Interactive Ladies Bible Study with Lydia Brownback on Facebook: Tuesdays, Starting June 1

Interactive Ladies Bible Study with Lydia Brownback on Facebook: Tuesdays, Starting June 1

For any women looking for a Bible Study on Facebook this summer this looks interesting.

Why I love the gospel?

1What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? ~ James 4:1-4

If the gospel of Jesus is the gospel I am pursuing then it should be moving me towards his likeness. James was more than moved by Jesus he was transformed by Jesus. James shrank while Christ grew and I need to do the same.

James pleads with the me to remain focused on the gospel, not the world. He pleads with me to avoid getting caught up in anger that leaves me faithless, coveting that leaves me no hope, and pride that kills my ability to love. Instead, I should be consumed by the Gospel message that cultivates a heart aware of his grace; overwhelmed by his love; bruised by his death; rejoicing in his hope.

The Gospel for Muslims: An Encouragement to Share Christ with Confidence

The Gospel for Muslims: An Encouragement to Share Christ with Confidence

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An Interview with Bryan Chapell on Young, Restless,

An Interview with Bryan Chapell on Young, Restless, & Reformed and the Future of the PCA

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Would you buy your son a stack of pornographic magazines? from Randy Alcorn on Vimeo.

Stop

Years of going to Mexico to serve the people there has softened my heart for those who suffer in the midst of this gang war. It saddens me that the drugs Americans buy is largely to blame for the violence as well. Our greed and desire for self fulfillment enrages their greed and desire for self fulfillment. It would be great if it could stop.

12 Cities | 12 Conversations from ConversationGatherings on Vimeo.

Sunday Morning Worship

"Sunday's Coming" Movie Trailer from North Point Media on Vimeo.

Adoptive Moms are Amazing Moms

Keep Me

Doxology

²⁴ Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, ²⁵ to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

When I was in college I got to lead a high school Bible study at my church. I remember I was challenged by someone with this stirring question: "How do you know that once you are saved you are always saved?"

To be honest that question has never left me. It is a great question that determines so much of how you live your life. If you believe that you are always in a mode of questioning God's love for you then our faith become a scary work. You will always be wondering, much like John Wesley, if you are truly going to be with Jesus forever?

The other side are those who take advantage of the answer. "Of Course they say, Jesus doesn't want anything from us." This is a gross lie. It fails to recognize the change of heart we are to experience as lovers of Jesus. This is what was so frustrating for Dietrich Bonhoeffer as he watched his fellow ministers fail in WWII.

So I love this passage because it makes me want to fall in love with Jesus all over again. It moves me to action because he is so active in my life everyday. I am going to stumble and I am going to be blameworthy, but the presence of my Lord, the great joy of the universe, my savior will never let those things overtake me. He will be my victory.

My Wife and Proverbs 31

So I have been reading Proverbs this past month. Someone taught me a method that has been of great benefit:

1. Turn to the Proverb chapter that corresponds with the given day of the month.

2. Read the Proverb chapter through one time.

3. Re-Read the Proverb a second time and stop when you land on a stanza that impacts you.

4. Spend the day thinking, praying, feeling that passage.

The thing I like I about this plan is that if you miss a day it's okay, just pick up on the day that you get reengaged and go from there. I find that in a few months I can hit all the chapters.

The only problem with the plan is that April doesn't have 31 days and with Mother's Day coming up it would be good to read that Proverb chapter. So I cheated a little bit and read it today.

My wife (and mother of our children) inspires me to recognize a few truths that come from this passage:

1. The importance of the mother son relationship in preparing them for their future bride. (Prov. 31:1)

2. The importance of thankfulness for a marriage partner, never taking her for granted. (10)

3. The importance of and value of forming a trust relationship between one another. (11, 12)

4. The importance of having someone to think, share and pray through the issues of life. (16)

As Adriane and I begin to plan our celebration from being five years free from Leukemia I am being reminded of how wonderful she really is.