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Invitation fodder: Jeremiah 7:4

2009-10-07T13:54:00.001-05:00

BibleGateway.com - Keyword Search: the temple of the lord, the temple of the lord

Jeremiah 7:4

Do not trust in these lying words, saying, �The temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD are these.�

Jeremiah 7:3-5 (in Context) Jeremiah 7 (Whole Chapter)

Video decription of the Mosaic Bible

2009-09-22T16:54:00.000-05:00

A video description of the Mosaic Bible can be found here: http://www.holybiblemosaic.com/blog/?p=27.

Mosaic Bible Online

2009-09-22T16:51:00.000-05:00

Even if you don't care for the NLTse, you have to view the Mosaic Bible online at http://www.holybiblemosaic.com/trymosaiconline/.

The pages are reproduced online in full color and they are beautiful.

The other neat thing is that the pages of the book online flip like a regular page. Simply drag your cursor to flip a page.

2009-09-22T16:27:00.001-05:00

I once only read from "literal" Bibles, but I am now a big fan of the NLTse, the NLT Study Bible, and I can't wait to read the new devotional Mosaic Bible. For more info:

http://www.holybiblemosaic.com/ and bit.ly/8xF3P

Is the ESV Study Bible Calvinistic?

2009-09-18T14:47:00.003-05:00

I have read reviews by some who criticize the ESV Study Bible as being Calvinistic. It may be, but consider the following notes from 1 Timothy 2:4, where Paul tells Timothy that God "desires all men to be saved." The notes appear even-handed to me and I am not a Calvinist.

Evangelistic prayer for all people is rooted in the fact that God desires all people to be saved. It appears that Paul is countering an exclusivist tendency in the false teachers or at least their downplaying of the importance of evangelizing the Gentiles (along with their emphasis on the Jewish law). This statement figures prominently in theological disagreements over the extent of the atonement. It cannot be read as suggesting that everyone will be saved (universalism) because the rest of the letter makes it clear that some will not be saved (4:1; 5:24; 6:10; cf. Matt. 25:30, 41, 46; Rev. 14:9�11). Does that mean God desires something (all people being saved) that he cannot fulfill? Both Arminian and Calvinist theologians respond that God �desires� something more than universal salvation. Arminians hold that God's greater desire is to preserve genuine human freedom (which is necessary for genuine love) and therefore he must allow that some may choose to reject his offer of salvation. Calvinists hold that God's greater desire is to display the full range of his glory (Rom. 9:22�23), which results in election depending upon the freedom of his mercy and not upon human choice (Rom. 9:15�18). However one understands the extent of the atonement, this passage clearly teaches the free and universal offer of the gospel to every single human being; �desires� shows that this offer is a bona fide expression of God's good will. Come to the knowledge of the truth highlights the cognitive aspect of conversion, i.e., individuals must come to understand key truths in order to be converted. �The truth� occurs often in the Pastorals as a synonym for the gospel (cf. 1 Tim. 3:15; 4:3; 2 Tim. 2:15, 18, 25; 3:7, 8; 4:4; Titus 1:1, 14).

Changing my mind on the NLT << The Sundry Times

2009-09-18T14:46:00.001-05:00

The following quote from Changing my mind on the NLT & The Sundry Times captures my feelings about the second edition of the New Living Translation (NLTse):

The NLT is so clear and easy-to-read, yet it is also quite accurate. It's not without its imperfections, but that's the nature of Bible translation. I am finding more and more lately that when I read a passage in a different translation, I find myself wondering how the NLT puts it, and I go and get my NLT and check it out. .... It's getting so the NLT is the first Bible I pick up.

The NLTse is tied for first for me with the New King James Version (NKJV) and the NLT Study Bible is my first study Bible of choice, while the ESV Study Bible is my handy second choice.

How to plan a group evangelistic effort

2009-05-25T17:09:00.002-05:00

Below is a lesson I preached on Sunday, May 24, 2009, at the Spring Warrior Church of Christ in Perry, FL. The sermon is entitled, "Campaigning for Evangelism: Thinking Through our Efforts for Numerical Growth."

Spring Warrior recently divided itself into four work groups for the purpose of involving all the members in group evangelistic, benevolent, and correction activities.

As a trial lawyer and sometime political campaign manager, I saw lessons in Christ's "Little Commission" in Matthew 10:5-20 that I believed groups could employ in their own evangelistic planning.

You can view the sermon at Scribd.com, or view the embedded version below:

Understanding America's Shift on Abortion - TIME

2009-05-19T10:56:00.000-05:00

Below are some selective quotes from Time Magazine's article, Understanding America's Shift on Abortion:

But if we place any stock at all in those labels, something dramatic has happened. In 1995, when Gallup started asking the question, the split was 56-33 in favor of abortion rights. Now the lines have crossed, and 51% call themselves pro-life while only 42% say they are pro-choice.

The GOP may have fielded some hapless messengers, but their message, on abortion at least, may be closer to the mainstream than Democrats care to acknowledge.

People under 30 are more opposed to abortion than those who are older, perhaps because their first baby pictures were often taken in utero. I also wonder if younger women are now sure enough of their sexual autonomy and their choices generally that they don't view limits on abortion as attacks on their overall freedom. The calculation of rights subtly shifts, and the fetus, as it develops, asserts its claim on the conscience.

Spring Warrior Church of Christ website

2009-05-13T15:59:00.000-05:00

The Spring Warrior Church of Christ has a new website (still in draft) located at the following urls:

Day 100: 100 day prayer challenge for President Barack Obama

2009-04-29T00:00:00.012-05:00

1 Timothy 2:1-2

Dear God, we pray for President Barack Obama. May his health, his spirit, and his heart never fail. May his mind be sharp, his energy be high, and his heart be huge. May his cause always be just, his judgment be right, his actions moral, and his thoughts faithful. May his speech be true and sincere. May he never be partisan, petty, vengeful or opportunistic. May he never lose sight of what the duties of his office are, and may he always be humble towards You and his fellow man.

Day 99: 100 day prayer challenge for President Barack Obama

2009-04-28T00:00:00.005-05:00

1 Timothy 2:1-2

Dear God, may President Barack Obama be consumed with the health, welfare and safety of the U.S. citizens - the mothers and fathers and their children, the workers and the unemployed.

Day 98: 100 day prayer challenge for President Barack Obama

2009-04-27T00:00:00.003-05:00

1 Timothy 2:1-2

Dear God, may President Barack Obama be obsessed with the rightness of all causes he leads this nation into.

Day 97: 100 day prayer challenge for President Barack Obama

2009-04-26T00:00:00.003-05:00

1 Timothy 2:1-2

Dear God, may President Barack Obama pray for helath, welfare, safety, and families of the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces every day.

Day 96: 100 day prayer challenge for President Barack Obama

2009-04-25T00:00:00.003-05:00

Proverbs 28:9; 1 Timothy 2:1-2

Dear Father may President Barack Obama never turn away from the sound of Your word so his prayers may never become an abomination to You.

Day 95: 100 day prayer challenge for President Barack Obama

2009-04-24T00:00:00.008-05:00

1 John 3:22; 1 Timothy 2:1-2

Heavenly Father, we prayt that President Barack Obama keeps Your commandments and do those things that are pleasing in Your sight because that is required of him to receive from You what he asks.

NLT's use of "scum" instead of "sinners"

2009-04-23T13:25:00.000-05:00

I love the NLTse. It is a pure pleasure to read, but in Matthew 9:11, Mark 2:16, and Luke 5:30, I would prefer the translation to read "sinners" or "sinners such as these" over "scum." Scum sounds too irreverent, and personally, I believe it cheapens God's word somewhat, making it read like dialogue from a Star Wars ' script. The footnotes in some versions read, "Greek with tax collectors and sinners," but who wants to read the footnote for such a verse? What do you think?

11 But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, �Why does your teacher eat with such scum?[a]�

Footnotes:

1. Matthew 9:11 Greek with tax collectors and sinners?

Day 94: 100 day prayer challenge for President Barack Obama

2009-04-23T00:00:00.004-05:00

1 Peter 3:7, 12; 1 Timothy 2:1-2

Dear Lord, we pray that President Barack Obama knows that prayers can be hindered. Therefore, may he always strive to be righteous.

Day 93: 100 day prayer challenge for President Barack Obama

2009-04-22T00:00:00.004-05:00

James 5:13-18l 1 Timothy 2:1-2

Dear God, we pray that President Barack Obama knows that the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous persons avails much. Therefore may he strive to be righteous and pray fervently.

Day 92: 100 day prayer challenge for President Barack Obama

2009-04-21T00:00:00.002-05:00

James 1:5; 1 Timothy 2:1-2

Dear God, please bless President Barack Obama with the knowledge, widsom and humility needed to lead our nation righteously.

Day 91: 100 day prayer challenge for President Barack Obama

2009-04-20T23:16:00.014-05:00

Philippians 4:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; 1 Timothy 2:1-2

Father may President Barack Obama pray without ceasing, letting his request be known to You, speaking to You about everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving.

a beautiful explanation of death . . .

2009-04-20T18:25:00.000-05:00

This is from a chain email passed on to me by people who received it from other people who passed it on them...

This really is the most beautiful explanation of death I've ever heard. Had to send it on to my family and friends.

~DEATH~
WHAT A WONDERFUL WAY TO EXPLAIN IT .

A sick man turned to his doctor as he was preparing to leave the examination room and said, 'Doctor, I am afraid to die. Tell me what lies on the other side.'

Very quietly, the doctor said, 'I don't know.'

'You don't know? You're, a Christian man, and don't know what's on the other side?'

The doctor was holding the handle of the door; On the other side came a sound of scratching and whining, and as he opened the door, a dog sprang into the room and leaped on him with an eager show of gladness.

Turning to the patient, the doctor said, 'Did you notice my dog? He's never been in this room before. He didn't know what was inside. He knew nothing except that his master was here, and when the door opened, he sprang in without fear. I know little of what is on the other side of death, but I do know one thing...

I know my Master is there and that is enough.'

Day 90: 100 day prayer challenge for President Barack Obama

2009-04-19T23:13:00.003-05:00

Philippians 1:10; 1 Timothy 2:1-2

Heavenly Father may President Barack Obama and all U.S. citizens be sincere, pure, and without offense.

Day 89: 100 day prayer challenge for President Barack Obama

2009-04-18T23:08:00.004-05:00

Philippians 1:10; 1 Timothy 2:1-2

Dear Lord, we pray that President Barack Obama and all Americans will always approve the things that are best, excellent and really matter.

Day 88: 100 day prayer challenge for President Barack Obama

2009-04-17T23:04:00.008-05:00

Philippians 1:9; 1 Timothy 2:1-2

Dear Lord we pray for President Barack Obama and all Americans, that their Christian love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment.

Day 87: 100 day prayer challenge for President Barack Obama

2009-04-16T22:59:00.007-05:00

Ephesians 3:20; 1 Timothy 2:1-2

Dear God, may President Barack Obama never doubt or forget that You can do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think. Therefore may he never fail to pray to You for help with confidence and faith.