How To Share Your Faith

How to Share Your Faith from Acts 29 Network on Vimeo.

This is Discipling

That's My King - Dr. S.M.Lockridge

Christ is Risen

Let's Tell Em!

Is There A Second Chance for Salvation After death?

The Lost

Lost from HistoryMaker on Vimeo.

Background - Lecrae

Poison Tree by Ghost Ship

Breaking It Down on the Atonement - Shai Linne

Verse 1

Who is God? God is the universe’s Creator
And Sustainer plus the only Savior, there is no one greater
He triune, holy, omnipotent, omniscient, absolute
Loving, sovereign and righteous are a few of His attributes

How do we know this? Well, we know this from the Bible
Where God has revealed Himself- anything else is just an idol

What’s the Bible about? Man’s complete ruin in sin
And what God has done in Christ to bring us to Him again

What is sin? Sin is the breaking of God’s law
Plus our condition, which means from birth we all got flaws

What’s the result? The result is by nature we’re God’s enemies
And must pay the penalty unless God provides the remedy

What the remedy? The remedy is the cross of Christ
Where He suffered all the strikes for the lawless type
I’ve been rescued by the Lamb, I’m convinced that He’s risen
And blessed is the man whose sins are forgiven!

Chorus

Just fall back, and with the eyes of faith
Behold the beauty of surprising grace
Because the Lamb has died, third day He had to rise
He’s magnified- God’s wrath is satisfied

Just fall back- there’s an atonement now
The cross of Christ is holy ground
Because the Lamb has died, third day He had to rise
He’s magnified- God’s wrath is satisfied
Verse 2

Regeneration- the Holy Spirit’s true work in His love
To the elect, who receive new birth from above

Expiation- expiation means God’s removed my filthiness
The old testament type was the goat into the wilderness

Redemption- we’ve been freed from slavery to sin
And His very own blood is the price He paid, my friend

Propitiation- Propitiation means since the Lamb has died
His work is finished- God’s wrath is satisfied

Adoption- adoption means God is now my Father
I got the hottest Poppa and by the Spirit holler Abba

Reconciliation means there’s no more enmity
God is now a friend to me, we’re no longer enemies

Justification- God declares us righteous
Sanctification- we’re being made into His likeness
Glorification- that’s what happens at the finish
When God conforms believers perfectly to Christ’s image!
Verse 3

God’s grace is magnificent, He slayed His innocent
Son- through faith and repentance we get the benefits

What is faith? Faith is a gift from God- when we receive this
We trust and treasure the person and finished work of Jesus

Repentance? Repentance is turning from your sin
And trusting Christ as the Spirit cleanses you within

What is grace? Oh, grace is unmerited favor
Our inheritance major ‘cause we cherish the Savior
Right, and if I may quote again, we were doomed with Satan
But believers get Jesus’ righteousness through imputation

Imputation? God takes Jesus’ righteousness amount
Through faith He credits it into the Christian’s account

Anything else? Well, I guess this overview must suffice
But none of this is possible apart from union with Christ
And finally, once you know the ways of the Lord than the
only thing that you can say is Soli Deo Gloria!

Taken from Timmy Brister's blog

Jesus is the...

Jesus is the true and better Adam who passed the test in the garden and whose obedience is imputed to us.

Jesus is the true and better Abel who, though innocently slain, has blood now that cries out, not for our condemnation, but for acquittal.

Jesus is the true and better Abraham who answered the call of God to leave all the comfortable and familiar and go out into the void not knowing wither he went to create a new people of God.

Jesus is the true and better Isaac who was not just offered up by his father on the mount but was truly sacrificed for us. And when God said to Abraham, “Now I know you love me because you did not withhold your son, your only son whom you love from me,” now we can look at God taking his son up the mountain and sacrificing him and say, “Now we know that you love us because you did not withhold your son, your only son, whom you love from us.”

Jesus is the true and better Jacob who wrestled and took the blow of justice we deserved, so we, like Jacob, only receive the wounds of grace to wake us up and discipline us.

Jesus is the true and better Joseph who, at the right hand of the king, forgives those who betrayed and sold him and uses his new power to save them.

Jesus is the true and better Moses who stands in the gap between the people and the Lord and who mediates a new covenant.

Jesus is the true and better Rock of Moses who, struck with the rod of God’s justice, now gives us water in the desert.

Jesus is the true and better Job, the truly innocent sufferer, who then intercedes for and saves his stupid friends.

Jesus is the true and better David whose victory becomes his people’s victory, though they never lifted a stone to accomplish it themselves.

Jesus is the true and better Esther who didn’t just risk leaving an earthly palace but lost the ultimate and heavenly one, who didn’t just risk his life, but gave his life to save his people.

Jesus is the true and better Jonah who was cast out into the storm so that we could be brought in.

Jesus is the real Rock of Moses, the real Passover Lamb, innocent, perfect, helpless, slain so the angel of death will pass over us. He’s the true temple, the true prophet, the true priest, the true king, the true sacrifice, the true lamb, the true light, the true bread.

The Bible’s really not about you—it’s about him.

HT: Collin Hansen

It's NOT about you. It's about JESUS!

Reciting Scripture Can Be Exciting & Moving

Theology Matters

DugDownDeep_Carnahan.mov from Covenant Life Church on Vimeo.

More Doctors Smoke Camels Than Any Other Cigarette

Thanks be to God for his grace & mercy toward us as we have learned much since this video!

Danny Doyle's Testimony of God's Grace

Danny Doyle's Testimony Feb. 28 from Robert Olszewski on Vimeo.

All In All Out 2010 Winter Retreat - Middle School

"Evangelicals" will do anything for #s Growth

I saw this article in the NYT today and was floored as to how "Evangelical Christians" are using the name of Jesus Christ for just about anything! Read the article and pray that our churches in America would turn away from gimmicks like these.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/02/us/02fight.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Grace be with us.

Advent Oratorio - N.T. Wright

Come, Lord, and cleanse us from our sin;
Your new, glad work in us begin.
Remove our idols from our sight;
Let us in you alone delight.

Prepare us for your coming reign
By washing us from every stain;
Make known to us your holy Name;
Let us no more turn back to shame.

Call us to you from every land,
And guide us with your powerful hand;
Show us the path that we must tread,
Let us by you with joy be led.

Implant your Spirit in our heart,
That, with your Breath, new life may start;
Take from our flesh the heart of stone,
Let us rejoice in you alone.

For your own sake your love display,
That we may worship and obey;
Rebuild the wild and desert place;
Let us acclaim your sovereign grace.

Forgiveness - Heart of the Matter

Now Come, Savior of the Heathen

To Live is Christ - Trip Lee

Life of the Soul

When sins and fears prevailing rise,
And fainting hope almost expires;
Jesus, to Thee I lift mine eyes,
To Thee I breathe my soul's desires.

Art Thou not mine, my living Lord;
And can my hope, my comfort die,
Fixed on Thy everlasting word,
That word which built the earth and sky?

Since my immortal Saviour lives,
Then my immortal life is sure;
His word a firm foundation gives -
Here let me build, and rest secure.

Here let my faith unshaken dwell;
Immovable the promise stands;
Not all the powers of earth or hell
Can e'er dissolve the sacred bands.

Here, O my soul, thy trust repose;
Since Jesus is for ever mine,
Not death itself, that last of foes,
Shall break a union so divine.

Anne Steele, 1760
No. 623 in "Our Own Hymnbook"

The Birth of Jesus - Storybook

The Greatest Story Ever Told - In 4 Minutes

Plough Deep In Me - Prayer

Lord Jesus, give me a deeper repentance,
a horror of sin, a dread of its approach.
Help me chastely to flee it
and jealously to resolve that my heart shall be Yours alone.

Give me a deeper trust,
that I may lose myself to find myself in You,
the ground of my rest,
the spring of my being.

Give me a deeper knowledge of Yourself
as Savior, Master, Lord, and King.

Give me deeper power in private prayer,
more sweetness in Your Word,
more steadfast grip on its truth.

Give me deeper holiness in speech, thought, action,
and let me not seek moral virtue apart from You.

Plough deep in me, great Lord,
heavenly Husbandman,
that my being may be a tilled field,
the roots of grace spreading far and wide,
until You alone are seen in me,
Your beauty golden like summer harvest,
Your fruitfulness as autumn plenty.

I have no master but You,
no law but Your will,
no delight but in You,
no wealth but that which You give,
no good but of that which You bless,
no peace but that which You bestow.

I am nothing but what You make of me.
I have nothing but what I receive from You.
I can be nothing but what grace adorns me.

Quarry me deep, dear Lord,
and then fill me to overflowing with living water.

- a prayer from The Valley of Vision

Jesus Is Life

Christians Trying to Convert Non-Christians

Christians Trying to Convert Non-Christians from Rethink Mission on Vimeo.

What Does the Bible Teach about Homosexuality?

Dr. Robert Gagnon, What Does the Bible Teach About Homosexuality? S3E2 from Pure Passion on Vimeo.

Yom Kippur - The Day of Atonement

Yom Kippur: The Day

Justin Holcomb
Academic Dean of Re:Train

Today Jews around the world are celebrating Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, which is considered the holiest and most solemn day of the year in modern Jewish practice. What relevance does this Jewish celebration have for Christians? Biblically, quite a lot.

Yom Kippur is also known as the Day of Atonement, which is the climax of the Old Testament sacrificial system and is the most solemn day on the Jewish calendar. It was a day of great bloodshed and a day on which the gravity of humanity’s sin could be seen visibly. Because of its importance, it eventually became referred to simply as “the Day.”
The Center of the Pentateuch

The primary section in Scripture concerning the Day of Atonement appears in Leviticus 16-17. This passage functions as the center of the book of Leviticus, which is itself the center of the Pentateuch. This day speaks of the Lord’s gracious concern both to deal fully with his people’s sin and to make them fully aware that they stand before him, accepted and covered in respect of all iniquity, transgression, and sin (Lev 16:21).

On this day, the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies to atone for the sins of Israel in order to avert the holy wrath of God for the sins of the past year and to remove their sin and its stain from them. Two healthy goats without defect were chosen. They were therefore fit to represent sinless perfection.
Two Images of the Atonement

The first goat was a propitiating sin offering. The high priest slaughtered this goat, which acted as a substitute for the sinners who deserved a violently bloody death for their many sins.

Then the high priest, acting as the representative and mediator between the sinful people and their holy God, would take the second goat and lay his hands on the animal while confessing the sins of the people. This goat, called the scapegoat, would then be sent away to die in the wilderness away from the sinners, symbolically expiating or removing the sins of the people by taking them away.

The sacrifices of the Day were designed to pay for both sin’s penalty and sin’s presence in Israel. The shedding of blood and the sending off of the scapegoat were meant to appease God's wrath against sin and to cleanse the nation, the priesthood, and even the sanctuary itself from the taint of sin (Lev 16:30).
The Lamb of God

The Day of Atonement was a foreshadowing of Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, and our great High Priest who is able to sympathize with us in our weakness. These great images of the priest, slaughter, and scapegoat are all given by God to help us more fully comprehend Jesus’ bloody sacrifice for us on the cross.

Jesus’ fulfillment of the Day of Atonement is why we are forgiven for and cleansed from our sins. To preach anything else is to proclaim a “different gospel,” which is no gospel at all (Gal 1:6-7). Spurgeon drives this point home: “Many pretend to keep the atonement, and yet they tear the bowels out of it. They profess to believe in the gospel, but it is a gospel without the blood of the atonement; and a bloodless gospel is a lifeless gospel, a dead gospel, and a damning gospel” (Sermon 1667).

Jesus Christ fulfills and accomplishes forever what the two goats symbolized. The Old Testament sacrifice of animals has been replaced by the perfect sacrifice of Christ (Heb 9:26, 10:5-10; 1 John 2:1-2 and 4:9-10). Christ paid sin’s penalty (Rom 3:25-26 and 6:23; Gal 3:13). He redeemed us (Eph 1:7), paying the price that sets us free (1 Cor 6:20; Gal 5:1). He turned away God’s wrath (Rom 3:25) and reconciled believers to God (Eph 2:16) so we can be forgiven for our sins and cleansed from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

Media Revolution Is Here

Salvation is of the Lord

Gracious Father, today is a great day for me to be reminded that “salvation is of the Lord.”

You are the one who begins the “good work” of redemption in our lives; You are the one who is carrying it on, even when you’re not working according to my timetable and agenda; and You are the one who will bring redemption to completion on the Day Jesus returns to finish making all things new.

This is incredibly good news, as I ponder my own heart and the lives of other people I care about a whole lot. I cannot be my own savior, and neither can I be anyone else’s savior. What a relief, but also what a critical truth to remember. This grand affirmation leads me to offer these earnest supplications:

Father, give me the same confidence about your vigilance and faithfulness you gave Paul for the Philippians. Sometimes irritation, worry and fear loom larger in my life than patience, trust and hope. When this happens, I’m pretty worthless as a friend.

Father, teach me how to wrestle in confident prayer for others, like Epaphras wrestled in prayer for the believers in Colossae (Col. 4:12). My tendency is to wrangle emotionally rather than wrestle believingly. This leaves me worn out and it simply frustrates others.

Father, keep me tender enough to engage in my friends’ broken stories, but tough enough not to get entangled in “stuff” that has nothing to do with me.

Father, teach me how to wait on you without falling into self-protective passivity or self-validating activity.

Only the gospel is sufficient to help someone like me love others in such redemptive and healthy ways. So I abandon myself to you and your resources, Father, in light of the weight of grace and the Day of Christ.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen. - Scotty Smith (edited by Tullian Tchividjian)

Do You Think we are in a Social Media Revolution?

Send Me - Are You Going?

Godly Peer Pressure

I was talking with a co-labor of the gospel today about peer pressure. The short chat focused on good peer pressure. Living in the midst of teens I often here about how bad peer pressure is. This is certainly true. Let me name a few that have probably already popped into your mind:

1. Drugs - alcohol, weed, meph, crack, cocaine, heroine, etc.
2. Sex - how often, with who, for what reason, sex drive, etc.
3. Cheating - getting good grades puts a lot of pressure on teens.
4. Parents - parents put A LOT of pressure on teens.
5. Image - appearance, what you have (gf/bf)
6. Friends - who is your friend on FB? who do you hang with? How often?

This interesting thing about peer pressure is that it really has a HUGE negative vibe. Meaning, most of us would assume that any peer pressure is bad - especially after reading the list above. However is it possible and more refreshing if we could view this from a Christ-centered perspective. The apostle Paul had this in mind when he told church after church that he was, "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God," (Col. 1:1a, 1 & 2 Tim. 1:1a, Eph. 1:1; Gal. 1:1a; 1 & 2 Cor. 1:1a). Basically what he is saying is that he comes to each church with God's authority/power! Now if someone comes to you and says I am from this organization or that organization (depending on its power) we can be pressured into doing something. In the positive however St. Paul comes into each church with a positive peer pressure - one that points to Jesus Christ as central in all things. May you and I today take seriously godly peer pressure and view it not as something negative but by the precious blood of the Lamb positive!
Amen.
RJO

Choosing Life - God's Grace

Martin Luther on Jesus Christ & faith

Faith, if it is to be sure and steadfast, must lay hold upon nothing else but Christ alone, and in the conflict and terrors of conscience it has nothing else to lean on but this precious pearl Christ Jesus. So, he who apprehends Christ by faith, although he be terrified with the law and oppressed with the weight of his sins, yet he may be bold to glory that he is righteous. How? Even by that precious jewel Christ Jesus, whom he possesses by faith." Martin Luther, Commentary on Galatians, page 99

What Do You Say about what he says...?

The Gospel with Intensity

2009 Farewell Seniors

He is Risen!

Most glorious Lord of life, that on this day
Didst make thy triumph over death and sin,
And having harrowed hell, didst bring away
Captivity thence captive, us to win:
This joyous day, dear Lord, with joy begin,
And grant that we, for whom thou diddest die,
Being with thy dear blood clean washed from sin,
May live forever in felicity:
And that thy love we weighing worthily,
May likewise love thee for the same again;
And, for thy sake, that all like dear didst buy,
With love may one another entertain.
So let us love, dear love, like as we ought,
Love is the lesson which the Lord us taught.

Edmund Spenser, ca. 1552-1599

In Memory of Dan - My Brother

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Prayer for Christ's Love

O Lord, you have taught us that without love whatever we do is worth nothing: Send your Holy Spirit and pour into my heart your greatest gift, which is love, the true bond of peace and of all virtue, without which whoever lives is accounted dead before you. Grant this for the sake of your only Son Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Divine Hours

REFLECT - 2009 North Bay

God was at work

Now the Day Is Over

Now the day is over,
Night is drawing nigh,
Shadows of the evening
Steal across the sky.

Now the darkness gathers,
Stars begin to peep,
Birds, and beasts and flowers
Soon will be asleep.

Jesus, give the weary
Calm and sweet repose;
With Thy tenderest blessing
May mine eyelids close.

Grant to little children
Visions bright of Thee;
Guard the sailors tossing
On the deep, blue sea.

Comfort those who suffer,
Watching late in pain;
Those who plan some evil
From their sin restrain.

Through the long night watches
May Thine angels spread
Their white wings above me,
Watching round my bed.

When the morning wakens,
Then may I arise
Pure, and fresh, and sinless
In Thy holy eyes.

Glory to the Father,
Glory to the Son,
And to Thee, blest Spirit,
While all ages run.
Sabine Baring-Gould

God of Our Fathers

God of our fathers, whose almighty hand Leads forth in beauty all the starry band Of shining worlds in splendor through the skies, Our grateful songs before Your throne arise. From war’s alarms, from deadly pestilence, Be Your strong arm our eternal defense; Your true religion in our hearts increase, Your bounteous goodness nourish us in peace. Refresh Your people on their toilsome way, Lead us from night to never ending day; Fill all our lives with love and grace divine, And glory, laud, and praise ever be Thine. Daniel C. Roberts

Death By Love

Teach Me Discernment

O LORD, you have dealt graciously with your servant,* according to your word. Teach me discernment and knowledge,* for I have believed in your commandments. Before I was afflicted I went astray,* but now I keep your word. You are good and you bring forth good;* instruct me in your statutes. The proud have smeared me with lies,* but I will keep your commandments with my whole heart. Their heart is gross and fat,* but my delight is in your law. It is good for me that I have been afflicted,* that I might learn your statutes. The law of your mouth is dearer to me* than thousands in gold and silver. Psalm 119:65–72

Good King Wencelas

Good King Wenceslas looked out
On the feast of Stephen
When the snow lay round about
Deep and crisp and even
Brightly shone the moon that night
Though the frost was cruel
When a poor man came in sight
Gath'ring winter fuel

"Hither, page, and stand by me
If thou know'st it, telling
Yonder peasant, who is he?
Where and what his dwelling?"
"Sire, he lives a good league hence
Underneath the mountain
Right against the forest fence
By Saint Agnes' fountain."

"Bring me flesh and bring me wine
Bring me pine logs hither
Thou and I will see him dine
When we bear him thither."
Page and monarch forth they went
Forth they went together
Through the rude wind's wild lament
And the bitter weather

"Sire, the night is darker now
And the wind blows stronger
Fails my heart, I know not how,
I can go no longer."
"Mark my footsteps, my good page
Tread thou in them boldly
Thou shalt find the winter's rage
Freeze thy blood less coldly."

In his master's steps he trod
Where the snow lay dinted
Heat was in the very sod
Which the Saint had printed
Therefore, Christian men, be sure
Wealth or rank possessing
Ye who now will bless the poor
Shall yourselves find blessing

by John Mason Neale, Warden of Sackville College, East Grinstead, Sussex (1818–1866)

A Renewed Christmas Song - Riu Riu Chiu

Six Pence None the Richer has done a fabulous job renewing an old 16 century Spanish song "Riu Riu Chiu". The following lyrics is the translation into English. Read Isaiah 11 along with this song. May you be renewed in Christ this advent.

Lyrics to "Riu Riu Chiu" - 16th Century Spanish Villancico

Riu, riu, chiu (nightingale's sounds)
The river bank protects it,
As God kept the wolf
from our lamb.

The rabid wolf tried to bite her,
But God Almighty knew how to defend her,
He wished to create her impervious to sin,
Nor was this maid to embody original sin.
Riu, riu, chiu, etc.

The newborn child is the mightiest monarch,
Christ patriarchal invested with flesh.
He made himself small and so redeemed us:
He who was infinite became finite.
Riu, riu, chiu, etc.

Many prophecies told of his coming,
And now in our days have we seen them fulfilled.
God became man, on earth we behold him,
And see man in heaven because he so willed.
Riu, riu, chiu, etc.

A thousand singing herons I saw passing,
Flying overhead, sounding a thousand voices,
Exhulting, "Glory be in the heavens, and peace on Earth, for Jesus has been born."
Riu, riu, chiu, etc.

He comes to give life to the dead,
He comes to redeem the fall of man;
This child is the light of day,
He is the very lamb Saint John prophecied.
Riu, riu, chiu, etc.

Now we have gotten what we were all desiring,
Go we together to bear him gifts:
Let each give his will to the God who was willing
To come down to Earth man’s equal to be.
Riu, riu, chiu, etc.

A Prayer for Advent...

A PRAYER FOR ADVENT...

We give you thanks for the babe born in violence.
We give you thanks for the miracle of Bethlehem, born into the Jerusalem heritage.

We do not understand why the innocents must be slaughtered;
we know that your kingdom comes in violence and travail.
Our time would be a good time for your kingdom to come,
because we have had enough of violence and travail.

So we wait with eager longing,
and with enormous fear,
because your promises
do not coincide with our favorite injustices.

We pray for the coming of your kingdom on earth
as it is around your heavenly throne.

We are your people grown weary with waiting.

We dwell in the midst of cynical people,
and we have settled for what we can control.

We do not know that you hold initiative for our lives,
that your love planned our salvation
before we saw the light of day.

And so we wait for your coming,
in your vulnerable baby
in whom all things are made new.

Amen.

From Walter Brueggemann's book, "Awed to Heaven, Rooted in Earth"

From Walter Brueggemann's book, "Awed to Heaven, Rooted in Earth"

Greeting the early light each morning often brings mourning. Mourning because sleep has ended. However after the 15 minutes or so needed to awaken my body to the new day I methodically pull the blinds up in our house. The lifting of the blinds reveals additional light for which I am most thankful each morning. Even on a cloudy day there is light. Light is separating the day from the night and I am awakening once again to God's good grace.

"And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day." - Gen. 1:3-5

Thank God that he ordained each day like this. He brought the light into the world and He reminds me everyday that He did this and it was good. I pray that you continue to reflect on God as light.

RJO

Two Candles To Go

As you continue to sift through your thoughts and feelings surrounding this Advent season and Christ is calling you to be under His influence I want you to consider two thoughts:

1. Today's second candle lighting in the Olszewski's home is called "light". The star in the East guided the wise men to Jesus to bring Him gifts. The light of God influenced these wise men (we don't know how many despite the inaccurate portrayal of "We Three Kings") to follow God. The star led them to the Light of the world - Jesus Christ.
   
2. What are some things in your life that are keeping you from following the Light (Jesus Christ)? I have found that what Pastor Matt said on Sunday morning, "media creep" to Light blinding. So this week I am going to focus less on the news and more on the Good News found in Jesus Christ.
   

Won't you walk with me this week as we humbly seek the Light and walk in it?

Grace to you.

RJO

Under the Influence

One way to get under the influence with God is by reading a daily text from the Holy Bible. The following link will take you to a great resource for biblical texts that will help you get under the influence of Jesus Christ during this advent.

You are the Lord; do not withhold your compassion from me; let your love and your faithfulness keep me safe for ever. - Psalm 40:12

RJO

A Prayer for God's Power

The following prayer is taken from the Divine Hours. The book is a daily Scripture reading guide that directs you to God through the Holy Bible three times a day. The idea is taken from Psalm 119:164, "Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous rules." I hope you enjoy the prayer and that you may also find The Divine Hours a helpful guide in focusing your life on Jesus Christ each day.

Stir up Your power, we beseech You, O Lord, and come, that by Your protection we may deserve to be rescued from the threatening dangers of our sins and saved by Your deliverance. Who lives and reigns with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.
adapted from THE SHORT BREVIARY

RJO

Recapturing the Doctrines of Grace

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: - Eph. 2:8 KJV

Far to often I find myself in the midst of life relying more on myself than on Jesus Christ my Savior and King. I have been thinking about why this is often the case and here is what I have come to understand:

1. America wants me to be self-reliant and self-supporting. The idea that we need to be self-sufficient is an American idealism. We want nothing more than to succeed without any ones help and along the way making money would be really nice. We can't share our ideas or thoughts without thinking about how we can make $$ off of them to live the American dream.
2. The church in America has lost the doctrines of grace. I came across the following article that provides detailed Scripture references worth recalling when in the midst of a culture the worships self-achievement and success.

Grace Greater Than All My Sins - Julia H. Johnston 1910
Grace, grace, God's grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God's grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sins.

May God's grace and mercy be with you abundantly today and forever more. Amen.
RJO

NYE 08 @ Lk. Placid, NY

Party in Placid!!!

Between Two Worlds: Jerusalem in Google Earth

Between Two Worlds: Jerusalem in Google Earth