Yeah, God's Word is Relative and Contemporary

Reading in Jeremiah, and again amazed at how relevant the Word of God is...even without the "help" of speakers/preachers/communicators. Does not the following remind you of a certain country that is having an election in less than two weeks?

Jeremiah 5.30, 31 An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule at their direction; my people love to have it so, but what will you do when the end comes?

Jeremiah 6.10 ...behold, the Word of the Lord is to them an object of scorn; they take no pleasure in it.

Jeremiah 7.8 Behold, you trust in deceptive words to no avail. (Don't know about you, but when I read that I think of many "Christian" bestsellers...)

Jeremiah 7.28 ...This is the nation that did not obey the voice of the Lord their God, and did not accept discipline; truth has perished; it is cut off from their lips.

Will America Get What She Deserves?

I know it is uncomfortable...but the reminder is necessary.

Repentance - Critical to Think About

Since repentance is a key missing-ingredient of contemporary churchianity, this observation of Tim Keller is vital:

“In the religious approach, repentance separates you from the source of your power and your hope and your confidence - because that's a good record.

But in the gospel, repentance reconnects you to the source of your power and your confidence and your joy. Why? Because the source of your self image, the source of your power, the source of your confidence is not your record, but His record. Not what you have done, but what He has done.”

- Tim Keller, “He came to himself” (message given at Redeemer Presbyterian Church)

Zip It! So Hard to Do...

"Each time, before you intercede, be quite first, and worship God in His glory. Think of what He can do, and how He delights to hear the prayers of His redeemed people. Think of your place and privilege in Christ, and expect great things!" Andrew Murray

Easy to type, much more difficult to do...if you are in the minority of Christians who are developing a prayer life, it is all too easy to tackle it as a "to do" item, check it off, move ahead. Instead, as Murray admonishes, I need to make time to "be still, and know that (He) is God. I need to remember answered prayers, and thank God, in faith (and in advance) for His response to the prayers to come.

Today's Scripture Telegram

Bounced off the page today in my normal "thru the Bible" reading:

Psalm 103.17, 18 "But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children's children, to those who keep His covenant and remember to do His commandments."

Not a Real Good Way To Respond to Authority

Okay, this is simply hysterical:

Important Things I've Learned

Wednesday and Thursday I preached at the Steuben County Jail, the first night to four groups of male inmates, the second to one group of females. The chaplain, Royce Pifer, asked me to speak about the most important things I've learned, since this (hopefully) is the last time I'll speak at this jail as we plan to move in a matter of weeks.

I didn't have a lot of time, but I came up with these:

1. God is (Ro 1.18-23)

2. Go is God, I am Not, though I often want to be (and thus I am a sinner) Ro 3.23, Isa 53.6

3. God hates my sin Ro 2.5-11

4. God loves me Jo 3.16, Ro 5.8

5. Jesus took the hit Ro 3.23-26

6. I need to man up, fess up, repent and receive the gift Ro 6.23, Ac 20.17-21, Ac 26.15-20

7. I need to pass it on

Randomness

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Don't Light Your Own Fire (or Light)

Jumped off the page during my reading this morning:

Isaiah 50.10,11 "Who among you fears the Lord, and obeys the voice of his servant? Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.
"Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who equip yourselves with burning torches! Walk by the light of your fire, and by the torches that you have kindled! This you have from My hand: you shall lie down in torment."

The "Justness" of the Cross

“The Cross was at once the most horrible and the most beautiful example of God’s wrath. It was the most just and the most gracious act in history. God would have been more than unjust, He would have been diabolical to punish Jesus if Jesus had not first willingly taken on Himself the sins of the world. Once Christ had done that, once He volunteered to be the Lamb of God, laden with our sin, then He became the most grotesque and vile thing on this planet. With the concentrated load of sin He carried, He became utterly repugnant to the Father. God poured out His wrath on this obscene thing. God made Christ accursed for the sin He bore. Herein was God’s holy justice perfectly manifest. Yet it was done for us. He took what justice demanded from us.

- RC Sproul, The Holiness of God