence, the Bible calls such greed "idolatry".
The apostle Paul describes the way this works in his first letter to Timothy, the young pastor: "Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunges people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs" (1 Timothy 6:9-10).
Notice the details. The basic problem is greed, or love of money. It begins with a desire to get rich, and in the case of gambling, the desire for instant, big wealth. People who harbour such desires fall easily into temptation. The more readily available gambling is to these people, the stronger the temptation.
Those who give in to temptation will find themselves entrapped, though they may not acknowledge it. The trap is that of an addictive behaviour that eventually robs them of life. In the first place, they will behave foolishly. They will throw away common sense and rationalise their behaviour by saying all sorts of foolish things to themselves: "The next one will be a win . . . I know when to stop . . . It is only for fun", and the like. To make matters worse, their behaviour will harm both themselves and their loved ones.
Such irrationality leads to ruin and destruction, a fall from dignity, well-being, and responsibility. Let the description of this process serve as a warning to would-be gambling addicts, the way smokers are greeted with graphic images of disease and decay on cigarette packets. Shouldn't we do the same at the doorways of gambling facilities and casino?
Christians are not exempt from temptation or immune to self-destructive ways. Paul was talking about Christians who had left the faith because of their greed, plunging their lives into ruin. We may personally know a miserable soul who suffered the same fate. Let us be warned of this spiritual sickness.
Churches oppose gambling also because it is a social sickness. It ruins not only the gambler, but also his family. Those addicted to gambling can throw all caution to the wind (doing things without fear or proper thought), destroying all important things in life to feed their insatiable (uncontrollable) appetite. Their families would bear the brunt (burden) of unpaid debt, leading to untold suffering, domestic woes, and even violence. We have encountered stories of once-happy families engulfed (immerse) in tragedy due to gambling. In one case, the strained relationship between a man and his wife worsened because of rising debt, fuelled by his gambling addiction. Quarrels and fights culminated in the man killing his wife and their children. [1a]
If gambling becomes prevalent (widespread), society too will suffer. A gambling society cannot prosper in the long term, or even in the short term. All kinds of social pathologies and evil would materialise. Values such as diligence, temperance (self-control), honesty, and contentment would be eroded. The case some years ago of a company director, imprisoned for embezzling large sums of money to finance his gambling habit, should warn us of this danger. [2] What if more people behave similarly? Wealth and education do not confer (grant) natural immunity against gambling addiction either. Perhaps it is the case that the larger the sums of money involved, the greater the irrationality and bondage to greed. The idea of restricting casino access only to the wealthy will certainly not prevent tragedies.
Moreover, casinos often have criminal elements muscling into their operations. Any casino would have great difficulty avoiding this. How great the social ills that follow in a casino's wake, and how much more so in a tightly-knit and densely populated city-state.
Gambling is an illness with spiritual and social aspects. We may not be able to eradicate gambling addiction altogether. But we must do all we can to prevent it - for our own good. Casinos place our spiritual and social health at stake. We should not gamble our future well-being away.
Picture posted by Budiman Wira, Jesus Christ Savior on 06 February 2024
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg36lOyNtgZIeN79Vynuu5bO1io8Ir_hoq54Lv9TyBVW_wnrdFDNWOkhyphenhyphen5TBbUQfMvvAa2d173aIon2aBS-WpVunkeeHz7OKCPwOBiecjojh6pHX5EtqkEO3oIAq1x-u0vS_TCtPrl8vuuQJZEDpsqg6JK8ywN1Uuxtpy3rBoi10kd6QRe5xTqscOxMwmw/s768/1.-A-Clear-and-Concise-Analysis-1_1.jpg
https://jesuschristsavior.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/1.-A-Clear-and-Concise-Analysis-1.jpg
https://jesuschristsavior.net/what-does-the-bible-say-about-gambling/
b) We do not subscribe to any form of gambling.
Many churches are against any form of gambling for two reasons. First, it is a spiritual sickness. Gambling creates greed of the kind that is identified in Colossians 3:5 as a form of idolatry. Gambling is often motivated by an excessive and irrational greed that becomes an uncontrollable psychological and spiritual force within. Hence, the Bible calls such greed "idolatry".
The apostle Paul describes the way this works in his first letter to Timothy, the young pastor: "Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunges people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs" (1 Timothy 6:9-10).
Notice the details. The basic problem is greed, or love of money. It begins with a desire to get rich, and in the case of gambling, the desire for instant, big wealth. People who harbour such desires fall easily into temptation. The more readily available gambling is to these people, the stronger the temptation.
Those who give in to temptation will find themselves entrapped, though they may not acknowledge it. The trap is that of an addictive behaviour that eventually robs them of life. In the first place, they will behave foolishly. They will throw away common sense and rationalise their behaviour by saying all sorts of foolish things to themselves: "The next one will be a win . . . I know when to stop . . . It is only for fun", and the like. To make matters worse, their behaviour will harm both themselves and their loved ones.
Such irrationality leads to ruin and destruction, a fall from dignity, well-being, and responsibility. Let the description of this process serve as a warning to would-be gambling addicts, the way smokers are greeted with graphic images of disease and decay on cigarette packets. Shouldn't we do the same at the doorways of gambling facilities and casino?
Christians are not exempt from temptation or immune to self-destructive ways. Paul was talking about Christians who had left the faith because of their greed, plunging their lives into ruin. We may personally know a miserable soul who suffered the same fate. Let us be warned of this spiritual sickness.
Churches oppose gambling also because it is a social sickness. It ruins not only the gambler, but also his family. Those addicted to gambling can throw all caution to the wind (doing things without fear or proper thought), destroying all important things in life to feed their insatiable (uncontrollable) appetite. Their families would bear the brunt (burden) of unpaid debt, leading to untold suffering, domestic woes, and even violence. We have encountered stories of once-happy families engulfed (immerse) in tragedy due to gambling. In one case, the strained relationship between a man and his wife worsened because of rising debt, fuelled by his gambling addiction. Quarrels and fights culminated in the man killing his wife and their children. [1a]
If gambling becomes prevalent (widespread), society too will suffer. A gambling society cannot prosper in the long term, or even in the short term. All kinds of social pathologies and evil would materialise. Values such as diligence, temperance (self-control), honesty, and contentment would be eroded. The case some years ago of a company director, imprisoned for embezzling large sums of money to finance his gambling habit, should warn us of this danger. [2] What if more people behave similarly? Wealth and education do not confer (grant) natural immunity against gambling addiction either. Perhaps it is the case that the larger the sums of money involved, the greater the irrationality and bondage to greed. The idea of restricting casino access only to the wealthy will certainly not prevent tragedies.
Moreover, casinos often have criminal elements muscling into their operations. Any casino would have great difficulty avoiding this. How great the social ills that follow in a casino's wake, and how much more so in a tightly-knit and densely populated city-state.
Gambling is an illness with spiritual and social aspects. We may not be able to eradicate gambling addiction altogether. But we must do all we can to prevent it - for our own good. Casinos place our spiritual and social health at stake. We should not gamble our future well-being away.
Picture posted by Budiman Wira, Jesus Christ Savior on 06 February 2024
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg36lOyNtgZIeN79Vynuu5bO1io8Ir_hoq54Lv9TyBVW_wnrdFDNWOkhyphenhyphen5TBbUQfMvvAa2d173aIon2aBS-WpVunkeeHz7OKCPwOBiecjojh6pHX5EtqkEO3oIAq1x-u0vS_TCtPrl8vuuQJZEDpsqg6JK8ywN1Uuxtpy3rBoi10kd6QRe5xTqscOxMwmw/s768/1.-A-Clear-and-Concise-Analysis-1_1.jpg
https://jesuschristsavior.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/1.-A-Clear-and-Concise-Analysis-1.jpg
https://jesuschristsavior.net/what-does-the-bible-say-about-gambling/
PHOTO: Moreover, casinos often have criminal elements muscling into their operations. Any casino would have great difficulty avoiding this. How great the social ills that follow in a casino's wake, and how much more so in a tightly-knit and densely populated city-state.
Picture posted by kmf70 on 08 May 2024
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPwUcvuk8L07moVN3pvbyuS4W5Z0OWcoYcF_hCC2r2HOH6TuRggwoIFtat-r-0vrcDTA7c4wSdXtbIbkdW9FiNq53JmkPrJXiIpzuGnO7mrwe2WooJz8eLT7xkVyiCelLTykizs23FDMhSyOcr8r32gsc0yhzX9rqm9PEJHTM4p24Tyv_ekbSdCskogd0/s1024/dhd8jmd-68da117e-e4aa-44af-907e-8cdc3979ecfc.jpg
https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/f5a0e93b-4dfb-4da5-93f8-631af9bb393c/dhd8jmd-68da117e-e4aa-44af-907e-8cdc3979ecfc.jpg?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7InBhdGgiOiJcL2ZcL2Y1YTBlOTNiLTRkZmItNGRhNS05M2Y4LTYzMWFmOWJiMzkzY1wvZGhkOGptZC02OGRhMTE3ZS1lNGFhLTQ0YWYtOTA3ZS04Y2RjMzk3OWVjZmMuanBnIn1dXSwiYXVkIjpbInVybjpzZXJ2aWNlOmZpbGUuZG93bmxvYWQiXX0.l3O3EUHoLMTzoNbSq1emYqdXdc3pcQgw0PtBc3twuQs
https://www.deviantart.com/kmf70/art/Dragons-Demons-and-other-Abstract-Creatures-1050158677
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we pray that we do all we can to prevent gambling addiction for our own good.
Gambling is an illness with spiritual and social aspects. We may not be able to eradicate gambling addiction altogether.
Casinos place our spiritual and social health at stake. May we not gamble our future well-being away.
Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen."
Picture posted by Ty Unruh (2015), Burning Point Ministries
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZ6PPFOG4fuPX8I64LnGIt-YQs3inhQ9SiF3-XrvUVhBOkNLIoGSkBtc93mmR9jgcOmPVI-0hlu5SjEmgfuWTOu7KE0tQdz1quHCygTZFU7aaThQ_8zZdnYm6vYZvQGYA75hyphenhyphen-Yd3sW7ang40vysecK5Knwjaf6YrLYmGBTmu0i5jAsY3j-w0QKD_hbQ/s1500/27B34097-242A-4B2C-AA52-105F431D5717.jpg
https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5519ee2ee4b0caf5831f0fe4/f7014562-931b-42cb-b204-dc2ebc490848/27B34097-242A-4B2C-AA52-105F431D5717.jpg?format=1500w
http://www.burningpointministries.com/money-changers-in-the-charismatic-church
Chapter 45 - Reflection - Strengthening Our Inner Environment,
PHOTO: When the government of Singapore announced plans to develop two casinos in the city-state, their decision, made after much private and public debate, disappointed many who were opposed, including churches. They had cautioned against casinos on the basis of possible detriments to society, both in the immediate and long-term future.
Sufficient evidence from academia and real life informs us that casino gambling presents severe threats to personal, familial, and societal well-being. Certain groups in society, such as the young and the retired, are particularly vulnerable to the lure of the casinos, and face higher risks of gambling addiction as a result. Casinos lead to damaged livelihoods, broken families, and increased levels of social pathology.
Much was said about these dangers. The government responded with various measures aimed at reducing the social fallout from the casinos. While these policies would have helped to a point, human behaviour and social outcomes rarely go according to plan. More work can be done to mitigate social fallout, but prevention is still better than cure.
Still, our concerns went beyond the casinos. For Christians, the casino pointed to the larger issues that concerned us - what sort of society were we becoming?
The world around us is rapidly changing. In a globalised age, these changes can deeply affect us. Many of these changes will be detrimental to our souls and society at large. Our first challenge, therefore, is to discern what is harmful. Our second challenge would be to resist the temptation to adopt these harmful changes, for whatever the reason.
Christians in Singapore may have felt relatively safe in a value ecosystem that was conducive to our holiness. Could the casino issue (and other social trends) be teaching us that this may no longer be the case? Indeed, our basic assumptions, attitudes, and habits in life, as followers of Christ in a secular world, may need to change.
In the first place, we must not expect the state and society to do our work for us. Christians may once have expected the state to discern evil and resist temptation on our behalf, thereby maintaining a stable and decent social environment. But the state is secular and pragmatic (practical), its concern being the nation's security and prosperity. Against the onslaught of globalised structures of sin, Christians must finally realise that the spiritual struggle is not between the world and an idealised nation-state, but between the world and our souls. In other words, the battle is at the very doorstep of our hearts.
If present trends are anything to go by, values and virtues will become increasingly ambiguous in society. While our social environment has retained some good and excellent elements, the godless ways of the world will poison it more and more. It is therefore of utmost importance that we strengthen our inner environment - the spiritual environment of our souls. Our social environment was always sunny and we never thought to bring an umbrella along. But the weather is changing. We'd better bring our spiritual umbrella along, and make sure that they are in good working order.
Maintaining our inner life and spiritual environment should be a top priority for us as Christians. We must dig deep into Scripture and develop a biblical mindset. We must follow Christ faithfully, obeying Him to the fullest. We must let the Spirit shape us into the image of Christ. These holy habits will help us to discern what is harmful and evil, giving us wisdom and strength to withstand the temptations that knock on our doors with increasing brashness (rudeness).
In a worldly environment that is increasingly injurious (harmful) to the practice of godliness, we must live like Daniel and his friends. Under great pressure, they refused to give in by eating food forbidden by their religion, bowing down to man-made idols, or compromising on their spiritual disciplines (Daniel 1:11-16; 3:1-18; 6:6-13). Our Lord Jesus exhibited that same resolve when He was tempted in the wilderness. He refused to give up His principles even when tempted with bread, fame, fortune, and power (Luke 4:1-12). He demonstrated that HIs relationship with His Father was more important than anything else in the world. There are things we should not give up at any price.
Beside strengthening our inner life and spiritual environment, we must also reconsider certain assumptions we may have made in the spiritual formation that goes on in our churches. Pastoral theologian David Augsburger notes that Asian cultures function more on the basis of shame, while Western cultures operate on the basis of guilt. [1a] If this is true, it may be the case in Asian churches that spiritual formation has been carried out more on the basis of shame - where we learned to avoid doing wrong because of humiliation if caught or because of the disapproval of society.
With society's values running increasingly contrary to our Christian faith, we must seriously reconsider our way of spiritual formation and become more intentional about the process. How can we fortify the way individual Christians internalise biblical beliefs and values, so that they would remain faithful to their calling and true to the Lord, regardless of their social environment?
I believe God must be "internalised" in spiritual formation: the God who is above us must also reign within us. Jesus must daily be our Lord as we lead our lives in this fallen world. We cannot escape living in the world. But as Jesus has said, though we are in the world, we are not "of the world" (John 17:15-16). Our identity in Christ, and our loyalty to our triune God, must transcend (go beyond) worldly things.
Returning to the casino issue, what should we do? We must continue to be a prophetic voice, reminding people that gambling is sinful and warning them of the ruinous consequences of gambling addiction. We must educate our Christian community on the dangers of casino gambling, taking measures to strengthen our inner life and spiritual environment, as previously discussed. We must likewise strengthen our family life and values, and reconsider our methods of spiritual formation in the church.
At the same time, we must reach out with pastoral compassion to those who have fallen into the temptation of gambling. As churches, we must find new ways to help and care for these unfortunate people. We must not shut ourselves in and huddle together anxiously. Instead, we must reach out to the world, living responsibly and responsively as disciples and servants of Christ, citizens of our country, and loving neighbours to those around us. We must follow the footsteps of the prophet Daniel, who, despite his difficult circumstances, served society and the state with distinction and dedication.
We must also live as an eschatological (Christian beliefs about the afterlife) people - knowing that the best is always yet to be, that this world is not heaven, and that the kingdom not of this world is coming (John 18:36), when Christ comes in glory to establish His perfect society. And we must also know that His kingdom has already begun in our hearts (Luke 17:21). Already have begun to breathe its pure and invigorating (stimulating) air, even in the murk (darkness) and haze of our present surroundings.
Picture posted by Cheryl Mah, Ang Mo Kio Methodist Church on 16 May 2024
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAp5fOAwiKNmcOxt8zaoo5hO_j3fdljarnsynVCgR6uF62Zz2wVn9TPsI5bQoPxa5hqiJ1bau9Nu2rUGaBkPZ73uTGkNXUFXFQ3fJTZYDR0DM_cIICByh-KZSoNGtcb8Q1wdhJLhtRJQcTA86Gc2dVGwTRP_bZVmRfs-kiVWkp0sGwNY3ntBxddBc4mwA/s1024/Good-bad-positive-negative-1024x647.png
https://www.amkmc.org.sg/wp/wp-content/uploads/Good-bad-positive-negative-1024x647.png
https://www.amkmc.org.sg/articles/raising-faithful-children-in-a-digital-era/
https://www.amkmc.org.sg/wp/wp-content/uploads/Good-bad-positive-negative-1024x647.png
https://www.amkmc.org.sg/articles/raising-faithful-children-in-a-digital-era/
PHOTO:We must also live as an eschatological (Christian beliefs about the afterlife) people - knowing that the best is always yet to be, that this world is not heaven, and that the kingdom not of this world is coming (John 18:36), when Christ comes in glory to establish His perfect society. And we must also know that His kingdom has already begun in our hearts (Luke 17:21). Already have begun to breathe its pure and invigorating (stimulating) air, even in the murk (darkness) and haze of our present surroundings.
Picture posted by Janete Janetedejesu
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigp5ovaUAdShEDTS7WIsz16_3HX7LP2_XBCH5-NctHndLSZY9qpJOXkjM8f3sayaCDQjumbmpDp_zOUAAgy5q8DJy-l5nbFB9TfPBUprFj71vI5US-XB-d5GFgVAFRKxwdcYKvKKfovxCby_Pt2a4dPn4DdzaR04BFGTdmenNRLDoML9cCeLMUh35XiZE/s1863/5762ae0f9fd46b91d5cf893293a68cb1.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/57/62/ae/5762ae0f9fd46b91d5cf893293a68cb1.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/461196818109418558/
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigp5ovaUAdShEDTS7WIsz16_3HX7LP2_XBCH5-NctHndLSZY9qpJOXkjM8f3sayaCDQjumbmpDp_zOUAAgy5q8DJy-l5nbFB9TfPBUprFj71vI5US-XB-d5GFgVAFRKxwdcYKvKKfovxCby_Pt2a4dPn4DdzaR04BFGTdmenNRLDoML9cCeLMUh35XiZE/s1863/5762ae0f9fd46b91d5cf893293a68cb1.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/57/62/ae/5762ae0f9fd46b91d5cf893293a68cb1.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/461196818109418558/
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we pray that we live as an eschatological people - knowing that the best is always yet to be, that this world is not heaven, and that the kingdom not of this world is coming, when Christ comes in glory to establish His perfect society.
May we also know that His kingdom has already begun in our hearts. We already have begun to breathe its pure and invigorating air, even in the murk and haze of our present surroundings.
Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen."
Picture posted by Veena Furtado - Little ones with Jesus 🙏💕🙌💖
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1JCIHgiL6hILJmQD6dLgXxRlAetyBovCBrw1X48gpbA1PZ2DwB14Xl9hKWCT3DCyCXU60kVeIxTuEEnpqRLr45ooYb19mwm3yuNZjn97rygSWH1_q86MLfkXh0m4ic7sOyAV0SpeuQK4ijQB8bfjf4O-oeJ1ehyrd5Bsl5dOuS1ZOYvfQo8314Nr1RM0/s981/83201b56db9d4673761e8789408600a4_1.png
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/83/20/1b/83201b56db9d4673761e8789408600a4.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/26529085299067812/
Chapter 46 - Reflection - Reflections on the Tsunami,
PHOTO: The
gentle sea rapidly changed in character, and, in a fit of madness,
became a monstrous hand snatching thousands away in its deadly grasp. It
left behind a scene of death and devastation, haunting the world with
images of bloated, rigid, decaying bodies strewn (untidily scattered)
along beaches and endless miles of debris. The media brought into our
homes the sounds of wailing parents carrying their dead children in
their helpless and faltering (losing strength or momentum) hands.
The world stood still, dumbstruck, as the magnitude of this tragedy, the day after Christmas in 2004, sank home. Then a global chorus of support for the victims generated relief efforts on an unprecedented scale, with large organisations and ordinary individuals alike joining in to lend their help. It was as if the tremendous worldwide response was an act of defiance against the arbitrary (dictatorial) and cruel ways of nature. What was best in the human race swept like a healing wave across the world, encouraging and inspiring many. Unfolding stories of unusual courage, resilience, and compassion warmed our hearts.
Amid the disaster relief efforts were difficult questions. What was God doing when the tsunami struck? Was He not powerful enough to do something? Was He not loving enough to save the thousands of children who died? Was this disaster a punishment from God?
It is normal to think that those who suffer on earth are being punished for sins they committed. Bad things happen to bad people and good things happen to good people. However, the book of Job challenges such notions. Bad things can happen to good man. Wicked people can enjoy good times (Psalm 73:2-12). The reality is more complex than is popularly understood. We must not jump into hasty and mistaken judgements.
Why do disasters happen? It is in fact easier to explain things that involve human sin and wickedness, such as war and genocide. But natural disasters, it is more difficult. In such instances, we turn to God and expect Him to explain Himself, for isn't He the one responsible for controlling nature?
The biblical account of creation contains the story of the beginning of sin and human suffering. God told Adam and Eve that on the day they disobeyed Him and turned away from Him, they would "certainly die" (Genesis 2:17). Tragically, they sinned, and death and suffering have become part of the human condition ever since. Even the ground (nature) was cursed (Genesis 3:17). Little surprise then that "the whole creation has been groaning" - we ourselves know full well that all human beings have also been groaning (Romans 8:22-23). What is amazing is that God Himself groans with us - and with tormented nature too (Romans 8:26). God is with us in tragedy and has plans to liberate all creation and bring freedom to human beings.
When we experience disaster and tragedy, we must remember that we live in a disturbed world infected by sin. It would be unhelpful to regard tragedy as acts of direct judgment pronounced on specific people. There will come a time when all will be revealed and everything set right through God's perfect justice. At that time, each of us must give an account of ourselves to Him. But on this earth, personal suffering cannot be seen as specific judgment pronounced on specific sins.
When Jesus was informed about what must have been the "breaking news" of the day - that some Galileans had been cruelly executed by the Romans, He asked: "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way?" (Luke 13:2). His answer was an emphatic "No!" followed by a concise and blunt sermon: "But unless you repent, you too will perish" (Luke 13:3). Jesus also referred to a "natural" disaster - the collapse of a tower in Siloam, when 18 were killed. Again, Jesus said: "Do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish" (Luke 13:4-5).
Disasters are not an occasion for us to judge others. Rather, we should judge our own hearts. We are called to examine our own ways and to repent in the face of disaster. But repentance does not come easily. In Revelation 9:18, we read of global calamity that will wipe out one-third of the world's population, a death toll for greater than that of the tsunami. The sobering (saddening) fact is that the rest of mankind will not repent in spite of this (Revelation 9:20). Repentance does not come easily - such is the human heart.
One great challenge for us in disasters like this one is to repent, both from our personal sinfulness as well as our collective sins. It was our greed, injustice, and indifference that contributed to inequality and poverty, that gave rise to the fragile and flimsy houses the victims lived in, that were no match for the rage of the tsunami. But repentance does not come easily. We must change our ways, both in our hearts and in the world. We must repent and return to God.
Besides repenting, another great challenge for us is to respond with compassion. In fact, repentance is the bedrock of real and lasting compassion. Without repentance, even the most compassionate of acts can be tainted with less than noble intentions. Ajith Fernando, who oversaw relief efforts in Sri Lanka, wrote and circulated an article entitled "Disciplines for Emergency Workers". Among other useful advice, he warned that "we can publicise our work just so that people will be impressed by us". Our attempts to help may degenerate into competition, self-promotion, and public relations exercises.
In an age of exhilarating media spotlights, what Jesus once said goes against the grain: "When you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets . . . do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing" (Matthew 6:2-4). Of course, in that same sermon, Jesus had also said: "Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). I believe that these statements are not contradictory. One speaks of our attitude when doing good. The other speaks of the result of our good deeds. If we focus on the audience when we do good, we would have failed. But if we focus instead on those who need help, the world would notice.
Compassion can quickly fade. One reason for the outpouring of global support was the extensive media coverage of the tsunami. Soon, each disaster will fade from the attention of the world. The challenge is making our compassion last, and extending it to other areas of human suffering. The lack of a media spotlight on millions dying from disease, violence, and poverty leaves them largely ignored or forgotten.
Bruderhof pastor Johann Christoph Arnold's sobering words, penned one week after the tsunami, should give us pause for deeper thought and spur us on to greater compassion and consistency in our actions:
"We do not need to weep for those who have died: We need to weep and pray and act for those who remain alive, still suffering hunger and thirst and facing waterborne diseases such as cholera and malaria." [1a]
Meanwhile, let us ask ourselves how much time we spent considering the meaning of this incomprehensible disaster.
The tsunami struck the day after Christmas in 2004. Perhaps only a week had gone by before many of us began returning to petty pursuits like post-Christmas bargains at the mall. Even on the news, memories of the disaster had begun to fade - it was back to American singer Janet Jackson. We care so little about the rest of the human race. Nothing matters as long as it didn't happen to us. Yet, it could happen to us the next time; every disaster is an eleventh-hour warning. How many of us take such warnings to heart?
In the face of disaster, we are challenged to repent and to act with broad and unwavering compassion. Our eyes should be on Christ and His cross. There, we see a God who groans with us, who is present in our sufferings and calamities. He offers redemption. He shows us how to respond - through self-giving love. His cross urges us to repent and turn to God - for our own good, and for the good of all who need our compassion. Praise God for the compassion, in the face of disaster, of Christians in our churches and elsewhere! Let us be like the islanders who showed "unusual kindness" (Acts 28:2) to Paul and his fellow travellers. Like the victims of that dreadful tsunami, they had been washed ashore on a strange beach, cold and hungry, subject to an angry hurricane and the whims (wishes) of a violent sea.
The world stood still, dumbstruck, as the magnitude of this tragedy, the day after Christmas in 2004, sank home. Then a global chorus of support for the victims generated relief efforts on an unprecedented scale, with large organisations and ordinary individuals alike joining in to lend their help. It was as if the tremendous worldwide response was an act of defiance against the arbitrary (dictatorial) and cruel ways of nature. What was best in the human race swept like a healing wave across the world, encouraging and inspiring many. Unfolding stories of unusual courage, resilience, and compassion warmed our hearts.
Amid the disaster relief efforts were difficult questions. What was God doing when the tsunami struck? Was He not powerful enough to do something? Was He not loving enough to save the thousands of children who died? Was this disaster a punishment from God?
It is normal to think that those who suffer on earth are being punished for sins they committed. Bad things happen to bad people and good things happen to good people. However, the book of Job challenges such notions. Bad things can happen to good man. Wicked people can enjoy good times (Psalm 73:2-12). The reality is more complex than is popularly understood. We must not jump into hasty and mistaken judgements.
Why do disasters happen? It is in fact easier to explain things that involve human sin and wickedness, such as war and genocide. But natural disasters, it is more difficult. In such instances, we turn to God and expect Him to explain Himself, for isn't He the one responsible for controlling nature?
The biblical account of creation contains the story of the beginning of sin and human suffering. God told Adam and Eve that on the day they disobeyed Him and turned away from Him, they would "certainly die" (Genesis 2:17). Tragically, they sinned, and death and suffering have become part of the human condition ever since. Even the ground (nature) was cursed (Genesis 3:17). Little surprise then that "the whole creation has been groaning" - we ourselves know full well that all human beings have also been groaning (Romans 8:22-23). What is amazing is that God Himself groans with us - and with tormented nature too (Romans 8:26). God is with us in tragedy and has plans to liberate all creation and bring freedom to human beings.
When we experience disaster and tragedy, we must remember that we live in a disturbed world infected by sin. It would be unhelpful to regard tragedy as acts of direct judgment pronounced on specific people. There will come a time when all will be revealed and everything set right through God's perfect justice. At that time, each of us must give an account of ourselves to Him. But on this earth, personal suffering cannot be seen as specific judgment pronounced on specific sins.
When Jesus was informed about what must have been the "breaking news" of the day - that some Galileans had been cruelly executed by the Romans, He asked: "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way?" (Luke 13:2). His answer was an emphatic "No!" followed by a concise and blunt sermon: "But unless you repent, you too will perish" (Luke 13:3). Jesus also referred to a "natural" disaster - the collapse of a tower in Siloam, when 18 were killed. Again, Jesus said: "Do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish" (Luke 13:4-5).
Disasters are not an occasion for us to judge others. Rather, we should judge our own hearts. We are called to examine our own ways and to repent in the face of disaster. But repentance does not come easily. In Revelation 9:18, we read of global calamity that will wipe out one-third of the world's population, a death toll for greater than that of the tsunami. The sobering (saddening) fact is that the rest of mankind will not repent in spite of this (Revelation 9:20). Repentance does not come easily - such is the human heart.
One great challenge for us in disasters like this one is to repent, both from our personal sinfulness as well as our collective sins. It was our greed, injustice, and indifference that contributed to inequality and poverty, that gave rise to the fragile and flimsy houses the victims lived in, that were no match for the rage of the tsunami. But repentance does not come easily. We must change our ways, both in our hearts and in the world. We must repent and return to God.
Besides repenting, another great challenge for us is to respond with compassion. In fact, repentance is the bedrock of real and lasting compassion. Without repentance, even the most compassionate of acts can be tainted with less than noble intentions. Ajith Fernando, who oversaw relief efforts in Sri Lanka, wrote and circulated an article entitled "Disciplines for Emergency Workers". Among other useful advice, he warned that "we can publicise our work just so that people will be impressed by us". Our attempts to help may degenerate into competition, self-promotion, and public relations exercises.
In an age of exhilarating media spotlights, what Jesus once said goes against the grain: "When you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets . . . do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing" (Matthew 6:2-4). Of course, in that same sermon, Jesus had also said: "Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). I believe that these statements are not contradictory. One speaks of our attitude when doing good. The other speaks of the result of our good deeds. If we focus on the audience when we do good, we would have failed. But if we focus instead on those who need help, the world would notice.
Compassion can quickly fade. One reason for the outpouring of global support was the extensive media coverage of the tsunami. Soon, each disaster will fade from the attention of the world. The challenge is making our compassion last, and extending it to other areas of human suffering. The lack of a media spotlight on millions dying from disease, violence, and poverty leaves them largely ignored or forgotten.
Bruderhof pastor Johann Christoph Arnold's sobering words, penned one week after the tsunami, should give us pause for deeper thought and spur us on to greater compassion and consistency in our actions:
"We do not need to weep for those who have died: We need to weep and pray and act for those who remain alive, still suffering hunger and thirst and facing waterborne diseases such as cholera and malaria." [1a]
Meanwhile, let us ask ourselves how much time we spent considering the meaning of this incomprehensible disaster.
The tsunami struck the day after Christmas in 2004. Perhaps only a week had gone by before many of us began returning to petty pursuits like post-Christmas bargains at the mall. Even on the news, memories of the disaster had begun to fade - it was back to American singer Janet Jackson. We care so little about the rest of the human race. Nothing matters as long as it didn't happen to us. Yet, it could happen to us the next time; every disaster is an eleventh-hour warning. How many of us take such warnings to heart?
In the face of disaster, we are challenged to repent and to act with broad and unwavering compassion. Our eyes should be on Christ and His cross. There, we see a God who groans with us, who is present in our sufferings and calamities. He offers redemption. He shows us how to respond - through self-giving love. His cross urges us to repent and turn to God - for our own good, and for the good of all who need our compassion. Praise God for the compassion, in the face of disaster, of Christians in our churches and elsewhere! Let us be like the islanders who showed "unusual kindness" (Acts 28:2) to Paul and his fellow travellers. Like the victims of that dreadful tsunami, they had been washed ashore on a strange beach, cold and hungry, subject to an angry hurricane and the whims (wishes) of a violent sea.
Picture posted by Light Of Mission - ពន្លឺនៃបេសកកម្ម on Monday, 05 February 2024 at 10:07 pm
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBx4TD0rTkox5OVyUFUatOb5JjuOKh2LOWDmf0uwM73i6-U2tM2gEHrCU_AbOUykdymzIa6_6v9uYCplZ7pVRlO0KKVdyg_84qlKyDTRaR4X2pTTLxkVhMfo4lTr2D-vCPUKB3zmvKwsBvKt9PxCwnMY1hfP5YXhefiW8VLauOu3nIwBNNesNADKFzMuE/s1024/425713155_817002577105146_7017200711274577753_n.jpg
https://scontent.fsin15-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/425713155_817002577105146_7017200711274577753_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=833d8c&_nc_ohc=qO9dSJ9odeoQ7kNvgFT33wE&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.fsin15-2.fna&_nc_gid=AOsI9tvCaG9XBJIrsUPCTzd&oh=00_AYB3RMhPlx0jY2ck5E9w6-8IOlnCYmcw4b9k5H-yX1Cm2g&oe=6795733E
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=817002580438479&id=100063862335678&set=a.581541863984553&locale=en_GB
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBx4TD0rTkox5OVyUFUatOb5JjuOKh2LOWDmf0uwM73i6-U2tM2gEHrCU_AbOUykdymzIa6_6v9uYCplZ7pVRlO0KKVdyg_84qlKyDTRaR4X2pTTLxkVhMfo4lTr2D-vCPUKB3zmvKwsBvKt9PxCwnMY1hfP5YXhefiW8VLauOu3nIwBNNesNADKFzMuE/s1024/425713155_817002577105146_7017200711274577753_n.jpg
https://scontent.fsin15-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/425713155_817002577105146_7017200711274577753_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=833d8c&_nc_ohc=qO9dSJ9odeoQ7kNvgFT33wE&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.fsin15-2.fna&_nc_gid=AOsI9tvCaG9XBJIrsUPCTzd&oh=00_AYB3RMhPlx0jY2ck5E9w6-8IOlnCYmcw4b9k5H-yX1Cm2g&oe=6795733E
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=817002580438479&id=100063862335678&set=a.581541863984553&locale=en_GB
PHOTO: It is normal to think that those who suffer on earth are being punished for sins they committed. Bad things happen to bad people and good things happen to good people. However, the book of Job challenges such notions. Bad things can happen to good man. Wicked people can enjoy good times (Psalm 73:2-12). The reality is more complex than is popularly understood. We must not jump into hasty and mistaken judgements.
Picture posted by Bible Art - The cunning serpent, intricate and exotic in appearance, creates the tension and allure present at the pivotal moment of temptation. Soon, the curious woman will do sinful things. Bad things can happen to a good person.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2A9UqeWkW18WVptGLQ3Kej23nmHLo0pPOHCPdLVNp-LaIVsu9RO2o-La3CQ8z6zcUmc07pj66zeMCmPg8fj7Bbd97zN4MOSklTcJYF8bP5458wk_WYFuQ_uOgiW6fpUjijGFONGkhzIW3SReTk0lh8ul1cevnziEP3XcH-nza0k0F0YcVaKedJ_yhSGM/s1024/2844f1ae-6de6-4acc-af30-a42239da33a9-compressed.jpg
https://media.bible.art/2844f1ae-6de6-4acc-af30-a42239da33a9-compressed.jpg
https://bible.art/p/MCdNUz3ykLkzAWZyEW8d/genesis-3:1-now-the-serpent-was-more
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we pray that in the face of disaster, we repent and act with broad and unwavering compassion.
May our eyes be on Christ and His cross. For there, we see a God who groans with us, who is present in our sufferings and calamities. He offers redemption. He shows us how to respond - through self-giving love. His cross urges us to repent and turn to God - for our own good, and for the good of all who need our compassion.
May we praise God for the compassion, in the face of disaster, of Christians in our churches and elsewhere.
May we be like the islanders who showed 'unusual kindness' in Acts 28:2, to Paul and his fellow travellers. Like the victims of that dreadful tsunami, they had been washed ashore on a strange beach, cold and hungry, subject to an angry hurricane and the whims of a violent sea.
Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen."
Picture posted by Liamary
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-_Uaa1Guar4K9EC7gnDY6jnbiUl1A5tO01U2lUBaeZLVIOupwfXYneRHZ5sUcmo05Ouq-BPX9DCznG8xlFJ6Gm0u0LVIgYoLN7kiCTyGzdttAQuWOxYmvtj4jxR74VZU2HMK1Nm6iv_4z-EPEUvSgb-zy-AkTkdQ2fGSY-g5qqZbkwsaSvRVXPKvJZE/s1500/1a11281534b651ee91dfd53b995ff7a9.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/1a/11/28/1a11281534b651ee91dfd53b995ff7a9.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/958140889495842392/
Chapter 47 - Reflection - Wars and Pestilences,
PHOTO: Just over a century ago, in the year 1918, the world had exhausted itself after 4 years of a world war
that took the lives of more than 15 million people. To rub salt into
the wounds of a despairing world, an epidemic of global proportions
emerged that same year. Like an angry tornado of death, the Spanish flu of 1918 swept across the world, killing at least 50 million people.
The tragic period in history was largely forgotten in the century that ensued (until 2020, when the world was struck by the Covid-19 pandemic), but it had been a time of real terror for the people. The flu virus caused an infectious and deadly airborne disease that killed its victims through pneumonia. The world came to a halt. Many public places, including some churches, were closed. The epidemic abated (subsided) only after taking millions of people to the grave.
As I completed the first version of this piece, the headlines were dominated by two events - the war in Iraq and the SARS epidemic. Both caused global concern, interest, and panic. SARS affected my hometown of Singapore too and brought about all kinds of reactions among Singaporeans. The churches were not spared. The death of a pastor raised many questions among Christians. The year 2020 brought about a far more devastating pandemic, one that is still gripping the world in so many ways. How should we as Christians respond to such tragic and dangerous circumstances?
Wars, pestilences, and economic disasters (what the Bible calls "famines") are not new to the human race. God is not surprised by them either. These tragic themes have become common strands (stop to move) running through the course of human history. How could we explain them?
The Bible acknowledges the existence of radical evil. Scripture names the devil and a host of dark forces that seek to destroy and do harm. These principalities and powers are often embedded in the structures of our world and work in collusion with our sinful human hearts. We know little about them; much mystery remains.
What we know most acutely is our human condition and its key problems - sin and death. It was to address sin and death that God sent His Son. At the bottom of all our discourses. arguments, discussions, and explanations about war and pestilence, we find these primary issues. Only by reckoning with sin and death would recognise the true solution found in Christ our Lord.
Only by being rooted in the biblical diagnosis of our condition and the gospel solution found in Christ can we respond adequately and appropriately to the challenges of our times. Let us especially consider two ways to respond.
First, we must respond with faith.
John Donne, the 17th century English spiritual writer and Anglican priest, came down with a serious illness at the prime of his life. He thought that it was bubonic plague, since many around him were dying of a mystery illness, and their deaths were announced by the ringing of church bells. Providentially, Donne recovered. He wrote a book of 23 devotions based on his experience, as well as a poem: "For Whom the Bell Tolls". [1a] The devotions reflect his struggles coming to terms with what he thought was a disease that would take his life.
Donne asked God whether his affliction was a "correction" or a "mercy". [2] He had difficulty interpreting his condition. Was God punishing him, or did God have a higher mysterious purpose? In the midst of many questions, he saw God hand on him and knew that it was a sovereign and loving hand. He surrendered himself to God, trusting that God was with him, and that perfect joy and glory belonged to the future. He kept company with Job, the man who suffered in every way, and who said to God, "Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him" (Job 13:15). His was the response of faith in a God who is with us.
Second, we must respond with courage and compassion.
The French Algerian writer Albert Camus wrote his famous novel, The Plague, in 1940. [3] It tells the story of a plague in the city of Oran, and how the people responded in different ways. In the novel's many layers of meaning are embedded some important lessons for us. The novel was really written as a criticism of indifference in a time of crisis. Camus told his story of the plague against the historical backdrop of a global war fuelled by an ascendent (rising in power) Nazism (far-right totalitarian socio-political ideology and practices associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi). Those who fled in panic when the plague struck were individualists who only thought of their own survival. They were not part of the solution; they were part of the problem. What was required was community spirit and responsibility, with acts of courage and compassion.
I am reminded of a real plague that struck the world in 250 - Cyprian's plague, named after a bishop, not because he caused it but because he mobilised the church to respond in such a way that the world noticed. It was probably an epidemic of smallpox, a deadly and highly contagious disease. It killed more than 5,000 people daily and lasted for 16 years. There was much panic and some even blamed Christians for the epidemic. Those who did not know the hope that is in Christ were extremely afraid. They did not go near the sick. They discarded the dead bodies of loved ones on the streets. Cyprian got the Christians to go out, to care for the sick and dying, and to bury the dead.
What will our response be in times of war and pestilence? Would we panic and behave like practical atheists (professing faith in God but behaving as if there was no God), severely curtailing our worship of God and service for Him? Surely not! On the other hand, should we live recklessly, confusing foolhardiness with faith? No - we must take precautions, not only for our own safety, but most importantly, for the sake of others. Nevertheless, as we take precautions, let us avoid hysteria and panic, for these do not come from faith in an almighty and loving God. And let us not withdraw into narcissistic strategies of self-preservation. Instead, let us break out from self-centred individualism, to show courage and compassion in the face of crisis and in how we respond to those who suffer.
Will being a Christian make a difference to our response to war and pestilence? Our answer has to be clearly declared and convincingly demonstrated.
The tragic period in history was largely forgotten in the century that ensued (until 2020, when the world was struck by the Covid-19 pandemic), but it had been a time of real terror for the people. The flu virus caused an infectious and deadly airborne disease that killed its victims through pneumonia. The world came to a halt. Many public places, including some churches, were closed. The epidemic abated (subsided) only after taking millions of people to the grave.
As I completed the first version of this piece, the headlines were dominated by two events - the war in Iraq and the SARS epidemic. Both caused global concern, interest, and panic. SARS affected my hometown of Singapore too and brought about all kinds of reactions among Singaporeans. The churches were not spared. The death of a pastor raised many questions among Christians. The year 2020 brought about a far more devastating pandemic, one that is still gripping the world in so many ways. How should we as Christians respond to such tragic and dangerous circumstances?
Wars, pestilences, and economic disasters (what the Bible calls "famines") are not new to the human race. God is not surprised by them either. These tragic themes have become common strands (stop to move) running through the course of human history. How could we explain them?
The Bible acknowledges the existence of radical evil. Scripture names the devil and a host of dark forces that seek to destroy and do harm. These principalities and powers are often embedded in the structures of our world and work in collusion with our sinful human hearts. We know little about them; much mystery remains.
What we know most acutely is our human condition and its key problems - sin and death. It was to address sin and death that God sent His Son. At the bottom of all our discourses. arguments, discussions, and explanations about war and pestilence, we find these primary issues. Only by reckoning with sin and death would recognise the true solution found in Christ our Lord.
Only by being rooted in the biblical diagnosis of our condition and the gospel solution found in Christ can we respond adequately and appropriately to the challenges of our times. Let us especially consider two ways to respond.
First, we must respond with faith.
John Donne, the 17th century English spiritual writer and Anglican priest, came down with a serious illness at the prime of his life. He thought that it was bubonic plague, since many around him were dying of a mystery illness, and their deaths were announced by the ringing of church bells. Providentially, Donne recovered. He wrote a book of 23 devotions based on his experience, as well as a poem: "For Whom the Bell Tolls". [1a] The devotions reflect his struggles coming to terms with what he thought was a disease that would take his life.
Donne asked God whether his affliction was a "correction" or a "mercy". [2] He had difficulty interpreting his condition. Was God punishing him, or did God have a higher mysterious purpose? In the midst of many questions, he saw God hand on him and knew that it was a sovereign and loving hand. He surrendered himself to God, trusting that God was with him, and that perfect joy and glory belonged to the future. He kept company with Job, the man who suffered in every way, and who said to God, "Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him" (Job 13:15). His was the response of faith in a God who is with us.
Second, we must respond with courage and compassion.
The French Algerian writer Albert Camus wrote his famous novel, The Plague, in 1940. [3] It tells the story of a plague in the city of Oran, and how the people responded in different ways. In the novel's many layers of meaning are embedded some important lessons for us. The novel was really written as a criticism of indifference in a time of crisis. Camus told his story of the plague against the historical backdrop of a global war fuelled by an ascendent (rising in power) Nazism (far-right totalitarian socio-political ideology and practices associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi). Those who fled in panic when the plague struck were individualists who only thought of their own survival. They were not part of the solution; they were part of the problem. What was required was community spirit and responsibility, with acts of courage and compassion.
I am reminded of a real plague that struck the world in 250 - Cyprian's plague, named after a bishop, not because he caused it but because he mobilised the church to respond in such a way that the world noticed. It was probably an epidemic of smallpox, a deadly and highly contagious disease. It killed more than 5,000 people daily and lasted for 16 years. There was much panic and some even blamed Christians for the epidemic. Those who did not know the hope that is in Christ were extremely afraid. They did not go near the sick. They discarded the dead bodies of loved ones on the streets. Cyprian got the Christians to go out, to care for the sick and dying, and to bury the dead.
What will our response be in times of war and pestilence? Would we panic and behave like practical atheists (professing faith in God but behaving as if there was no God), severely curtailing our worship of God and service for Him? Surely not! On the other hand, should we live recklessly, confusing foolhardiness with faith? No - we must take precautions, not only for our own safety, but most importantly, for the sake of others. Nevertheless, as we take precautions, let us avoid hysteria and panic, for these do not come from faith in an almighty and loving God. And let us not withdraw into narcissistic strategies of self-preservation. Instead, let us break out from self-centred individualism, to show courage and compassion in the face of crisis and in how we respond to those who suffer.
Will being a Christian make a difference to our response to war and pestilence? Our answer has to be clearly declared and convincingly demonstrated.
Picture posted by Ian Paul, Psephizo (scholarship. serving. ministry) on 16 November 2018 - The Four Horseman of the Apocalypse
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCPu5JQTzs6LFGYqg5JLiUs0FwjQKbAxGwr7CLIGIY6RKAUed_eKawjO7bCPdcpsSwkgsng7-M2DmpVyPcBJVsEAZh21M1cNeqb4zFYWhqVmeLXsoDmFuIuliGCnm7ZGQd644J9YszJVfdg5sTKH1xqxWDECpMRg-QW6k9DemxcuWEQi61UUCyThiHR8Q/s800/Four-Horsemen-of-the-Apocalypse.jpg
https://www.psephizo.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Four-Horsemen-of-the-Apocalypse.jpg
https://www.psephizo.com/revelation/can-the-book-of-revelation-help-us-engage-with-culture/
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCPu5JQTzs6LFGYqg5JLiUs0FwjQKbAxGwr7CLIGIY6RKAUed_eKawjO7bCPdcpsSwkgsng7-M2DmpVyPcBJVsEAZh21M1cNeqb4zFYWhqVmeLXsoDmFuIuliGCnm7ZGQd644J9YszJVfdg5sTKH1xqxWDECpMRg-QW6k9DemxcuWEQi61UUCyThiHR8Q/s800/Four-Horsemen-of-the-Apocalypse.jpg
https://www.psephizo.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Four-Horsemen-of-the-Apocalypse.jpg
https://www.psephizo.com/revelation/can-the-book-of-revelation-help-us-engage-with-culture/
PHOTO: The Bible acknowledges the existence of radical evil. Scripture names the devil and a host of dark forces that seek to destroy and do harm. These principalities and powers are often embedded in the structures of our world and work in collusion with our sinful human hearts. We know little about them; much mystery remains.
Picture posted by Ghoster @Ghoster50nightcafe - Lightning Dragon
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQrCKTfnMZ4B3jpNZFEavoGJPO2WU9Khmpt5CGu1eHNu_Qni4c0O1Li-U6EDXyfIP_sMliwSzzx1CTW8htuRW4_Bmg988ZLrmn8yvAPelretcvD7Yu5jP-jW17Sgz7PC5TM4xi_rPqd_Kb9DtsDWA1QaebpbaGaDxAsf2fsLK3CDiomlLJIKKh-IcXKA/s1600/Hk1hcUAzVqRUQqlx6a8q--1--gyc5v_7.8125x.jpg
https://images.nightcafe.studio/jobs/Hk1hcUAzVqRUQqlx6a8q/Hk1hcUAzVqRUQqlx6a8q--1--gyc5v_7.8125x.jpg?tr=w-1600,c-at_max
https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/Hk1hcUAzVqRUQqlx6a8q
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we pray that we will not panic and behave like practical atheists (professing faith in God but behaving as if there was no God), severely curtailing our worship of God and service for Him.
May we not live recklessly, confusing foolhardiness with faith. Please help us to take precautions, not only for our own safety, but most importantly, for the sake of others. As we take precautions, let us avoid hysteria and panic, for these do not come from faith in an almighty and loving God.
May we not withdraw into narcissistic strategies of self-preservation. Instead, let us break out from self-centred individualism, to show courage and compassion in the face of crisis and in how we respond to those who suffer.
Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen."
Picture posted by Vinsensius Antonius
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRvp2WjGE4R3s6WHzdDpUFz4WcFCqmf3-cTGOPRbnsqZ6Kuysx_K5r180zU3v2y-r5tt4d_eAaK1Z6Znd3zAY8EqPb1Xkn_CkyODRdIZ-6AFJ_nxUKpw7p14YU7JA6KngTDlLuUkYGFhODGLgRMZDOKbVSenUi9eAqKvq-ZckPFFBqFmZd8kAtl5ZKQf0/s1024/314cb181bf770c700b20074cd9eea392_1.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/31/4c/b1/314cb181bf770c700b20074cd9eea392.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/98164466874035862/
Making Disciples
We
are not of the world, even though we are in the world. And we are also
sent into the world to make disciples of all nations. The fields are
ripe for harvest - they always have been. But the workers are few - this
has always been the case. Why is it that 2000 years on, the church has
yet to complete the missionary task entrusted to it by Christ?
Part of the problem is our failure to understand what God is doing in the world, and what it means to be a disciple of Christ. A disciple of Christ is a disciple-maker. We must understand this calling of ours by developing a biblical mindset concerning it. Everything in this book thus far was to aid us in comprehending God's missionary initiative, to spur us on to becoming disciple-makers.
The quality of our disciple-making depends largely on the quality of our spiritual lives - our relationship with God and the richness of our inner lives. It also depends on our recognition of the church's identity and our appreciation of the challenges all around us in the world.
Let us then be true disciples of Jesus, seeking to please Him in every way. In this way will we become disciple-makers: when God's mission becomes ours too.
Chapter 48 - Reflection - The Principal and Principle of Missions,
Part of the problem is our failure to understand what God is doing in the world, and what it means to be a disciple of Christ. A disciple of Christ is a disciple-maker. We must understand this calling of ours by developing a biblical mindset concerning it. Everything in this book thus far was to aid us in comprehending God's missionary initiative, to spur us on to becoming disciple-makers.
The quality of our disciple-making depends largely on the quality of our spiritual lives - our relationship with God and the richness of our inner lives. It also depends on our recognition of the church's identity and our appreciation of the challenges all around us in the world.
Let us then be true disciples of Jesus, seeking to please Him in every way. In this way will we become disciple-makers: when God's mission becomes ours too.
Chapter 48 - Reflection - The Principal and Principle of Missions,
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2025/02/reflection-making-disciples-principal.html [48]
PHOTO: In September 2001. I had the privilege of witnessing the presentation of the World Methodist Peace Award to the President of Macedonia, Boris Trajkovski. Accepting the award, Trajkovski, a Methodist lay preacher, declared that peace in this world was transient and that permanent peace would only be found when Jesus becomes our Lord and Saviour. He said that in front of many dignitaries, including the prime minister of Norway. I rejoiced that he was a bold witness to the grace of God in Christ.
Trajkovski, who unfortunately died in a plane crash in 2004, also referred to the biblical account of Paul's second missionary journey, when the apostle had a vision of the man of Macedonia at Troas. The man said: "Come over to Macedonia and help us" (Acts 16:9). It was the president of Macedonia, in the year 2001, saying the same words to a gathering of Methodists in Oslo. I marvelled at how some things never change - history repeats itself.
In that first-century missionary enterprise, Paul obeyed the Holy Spirit and went to preach the gospel in Macedonia. The biblical account describes how the missionary team, comprising Paul, Silas, and Timothy, was prevented by the Holy Spirit from preaching in the province of Asia or Bithynia (Acts 16:6-7), There is and immediate lesson for us here. Not all closed doors are the work of the devil. Closed doors can be the work of God. God closed the doors of Asia and Bithynia to lead the missionaries through the open door of Macedonia. God prevented even preaching, all for His larger purposes! We need not see every obstruction and disappointment in the mission field as something negative, to be fought or prayed against. God may be behind them.
In the account of Acts, Paul's missionary team obeyed God promptly, having concluded that God was calling them to preach the gospel in Macedonia (Acts 16:10). On another occasion, Paul was prevented from visiting the church of Corinth, about which he had been very concerned. Instead, God led him to Macedonia again (2 Corinthians 2:13).
In the same breath, Paul describes how God in Christ leads us in triumphal procession (2 Corinthians 2:14-16). It is God who leads us in our missionary enterprise. Paul uses the metaphor of a triumphal procession. Undoubtedly, the apostle was referring to a Roman triumph, where soldiers returning from a successful campaign entered the city in grand procession, showing off their plunder with much pomp. The star of the parade was the commanding general of the troops.
Paul uses the example of a victory march to illustrate the fact that Jesus leads His followers in victorious procession. But there is a vast difference between the character of this Christian missionary procession and that of the typical Roman triumph. The purpose of the procession led by Christ is "to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere" (2 Corinthians 2:14). It was not to display pomp, plunder, and power, but to demonstrate the truth and love of God in Christ, so that people might come to know the Lord personally.
In Paul's mind, this knowledge of the Lord is achieved by the participants in Christ's procession becoming the "aroma of Christ" - in other words, by their words and actions pointing to the glory of Christ. In so doing, they would become living testimonies of the grace of Jesus Christ. This procession is not to be seen in terms of worldly power and glory, for Paul talks about how the believers had become "an aroma that brings death" to perishing (2 Corinthians 2:16). One must remember that in Paul's days, being a Christian often resulted in persecution and ridicule. Many Christians were simple people, slaves, and the like. Many were persecuted, thrown into the ring to be fed to hungry lions, to the amusement of a gleeful crowd that failed to realise that they were the ones to be pitied - more so than the dying, tormented Christians in the ring. Many Christians were killed: by stoning, by crucifixion like their Master, or in some other terrible way.
And so, how could Paul say that Christ was leading a triumphal procession? It was certainly not like the world's great parades and processions. It was a different kind of procession. Recall how Jesus invited people to deny themselves, to take up their cross and to follow Him (Luke 9:23). Jesus is leading a procession of the cross, an absurdity in the eyes of the world, but truly the greatest procession in history. All other processions will fall by the wayside, but this one led by Christ will march to the end in victory. Its ways are alien to the world, for it moves onward sustained by sacrifice and cross-carrying self-denial. Its participants have given their all to Christ and follow Him in total obedience and perfect love. Such a procession cannot fail.
Let us recall the key lessons discussed in this chapter.
1. The missionary enterprise must be Spirit led. Christ, through His Spirit and in His sovereignty, will direct the mission by opening and closing doors and by leading us onward.
2. The missionary enterprise must be sustained through self-denial and sacrifice. We participate in the mission by carrying our cross. For us, ultimate success will depend on how obediently we heed the call to carry our crosses.
Paul asks: "Who is equal to such a task?" (2 Corinthians 2:16). The answer is: no one, except for one who is enabled by God. Therefore, let us praise God for leading us thus far in missions. Let us continue to walk in this procession led by Christ, spreading the fragrance of the knowledge of Jesus everywhere He leads us. Let us be led by the Spirit. And let us be willing to be spent for the Lord's glory. May Christ be the centre (or the principal) of our mission. And may the cross be the centre (or the principle) of all we do.
Picture posted by Peakpx
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBF9VBrmpTeIHDe9DKP3pPF2hRakqKuuao4g4LbCy1hdLR7lTPCm2APfgKj88zL_JuHGWQXnNXPEsfov9k6ivKmXl6RcNRzs9bXEpN3c2dWoOu0gmAV79gqtJoM922pDPtM1EEyYmFF4u_0uADO8WARiL383hSL3yODBQ6fXlAwsDssjPcHkg6wqp5PRQ/s800/HD-wallpaper-prayer-colorful-blue-white-vibrant-cross-jesus-doves-vivid-light-bright-clouds-bold-heavens-holy-spirit.jpg
https://w0.peakpx.com/wallpaper/185/62/HD-wallpaper-prayer-colorful-blue-white-vibrant-cross-jesus-doves-vivid-light-bright-clouds-bold-heavens-holy-spirit.jpg
https://www.peakpx.com/en/hd-wallpaper-desktop-wenmz
PHOTO: In September 2001. I had the privilege of witnessing the presentation of the World Methodist Peace Award to the President of Macedonia, Boris Trajkovski. Accepting the award, Trajkovski, a Methodist lay preacher, declared that peace in this world was transient and that permanent peace would only be found when Jesus becomes our Lord and Saviour. He said that in front of many dignitaries, including the prime minister of Norway. I rejoiced that he was a bold witness to the grace of God in Christ.
Trajkovski, who unfortunately died in a plane crash in 2004, also referred to the biblical account of Paul's second missionary journey, when the apostle had a vision of the man of Macedonia at Troas. The man said: "Come over to Macedonia and help us" (Acts 16:9). It was the president of Macedonia, in the year 2001, saying the same words to a gathering of Methodists in Oslo. I marvelled at how some things never change - history repeats itself.
In that first-century missionary enterprise, Paul obeyed the Holy Spirit and went to preach the gospel in Macedonia. The biblical account describes how the missionary team, comprising Paul, Silas, and Timothy, was prevented by the Holy Spirit from preaching in the province of Asia or Bithynia (Acts 16:6-7), There is and immediate lesson for us here. Not all closed doors are the work of the devil. Closed doors can be the work of God. God closed the doors of Asia and Bithynia to lead the missionaries through the open door of Macedonia. God prevented even preaching, all for His larger purposes! We need not see every obstruction and disappointment in the mission field as something negative, to be fought or prayed against. God may be behind them.
In the account of Acts, Paul's missionary team obeyed God promptly, having concluded that God was calling them to preach the gospel in Macedonia (Acts 16:10). On another occasion, Paul was prevented from visiting the church of Corinth, about which he had been very concerned. Instead, God led him to Macedonia again (2 Corinthians 2:13).
In the same breath, Paul describes how God in Christ leads us in triumphal procession (2 Corinthians 2:14-16). It is God who leads us in our missionary enterprise. Paul uses the metaphor of a triumphal procession. Undoubtedly, the apostle was referring to a Roman triumph, where soldiers returning from a successful campaign entered the city in grand procession, showing off their plunder with much pomp. The star of the parade was the commanding general of the troops.
Paul uses the example of a victory march to illustrate the fact that Jesus leads His followers in victorious procession. But there is a vast difference between the character of this Christian missionary procession and that of the typical Roman triumph. The purpose of the procession led by Christ is "to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere" (2 Corinthians 2:14). It was not to display pomp, plunder, and power, but to demonstrate the truth and love of God in Christ, so that people might come to know the Lord personally.
In Paul's mind, this knowledge of the Lord is achieved by the participants in Christ's procession becoming the "aroma of Christ" - in other words, by their words and actions pointing to the glory of Christ. In so doing, they would become living testimonies of the grace of Jesus Christ. This procession is not to be seen in terms of worldly power and glory, for Paul talks about how the believers had become "an aroma that brings death" to perishing (2 Corinthians 2:16). One must remember that in Paul's days, being a Christian often resulted in persecution and ridicule. Many Christians were simple people, slaves, and the like. Many were persecuted, thrown into the ring to be fed to hungry lions, to the amusement of a gleeful crowd that failed to realise that they were the ones to be pitied - more so than the dying, tormented Christians in the ring. Many Christians were killed: by stoning, by crucifixion like their Master, or in some other terrible way.
And so, how could Paul say that Christ was leading a triumphal procession? It was certainly not like the world's great parades and processions. It was a different kind of procession. Recall how Jesus invited people to deny themselves, to take up their cross and to follow Him (Luke 9:23). Jesus is leading a procession of the cross, an absurdity in the eyes of the world, but truly the greatest procession in history. All other processions will fall by the wayside, but this one led by Christ will march to the end in victory. Its ways are alien to the world, for it moves onward sustained by sacrifice and cross-carrying self-denial. Its participants have given their all to Christ and follow Him in total obedience and perfect love. Such a procession cannot fail.
Let us recall the key lessons discussed in this chapter.
1. The missionary enterprise must be Spirit led. Christ, through His Spirit and in His sovereignty, will direct the mission by opening and closing doors and by leading us onward.
2. The missionary enterprise must be sustained through self-denial and sacrifice. We participate in the mission by carrying our cross. For us, ultimate success will depend on how obediently we heed the call to carry our crosses.
Paul asks: "Who is equal to such a task?" (2 Corinthians 2:16). The answer is: no one, except for one who is enabled by God. Therefore, let us praise God for leading us thus far in missions. Let us continue to walk in this procession led by Christ, spreading the fragrance of the knowledge of Jesus everywhere He leads us. Let us be led by the Spirit. And let us be willing to be spent for the Lord's glory. May Christ be the centre (or the principal) of our mission. And may the cross be the centre (or the principle) of all we do.
Picture posted by Peakpx
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBF9VBrmpTeIHDe9DKP3pPF2hRakqKuuao4g4LbCy1hdLR7lTPCm2APfgKj88zL_JuHGWQXnNXPEsfov9k6ivKmXl6RcNRzs9bXEpN3c2dWoOu0gmAV79gqtJoM922pDPtM1EEyYmFF4u_0uADO8WARiL383hSL3yODBQ6fXlAwsDssjPcHkg6wqp5PRQ/s800/HD-wallpaper-prayer-colorful-blue-white-vibrant-cross-jesus-doves-vivid-light-bright-clouds-bold-heavens-holy-spirit.jpg
https://w0.peakpx.com/wallpaper/185/62/HD-wallpaper-prayer-colorful-blue-white-vibrant-cross-jesus-doves-vivid-light-bright-clouds-bold-heavens-holy-spirit.jpg
https://www.peakpx.com/en/hd-wallpaper-desktop-wenmz
PHOTO: Let us recall the key lessons discussed in this chapter.
1. The missionary enterprise must be Spirit led. Christ, through His Spirit and in His sovereignty, will direct the mission by opening and closing doors and by leading us onward.
Picture posted by joseph.bryja on 03 December 2024
Picture downloaded by Instagram Photo Downloader at https://inflact.com/instagram-downloader/photo/
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9rULo-f1MWpMlVS25XFuQh_M31G9ubRr7YXGakdPQh5iqoExAE6zjZ68beST3W_vKps5HjLofwVOp13sl6D2rEiQiVCceXXs_Ha1AMeQDFJ8akxUTroux60sPdsvIlFGVUlnaaZC6o6aTKOBv0dNS01vo4vn5AGwOjSxa5Ks-dtglz0xxEjtQG4hCoYU/s1024/469084293_18160556989323528_1569114228952025534_n.jpg
https://cdn.inflact.com/media/469084293_18160556989323528_1569114228952025534_n.jpg?url=https%3A%2F%2Fscontent.cdninstagram.com%2Fv%2Ft51.2885-15%2F469084293_18160556989323528_1569114228952025534_n.jpg%3Fstp%3Ddst-jpg_e15_tt6%26_nc_ht%3Dinstagram.fsgn5-5.fna.fbcdn.net%26_nc_cat%3D100%26_nc_oc%3DQ6cZ2AHhkY9NS1cGJNrNeaEkXdOcGTUI2G2x2bWZKrcMZ7OTAZxGAopROQknQpb2ZuANTCW5v8xY4xUt5JfeR9oc6_4v%26_nc_ohc%3DF6qEN5LEfuIQ7kNvgHxeAGY%26_nc_gid%3D1e714b8046ef44fb82d42390bfe8f981%26edm%3DANTKIIoBAAAA%26ccb%3D7-5%26oh%3D00_AYCJsWRsO3FR0GnoIB7yNkZXgbo3BVYRoY-86tYUYpyvFQ%26oe%3D67B3E7DA%26_nc_sid%3Dd885a2&time=1739455200&key=13d4e05fb50290f38a2fd0847bb040f3
https://www.instagram.com/joseph.bryja/p/DDGN_kSMz_g/
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we pray that we are enabled by God, for no one id equal to the task of missions of Christ.
Let us praise God for leading us thus far in missions. Let us continue to walk in this procession led by Christ, spreading the fragrance of the knowledge of Jesus everywhere He leads us. Let us be led by the Spirit.
And let us be willing to be spent for the Lord's glory. May Christ be the centre (or the principal) of our mission. And may the cross be the centre (or the principle) of all we do.
Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen."
Picture posted by Kingdom Mindset on 07 January 2025
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNRqGCpPQxJrquPf5_6tnOMNDEtxNqK9udJl82Qa-CwoXKW4BxZr2Sg_ZlkjWzEa3FDm11bDZLnLxUvVAyInbKkaDUMmnVvFO-9Txbao8kEdGwGHyn_PYDxaQ1x9ZDrY5Mc22xH4LOBMzUgsqI3BsZruouiltKfYM_NmCV4_PWlc64_FNKwDi19-FzVII/s1346/Jesus's_Blessing.png
Jesus's_Blessing.png
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dZTp-obOrs
Chapter 49 - Reflection - Are You a Harvester?,
PHOTO: Are you a harvester or a consumer? Before you answer, let us look at what God is doing in the world today.
The Spirit of the Lord is indeed at work in our world - a world desperately in need of God. Be it a city in China, a village in Africa, or a mountain community in Peru - in every place, people are coming to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Communities are being transformed by the grace of God. God is at work. The results can be seen in every place where God's people know this and cooperate with Him wholeheartedly.
Jesus invited His disciples to see the world in a radically (totally) different way: "Don't you have a saying, 'It's still four months until harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest" (John 4:35). When He said this, Jesus had just demonstrated how to harvest the field. He had spoken to a Samaritan woman who, as a result, came to faith in Him. Following her testimony in her town, many of her fellow townsfolk also crossed the ethnic divide, expressing faith in Jesus. Who would have thought that a town of Samaritans would believe an itinerant (wandering) Jewish teacher and find favour with God?
But it happened! God is a God of surprises who provides a harvest where none was expected. Isn't God able to create pools out of hard, dry desert rock (Psalm 114:7-8)? Wasn't the cross of Christ, a stumbling block to the Jews and a scandal or foolishness to the Gentiles, also the very symbol that turned the ancient world upside down (1 Corinthians 1:22-25; Acts 17:6)? Wasn't it God who brought about explosive growth in the church in China, when everyone would have least expected it? After all, the missionaries had been expelled from China, and the struggling and lonely church they served had to endure great difficulties thereafter.
God sees what we cannot see. He is the Lord of the harvest, and He brings about redemption and transformation of human life even in the most unlikely places. The key is whether or not we are in step with the Lord of the harvest. We can learn a few principles from the account of Jesus' interactions with the people of the Samaritan town.
First, the harvest is accomplished through personal relationships. Jesus engaged the Samaritan woman in a redemptive conversation, and in this way led her to eternal life. The disciples showed themselves to be spiritual novices, with a long way to go before they could play an active role in the harvest. When they went into the town for food, they must have passed by the woman as she made her way to the well (John 4:7-8). Truth be told, they probably ignored her. After all, she was just another one of those Samaritan women. They were too busy finding food that they failed to participate in the harvest. They did not realise that here was a woman in need of the Messiah, who needed to have her soul-thirst quenched with the life-giving water of the gospel. She needed to become a true worshipper of God, but all they could think about was lunch.
Second, the personal relationships through which the harvest is accomplished should be nurtured through word and deed. When there is no word, harvesting is difficult and can be impossible. Often, the Holy Spirit uses an apt (suitable) word spoken at the right time as spiritual seed, seed that will eventually bear fruit.
John Wesley was returning home from a service one night. On the way, he was robbed. The thief soon found that Wesley was carrying only a little money and some Christian literature. As the thief left in disappointment, Wesley called out: "Stop! I have something more to give you." The man paused, surprised, and Wesley continued, "My friend, you may live to regret this sort of life. If you ever do, here's something to remember: 'The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin!'"
Years later, a stranger approached Wesley as he greeted worshippers after a service. "I owe it all to you," said the visitor - once the thief who confronted Wesley, but now a Christian and a successful businessman. "Oh no, my friend. Not to me, but to the precious blood of Christ that cleanses us from all sin!" was Wesley's response. Indeed, our words can fall like seed in people's hearts.
Deeds are also an important aspect of the seed that we sow. That Jesus - a Jew, a man, the sinless Messiah - spoke to the sinful Samaritan woman was a significant act. Jesus had crossed several barriers to bring redemption to her. The woman would have been touched by His act of radical (total) kindness. It certainly left a lasting impression. In God's kingdom, godly and compassionate acts, however small they may be, can have immense implications (Matthew 25:31-46).
Words and deeds become seed for the harvest when experience in relationships. If the harvest is to take place, more people must step up to develop the relationships that will yield a spiritual harvest.
Third, the harvest is accomplished through team effort. Jesus spoke of the sower and the reaper, both at work (John 4:36-38). In the same way, Paul wrote about those who plant the seed and those who water it (1 Corinthians 3:6-9). It takes a team to make the harvest possible. Sadly, in the story of the Samaritan woman, the disciples were hardly team players. They missed the opportunity to tell the woman about Jesus and bring her to him. They also missed the opportunity to plant the seed of the gospel in the hearts of the people of the town. No sowing was done. How, then, would there have been a harvest?
Jesus had to work alone. In the case of the woman, He did both the sowing and the harvesting. But in the case of the townspeople, it was the newly converted woman who joined her Master in the work. She went into town to sow the seed through her testimony (John 4:28-30). Later, there was a great harvest in the town because of Jesus' words (John 4:41). The woman proved to be a better evangelist and disciple than the disciples themselves. She actually participated in the harvest.
Fourth, the harvest, calls for single-minded passion. When the disciple returned to the well with food, they urged Jesus to eat something. But He pointed them to a different kind of hunger - soul hunger, and soul food; "I have food to eat that you know nothing about . . . My food is to do the will of him who sent me and finish his work" (John 4:32-34). This is the passion required of us if we want to participate in the harvest - to obey God and to complete the task He has entrusted to us. The disciples were too distracted by material concerns to join Jesus in His harvesting mission. They were like many modern consumers, who only think about their own comfort, security, and prosperity, and thus miss out on participating in the great harvest.
What about you, dear reader? God is at work in the fields that are ripe for harvest. Jesus is looking for people who are willing to sow the seed through word and deed, to be part of harvest teams that will work with Him, to have undivided heart seeking to obey and please Him (Ezekiel 11:19).
So, are you a faithful harvester or a distracted consumer?
Picture posted by Ottos Disposal on Thursday, 26 November 2020 at 11:02 pm
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4oGLOjwJL4rWvOG-xMXtHrYDy1HQpeTqu3CqVSXTXt-Qe7xp8avnUZqJaKK1O_J9tFXrppwLHtymKLkL-wbdzqPkHjHXvX7hz3DY3miVGIRHHtXglmetKBfmZEdSC0J4nxB1PbfePWh0_tFXAb_ClrS7JT4voGbfq4nkKgfKoo-pK2jDlHqTdliYMyqI/s2048/127622630_2562984857332268_1640188355590535598_n.jpg
https://scontent.fsin14-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/127622630_2562984857332268_1640188355590535598_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=127cfc&_nc_ohc=gDh19px5m8EQ7kNvgGBgBnN&_nc_oc=AdgJvNYsoifg0SLGfXkbARwCLozLfcCwqSWp0Iu_pHnH9f37BgnxXOu6rGurwFIPzQE&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.fsin14-2.fna&_nc_gid=AwSOd7AQTKH6sNHwhZAVNuE&oh=00_AYBWnURZOrB8LS_qOrLcQuxjtc0dcqLY3swjtjxRMJd-jA&oe=67E36BF2
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=2562984853998935&set=pb.100081946068785.-2207520000
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4oGLOjwJL4rWvOG-xMXtHrYDy1HQpeTqu3CqVSXTXt-Qe7xp8avnUZqJaKK1O_J9tFXrppwLHtymKLkL-wbdzqPkHjHXvX7hz3DY3miVGIRHHtXglmetKBfmZEdSC0J4nxB1PbfePWh0_tFXAb_ClrS7JT4voGbfq4nkKgfKoo-pK2jDlHqTdliYMyqI/s2048/127622630_2562984857332268_1640188355590535598_n.jpg
https://scontent.fsin14-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/127622630_2562984857332268_1640188355590535598_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=127cfc&_nc_ohc=gDh19px5m8EQ7kNvgGBgBnN&_nc_oc=AdgJvNYsoifg0SLGfXkbARwCLozLfcCwqSWp0Iu_pHnH9f37BgnxXOu6rGurwFIPzQE&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.fsin14-2.fna&_nc_gid=AwSOd7AQTKH6sNHwhZAVNuE&oh=00_AYBWnURZOrB8LS_qOrLcQuxjtc0dcqLY3swjtjxRMJd-jA&oe=67E36BF2
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=2562984853998935&set=pb.100081946068785.-2207520000
PHOTO: The Spirit of the Lord is indeed at work in our world - a world desperately in need of God. Be it a city in China, a village in Africa, or a mountain community in Peru - in every place, people are coming to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Communities are being transformed by the grace of God. God is at work. The results can be seen in every place where God's people know this and cooperate with Him wholeheartedly.
Picture posted by Catholic Daily Reflections on 15 May 2019
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiuM94I9tvMKvKBFBD8tSzqGhaMV3jkm07Zmw_cy_8hThTMTw-X-5SPlOcHb1FrMgwszcp4JCGXV_lX0iN-1pt1TFx6Mnwb2EweK4sg3o98gnDzhyzKBbXhWe7gLK_ZbSZVlKjPFD-E3GA_xB_rBHW1RtAwpdg0Ggw3Wu_K8xqoCTKgxMiRWCF9jFZuQw/s1200/5546445501_25506d953c_z_d-1png.png
https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/5546445501_25506d953c_z_d-424x600.jpg
https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/2019/05/14/evangelizing-through-unity-2/
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, You are at work in the fields that are ripe for harvest. We pray that we are the people who Jesus is looking for to willing sow the seed through word and deed, to be part of harvest teams that will work with Him, to have undivided heart seeking to obey and please Him.
May we be the faithful harvester instead of the distracted consumer.
Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen."
Picture posted by Christianity
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSobinQF8_XgwegAIYHlM15WV9bySCc7ZJve05Wpu8E8cJx_hYmBBQDDomDS9ZEZlzSHfGsCxBFLfbTU-Ykx7U-cmnKJ5eUPAJrcZLud_vGBRibMSJhY2RmbmJ4Zart4_tyy_eFOX_jo_SxClyyrrzbK0aC09n-ApVA-x3vauWYAw0iXmTGVbKeVXa63w/s1920/47893edcff8bb7f21424c120439fc41b.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/47/89/3e/47893edcff8bb7f21424c120439fc41b.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/55028426689859851/
Chapter 50 - Reflection - The Cross and the Missionary Enterprise,
PHOTO: The cross of our Lord Jesus Christ is, in many ways, at the heart of missions. Let me invite you to a brief meditation on the cross and what it has to say about our missionary enterprise.
First, the cross is about Christ and the salvation. He brings through the shedding of His blood. In a world that demanded spectacular entertainment and worldly wisdom, the apostle Paul set out the content of his preaching: "Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified" (1 Corinthians 1:22-23). Later, Paul insisted: "I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified" (1 Corinthians 2:2). The cross brings into sharp focus our message - the good news about Jesus Christ.
It is possible that the cross may be lost in a sea of symbols. Today, we gasp at the way pop stars wear the cross while strutting about on stage, with nary a thought of the cross' life-changing significance. We who are involved in the missionary enterprise must keep the cross visible and clearly articulate (showing the ability to speak fluently and coherently) the truth it express about our Lord.
Second, the cross speaks of the depth of God's love, as expressed so beautifully in this Charles Wesley hymn:
O Love divine, what hast Thou done!
The immortal God hath died for me!
The Father's co-eternal Son
bore all my sins upon the tree.
The immortal God for me hath died.
My Lord, my Love, is crucified.
The heart of mission is the love of God - God's love for us, and our responsive love for Him - compelling us to reach out to a lost and suffering world. The orphaned girl in Cambodia, the destitute family in Nepal, the young man trapped in the prison of drug addiction in Thailand - we reach out to them in mission because of God's profound love.
Third, the cross shows us not only the truth about Christ and the love of God, but also the way God works. The seeming powerlessness of the cross stands in stark contrast with the raw power and might of the sword and the spear (Matthew 26:51-54). The mission of Jesus was to be fulfilled not with the power of the sword (or wealth), but with the power of love. People will not become true disciples of Christ by being coerced or by being bribed with money. They will only follow Jesus through being convinced by truth and love. The success of our missionary enterprise depends on love for the lost and needy, love that is rooted in the love of God. No technique or tool, no wealth or resource, can ever replace this essential requirement.
The cross also shows us the cost of love. There is no pain-free mission. Often, suffering is involved when we reach out to people with God's truth and love. Sacrifice is frequently demanded in the missionary enterprise. God's mission has a way of leading us beyond our comfort zones, for it is also the way of the cross. Jesus invites us to deny ourselves and take up our cross to follow Him on this way (Luke 9:23). In the history of mission, many chose to follow Jesus on this way, setting aside the small ambitions of this passing world, choosing a life of faith over a life of comfort. We too are challenged to do likewise.
Let us understand who God is, and what He is doing. Let us be a people of the cross who love Jesus and see the world with His eyes. In a moment of stillness, let us apprehend the truth and love found on the cross, and respond with humility and sacrifice. May our churches be churches in mission, with as many involved in missions as possible. Our resources need to be offered in sacrifice, with compassion and wisdom. Let us reach out to people with the truth and love of God. We must be willing to pay the price demanded by the cross, because it is the only way to reach those in need.
Picture posted by luboschlubny, Vecteezy - Path to hope and salvation leading to the cross at sunset
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha36CJ7zu1CJmPxTia9zBA5vuuxQLoxhohX-xTYXGfjQMYDWL80S7jYQD4IlfXnJFyuxjhRSlYjKxFDsr16YiNDc008BZ0Rnci1mKN29lVreuih6DUUXUsvjMu6PRp8hoXo5iusblMm-YytSh3d9HzVLHmUrRUxykAqOxOG0Oq0-XnPlvcXYXP7oo_-eY/s2940/cross-at-sunset-photo.jpg
https://static.vecteezy.com/system/resources/previews/055/740/868/large_2x/path-to-hope-and-salvation-leading-to-the-cross-at-sunset-photo.jpg
https://www.vecteezy.com/photo/55740868-path-to-hope-and-salvation-leading-to-the-cross-at-sunset
PHOTO: Third, the cross shows us not only the truth about Christ and the love of God, but also the way God works. The seeming powerlessness of the cross stands in stark contrast with the raw power and might of the sword and the spear (Matthew 26:51-54). The mission of Jesus was to be fulfilled not with the power of the sword (or wealth), but with the power of love. People will not become true disciples of Christ by being coerced or by being bribed with money. They will only follow Jesus through being convinced by truth and love. The success of our missionary enterprise depends on love for the lost and needy, love that is rooted in the love of God. No technique or tool, no wealth or resource, can ever replace this essential requirement.
Picture posted ny Alexandra Serafina
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieE5W-tbEOiGHDfjLAE7J8VktJy_6ePsD_9Jlwn5WRU8FqWoffH-3pU_nI7LoYj8LONpKtT9u00EJah7dIMb7b8P2P1yxCXY9vk5LPR-NQdaiIDXq5YanMo41o39n4q_Q5ouCX1IDZjeMcLBwZ-iNtqJbYWE9P10z9icf36jYimngW8cR47d7hUxFwFeE/s1200/9d53b240123b03b2259d75766a2e68d0.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/9d/53/b2/9d53b240123b03b2259d75766a2e68d0.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/844073155197190703/
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we pray that we understand who God is, and what He is doing.
Let us be a people of the cross who love Jesus and see the world with His eyes.
In a moment of stillness, let us apprehend the truth and love found on the cross, and respond with humility and sacrifice.
May our churches be churches in mission, with as many involved in missions as possible.
Our resources need to be offered in sacrifice, with compassion and wisdom. Let us reach out to people with the truth and love of God.
May we be willing to pay the price demanded by the cross, because it is the only way to reach those in need.
Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen."
Picture posted by The Golden Arrow
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiB2w8bQ3dmoInEfyYK94grP9FsshXwQDn-lPMRDEyygxp5AHwodVzu7h1RMfvIUjT8x7v00yNOP_uOPTobaAi3vgCiQnaMD9TCl1CcpaihCkxIdTL03AK2s9zDtajNVN6aVoj9yn8DCBRZSHSyaHbNd9c37eX7RwdGKRtHHcJ4Q0G2gIXSJqYyXNTxgU/s1522/1f8df8b4ef8f5af27325298ad0ff82e0_1.png
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/1f/8d/f8/1f8df8b4ef8f5af27325298ad0ff82e0.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/5418462046289002/
Chapter 51 - Reflection - Two Sowers, Two Fields,
PHOTO: Mission can be understood as sowing the seeds of the gospel. Jesus told many parables that illustrate this motion. One of these is quite puzzling. In Matthew 13:24-30, we find the parable of the seeds: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away" (Matthew 13:24-25). Soon, up came both the wheat and the weeds. The man's servants were puzzled about the weeds' appearance because they had clearly seen him sow only good seed. The man's response showed that he knew what was happening. "An enemy did this," he explained.
The enemy was busy at work, but in the cover of darkness, when everyone "was sleeping" (Matthew 13:25). Wherever good seed was diligently sown, the enemy would sow bad seed. No one noticed or knew, except the owner of the field.
Let us consider two kinds of fields. The first is the mission field. The more good seed is sown, the more the devil will sow evil seed. We should not be surprised by this. Neither should we be caught unaware. Instead, we should be discerning, wise, and prayerful. In the mission field, we will observe "weeds" appearing from time to time. Individuals we had trusted will turn out to have been untrustworthy. Divisions, misunderstandings, and strife will occur. Gross wrongdoing may be uncovered. These things should concern but not surprise us. Indeed, where we see great manifestations of the good seed, there also may be found evidence of Satan's evil weeds.
Our response should be to pray hard for our mission fields. One difficulty is that wheat and weeds may look very much alike, at least initially and on a superficial (surface) level. But as time goes on, the differences will emerge. Spiritual discernment, fervent prayer, and wise, practical discretion will be of great help in this matter.
The second kind of field is our own heart. In his book, Wrestling with Christ, Italian spiritual writer Luigi Santucci explores the idea.
"Every evening I lie down like that field under the stars and I'm that tangle of different grasses . . . the good stalks and bad stalks get inextricably (inseparably) interwoven . . . When I perform some action of generous innocence, straightaway some selfish calculation crops up - in the impulse to help, a vain self-satisfaction; in the consoling caress (stroke gently or lovingly), a hint of lechery (lust); in my evening prayer of thanksgiving, some base superstition (Murphy's Law - anything that can go wrong will go wrong)." [1a]
Being involved in missions can lull (calm) us into thinking that all our missionary impulses are from God. Yet, the enemy's seeds often lurk deep within us.
We must therefore turn to the Master - to pray that His seed will flourish in our missions and our hearts, and that the enemy's weeds will wither and die. Only God can see to this. Hence our need to pray, both for ourselves and for the mission field.
Picture posted by Ebenezer Baptist Church
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitLFOI66ZHAVKzSAVlUizg7sgnLIzUWnyRg8OLvfLfnedVcV8cN3pMCcCu2MP9A7cXJcn5hJcht-hlOpb2uiEkzOCDnVuJIEblnJULpBi8UZOSJ_EJsyLsZttLsP6iiHROdKgXRhTM88lyMUobm7WQuQPvwz50H1rS6Ve3K865MdJCYS_XjANxBATD2BM/s1045/wheat--tare--and-weeds.jpg
https://dq5pwpg1q8ru0.cloudfront.net/2023/02/23/18/58/05/56e4b3ad-c66b-4ab1-a79e-4d1fe82bdfa9/wheat--tare--and-weeds.jpg
https://ebcnc.com/blog/wheat-or-tares-can-you-tell-the-difference
PHOTO: "Every evening I lie down like that field under the stars and I'm that tangle of different grasses . . . the good stalks and bad stalks get inextricably (inseparably) interwoven . . . When I perform some action of generous innocence, straightaway some selfish calculation crops up - in the impulse to help, a vain self-satisfaction; in the consoling caress (stroke gently or lovingly), a hint of lechery (lust); in my evening prayer of thanksgiving, some base superstition (Murphy's Law - anything that can go wrong will go wrong)."
Picture posted by Vinsensius Antonius
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFAC2Iq-heie7WVMKtmrGfwlflIT7sjQdz-Me-CkyIOnFGjamOcjERUeXxsn8iKhlIMqXtxnUa_dm1fycw32Y9NbU4SPnxuPTCVBP7N0UVrudv2NGTbFpEhb1_BsuIH4tvCMRJshzot71OW1KZS00eQY9r5gpb4WgZnubVO7o2Bzwb4f2jrRxsX3N8o8A/s1920/8c0670ef13fb070881177b45b9c3d5e3.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/8c/06/70/8c0670ef13fb070881177b45b9c3d5e3.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/812125745341903584/
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we pray that we turn to the Master - to pray that His seed will flourish in our missions and our hearts, and that the enemy's weeds will wither and die.
Because only God can see to this. Hence our need to pray, both for ourselves and for the mission field.
Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen."
Picture posted by Living Words
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeR0d1jq6wAxWWecQs5bt0G3UTDWM7Fpv4z8Tt-2Bf-dukP1tP0tcuA_EcMZKkuN9taKLosXwNWsDxlUXgQ6k_6hdzpALUB0hwD0w1xv99F-SW209Vj6UjVpthwExATCs6Ja3x-d0WHJVkudsfw6WJw8L8fnmGuy80Q_aTuKHmkYtj0xbowQY_mDEyEKw/s2560/82b446e51742ed4a2613bb3eb926ff00_1.png
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/82/b4/46/82b446e51742ed4a2613bb3eb926ff00.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/26529085299393957/
Chapter 52 - Reflection - We Want to See Jesus,
PHOTO: Did you know that there are people who wish they could see Jesus?
A group of Greeks came to Philip, one of Jesus' disciples, with this request: "Sir . . . we would like to see Jesus" (John 12:21). When Jesus was informed, He gave a very unusual reply. He talked about His impending suffering and death on the cross (John 12:23-33). It is clear that Jesus wanted Jews and all other peoples in the world to see Him as the crucified one - the one who would die on the cross in our place so that each of us could be saved. Such is the Jesus God wants us to see, in order that we might understand and taste salvation.
It is unsurprising, therefore, that when Paul took the Galatians to task for their distorted faith, he wrote with apostolic fire: "You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified" (Galatians 3:1). As a missionary who made it his goal to "preach Christ crucified" (1 Corinthians 1:23), Paul wanted to ensure that people saw Christ clearly, the way Christ himself wanted to be seen.
Today, that need has not changed. People must be able to see Jesus in what is preached in our churches. As importantly, they must be able to see Jesus in what Christians do, and how we live. For that to happen, we must exhibit the same kind of servanthood that Jesus demonstrated in His life, ministry, and loving sacrifice. We are to be cross-carriers who show Christ in our lives.
Many years ago, I met a lady whose elderly mother had worked as a servant in a missionary compound in an Asian country. One of the memories she had from living in that compound was the little bell that the missionaries would ring to summon her mother to the dining table. I suspect that to the lady and her mother, the missionaries were reminders not of Christ who came to serve (Matthew 20:28), but of colonial masters who came to be served and to lord it over the people. One can imagine that hoarse whisper of a thousand needy voices around the missionary compound: "We would like to see Jesus."
Contrast this with stories of missionaries living in such humble, self-sacrificial, and godly ways that the people they served would mistake them for Jesus. These can be no better way than this to fulfil God's mission and witness for the crucified Christ.
Like those Greeks in the New Testament, many want to, and need to see Jesus. Will they see Jesus in us?
Heavenly Father, Your Word tells us that You chose us to be conformed to the likeness of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. As the Holy Spirit works in and through us, may we display the splendour of our Lord in our words, deeds, and relationships, as we learn to obey Him daily by loving and serving Him. Amen
Picture posted by Jeff Ropp on 19 October 2020
Picture upscaled by AI Image Upscaler at https://pixnova.ai/image-upscaler/
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVPPq7qklkwDxxiibn03y1YY6hpChFvxMK6K1OSNqFExZi-0Sj9_2REivykRIAWVyviU5Z3Xspy-4SuGaIpXr89iXAbxrVEHyoyRn5UEuravMYcR4wM1ZkrFaAnVf0vdMDs-kBKmy0RizdklebqxMpVoeodkbFUE-T89NXG-ykmlN8RyvGgYKyow5R8nY/s1200/John-12-20-23_1.png
https://www.seeyouinheaven.life/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/John-12-20-23.jpg
https://www.seeyouinheaven.life/how-can-we-overcome-self-centeredness-part-1/
Picture upscaled by AI Image Upscaler at https://pixnova.ai/image-upscaler/
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVPPq7qklkwDxxiibn03y1YY6hpChFvxMK6K1OSNqFExZi-0Sj9_2REivykRIAWVyviU5Z3Xspy-4SuGaIpXr89iXAbxrVEHyoyRn5UEuravMYcR4wM1ZkrFaAnVf0vdMDs-kBKmy0RizdklebqxMpVoeodkbFUE-T89NXG-ykmlN8RyvGgYKyow5R8nY/s1200/John-12-20-23_1.png
https://www.seeyouinheaven.life/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/John-12-20-23.jpg
https://www.seeyouinheaven.life/how-can-we-overcome-self-centeredness-part-1/
PHOTO: Like those Greeks in the New Testament, many want to, and need to see Jesus. Will they see Jesus in us?
Picture posted by Ann Sokol
Picture upscaled by AI Image Upscaler at https://pixnova.ai/image-upscaler/
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzHDYo1FI6qnXIdW1mEt627fcrLyaRJmO6RZyN3GvEfye4NkE1bgSVodAmF9-Dsled0U3fOfloDZT0vRpYKWSnLGhPkoDylkfwtIYf3oU0nNT5IdnTCRgzyk7pymvyH6uSZ1Aj7KULJ2qGhpqnIxNa6OpApAH6lokknfV29WLl2BiebPnmVElCpw9Uux4/s1682/208a55d19cb540c62f0e0afa90133556.png
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/20/8a/55/208a55d19cb540c62f0e0afa90133556.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/70437489752496/
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/20/8a/55/208a55d19cb540c62f0e0afa90133556.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/70437489752496/
PHOTO: "Heavenly Father, Your Word tells us that You chose us to be conformed to the likeness of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. As the Holy Spirit works in and through us, may we display the splendour of our Lord in our words, deeds, and relationships, as we learn to obey Him daily by loving and serving Him. Amen"
Picture posted by Vinsensius Antonius
Picture upscaled by AI Image Upscaler at https://pixnova.ai/image-upscaler/
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXqESpf8T2Y3OiYomiqAFI57I5R90lKEuZyKDbVCrE1N67VD2ucl4DK2pQzT2rV_0iO4EWs0Nqq-7-Dj0srVbgkEFbKVcD8pRsWmHq68pxIi2wdjQuWDTnDX758ba1zHZGGMqhG3C1-1XJtTqImzOSDvDcDg6T2ef7QDI6XxKdNlTbGxnoag3BnslkIQ/s2250/bccedd4d0982040dc7388361524f8250.png
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/bc/ce/dd/bccedd4d0982040dc7388361524f8250.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/359865826495900651/
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/bc/ce/dd/bccedd4d0982040dc7388361524f8250.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/359865826495900651/
Note from Publisher
"Making All Things New", 52 Reflections to Challenge the Way You Live, Copyright @ 2022 by Robert M. Solomon. All rights reserved.
Request for permission to quote from this book should be directed to:
Permissions Department
Our Daily Bread Publishing
P. O. Box 3566
Grand Rapids, MI 49501, USA
Or contact us by email at permissionsdept@odb.org
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, "NIV" Copyright ©1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
All websites listed are accurate at the time of publication, but may change in the future or cease to exist. The listing of the website references does not imply our endorsement of the site's entire contents.
Cover Design by Haw Shing Yee
Interior Layout by Joshus Tan
ISBN: 978-981-49-9142-1
Printed in Singapore
22 23 24 25 26 / 5 4 3 2 1
Note to the reader
We invite you to share your response to the message in this book by writing to us at:
5 Pereira Road, #07-01
Asiawide Industrial Building
Singapore 368025
or sending an email to:
dphsingapore@dph.org
Request for permission to quote from this book should be directed to:
Permissions Department
Our Daily Bread Publishing
P. O. Box 3566
Grand Rapids, MI 49501, USA
Or contact us by email at permissionsdept@odb.org
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, "NIV" Copyright ©1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
All websites listed are accurate at the time of publication, but may change in the future or cease to exist. The listing of the website references does not imply our endorsement of the site's entire contents.
Cover Design by Haw Shing Yee
Interior Layout by Joshus Tan
ISBN: 978-981-49-9142-1
Printed in Singapore
22 23 24 25 26 / 5 4 3 2 1
Note to the reader
We invite you to share your response to the message in this book by writing to us at:
5 Pereira Road, #07-01
Asiawide Industrial Building
Singapore 368025
or sending an email to:
dphsingapore@dph.org
About The Publisher
Discovery House Publishing produces a wide array of premium and quality resources that focus on Scripture, show reverence for God and His Word, demonstrate the relevance of vibrant faith, and equip and encourage you to draw closer to God in all seasons of your life.
PHOTO: We pray that we will be true disciples of Jesus, seeking to please Him in every way. In this way will we become disciple-makers: when God's mission becomes ours too.
Picture posted by Share Thumb
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy3nGPoYa-AI5WnkgAUbzr_GNqdsyZjq837GZKy8QblRqaIdxyzthpQ_JtoPqNp7taBv1N3HJoQ1XgLJfhyphenhyphenDxa_fe_YtneFTxNdu6OBpt4uWo7BR5xFjMCCoQqkNA75VtsQxLwkRvoGkl4NS8-EJ0GVdOT5O8bt-zj5-f1t0_Qlw0TUFHm-llMZ0IzbB0/s1032/9290f0832a4844ece3b63c230ed72912.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/92/90/f0/9290f0832a4844ece3b63c230ed72912.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/648377677628024370/
PHOTO: We pray that we will be true disciples of Jesus, seeking to please Him in every way. In this way will we become disciple-makers: when God's mission becomes ours too.
Picture posted by Share Thumb
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy3nGPoYa-AI5WnkgAUbzr_GNqdsyZjq837GZKy8QblRqaIdxyzthpQ_JtoPqNp7taBv1N3HJoQ1XgLJfhyphenhyphenDxa_fe_YtneFTxNdu6OBpt4uWo7BR5xFjMCCoQqkNA75VtsQxLwkRvoGkl4NS8-EJ0GVdOT5O8bt-zj5-f1t0_Qlw0TUFHm-llMZ0IzbB0/s1032/9290f0832a4844ece3b63c230ed72912.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/92/90/f0/9290f0832a4844ece3b63c230ed72912.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/648377677628024370/
Reflection - Making All Things New, Chapter 29 - 52 (Links)
Source (book): "Making All Things New", 52 Reflections to Challenge the Way You Live, Copyright @ 2022 by Robert M. Solomon
Source (book): "Making All Things New", 52 Reflections to Challenge the Way You Live, Copyright @ 2022 by Robert M. Solomon
Reflection - Making All Things New, Chapter 1 - 28 (Links), posted on Saturday, 04 August 2024
"Faithful to the end", A Preacher's Exposition of 2 Timothy, @ 2014 by Robert M. Solomon
Reflection - Faithful to the end (Links)
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2017/06/reflection-faithful-to-end-links.html
"Finding rest for the soul" Responding to Jesus' Invitation in Matthew 11:28-29, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon
Reflection - Finding rest for the soul (Links)
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2018/10/reflection-finding-rest-for-soul-links.html
"God in Pursuit" Lessons from the Book of Jonah, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon
Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART I-III, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2019/08/reflection-god-in-pursuit-links-part-i.html
"God in Pursuit" Lessons from the Book of Jonah, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon
Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART IV, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2019/08/reflection-god-in-pursuit-links-part-iv.html
"Songs of Christmas", The Stories and Significance of 20 Well-Loved Carols, © 2018 by Robert M. Solomon
Reflection - Songs of Christmas (Links), posted on Friday, 24 April 2020
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/04/reflection-songs-of-christmas-links.html
Reflection - Faithful to the end (Links)
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2017/06/reflection-faithful-to-end-links.html
"Finding rest for the soul" Responding to Jesus' Invitation in Matthew 11:28-29, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon
Reflection - Finding rest for the soul (Links)
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2018/10/reflection-finding-rest-for-soul-links.html
"God in Pursuit" Lessons from the Book of Jonah, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon
Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART I-III, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2019/08/reflection-god-in-pursuit-links-part-i.html
"God in Pursuit" Lessons from the Book of Jonah, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon
Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART IV, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2019/08/reflection-god-in-pursuit-links-part-iv.html
"Songs of Christmas", The Stories and Significance of 20 Well-Loved Carols, © 2018 by Robert M. Solomon
Reflection - Songs of Christmas (Links), posted on Friday, 24 April 2020
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/04/reflection-songs-of-christmas-links.html
"Growing Old Gracefully", Following Jesus to the End, © 2019 by Robert M. Solomon
Reflection - Growing Old Gracefully, Part I - III (Links), posted on Wednesday, 09 December 2020
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/12/reflection-growing-old-gracefully-part.html
Reflection - Growing Old Gracefully, Part IV - V (Links), posted on Thursday, 22 April 2021
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/12/reflection-growing-old-gracefully-part_9.html
"Teach Us to Number Our Days", © 2008 by David Roper
Reflection - Number Our Days, Chapter 1 - 40 (Links), posted on Tuesday, 16 November 2021
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/11/reflection-number-our-days-chapter-1-40.html
Reflection - Number Our Days, Chapter 41 - 64 (Links), posted on Wednesday, 16 March 2022
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2022/03/reflection-number-our-days-chapter-41.html
"He Walks with Me - Devotions for Your Caregiving Journey with God", © 2018 by Our Daily Bread Ministries, Shelly Beach
Reflection - He Walks with Me (Links), posted on Tuesday, 16 August 2022
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2022/08/reflection-he-walks-with-me-links.html
Reflection - He Walks with Me (Links), posted on Tuesday, 16 August 2022https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2022/08/reflection-he-walks-with-me-links.html
"Classic Gem: Timeless Devotions from Our Daily Bread Authors", Copyright © 2021 by Our Daily Bread Ministries
Reflection - Classic Gem, Chapter 1 - 45 (Links), posted on 03 April 2023
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2023/04/reflection-classic-gem-chapter-1-45.html
"Classic Gem: Timeless Devotions from Our Daily Bread Authors", Copyright © 2021 by Our Daily Bread Ministries
Reflection - Classic Gem, Chapter 46 - 90 (Links), posted on Tuesday, 24 October 2023
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2023/10/reflection-classic-gem-chapter-46-90.html
"Making All Things New", 52 Reflections to Challenge the Way You Live, Copyright @ 2022 by Robert M. Solomon
Reflection - Making All Things New, Chapter 1 - 28 (Links), posted on Saturday, 04 August 2024
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/08/reflection-making-all-things-new.html
Reference
[29] In The Church, Chapter 29 - Reflection - Deepening Relationships on Church, posted on Wednesday, 14 August 2024, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/08/reflection-in-church-deepening.html [29]
[30] In The Church, Chapter 30 - Reflection - Family Scripts, posted on Wednesday, 21 August 2024, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/08/reflection-in-church-family-scripts.html [30]
[31] In The Church, Chapter 31 - Reflection - Kingdom or Republic?, posted on Wednesday, 04 September 2024, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/09/reflection-in-church-kingdom-or-republic.html [31]
[32] In The Church, Chapter 32 - Reflection - Making Decisions in Church, posted on Wednesday, 11 September 2024, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/09/reflection-in-church-making-decisions.html [32]
[33] In The Church, Chapter 33 - Reflection - No-frills Church?, posted on Sunday, 22 September 2024, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/09/reflection-in-church-no-frills-church.html [33]
[34] In The Church, Chapter 34 - Reflection - Revive Us, O Lord, posted on Thursday, 03 October 2024, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/09/reflection-in-church-no-frills-church.html [34]
[35] In The Church, Chapter 35 - Reflection - Worship and Theology, posted on Saturday, 12 October 2024, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/10/reflection-in-church-worship-and.html [36]
[36] In The Church, Chapter 36 - Reflection - Reflections on Theological Education, posted on Thursday, 24 October 2024, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/10/reflection-in-church-reflections-on.html [36]
[37] In The Church, Chapter 37 - Reflection - Church and a Child's Memory, posted on Sunday, 03 November 2024, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/11/reflection-in-church-church-and-childs.html [37]
[38] In The World, Chapter 38 - Reflection - The Mess and the Messiah, posted on Wednesday, 13 November 2024, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/11/reflection-in-world-mess-and-messiah.html [38]
[39] In The World, Chapter 39 - Reflection - Two Steps Forward, Three Steps Back, posted on Sunday, 17 November 2024, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/11/reflection-in-world-two-steps-forward.html [39]
[40] In The World, Chapter 40 - Reflection - A lesson From Nebuchadnezzar, posted on Saturday, 23 November 2024, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/11/reflection-in-world-lesson-from.html [40]
[41] In The World, Chapter 41 - Reflection - Saving Christmas . . . From the Marketplace, posted on Monday, 02 December 2024, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/12/reflection-in-world-saving-christmas.html [41]
[42] In The World, Chapter 42 - Reflection - The Coarsening of Culture, posted on Thursday, 12 December 2024, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/12/reflection-in-world-coarsening-of.html [42]
[43] In The World, Chapter 43 - Reflection - The Golden Calf and the Broken Tablets, posted on Wednesday, 25 December 2024, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/12/reflection-in-world-golden-calf-and.html [43]
[44] In The World, Chapter 44 - Reflection - A Root of Evil, posted on Friday, 03 January 2025, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2025/01/reflection-in-world-root-of-evil.html [44]
[45] In The World, Chapter 45 - Reflection - Strengthening Our Inner Environment, posted on Tuesday, 14 January 2025, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2025/01/reflection-in-world-strengthening-our.html [45]
[46] In The World, Chapter 46 - Reflection - Reflections on the Tsunami, posted on Wednesday, 22 January 2025, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2025/01/reflection-in-world-reflections-on.html [46]
[47] In The World, Chapter 47 - Reflection - Wars and Pestilences, posted on Sunday, 02 February 2025, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2025/02/reflection-in-world-wars-and-pestilences.html [47]
[48] Making Disciples, Chapter 48 - Reflection - The Principal and Principle of Missions, posted on Friday, 14 February 2025, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2025/02/reflection-making-disciples-principal.html [48]
[49] Making Disciples, Chapter 49 - Reflection - Are You a Harvester?, posted on Monday, 24 February 2025, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2025/02/reflection-making-disciples-are-you.html [49]
[50] Making Disciples, Chapter 50 - Reflection - The Cross and the Missionary Enterprise, posted on Tuesday, 04 March 2025, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2025/03/reflection-making-disciples-cross-and.html [50]
[51] Making Disciples, Chapter 51 - Reflection - Two Sowers, Two Fields, posted on Thursday, 06 March 2025, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2025/03/reflection-making-disciples-two-sowers.html [51]
[52] Making Disciples, Chapter 52 - Reflection - We Want to See Jesus, posted on Saturday, 15 March 2025, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2025/03/reflection-making-disciples-we-want-to.html [52]
[30] In The Church, Chapter 30 - Reflection - Family Scripts, posted on Wednesday, 21 August 2024, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/08/reflection-in-church-family-scripts.html [30]
[31] In The Church, Chapter 31 - Reflection - Kingdom or Republic?, posted on Wednesday, 04 September 2024, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/09/reflection-in-church-kingdom-or-republic.html [31]
[32] In The Church, Chapter 32 - Reflection - Making Decisions in Church, posted on Wednesday, 11 September 2024, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/09/reflection-in-church-making-decisions.html [32]
[33] In The Church, Chapter 33 - Reflection - No-frills Church?, posted on Sunday, 22 September 2024, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/09/reflection-in-church-no-frills-church.html [33]
[34] In The Church, Chapter 34 - Reflection - Revive Us, O Lord, posted on Thursday, 03 October 2024, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/09/reflection-in-church-no-frills-church.html [34]
[35] In The Church, Chapter 35 - Reflection - Worship and Theology, posted on Saturday, 12 October 2024, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/10/reflection-in-church-worship-and.html [36]
[36] In The Church, Chapter 36 - Reflection - Reflections on Theological Education, posted on Thursday, 24 October 2024, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/10/reflection-in-church-reflections-on.html [36]
[37] In The Church, Chapter 37 - Reflection - Church and a Child's Memory, posted on Sunday, 03 November 2024, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/11/reflection-in-church-church-and-childs.html [37]
[38] In The World, Chapter 38 - Reflection - The Mess and the Messiah, posted on Wednesday, 13 November 2024, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/11/reflection-in-world-mess-and-messiah.html [38]
[39] In The World, Chapter 39 - Reflection - Two Steps Forward, Three Steps Back, posted on Sunday, 17 November 2024, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/11/reflection-in-world-two-steps-forward.html [39]
[40] In The World, Chapter 40 - Reflection - A lesson From Nebuchadnezzar, posted on Saturday, 23 November 2024, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/11/reflection-in-world-lesson-from.html [40]
[41] In The World, Chapter 41 - Reflection - Saving Christmas . . . From the Marketplace, posted on Monday, 02 December 2024, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/12/reflection-in-world-saving-christmas.html [41]
[42] In The World, Chapter 42 - Reflection - The Coarsening of Culture, posted on Thursday, 12 December 2024, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/12/reflection-in-world-coarsening-of.html [42]
[43] In The World, Chapter 43 - Reflection - The Golden Calf and the Broken Tablets, posted on Wednesday, 25 December 2024, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/12/reflection-in-world-golden-calf-and.html [43]
[44] In The World, Chapter 44 - Reflection - A Root of Evil, posted on Friday, 03 January 2025, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2025/01/reflection-in-world-root-of-evil.html [44]
[45] In The World, Chapter 45 - Reflection - Strengthening Our Inner Environment, posted on Tuesday, 14 January 2025, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2025/01/reflection-in-world-strengthening-our.html [45]
[46] In The World, Chapter 46 - Reflection - Reflections on the Tsunami, posted on Wednesday, 22 January 2025, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2025/01/reflection-in-world-reflections-on.html [46]
[47] In The World, Chapter 47 - Reflection - Wars and Pestilences, posted on Sunday, 02 February 2025, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2025/02/reflection-in-world-wars-and-pestilences.html [47]
[48] Making Disciples, Chapter 48 - Reflection - The Principal and Principle of Missions, posted on Friday, 14 February 2025, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2025/02/reflection-making-disciples-principal.html [48]
[49] Making Disciples, Chapter 49 - Reflection - Are You a Harvester?, posted on Monday, 24 February 2025, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2025/02/reflection-making-disciples-are-you.html [49]
[50] Making Disciples, Chapter 50 - Reflection - The Cross and the Missionary Enterprise, posted on Tuesday, 04 March 2025, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2025/03/reflection-making-disciples-cross-and.html [50]
[51] Making Disciples, Chapter 51 - Reflection - Two Sowers, Two Fields, posted on Thursday, 06 March 2025, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2025/03/reflection-making-disciples-two-sowers.html [51]
[52] Making Disciples, Chapter 52 - Reflection - We Want to See Jesus, posted on Saturday, 15 March 2025, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2025/03/reflection-making-disciples-we-want-to.html [52]
Links
New International Version (NIV), Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
1 Corinthians 1:22-23 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%201%3A22-23&version=NIV
1 Corinthians 1:23 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%201%3A23&version=NIV
1 Corinthians 2:2 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%202%3A2&version=NIV
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%206%3A9-10&version=NIV
1 Corinthians 6:11 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%206%3A11&version=NIV
1 Corinthians 6:11 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%206%3A11&version=NIV
1 Corinthians 12 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+12&version=NIV
1 John 1:7 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+1%3A7&version=NIV
1 John 4:7 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+4%3A7&version=NIV
1 Kings 15:3, 26; 22:52 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Kings%2015%3A3%2C%2026%3B%2022%3A52&version=NIV
1 Timothy 3:2 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Timothy%203%3A2&version=NIV
1 Timothy 6:9-10 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Timothy%206%3A9-10&version=NIV
2 Corinthians 2:13 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%202%3A13&version=NIV
2 Corinthians 2:14 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%202%3A14&version=NIV
2 Corinthians 2:14-16 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%202%3A14-16&version=NIV
2 Corinthians 2:16 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%202%3A16&version=NIV
2 Corinthians 9:15 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%209%3A15&version=NIV
2 Corinthians 10:5 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%2010%3A5&version=NIV
2 Kings 15:3, 34 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2015%3A3%2C%2034&version=NIV
2 Kings 18:3 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2018%3A3&version=NIV
2 Timothy 3:15 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=%202%20Timothy%203%3A15&version=NIV
Deuteronomy 9 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%209&version=NIV
Acts 3:6 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%203%3A6&version=NIV
Acts 4:34 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%204%3A34&version=NIV
Acts 6:4 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%206%3A4&version=NIV
Acts 9:36; Romans 15:16 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%209%3A36%3B%20Romans%2015%3A16&version=NIV
Acts 13 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2013&version=NIV
Acts 13:1-3 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2013%3A1-3&version=NIV
Acts 16:6-7 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2016%3A6-7&version=NIV
Acts 16:9 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2016%3A9&version=NIV
Acts 16:10 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2016%3A10&version=NIV
Acts 27 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2027&version=NIV
Acts 27:8 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2027%3A8&version=NIV
Acts 27:9-10 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2027%3A9-10&version=NIV
Acts 27:11 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2027%3A11&version=NIV
Acts 27:13 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2027%3A13&version=NIV
Acts 27:13-14 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2027%3A13-14&version=NIV
Acts 28:2 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2028%3A2&version=NIV
Colossians 3:5 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians%203%3A5&version=NIV
Daniel 4:30 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%204%3A30&version=NIV
Deuteronomy 6:7-9 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%206%3A7-9&version=NIV
Deuteronomy 9 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%209&version=NIV
Ephesians 2:12 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%202%3A12&version=NIV
Ephesians 2:14-16 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+2%3A14-16&version=NIV
Ephesians 2:19 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+2%3A19&version=NIV
Ephesians 4:12- https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%204%3A12&version=NIV
Exodus 12:24-25 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2012%3A24-25&version=NIV
Exodus 12:26-27 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2012%3A26-27&version=NIV
Exodus 16 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2016&version=NIV
Exodus 25 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2025&version=NIV
Exodus 32:24 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2032%3A24&version=NIV
Ezekiel 11:19 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2011%3A19&version=NIV
Ezekiel 39:25 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2039%3A25&version=NIV
Galatians 3:1 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians%203%3A1&version=NIV
Galatians 5:22 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+5%3A22&version=NIV
1 John 1:7 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+1%3A7&version=NIV
1 John 4:7 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+4%3A7&version=NIV
1 Kings 15:3, 26; 22:52 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Kings%2015%3A3%2C%2026%3B%2022%3A52&version=NIV
1 Timothy 3:2 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Timothy%203%3A2&version=NIV
1 Timothy 6:9-10 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Timothy%206%3A9-10&version=NIV
2 Corinthians 2:13 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%202%3A13&version=NIV
2 Corinthians 2:14 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%202%3A14&version=NIV
2 Corinthians 2:14-16 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%202%3A14-16&version=NIV
2 Corinthians 2:16 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%202%3A16&version=NIV
2 Corinthians 9:15 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%209%3A15&version=NIV
2 Corinthians 10:5 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%2010%3A5&version=NIV
2 Kings 15:3, 34 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2015%3A3%2C%2034&version=NIV
2 Kings 18:3 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2018%3A3&version=NIV
2 Timothy 3:15 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=%202%20Timothy%203%3A15&version=NIV
Deuteronomy 9 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%209&version=NIV
Acts 3:6 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%203%3A6&version=NIV
Acts 4:34 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%204%3A34&version=NIV
Acts 6:4 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%206%3A4&version=NIV
Acts 9:36; Romans 15:16 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%209%3A36%3B%20Romans%2015%3A16&version=NIV
Acts 13 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2013&version=NIV
Acts 13:1-3 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2013%3A1-3&version=NIV
Acts 16:6-7 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2016%3A6-7&version=NIV
Acts 16:9 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2016%3A9&version=NIV
Acts 16:10 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2016%3A10&version=NIV
Acts 27 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2027&version=NIV
Acts 27:8 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2027%3A8&version=NIV
Acts 27:9-10 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2027%3A9-10&version=NIV
Acts 27:11 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2027%3A11&version=NIV
Acts 27:13 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2027%3A13&version=NIV
Acts 27:13-14 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2027%3A13-14&version=NIV
Acts 28:2 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2028%3A2&version=NIV
Colossians 3:5 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians%203%3A5&version=NIV
Daniel 4:30 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%204%3A30&version=NIV
Deuteronomy 6:7-9 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%206%3A7-9&version=NIV
Deuteronomy 9 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%209&version=NIV
Ephesians 2:12 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%202%3A12&version=NIV
Ephesians 2:14-16 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+2%3A14-16&version=NIV
Ephesians 2:19 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+2%3A19&version=NIV
Ephesians 4:12- https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%204%3A12&version=NIV
Exodus 12:24-25 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2012%3A24-25&version=NIV
Exodus 12:26-27 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2012%3A26-27&version=NIV
Exodus 16 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2016&version=NIV
Exodus 25 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2025&version=NIV
Exodus 32:24 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2032%3A24&version=NIV
Ezekiel 11:19 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2011%3A19&version=NIV
Ezekiel 39:25 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2039%3A25&version=NIV
Galatians 3:1 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians%203%3A1&version=NIV
Galatians 5:22 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+5%3A22&version=NIV
Genesis 3:1-5 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%203%3A1-5&version=NIV
Genesis 3:4 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%203%3A4&version=NIV
Genesis 3:17 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%203%3A17&version=NIV
Genesis 11 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2011&version=NIV
Genesis 12:2 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2012%3A2&version=NIV
Genesis 12:11-13 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2012%3A11-13&version=NIV
Genesis 25:28 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2025%3A28&version=NIV
Genesis 26:1-11 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2026%3A1-11&version=NIV
Genesis 37:3 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2037%3A3&version=NIV
Genesis 12:11-13 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2012%3A11-13&version=NIV
Genesis 25:28 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2025%3A28&version=NIV
Genesis 26:1-11 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2026%3A1-11&version=NIV
Genesis 37:3 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2037%3A3&version=NIV
Isaiah 6:1-3; Ezekiel 1; Revelation 4 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%206%3A1-3%3B%20Ezekiel%201%3B%20Revelation%204&version=NIV
Isaiah 14:12; Revelation 12: 7-9 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2014%3A12%3B%20Revelation%2012%3A%207-9&version=NIV
Jeremiah 17:9 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2017%3A9&version=NIV
Job 13:15 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%2013%3A15&version=NIV
John 1:5 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%201%3A5&version=NIV
John 1:12 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1%3A12&version=NIV
Isaiah 14:12; Revelation 12: 7-9 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2014%3A12%3B%20Revelation%2012%3A%207-9&version=NIV
Jeremiah 17:9 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2017%3A9&version=NIV
Job 13:15 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%2013%3A15&version=NIV
John 1:5 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%201%3A5&version=NIV
John 1:12 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1%3A12&version=NIV
John 1:14 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%201%3A14&version=NIV
John 3:16 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%203%3A16&version=NIV
John 4:7-8 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%204%3A7-8&version=NIV
John 4:23 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%204%3A23&version=NIV
John 4:24 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%204%3A24&version=NIV
John 4:28-30 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%204%3A28-30&version=NIV
John 4:32-34 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%204%3A32-34&version=NIV
John 4:35 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%204%3A35&version=NIV
John 4:36-38 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%204%3A36-38&version=NIV
John 4:41 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%204%3A41&version=NIV
John 8:11 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%208%3A11&version=NIV
John 12:21 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2012%3A21&version=NIV
John 12:23-33 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2012%3A23-33&version=NIV
John 20:28 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2020%3A28&version=NIV
Leviticus 18:22, 20:13; Romans 1:24-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9; 1 Timothy 1:10 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=%20Leviticus%2018%3A22%2C%2020%3A13%3B%20Romans%201%3A24-27%3B%201%20Corinthians%206%3A9%3B%201%20Timothy%201%3A10&version=NIV
Luke 2:8-20 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%202%3A8-20&version=NIV
Luke 2:19 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%202%3A19&version=NIV
Luke 4:1-12 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%204%3A1-12&version=NIV
Luke 9:23 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%209%3A23&version=NIV
Luke 13:2 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2013%3A2&version=NIV
Luke 13:3 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2013%3A3&version=NIV
Luke 13:4-5 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2013%3A4-5&version=NIV
Luke 17:21 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2017%3A21&version=NIV
Matthew 4:5-6 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%204%3A5-6&version=NIV
Matthew 4:5-7 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%204%3A5-7&version=NIV
Matthew 5:13-16 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A13-16&version=NIV
Matthew 4:5-7 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%204%3A5-7&version=NIV
Matthew 5:13-16 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A13-16&version=NIV
Matthew 5:16 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%205%3A16&version=NIV
Matthew 5:45 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%205%3A45&version=NIV
Matthew 6:2-4 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%206%3A2-4&version=NIV
Matthew 8:20 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%208%3A20&version=NIV
Matthew 13:24-25 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2013%3A24-25&version=NIV
Matthew 13:24-30 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2013%3A24-30&version=NIV
Matthew 13:25 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2013%3A25&version=NIV
Matthew 19:16-30 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2019%3A16-30&version=NIV
Matthew 19:27 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2019%3A27&version=NIV
Matthew 20:28 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2020%3A28&version=NIV
Matthew 22:37-40 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+22%3A37-40&version=NIV
Matthew 25:31-46 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2025%3A31-46&version=NIV
Matthew 26:51-54 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2026%3A51-54&version=NIV
Numbers 11:4-6 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%2011%3A4-6&version=NIV
Philippians 4:8 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%204%3A8&version=NIV
Proverbs 3:1 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%203%3A1&version=NIV
Psalm 2:4-6 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%202%3A4-6&version=NIV
Psalm 2:11 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%202%3A11&version=NIV
Psalm 4:1 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%204%3A1&version=NIV
Psalm 73:2-12 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2073%3A2-12&version=NIV
Psalm 80:18 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2080%3A18&version=NIV
Psalm 91:11-12 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2091%3A11-12&version=NIV
Psalm 102:12 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20102%3A12&version=NIV
Psalm 106, 136 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms%20106%2C%20136&version=NIV
Psalm 114:7-8 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20114%3A7-8&version=NIV
Revelation 1:12-18 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%201%3A12-18&version=NIV
Revelation 9:18 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%209%3A18&version=NIV
Revelation 9:20 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%209%3A20&version=NIV
Romans 3:23 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%203%3A23&version=NIV
Romans 6:4 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%206%3A4&version=NIV
Romans 8:22-23 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%208%3A22-23&version=NIV
Romans 8:26 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%208%3A26&version=NIV
- https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCe3wFsk2gTNxLHO2iBswlDmrRRntjpFKx-jvRgRLWAVGtqFxrhZNCBzlQvNMGENCZRC87mUiVBMjQGEPuoWRGwUFtjXD9gdJXkPPsrcvJooz-xEqOg4dw36ikqRRrmmt69kYeTUxaQQTZDDh3wBtXeQckSY6WXze_hlJD_CZUgdV_7gTkJss0KuvKFTY/s1500/813nGTL5edL._SL1500_.jpg
- https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/813nGTL5edL._SL1500_.jpg
- https://www.amazon.it/Making-All-Things-New-Reflections-ebook/dp/B0BNG28PVC
- https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJm3JMXvHdU_1gxcXnjJ5EcJQ6KiqN9K2XX7uSGd3sYiFspZ32McCSnvGD8CTQDo1sphkSe6jhVM1sVa9nxyT6xlPNH-qT1V2ts0XVE97A1pz3vGvkCr9PbQPCcuutH_W6iC2Z4aMHjm0QCSWVlKzjZlJ2iqxIShN1wRxFEJkJnV41bfn7NCCXaULDNA4/s1500/rings-684944_1920.jpg
- https://www.4elect.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/rings-684944_1920.jpg
- https://www.4elect.com/the-spirit-and-the-word/
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/08/reflection-in-church-deepening.html
- https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrrdAZcNVzJDcTzLoR8byqI0wAqKIqdqrunyO3brknanf_47yis5FhtzSHR3_fy7Jo0zjUa4_qMiQC68YztWh-6OmRTayMCqLZ-A01OSRQ3E9j3FJ5KPAfo2iOZ_zjyGJfJKOiNH0OdXOh8uzBq2lmmR78q5f4VAnJmQ_5MeJ4i3teZXu04OD2McKe1Ew/s1024/10b0ba3482cd4cb6173ab1c7727dc526.jpg
- https://i.pinimg.com/originals/10/b0/ba/10b0ba3482cd4cb6173ab1c7727dc526.jpg
- https://www.pinterest.com/pin/11892386511948590/
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/08/reflection-in-church-deepening.html
- https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqZ2Q13pXLbh5A3vFyOgLYPcRXo9MVxufrJGiXzZsutcas4mgbkrXaJ28JRSxLg2KdEnqrIGVKJIs90YSG5w3rzFUmRX5eYapa-etiYonCh5UN28GAaVaZ5sTV5sjwq5I154vIm3RNFAybQcmmyAbwYTVbPd6xoJ0yeKUzq0zp_RD_2Mu62Rg1Xa9q-oQ/s1024/174495657f7dcdb80bbe7f3354e6ffd8.jpg
- https://i.pinimg.com/originals/17/44/95/174495657f7dcdb80bbe7f3354e6ffd8.jpg
- https://www.pinterest.com/pin/1055390493920806212/
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/08/reflection-in-church-deepening.html
- https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhphUImwAnoLzSLjMv43_csJPThEyn5mfBRwGG7tvcd1AgpJnRSMBMWdgfwnJMrZuldFo2ega1pf2Rr62LesT5bh8VLHLiEfn8P0bBGpdZuSG242jBrBKsL5DtsAeTfDDhB1lhlEfMWdVkmFWUKKbZmBqd9RVZG3lxcSyLZSSs7vXBU87YRERZwLIHxr0s/s1920/AntVic-Surrey-Wedding-606.jpg
- https://www.captivephoto.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/AntVic-Surrey-Wedding-606.jpg
- https://www.captivephoto.co.uk/wedding-group-photos/
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/08/reflection-in-church-family-scripts.html
- https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAGIZbfldhp4-lKghyphenhyphenKRUarkhoTpLL7AKFJ5IDTT3KX2VY6ZThJ8o8eFQu0Ro9OGCgmib6rdvHfceqqPv53jnqRqTGLwHwXvoKKgqFxQwZWmu10Km43qUpcknsiaRb04W_rYmP1Qhg0uxlTaRSQU822TOh_qn8c5hcO8mVZTTvysxSM2O-sdglIbMq2pM/s1024/1ca2c53c1dc76b779bd0f434ef17878a.jpg
- https://i.pinimg.com/originals/1c/a2/c5/1ca2c53c1dc76b779bd0f434ef17878a.jpg
- https://www.pinterest.com/pin/45528646226575088/
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/08/reflection-in-church-family-scripts.html
- https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic37kADGvV-Dz38jWYUNWxF3OtXVD7lT89kxG0GBVW4t7Es6C8-hDEU7powV192wV0cU6tuaUq-5E_kIRRcAVuBnFnpb_IMZYpt1ecG5myONmKIWxPZy3imFxV4pEOFF_mpTGyg1ukc80lip9NvMSRENMY8_5DBNe5nnZl8IpmR0CIg44Zh2Q-w-Ls36I/s1024/e9884674af36f1be669904e92a0ef45f.jpg
- https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/e9/88/46/e9884674af36f1be669904e92a0ef45f.jpg
- https://www.pinterest.com/pin/543387511309153504/
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/09/reflection-in-church-kingdom-or-republic.html
- https://depositphotos.com/upscaler.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=button2&utm_campaign=ntf_upscaler&utm_content=en&iterable_campaign=2704095&iterable_template=3704971
- https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5TEiNTYy7vZBpmxnmsnMgnp2zdm4M5_7UsKZGjj93mycpEFs8ugvZkyOvxlDNxKHlza_QYTN0LyFKwsKrCg1RXkIV_vTDg1unkdqvNxoa8n5gHXJHf5hutAYU6m2VG8LJJuXOyb9G6jplM5NtE6q1VdjH3oISkR6cZmuGRZPdesORviXzw48aJEgt-s0/s1568/Trinity-1040x1568.jpg
- https://dq5pwpg1q8ru0.cloudfront.net/2022/05/05/10/58/08/d72161a7-abac-4222-b685-abcc89d7af72/Trinity.jpg
- https://www.saintfrancisvb.net/blog/who-jesus-christ-is
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/09/reflection-in-church-kingdom-or-republic.html
- https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqbz58Jq9kxqMXG-EKxTekFtqd0csYF5nSN9Prs0QRyDISZF-OFT1Q1lpVSNwp4FaLmNAJIa-OYhRRhp-uWnrXazUwTju-9W0JRcdlj74ygZGBG4v1Xj6lqHm0jMSrBM-2U-yshwuI68437tjdS6cX44Fdjx4EKHUgUqBmmiq0zDuwJmCQplgznqumazE/s1024/9c78228ee8993309eff7ec69a4c98adf.jpg
- https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/9c/78/22/9c78228ee8993309eff7ec69a4c98adf.jpg
- https://www.pinterest.com/pin/414683078206998000/
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/09/reflection-in-church-kingdom-or-republic.html
- https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwI7x-y1jUXt63NJAk3S9_eMAzdqo-zRfbYcvGltgYY9yHNCkrY81ihyEF3e9HMJu3KSdlCj78pzBkUx_Mf8xJHj0UASyRczb1gAN0oJVYw8uJ4jiJiffjH5lHXy0NFQqvL_HJc69ZS670s7Q1EuRof80zFAr-yqezX5So0iZj2dX97MN9YDOZrw6sgBE/s696/crossroads-1-696x696_1.png
- https://www.1africa.tv/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/crossroads-1-696x696.jpg
- https://www.1africa.tv/do-shortcuts-work/
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/09/reflection-in-church-making-decisions.html
- https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoq1ASUsXoU-eMTfBAoV4h_mdrLjiCLt3XlkLXC0SNMxfGiib7LXkaVqorWHKTtRfnt8RBTG6Bg6PuLpEYS_a-J6C1mbGNdWLilQfV6u2tuyhohU5nmNbxxe0cX56mjHtzytFIdJIQmQmAyprlDwBqJ11biVDqMujD6EA6_tcgz7KHSewk9tXxCDC-fqI/s1200/897fe6d1c5066d587de1ac3364bce961.jpg
- https://i.pinimg.com/originals/89/7f/e6/897fe6d1c5066d587de1ac3364bce961.jpg
- https://www.pinterest.com/pin/26529085298770728/
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/09/reflection-in-church-making-decisions.html
- https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUoZZlkQ0B64sQ1U1t62IIMnKGChxO5VUCKjNX7U-AGQlyCasAPYw2dz8obmqtpuR1EvB4CZJMKcFs-7akgoXx7_Ug10Cq8hzAEPbzXYW_9OAhE9rKIj4tnLJdPkkdlEjxus73eu_JYejsXACaGn5cZC1LLENhSRQlUIvWDR3kJst0SuM_bwkTZ_QPH04/s1024/2b1af6a2756e739132640f660300cb8d.jpg
- https://i.pinimg.com/originals/2b/1a/f6/2b1af6a2756e739132640f660300cb8d.jpg
- https://www.pinterest.com/pin/10203536650172032/
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/09/reflection-in-church-making-decisions.html
- https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmby_EQSHEA1qFVB2HTSKemFW3lxDt1etOxVxucaTmOTXsAIB7GKaG69fxYXIU9HpS1LXlwwNX6bXMyUh1j235AALOivReD-p8d6i-A0KKZAKjfE6AqPj7n3WH12jYfAIj7blT9Qos8UOVTqWlIK-JkmtrfMxwcKr2im0xSMuG3iXt9SP-straW3u2NE/s698/091124-Cowboy-Church-e1726237031619.jpg
- https://thebaptistpaper.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/091124-Cowboy-Church-e1726237031619.jpg
- https://thebaptistpaper.org/no-frills-cowboy-church-steers-lost-to-jesus-in-tennessee/
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/09/reflection-in-church-no-frills-church.html
- https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWuQv_yh1eEi_SLPkf3TaG4GgphGSqubYw9jF3kAeUVFel6agbnw_C_Nmn0l59bPDQdIwesFmVV2JZYjutLl6tje4rP53PDGwhb2gPiuQb62O-INDZm-WftP4DckeS9y3eJ81iAV_BTF8P9KGgQxGH2OdHhCx-hYYFh81PJ7wKYbOxvlO78SmPWE_c1gY/s1024/8f1b481b-385d-4612-8c73-ef94ca9cdd14-compressed.jpg
- https://media.bible.art/8f1b481b-385d-4612-8c73-ef94ca9cdd14-compressed.jpg
- https://bible.art/p/uLyGSH7T6mXFLUrcStxr
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/09/reflection-in-church-no-frills-church.html
- https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS76dk29wcOqkbHS09gIwk59biFTyOSDXKOI2sK8wcr3lrxK8gtZ05Mi2A8UZZMmveledb33zP0DAuCb0Z8nFSZmxEK16llxfSI_T_Axf-ActOIB_YWXOZdSLgaPHUHQoBxckMCsR4_w858SZteXl7vpPsYGUc01cLc1OmHSDrMOTYrvWR4rar454Wmdo/s1500/signposts-revival.jpg
- https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/601093fd30ef2d697a10ecba/1615569701654-4US04YHDFZTNG1J6XYR9/signposts-revival.jpg?format=1500w&content-type=image%2Fjpeg
- https://thinke.org/blog/signposts-revival
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/09/reflection-in-church-no-frills-church.html
- https://depositphotos.com/upscaler.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=button2&utm_campaign=ntf_upscaler&utm_content=en&iterable_campaign=2704095&iterable_template=3704971
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVFQh_fBvVHSNYaJdEszYGCLZ19nAUaVuZq1qjGTpZRssuU1qfy_58xgFZ7I81DcTjVrG5qTkwQ__VzfvNifdrQZ1V6Nc9EBg4JD5PlAs2kMcTUwxHzADU8mSn5pPcp_GkIWYtklgi2TGkMTK95q7cAi2yPHepYUUhMvWHkNCT2GxfSPj0Q7fZ8GwoQx0/s1200/whitefield-preaching-engraving-22692360-1200x828.jpg - https://www.mediastorehouse.com/p/690/whitefield-preaching-engraving-22692360.jpg.webp
- https://www.mediastorehouse.com/fine-art-finder/artists/english-school/whitefield-preaching-engraving-22692360.html
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/09/reflection-in-church-no-frills-church.html
- https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtVBxxnDgOk8Jb9HG3U-1FIG_XYGdKYdF0lyoH0IS8CETPXxlESh2QP915cYGBvl8L810bPhd9YJiZ1KKQWogBsSfwEESOe0_AZdvzM7D5HU9orU4MahUecxsfBAC-JgkAnzTsoWhalotTfboswFt9khN8Rr2KmfO8iDXGKkSigJcri21gNkZl63iGb-Y/s1024/kacas0354.png
- https://i0.wp.com/myglorytoglory.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/kacas0354.jpg
- https://myglorytoglory.com/blog/to-the-glory-of-his-grace/
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/10/reflection-in-church-worship-and.html
- https://www.christianity.com/wiki/god/do-we-know-what-god-looks-like.html
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/10/reflection-in-church-worship-and.html
- https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZSMrnFf6vwaID25u0ptkIVTiqRmW9EA1JMXSmRQ6bTvy-bOe95tD5smAvKEd4sLXq8PFQpOikO1n3nolZ9CZzJEh6qCEDik8F9aEGHYE4DT_1rqd2lic3Hb55LDScO2GY7ygvmMzpbG4P4s5KS8ABCF4kmFM5B6h4yaF9BhRcQul3V4vUceLQg5-KvJs/s1024/79abee36-1fd0-4a4e-9658-71137fe73e33-compressed.jpg
- https://media.bible.art/79abee36-1fd0-4a4e-9658-71137fe73e33-compressed.jpg
- https://bible.art/p/wbOFSxWmFlE1y7uemgGA/john-4-16
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/10/reflection-in-church-worship-and.html
- https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhczIiKtBb_LtNuYEK9XbOLJov-5_vsJw4ooZMvvRcrlGK4czvzhruo6SKm8NxvlSoTzAprMJ3AQ7rlm8AV9w7QPceC5q5NTmgTuBpZR-oV7dojRumvh9FRnHLAGo_iUbT4jV0ixzPpnjepXiTOsWPwuBfQE6w-FANTVsKjg4J5nUGYmf-naoP4hlmnALk/s960/86f567df37f21fa496c7e77e67bc4553679abbe7_m_11.png
- https://storage.ws.pho.to/s2/86f567df37f21fa496c7e77e67bc4553679abbe7_m.jpeg
- https://photolab.me/d/41964501
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/10/reflection-in-church-reflections-on.html
- https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHVQ04ZOuz9FNSH0y6urLoe2pEQhy_6QhcXkUrIxYHCSR2-5VdqraUsDFDEx67TsMBfQmJC7icd-Csrg44c_3JOQSGcUy5Q_9YkhhAQtONHw9RtSxZMplFwHNFqO4rf7jVAYjfDvb58p_t0YLnU97EWimS_hD9aI5qFGJ0TPfL-OFuC8N88pcGW3_lKnw/s1024/A_vibrant_group_of_students_as_jpeg.jpg
- https://www.faithonview.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/A_vibrant_group_of_students_as_jpeg.jpg
- https://www.faithonview.com/why-is-theological-education-important/
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/10/reflection-in-church-reflections-on.html
- https://depositphotos.com/upscaler.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=button2&utm_campaign=ntf_upscaler&utm_content=en&iterable_campaign=2704095&iterable_template=3704971
- https://www.pinterest.com/pin/83105555618044546/
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/10/reflection-in-church-reflections-on.html
- https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8UmYzhYWp1vhmyC5PHrp7IuXFuT9hjEgSyt3i18xShOr4IjmFMQC5OnNhIxZZT3mra9GZRK8eMV08_dwyEqAjrcFLjrFtDZb8z6zC9DFqqkN55Dm34S0QwC2V7yyvzzvp4P3UVDK3ydWqF1mbibNnAjprvUnwePjRWBEpLV4J6OVxcM_EdH6p7OxYpQo/s936/19a480e99daba141bfa478880ef1cc17.jpg
- https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/19/a4/80/19a480e99daba141bfa478880ef1cc17.jpg
- https://www.pinterest.com/pin/220676450486788289/
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/11/reflection-in-church-church-and-childs.html
- https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiStjy2Gk6_t-pBiiL3s40VC3x2ErZEdAheuB1G1dw_qOFxZ3RRLPyUJVy1zWqpMHBYnjs1hNsUeVF3UdONMeO9SFQFXQMgDIXJlICTEGYluosgZglvKWXB2vkoPqUez7RwbBMTBrnSFEBmlDyZ9D9w_3Vb_fBxAj6wswvBHMzzjdlDtK-pkMjGuCVmJjo/s1024/1_cAn_q_nLZj-1eIFAIl2vIw.png
- https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:4800/format:webp/1*cAn_q_nLZj-1eIFAIl2vIw.jpeg
- https://medium.com/the-gospeler/for-god-so-loved-us-889c715d2ebc
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/11/reflection-in-church-church-and-childs.html
- https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMpsmZFTTUcVTNoDoCQlw6Y-58GbeMZbK1WHYI3sP5PBGviITZ275MeJVDlUKym44AHzfNpveq2TIeptqk6mX2lGvUjjlbNCiuf1gSifjH1KBnx0_dG4AwCHFIhqSt4NwxErRC10QTn1Hb7HuTbLdBpPsettUkLEDrCEq1nrMGA_ije3IxAXAm3rBuoBs/s1024/from-slavery-to-sonship-understanding-galatians-4-v0-74ycvxppc1gd1.png
- https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpreview.redd.it%2Ffrom-slavery-to-sonship-understanding-galatians-4-v0-74ycvxppc1gd1.jpg%3Fwidth%3D1024%26format%3Dpjpg%26auto%3Dwebp%26s%3Dd402462e6a6bfa0706839f4882bd012c919c3060
- https://www.reddit.com/r/BiblicalStudy/comments/1ehe0z8/from_slavery_to_sonship_understanding_galatians_4/
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/11/reflection-in-church-church-and-childs.html
- https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLZKQmP4_Jjt28N4OkjRbGWIxr1iKmugKQfNOoOFXPyc1rCQnVhMOGy9Z6b9vM37ufeICHXbGxLedQmflLzGlFc1dXjSzn9psG7Pnd4vuHkkeHkZ7qHAs4RU92mCxK3gwfSF8z7bzXE0A/s1600/HB-Press-7.jpeg
- http://www.lisabakerltd.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/HB-Press-7.jpeg
- http://www.lisabakerltd.com/blog/hollywood-bound-20-november-reel-art-press/
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2015/09/the-sign-of-cross-1932-kobal-collection.html
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/11/reflection-in-world-mess-and-messiah.html
- https://depositphotos.com/upscaler.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=button2&utm_campaign=ntf_upscaler&utm_content=en&iterable_campaign=2704095&iterable_template=3704971
- https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/3c/41/b3/3c41b3bdc707a2ad55688232361c4ce2.jpg
- https://www.pinterest.com/pin/426153183527798369/
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/11/reflection-in-world-mess-and-messiah.htm
- https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLsD7SzFbVeUjFRnB8ux2tBvZLoFUr_s_sg-HFxJE5F-YG00xqH_9vGV2ifu5tMcRuiPstquwwj4kXsChEisH0qm3MWrO7Z_M0UrV46aV5V6x7R_4ymnNDmHO0fmsuTKuiPDvkr3ya0OZ8ooojcJJ2I1mMHJRGMcJecwmExXTONXg2BCNEQK3-PZkg30/s686/hq720.jpg
- https://i.ytimg.com/vi/du63d-4Alz0/hq720.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEhCK4FEIIDSFryq4qpAxMIARUAAAAAGAElAADIQj0AgKJD&rs=AOn4CLADpaBRYxE_AvEXfj0d6t9S0aM4ig
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=du63d-4Alz0
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/11/reflection-in-world-two-steps-forward.html
- https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtjwo1pRGFVz28UjtKs4y0YyL-02IHFEGr1mCdj6stCujx_Ed9E1SnG6NMMff4LfitOWXXZRO4j1VJ5prHeyJDcE_-jMuoYM5zZkUXkJ4WTpgLASUpDdrX5XgYBPK38KR_vtbhbYSufC24lbTv7P7O5ZYuaWUCUoPLx3gSLvJX4gJiToIfxx0R1NzAKf0/s1000/1000_F_980638737_moA7qnVlGJz1F6GxxViKog10Lt2DS6Yv_1.png
- https://as2.ftcdn.net/v2/jpg/09/80/63/87/1000_F_980638737_moA7qnVlGJz1F6GxxViKog10Lt2DS6Yv.jpg
- https://stock.adobe.com/search?k=darwinism&asset_id=980638737
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/11/reflection-in-world-two-steps-forward.html
- https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuQQpLy63f43qYaunAAMMuvZfvCGVLcNyDbaQk5kpxGhyW4A9GZGmguBjjLanrWzbZ5WILr5USbmQCAI0qXY0Be-HDfx252AOKvKK7MFTWdgJtLzK4r40IN7_jz1woNYIQeocAkuVTgl5SXGvdJeWAG-kaeZxXjKTy6qGIp6czU2HH1Vd_CxZauYt0W-Q/s1280/657a1d703e26a642e4d657f5b6141e06.jpg
- https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/65/7a/1d/657a1d703e26a642e4d657f5b6141e06.jpg
- https://www.pinterest.com/pin/66287425760534399/
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/11/reflection-in-world-two-steps-forward.html
- https://www.thenivbible.com/blog/origins-of-christianity-who-when-where-were-the-first-christians/
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/11/reflection-in-world-lesson-from.html
- https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkrfyCCbwEeqW3gNq2QnlJcSqAMlkOPInUqFnCNl9HzM8oWuxf9Awn3WII7bYbHuChk7nzlUfF5bdI__pqPkfxkLaS9ay8DWNbwv41ixW-A54jmAHHXYqeyNKE0rH4RQkeIvviyyHIFB1TRfD2Dk6UZHG-3LG5Vi9004Go_t5PIO2jHewJli7IDYXcaO8/s640/sddefault_1.jpg
- https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4MPdYNpLqtU/sddefault.jpg - (sddefault_1.jpg)
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MPdYNpLqtU
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2017/11/reflection-jesus-our-creator-physician.html
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/11/reflection-in-world-lesson-from.html
- https://magichour.ai/dashboard/images/cm3ssl44w05b83yw40pykdcfp
- https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSMSLWRWa4pTd_LMsaCfOpPPnGk727U_rnX0ztJH3xIrKDJcMiMyucebE6p7WYblXb3Hjv0vccoKRNt8niM1knVkeo75hqt-gtPOvMSt2LAzwB66VsFNwf7wvQP49kLtW5Rx_JV1y-p6a4-GJA3EnVKMZcEYeGEONLH3Et7TWwh2kO_e2X4ENHL0rNyT0/s1344/Jesus-11_1.png
- Jesus-11_1.png
- https://magichour.ai/dashboard/images/cm3ssl44w05b83yw40pykdcfp
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/11/reflection-in-world-lesson-from.html
- https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbsgX8KA5pDbGL1IxAqyjCXDFbAGROTjXcX9AS_b6SveLtEtImf2sXfBW4eYI5d0_2dLblok6rOnUV0rBQb9GUf6D7bS1PvtMMrcrBv9-Yy8oD-RaGRgykGcL8qofExIWwV-hC1ArUwzR-WuI65tj-l4PU1EWpnZrBI2oxuz6wTI6kJ-JNkSqgOxGheU/s768/1916_Christmas2-768x507.jpg
- https://amanacolonies.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/1916_Christmas2-768x507.jpg
- https://amanacolonies.com/places/united-states/iowa/amana/gifts-books/international-christmas-market/
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/12/reflection-in-world-saving-christmas.html
- https://depositphotos.com/upscaler.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=button2&utm_campaign=ntf_upscaler&utm_content=en&iterable_campaign=2704095&iterable_template=3704971
- https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Hlo5nTud5fBqowj9G7eo_MjF_e5aSqzxHnSYDL0CLopH9I-D-2Ykn7cyhZawa2U34FsDCpUsm-fRljCUEQZ_xkPUsphxVW_evG4qxzkYyabbO6dHjACnDcHJidaUdVMf3Z23g4_tBGCVIvT0LSmkzcHagVLTHaxm0aQZwYzXZHVN0n6SHxvWQ64dHLU/s928/842365205b55488fb28d6ed5d0fe82f6H3000W3000_464_464-928x928.jpg
- https://source.boomplaymusic.com/group10/M00/11/11/842365205b55488fb28d6ed5d0fe82f6H3000W3000_464_464.jpg
- https://www.boomplay.com/songs/188924212
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/12/reflection-in-world-saving-christmas.html
- https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnebWQ7QuHzQSCQnPFGsv3JKQWwspIyca3yEfVvTQHezgmqjx0NNU3fUY8tsAPcT0G7-7zex6JIOgoXxVLD8SM56e11AX62w6duqy73QmVvBF_5YeDMsl0R2vSWNUMvE231g5IkzTZ9Qth0S9XrYWQu3NPyFwdyBqx9qaBmQKkhC2w1eFJBrSL9NWbH74/s1024/7fec60aa8b9cd038724e97033faf4e69.jpg
- https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/7f/ec/60/7fec60aa8b9cd038724e97033faf4e69.jpg
- https://kr.pinterest.com/pin/43558321390609488/
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/12/reflection-in-world-saving-christmas.html
- https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpk_eDI2DZvlBIyZsFHhF_5gmcTmiYXkwnNW-phPcC6udH6FycMsD0SbfB901BRATnZw6mA7IqZGw6kWGPj8Lbr19eXbh9NYCy26svngrj0XhfHvSrjzbjPEgwm-9kk7Ho_OGElz6Ln-8/s1600/13989412017_2ab3c9cbc6_c.jpg
- https://live.staticflickr.com/2933/13989412017_2ab3c9cbc6_c.jpg
- https://www.flickr.com/photos/jonm2001/13989412017
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/05/reflection-spiritual-journey-good-deeds.html
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/12/reflection-in-world-coarsening-of.html
- https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5cRqV-RnG-UiKVZK89MNQ35RPAZka232QC7214N3BaANdCGqX8MJQw7oeDHUFiUoeI4fm43gKuMfrbt1ylPSpEaq02SDvVcn0P8Snze0ijVokQCpK429Vr-OAcCI6gB4NlCy4wdeeTOB2ehUqxl8IL6TUQRznWFeX7stcPVafvKOkce23nePz6qm_a0/s750/GettyImages-dv1992014_1.png
- https://res.cloudinary.com/grand-canyon-university/image/fetch/w_750,h_564,c_fill,g_faces,q_auto,f_auto/https://www.gcu.edu/sites/default/files/media/GettyImages-dv1992014.jpg
- https://www.gcu.edu/blog/theology-ministry/theology-thursday-finding-my-unique-place-gods-family
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/12/reflection-in-world-coarsening-of.html
- https://bible.art/p/36n11xDV1i56o6ze4Ilm
- https://bible.art/meaning/philippians-2%3A26https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/12/reflection-in-world-coarsening-of.html
- https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj5FJj39RsLMEdCKWx8GMLmJGUgCdJJeZo7xYNsBbfzAghA65WnUSTv7_B_1HPY8DORSOo1AZgtMTrpr52Fv-P_FkG9PPTL2TyqKe7dk6lXiAFlXstXivn1XvmUn2uN_98KU6b30ilRw5bPe0PGhcyUNFKCjsd0M8k3fUR4U0okfgWLjDXTD3cqIUkEKo/s1200/1673047396_7-epornerpics-com-p-porn-naked-women-in-bed-glimpses-of-their-9.jpg
- https://epornerpics.com/uploads/posts/2023-01/1673047396_7-epornerpics-com-p-porn-naked-women-in-bed-glimpses-of-their-9.jpg
- https://epornerpics.com/15854-naked-women-in-bed-glimpesses-of-their-charms-58-photos.html
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/12/reflection-in-world-golden-calf-and.html
- https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQ8ulsHF7Vd78VW-isOpr9J1KjcxqfH68_4NG7GpbqjKX-mbjP7KEa6GKWHzM6pBysOaH3-cglc3BYIJWh2BphZWt2s3esrtJiUf7pqfACvIH8EUJSopVwfcuFP0B4lbz757Jwok3Oprr74W17C-yNgJ7zVJXulWfUNcj43gNNFCl6VsR9Edua8eTL3o/s998/2e10a87c080d66d9c5351454aa61d15f.jpg
- https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/2e/10/a8/2e10a87c080d66d9c5351454aa61d15f.jpg
- https://www.pinterest.com/pin/423760646208864854/
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/12/reflection-in-world-golden-calf-and.html
- https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FikyW_4jv1Y9Qh8sE5uBP5ITAA_0D5Rygo7CRLY_qUVAgKQ1E_hm75IGIXAAfWoXYLi7MFr5kzMKNdInvy9OpFgc6rhde65fbLzrafNcPRTHEhQx_NiRhtPxffAmcKdi-BBLIv85DMBFz9_boYrhEycADjma1exYFVloWejtJRPMyhqETsNdfljDL90/s1600/5b224690fb841b4e33acdf79aff72b4d_1.png
- https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/5b/22/46/5b224690fb841b4e33acdf79aff72b4d.jpg
- https://www.pinterest.com/pin/26529085299067813/
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/12/reflection-in-world-golden-calf-and.html
- https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg36lOyNtgZIeN79Vynuu5bO1io8Ir_hoq54Lv9TyBVW_wnrdFDNWOkhyphenhyphen5TBbUQfMvvAa2d173aIon2aBS-WpVunkeeHz7OKCPwOBiecjojh6pHX5EtqkEO3oIAq1x-u0vS_TCtPrl8vuuQJZEDpsqg6JK8ywN1Uuxtpy3rBoi10kd6QRe5xTqscOxMwmw/s768/1.-A-Clear-and-Concise-Analysis-1_1.jpg
- https://jesuschristsavior.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/1.-A-Clear-and-Concise-Analysis-1.jpg
- https://jesuschristsavior.net/what-does-the-bible-say-about-gambling/
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2025/01/reflection-in-world-root-of-evil.html
- https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPwUcvuk8L07moVN3pvbyuS4W5Z0OWcoYcF_hCC2r2HOH6TuRggwoIFtat-r-0vrcDTA7c4wSdXtbIbkdW9FiNq53JmkPrJXiIpzuGnO7mrwe2WooJz8eLT7xkVyiCelLTykizs23FDMhSyOcr8r32gsc0yhzX9rqm9PEJHTM4p24Tyv_ekbSdCskogd0/s1024/dhd8jmd-68da117e-e4aa-44af-907e-8cdc3979ecfc.jpg
- https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/f5a0e93b-4dfb-4da5-93f8-631af9bb393c/dhd8jmd-68da117e-e4aa-44af-907e-8cdc3979ecfc.jpg?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7InBhdGgiOiJcL2ZcL2Y1YTBlOTNiLTRkZmItNGRhNS05M2Y4LTYzMWFmOWJiMzkzY1wvZGhkOGptZC02OGRhMTE3ZS1lNGFhLTQ0YWYtOTA3ZS04Y2RjMzk3OWVjZmMuanBnIn1dXSwiYXVkIjpbInVybjpzZXJ2aWNlOmZpbGUuZG93bmxvYWQiXX0.l3O3EUHoLMTzoNbSq1emYqdXdc3pcQgw0PtBc3twuQs
- https://www.deviantart.com/kmf70/art/Dragons-Demons-and-other-Abstract-Creatures-1050158677
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2025/01/reflection-in-world-root-of-evil.html
- https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZ6PPFOG4fuPX8I64LnGIt-YQs3inhQ9SiF3-XrvUVhBOkNLIoGSkBtc93mmR9jgcOmPVI-0hlu5SjEmgfuWTOu7KE0tQdz1quHCygTZFU7aaThQ_8zZdnYm6vYZvQGYA75hyphenhyphen-Yd3sW7ang40vysecK5Knwjaf6YrLYmGBTmu0i5jAsY3j-w0QKD_hbQ/s1500/27B34097-242A-4B2C-AA52-105F431D5717.jpg
- https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5519ee2ee4b0caf5831f0fe4/f7014562-931b-42cb-b204-dc2ebc490848/27B34097-242A-4B2C-AA52-105F431D5717.jpg?format=1500w
- http://www.burningpointministries.com/money-changers-in-the-charismatic-church
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2025/01/reflection-in-world-root-of-evil.html
- https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigp5ovaUAdShEDTS7WIsz16_3HX7LP2_XBCH5-NctHndLSZY9qpJOXkjM8f3sayaCDQjumbmpDp_zOUAAgy5q8DJy-l5nbFB9TfPBUprFj71vI5US-XB-d5GFgVAFRKxwdcYKvKKfovxCby_Pt2a4dPn4DdzaR04BFGTdmenNRLDoML9cCeLMUh35XiZE/s1863/5762ae0f9fd46b91d5cf893293a68cb1.jpg
- https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/57/62/ae/5762ae0f9fd46b91d5cf893293a68cb1.jpg
- https://www.pinterest.com/pin/461196818109418558/
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2025/01/reflection-in-world-strengthening-our.html
- https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1JCIHgiL6hILJmQD6dLgXxRlAetyBovCBrw1X48gpbA1PZ2DwB14Xl9hKWCT3DCyCXU60kVeIxTuEEnpqRLr45ooYb19mwm3yuNZjn97rygSWH1_q86MLfkXh0m4ic7sOyAV0SpeuQK4ijQB8bfjf4O-oeJ1ehyrd5Bsl5dOuS1ZOYvfQo8314Nr1RM0/s981/83201b56db9d4673761e8789408600a4_1.png
- https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/83/20/1b/83201b56db9d4673761e8789408600a4.jpg
- https://www.pinterest.com/pin/26529085299067812/
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2025/01/reflection-in-world-strengthening-our.html
- https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBx4TD0rTkox5OVyUFUatOb5JjuOKh2LOWDmf0uwM73i6-U2tM2gEHrCU_AbOUykdymzIa6_6v9uYCplZ7pVRlO0KKVdyg_84qlKyDTRaR4X2pTTLxkVhMfo4lTr2D-vCPUKB3zmvKwsBvKt9PxCwnMY1hfP5YXhefiW8VLauOu3nIwBNNesNADKFzMuE/s1024/425713155_817002577105146_7017200711274577753_n.jpg
- https://scontent.fsin15-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/425713155_817002577105146_7017200711274577753_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=833d8c&_nc_ohc=qO9dSJ9odeoQ7kNvgFT33wE&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.fsin15-2.fna&_nc_gid=AOsI9tvCaG9XBJIrsUPCTzd&oh=00_AYB3RMhPlx0jY2ck5E9w6-8IOlnCYmcw4b9k5H-yX1Cm2g&oe=6795733E
- https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=817002580438479&id=100063862335678&set=a.581541863984553&locale=en_GB
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2025/01/reflection-in-world-reflections-on.html
- https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2A9UqeWkW18WVptGLQ3Kej23nmHLo0pPOHCPdLVNp-LaIVsu9RO2o-La3CQ8z6zcUmc07pj66zeMCmPg8fj7Bbd97zN4MOSklTcJYF8bP5458wk_WYFuQ_uOgiW6fpUjijGFONGkhzIW3SReTk0lh8ul1cevnziEP3XcH-nza0k0F0YcVaKedJ_yhSGM/s1024/2844f1ae-6de6-4acc-af30-a42239da33a9-compressed.jpg
- https://media.bible.art/2844f1ae-6de6-4acc-af30-a42239da33a9-compressed.jpg
- https://bible.art/p/MCdNUz3ykLkzAWZyEW8d/genesis-3:1-now-the-serpent-was-more
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2025/01/reflection-in-world-reflections-on.html
- https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-_Uaa1Guar4K9EC7gnDY6jnbiUl1A5tO01U2lUBaeZLVIOupwfXYneRHZ5sUcmo05Ouq-BPX9DCznG8xlFJ6Gm0u0LVIgYoLN7kiCTyGzdttAQuWOxYmvtj4jxR74VZU2HMK1Nm6iv_4z-EPEUvSgb-zy-AkTkdQ2fGSY-g5qqZbkwsaSvRVXPKvJZE/s1500/1a11281534b651ee91dfd53b995ff7a9.jpg
- https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/1a/11/28/1a11281534b651ee91dfd53b995ff7a9.jpg
- https://www.pinterest.com/pin/958140889495842392/
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2025/01/reflection-in-world-reflections-on.html
- https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCPu5JQTzs6LFGYqg5JLiUs0FwjQKbAxGwr7CLIGIY6RKAUed_eKawjO7bCPdcpsSwkgsng7-M2DmpVyPcBJVsEAZh21M1cNeqb4zFYWhqVmeLXsoDmFuIuliGCnm7ZGQd644J9YszJVfdg5sTKH1xqxWDECpMRg-QW6k9DemxcuWEQi61UUCyThiHR8Q/s800/Four-Horsemen-of-the-Apocalypse.jpg
- https://www.psephizo.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Four-Horsemen-of-the-Apocalypse.jpg
- https://www.psephizo.com/revelation/can-the-book-of-revelation-help-us-engage-with-culture/
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2025/02/reflection-in-world-wars-and-pestilences.html
- https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQrCKTfnMZ4B3jpNZFEavoGJPO2WU9Khmpt5CGu1eHNu_Qni4c0O1Li-U6EDXyfIP_sMliwSzzx1CTW8htuRW4_Bmg988ZLrmn8yvAPelretcvD7Yu5jP-jW17Sgz7PC5TM4xi_rPqd_Kb9DtsDWA1QaebpbaGaDxAsf2fsLK3CDiomlLJIKKh-IcXKA/s1600/Hk1hcUAzVqRUQqlx6a8q--1--gyc5v_7.8125x.jpg
- https://images.nightcafe.studio/jobs/Hk1hcUAzVqRUQqlx6a8q/Hk1hcUAzVqRUQqlx6a8q--1--gyc5v_7.8125x.jpg?tr=w-1600,c-at_max
- https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/Hk1hcUAzVqRUQqlx6a8q
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2025/02/reflection-in-world-wars-and-pestilences.html
- https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRvp2WjGE4R3s6WHzdDpUFz4WcFCqmf3-cTGOPRbnsqZ6Kuysx_K5r180zU3v2y-r5tt4d_eAaK1Z6Znd3zAY8EqPb1Xkn_CkyODRdIZ-6AFJ_nxUKpw7p14YU7JA6KngTDlLuUkYGFhODGLgRMZDOKbVSenUi9eAqKvq-ZckPFFBqFmZd8kAtl5ZKQf0/s1024/314cb181bf770c700b20074cd9eea392_1.jpg
- https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/31/4c/b1/314cb181bf770c700b20074cd9eea392.jpg
- https://www.pinterest.com/pin/98164466874035862/
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2025/02/reflection-in-world-wars-and-pestilences.html
- https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9rULo-f1MWpMlVS25XFuQh_M31G9ubRr7YXGakdPQh5iqoExAE6zjZ68beST3W_vKps5HjLofwVOp13sl6D2rEiQiVCceXXs_Ha1AMeQDFJ8akxUTroux60sPdsvIlFGVUlnaaZC6o6aTKOBv0dNS01vo4vn5AGwOjSxa5Ks-dtglz0xxEjtQG4hCoYU/s1024/469084293_18160556989323528_1569114228952025534_n.jpg
- https://cdn.inflact.com/media/469084293_18160556989323528_1569114228952025534_n.jpg?url=https%3A%2F%2Fscontent.cdninstagram.com%2Fv%2Ft51.2885-15%2F469084293_18160556989323528_1569114228952025534_n.jpg%3Fstp%3Ddst-jpg_e15_tt6%26_nc_ht%3Dinstagram.fsgn5-5.fna.fbcdn.net%26_nc_cat%3D100%26_nc_oc%3DQ6cZ2AHhkY9NS1cGJNrNeaEkXdOcGTUI2G2x2bWZKrcMZ7OTAZxGAopROQknQpb2ZuANTCW5v8xY4xUt5JfeR9oc6_4v%26_nc_ohc%3DF6qEN5LEfuIQ7kNvgHxeAGY%26_nc_gid%3D1e714b8046ef44fb82d42390bfe8f981%26edm%3DANTKIIoBAAAA%26ccb%3D7-5%26oh%3D00_AYCJsWRsO3FR0GnoIB7yNkZXgbo3BVYRoY-86tYUYpyvFQ%26oe%3D67B3E7DA%26_nc_sid%3Dd885a2&time=1739455200&key=13d4e05fb50290f38a2fd0847bb040f3
- https://www.instagram.com/joseph.bryja/p/DDGN_kSMz_g/
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2025/02/reflection-making-disciples-principal.html
- Jesus's_Blessing.png
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2025/02/reflection-making-disciples-principal.html
- https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiuM94I9tvMKvKBFBD8tSzqGhaMV3jkm07Zmw_cy_8hThTMTw-X-5SPlOcHb1FrMgwszcp4JCGXV_lX0iN-1pt1TFx6Mnwb2EweK4sg3o98gnDzhyzKBbXhWe7gLK_ZbSZVlKjPFD-E3GA_xB_rBHW1RtAwpdg0Ggw3Wu_K8xqoCTKgxMiRWCF9jFZuQw/s1200/5546445501_25506d953c_z_d-1png.png
- https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/5546445501_25506d953c_z_d-424x600.jpg
- https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/2019/05/14/evangelizing-through-unity-2/
- https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2025/02/reflection-making-disciples-are-you.html
- https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy3nGPoYa-AI5WnkgAUbzr_GNqdsyZjq837GZKy8QblRqaIdxyzthpQ_JtoPqNp7taBv1N3HJoQ1XgLJfhyphenhyphenDxa_fe_YtneFTxNdu6OBpt4uWo7BR5xFjMCCoQqkNA75VtsQxLwkRvoGkl4NS8-EJ0GVdOT5O8bt-zj5-f1t0_Qlw0TUFHm-llMZ0IzbB0/s1032/9290f0832a4844ece3b63c230ed72912.jpg
- https://i.pinimg.com/564x/92/90/f0/9290f0832a4844ece3b63c230ed72912.jpg
- https://www.pinterest.com/pin/648377677628024370/
Posts
.jpg)
.gif)
