Random life of Alex

In the huddle...

Alexander_Dolin@yahoo.com — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 09:54:56 PST

Lk. 2:16- And they came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger.

With College bowl season and NFL playoffs soon, it is prime time for football. Teams can spend all their time, sitting in the huddle, planning the next play, but if they never leave the huddle, they will only accumulate penalties. Teams have to GO and PLAY.

Similarly, the shepherds in Luke did not spend any time at all huddling and planning what was next, they simply went....they were in a hurry....they MADE HASTE. We as Christians need to go and make haste also.

We spend a lot of time talking and planning in the huddle, (which is a great place to be) but we need to get out of the huddle and make haste in the real world. We must impact people with Christ!

A more personal, musical update on me

Alexander_Dolin@yahoo.com — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 09:44:22 PDT

So early this morning, on my commute/road trip to Mansfield, Ohio I plugged in my Ipod and played some of my favorite tunes. This past year there have been two albums that I have listened to a lot more than any other albums. These two albums are: Anberlin's Dark Is the Way: Light Is a Place and Emery's We Do What We Want. This morning, during the drive, I listened to both albums and was singing along, as usual. This morning though, it felt different, freeing.

This past year has been a year of surrender. I have learned a lot and been through some interesting times so far this year. Anberlin's album was released about a year ago, so even before all the life-change that this year has brought to my life, this album has always been a go-to album for me in the good times and bad. This morning this album felt so good to sing to. I had a lot of fun singing in my car. I felt excited, like I did a year ago when it was first released.

The Emery album was released earlier this year. Life looked a lot different for me when it was first released than it does today. When the album was first released, I always thought to myself that this album would be a great "break-up album" if I was ever to be "broken up." Turns out I was broken up later this year. These two albums have been with me and helped me get through that break up, especially the Emery album. At first the Anberlin was not one of my favorite albums to listen to because songs like "You Belong Here," "Take Me As You Find Me," "The Art of War" and even "Impossible" to an extent reminded me of love. While Emery's "You Wanted It," "I am Not Here For Rage," "Addicted to Bad Decisions," and pretty much to entire album as a whole, related well to what I was going through. "Curse the Perfect Days" at first seems like a perfect break up song also but in reality it is not. I went to see Emery this summer and it turns out the song is about how the led singer's wife has cancer and the song is about them fighting this cancer. This really explains a lot of things in the song as well as oddities in many other Emery songs.

Back to my main story line, this morning I felt really free from the past. I have been free for awhile now. I know I am in a much better place, right where God wants me, than earlier this year. Sure, break ups are hard but there is a lot of perspective once you have moved on and learned from the past. I have moved on and learned from the past. I just wanted to give a shout out to these two bands and their wonderful albums as they have helped me get through the times. Praise God for music!

Did Heaven need cleansing?

Alexander_Dolin@yahoo.com — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 10:48:26 PDT

There is a problem in seeing in what sense things in heaven—where God is (He 9:24)—need purification. Some deny outright that they need it, regarding the expression as a way of referring to God's people. Thus Bruce (in loc.) reminds us that the author tells us repeatedly that it is people's consciences that need to be cleansed; and so the author can speak of God's people as his dwelling, his house (cf. He 3:6). Others make essentially the same point and hold that it is not something material but spiritual that is seen as needing cleansing—a fact meaning that Christ's work is effective in the spiritual life of men, not in some material sanctuary. The difficulty with such interpretations is that, while what they say is true, "the heavenly things themselves" is a strange way of referring to men and women here on earth. Other commentators see in He 9:23 a reference to Satan's rebellion and think of that as somehow defiling heaven so that heaven itself needs cleansing. Still others think of purification in the sense in which it is used here as meaning not so much the removal of impurity as a consecratory or inaugural process. This, they feel, is not out of place with "the heavenly things" any more than with an earthly sanctuary. Akin to that is the view that the earthly sanctuary needed cleansing, not so much because it was unclean, as because it was the place where sinners were restored. So with heaven.

On the whole, it seems best to recall that in the NT there are references to "the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Eph 6:12); the "rulers of this age" (1Cor 2:8); the "powers" like "height" and "depth" (Ro 8:38, 39), as well as "angels" and "demons." Such references seem to indicate wickedness beyond this earth. And when Christ performed his atoning work, he "disarmed the powers and authorities, … triumphing over them by the cross" (Col 2:15). It was God's will "through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross" (Col 1:20). This strand of teaching is not prominent in Hebrews. Nevertheless, the language used here seems to accord with it better than with other views. (Gaebelein, F, Editor: Expositor's Bible Commentary 6-Volume New Testament. Zondervan Publishingor Pradis = computer version)

Some related Scriptures:
In Revelation, Chapter 12, we read that Lucifer and a third of the angels were kicked out of Heaven because of rebellion against God. Rebellion is sin.

Jeremiah 2:22. Day after day there was record of confessed sin marked before God in the earthly sanctuary, thus it was being defiled by sin. So it is now with us, even though Christ has cleansed us from our confessed sin, there is still a record of our confessed sin in the heavenly sanctuary. As the earthly sanctuary was being defiled from sin so is the heavenly.

Leviticus 16:19.Blood is used as the cleansing agent. Thus it is not some physical impurity in heaven that needs to be cleansed, for blood is not able to do this. Blood cleanses from sin, (1 John 1:7) so the work of cleansing the Sanctuary is not a physical work, such as a janitor would do, but a cleansing from sin.

However, in Job, we start by seeing that Satan still has some room in heaven -- at least in those times where God apparently calls together angels to give a report.

Other opinions :

Was it necessary to cleanse heavenly things? The heavenly sanctuary is not manmade and therefore is untainted by sin. It does not need to be cleansed. Before we are able to answer the question, we must understand the expression heavenly things in a spiritual sense. The true sanctuary, says the author of Hebrews, is heaven itself (9:24), and heaven is the place where God and his people dwell together. It is the place where the people of God serve him by offering themselves as living sacrifices. Then why does the author write that the heavenly things had to be cleansed? Heaven became a sanctuary for God’s people only when the blood of Christ was shed for them. Christ’s blood, then, became the basis for their entrance into heaven.

Without Christ’s blood God does not open heaven for us and does not accept our living sacrifices. We stand condemned before God in our sins, and heaven remains closed to us. However, the blood of Christ has made heaven into a sanctuary for us, so that we may live there. At the same time, it remains God’s dwelling place.

The blood of Christ provides remission of our sins but also sanctifies our presence in heaven. It makes us more delightful than angels and our service of praise more acceptable than that of the angels. We are God’s adopted sons and daughters who are “heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ” (Rom. 8:17).

Simon J. Kistemaker and William Hendriksen, vol. 15, New Testament Commentary : Exposition of Hebrews, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953-2001), 262-63.

It has frequently been asked in what sense “the heavenly realities”151 needed to be cleansed; but our author has provided the answer in the context. What needed to be cleansed was the defiled conscience of men and women; this is a cleansing which belongs to the spiritual sphere. The argument of v. 23 might be paraphrased by saying that while ritual purification is adequate for the material order, which is but an earthly copy of the spiritual order, a better kind of sacrifice is necessary to effect purification in the spiritual order. If we envisage the heavenly dwelling-place of God in something like material terms (and, surrounded as we are by the material universe, it is difficult to avoid doing so), we shall find ourselves trying to explain the necessity for its cleansing in ways which are far from our author’s intention.152 But we have already had reason to emphasize that the people of God are the house of God, that his dwelling-place is in their midst.153 It is they who need inward cleansing, not only that their approach to God may be free from defilement, but that they may be a fit habitation for him. Just as the tabernacle in the wilderness, together with its furniture, had to be anointed and sanctified so that God might manifest his presence there among his people and they might serve him there, so the people of God themselves need to be cleansed and hallowed in order to become “a dwelling place of God in the Spirit” (Eph. 2:22). The same essential teaching recurs in 1 Pet. 2:5, where believers in Christ are described as being “built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” But in order to be a spiritual house of this kind they must have experienced regeneration and cleansing by “sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 1:2, 9, 22f.).

If more than this is felt to be involved in our author’s language here, it may be supplied by the words of William Manson: “if we conceive our author to be writing to Jewish Christians who perhaps missed in the spiritual worship of Christianity the many holy sanctions and consecratory rites of the old religion, we shall not think it strange that he should, in effect, say to them that Christianity has its own sublime, though invisible, sanctions imparted by a greater Sacrifice. Following out this conception, we can well imagine him saying that the book of the New Covenant (the eternal gospel written in heaven …), the Christian sanctuary (the heavenly Zion, cf. 12:18–24), and the New Israel (the Christian Church, including the company of the redeemed in heaven) have all been consecrated by the blood of Christ. The stamp of the Cross is on all of them. After all, the things in heaven represent realities which have a present existence for Christians through Christ.”154

F. F. Bruce, The Epistle to the Hebrews, Rev. ed., The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1990), 228-29.

How could the heavenly sanctuary ever become defiled? We can understand how the earthly sanctuary could be defiled since it was used by sinful men. Each year, on the great Day of Atonement, the tabernacle was purified through the sprinkling of blood (Lev. 16:12–19). But how could a heavenly sanctuary ever become defiled? Certainly nothing in heaven is defiled in a literal sense, for sin cannot pollute the sanctuary of God. But, for that matter, nothing in the earthly tabernacle was literally defiled by sin. It all had to do with people’s relationships to God. The blood sprinkled on a piece of furniture did not change the nature of that piece, but it changed God’s relationship to it. God could enter into communion with people because of the sprinkled blood.

Through Jesus Christ, we who are sinners can enter into the holy of holies in the heavenly sanctuary (Heb. 10:19–22). Physically, of course, we are on earth; but spiritually, we are communing with God in the heavenly holy of holies. In order for God to receive us into this heavenly fellowship, the blood of Jesus Christ had to be applied. We enter into God’s presence “by the blood of Jesus” (Heb. 10:19).

Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary (Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1996), Heb 9:11.

"Guard your heart"

Alexander_Dolin@yahoo.com — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 14:16:03 PDT

I have an issue with this phrase "guard your heart" when it is ripped out of context and re-packaged in a way that emotionally paralyzes some people from good vulnerability and God-given opportunities.

Commonly Christian authors and Christian "dating experts" will use Proverbs 4:23 out of context, which says:

“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”

Obviously there is a lot of truth to this simple phrase that universally applies to every area of our lives, including dating/intimate relationships. Although I want to look at this passage in full context and see what the author is saying. I want to look at other instances in the Bible where "guarding the heart" appears. What does the Bible say about this really?

First the context of Prov. 4:23:

Proverbs 4:20–27 (NASB95)

20 My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings.

21 Do not let them depart from your sight; Keep them in the midst of your heart.

22 For they are life to those who find them And health to all their body.

23 Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.

24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth And put devious speech far from you.

25 Let your eyes look directly ahead And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.

26 Watch the path of your feet And all your ways will be established.

27 Do not turn to the right nor to the left; Turn your foot from evil.

Someone is writing advice to their son. The author tells the son to guard the heart from deceitful things and evils. While this is good advice for all aspects of life, especially even in dating….the verse is understood a LOT differently in this fuller context than when a dating expert quotes it alone out of context. “Guarding my heart” does not mean protecting myself from being hurt. There’s no way I can insulate myself from any possibility of pain. Pain is a regular part of relationships in this broken world. Guarding my heart does mean allowing no one access to that most central place of my affections but God. It means keeping the first commandment first—and loving Him with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength (Deut. 6:5). In full context we are talking about hurt from an evil world, not so much or not even necessarily relating to dating at all.

Some immediate cross references include:

Job 18:5, 6; Prov 2:13; Is 59:9, 10; Jer 23:12; John 12:35, Matt 12:34; 15:18, 19; Mark 7:21; Luke 6:45

These verses continue the theme: Keeping our heart and mind away from evil.

Mk 7:21 | “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries,

Lk 6:45 | “The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.

Let’s take a look at the the Hebrew word for “heart” in Proverbs 4:23- -לב

It is used almost 600 times in the Old testament with definitions that vary from “inner man,” “character,” “disposition,” and “Center of man.” The word implies both mind and heart are involved. It is not just the ‘emotional heart’ but also involves thinking.

We are to guard our thinking and our emotions from evil in this world.

The UBS Handbook on Proverbs breaks it down like this:

“more than anything else you may guard.” NJB translates “More than all else, keep watch over your heart,” and NJPSV has “More than all that you guard, guard your mind.” We may also say, for example, “The most important thing you can do is be careful what you think” or “The most important … is to think good thoughts.” (pg 112)

In more of a whole concept theological cross reference, let’s look at Phil. 4:4-9 and Luke 21:29-38

Philippians 4:4–9 (NASB95)

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!

5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Verse 7 is another verse that is easy to take away from the full context and try to build a case for something that is not there, as if God will bless you when you guard your heart. In fact in its full context that is not at all what is happening here. The main theme again is to “think good thoughts.” Keep your mind on the things that are good, noble, true and excellent! Don’t get me wrong, this is great advice for people who are dating, it is great advice for every Christian! Instead of worrying, instead of negativity, instead of evil, think “good thoughts!”

Luke 21:29–38 (NASB95)

29 Then He told them a parable: “Behold the fig tree and all the trees;

30 as soon as they put forth leaves, you see it and know for yourselves that summer is now near.

31 “So you also, when you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near.

32 “Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all things take place.

33 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.

34 “Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap;

35 for it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of all the earth.

36 “But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

37 Now during the day He was teaching in the temple, but at evening He would go out and spend the night on the mount that is called Olivet.

38 And all the people would get up early in the morning to come to Him in the temple to listen to Him.

The theme continues here: Let not your heart/mind/all of you be weighted down with worries in life and drunkenness and evil thoughts. Instead think “good thoughts.”

Instead of about dating it has more to do with keeping thought life righteous and on God instead of on the worries of the world

The Bible wants us to keep our thoughts pure, true and clean.

Ephesians 6 reminds us that the real battle is not of flesh and blood at all, but of the unseen supernatural battle. So get ready!: Put on the full armor of God!

“Pray without ceasing” - 1 Thessalonians 5:17. Continue filling your mind with God and His Word. Continue talking with God all day. He wants to help you fill your mind with “good thoughts.”
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. - Psalm 119:11
Fill your heart with His Word!

Jesus said in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” This was right after He fed five thousand people with only two fish and five loaves of bread. He was speaking about worries and basic needs in life. He says “put me first” and I will take care of all your needs, no need to worry! Amen!

Earlier in another sermon Mathew (11:29) recorded Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Jesus said he wants to take away your worries and fears. He wants to help you get through the hard times in life!!!!

Instead of worry he wants us to have his peace and joy:

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! John 15:11

Leave you with a challenge-

Matthew 6:21 says “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

This goes for dating and for filling your mind with God instead of evil. Our lives reflect our heart. What we truly believe and think is reflected in our priorities, in our lifestyle, in what we treasure. In what we do with our time and money.

Let’s g back to the dating idea: “guarding your heart.” Sorry this post has been all over the place!

While I personally do not have anything against the dating principles that the authors are trying to make and I see some truth in what they mean, what I can not stand is the fact that these authors are ripping the Holy Word of God out of context to make a point that the original authors are not making.

“Guard your heart” is a good command because it is a Biblical command.

In full context, Prov. 4:23 suggests that keeping—or guarding—your heart means to retain wise words and resist wicked desires. Don’t confuse “guard your heart” with “don’t get hurt.”

C. S. Lewis provides the necessary rebuke:

There is no safe investment. To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket—safe, dark, motionless, airless—it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. The alternative to tragedy, or at least to the risk of tragedy, is damnation. The only place outside Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers and perturbations of love is Hell. (From The Four Loves, as found in The Inspirational Writings of C.S. Lewis, 278-279.)

Basically, don't suffocate the heart. If someone guards their heart too much then they will miss opportunities to serve God, love (by all definitions) people and even miss God-given life blessings.

We need to maintain our hearts properly. Feed on the Word of God. Protect the heart. The pure in heart shall see God (Matt 5:8). Hebrews 12:14 says that without holiness “no one will see the Lord” (NKJV). We need to make a choice; and if we don't make it, that in itself is a choice!

So the dating principles of seeking God first are true, even as a general/overall life principle, it is true. We need to keep God first.

Mt 22:37 - Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’

We should keep God first in our heart and keep our hearts pure, focused on Him! This is true again in dating and in all of life. So I am not against the dating principles. I am concerned about how these principles are formed. I am not impressed when Scripture is ripped out of context and twisted.

Inside out and upside down on Main st Lancaster, Ohio

Alexander_Dolin@yahoo.com — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 09:45:59 PDT

Summer time is full of “Vacation Bible Schools” (VBS). I want to highlight one that is making a difference in Lancaster, Ohio. Cross Pointe Free Will Baptist Church is holding “Inside Out & Upside Down on Main Street” this week July 11th-15th from 6PM-8:30Pm every evening.

This VBS is chalked full of surprises and is bent on reaching out to the community. Every evening, the church is offering a free meal to the community and families a part of VBS at 6PM. Then at 6:30-8:30 the Bible School is loaded with lots of fun activities centered on positive messages from God’s Word.

There will also be even more surprises: Monday night there will be a bouncy house, Tuesday July 12th evening, “Ruthy G” from 104.9 The River and their “Element” will be at Cross Pointe. A fire engine will be there on Wednesday night …expect more surprises for Thursday and Friday! This VBS is going to be a lot of fun but it will also focus on the community around the church.

Continue reading on Examiner.com Inside out and upside down on Main st Lancaster, Ohio - Columbus Biblical living | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/biblical-living-in-columbus/inside-out-and-upside-down-on-main-st-lancaster-ohio#ixzz1Rio3Kyet

Not about me

Alexander_Dolin@yahoo.com — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 06:32:17 PDT

I am not that great

I don’t even like myself

I am such a sinner

I am so weird and awkward

I can be selfish and arrogant

At times I am too aggressive

Other times I am just a slacker

I am unorganized

I am focused on the wrong things I don’t understand simple things the first time

I mess up relationships

I am not where I want to be in life goals or in Christ

Fortunately I am redeemed

Fortunately I am saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ

Who is working on me, changing me, molding me

Fortunately this life is not about me

Fortunately I am attempting to become more Christ-like everyday

Thankfully God is in ultimate control and not me

Today is a new day, a new chance to get right with God

To get on board with His agenda and priorities and plan for my life!

If I truly believe

Alexander_Dolin@yahoo.com — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 17:34:26 PDT

Obviously I have been a Christian for most of my life and it is pretty important to me. I have a Master’s degree in Biblical Studies and I am an ordained minister so when the rubber really hit the road and when my life was turned upside down from what I thought was God’s will for my life I remembered the Truths from the Scriptures. These Truths have really been useful for me and I thought I ‘d share some of these reflections with you. The key phrase is “ If I truly believe____” then I can live free and happy in Christ!!!

1. If I truly believe God is who He says He is….

a. He is my first love.

b. He is love.

c. He is the source of true hope, peace and joy.

d. My Strength,

e. My Fortress

f. The Truth, Life and Way

g. Master/Lord of all things in my life

2. If I truly believe what my Liberty Coursework is teaching me to teach others

a. All human beings need significance and security and our significance and security lies in Jesus Christ alone!

3. If I truly believe my own personal goals for this year which was “surrender”

a. I got to give this and all the hurt to God

b. I got to give my desire for a relationship to Him

4. I truly believe that You are in complete control and have a plan for me

a. Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) For I know the plans I have for you,"

declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to

give you hope and a future.

b. Rom. 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus

c. Rom. 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

5. I truly believe that as a Christian you want to bless me

a. Jn 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

b. 2 Corinthians 9:8 "And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly."

c. Mt. 21:22 And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.

6. If I truly believe the accounts of Scripture I will praise God despite the hardships

a. Job would not curse God despite losing everything

b. Joan had mixed results first opposing God then praising God after the big fish and then getting angry without God again

c. Paul singing while in prison after being beaten, shipwreck, stoned, etc!

d. Disciples didn’t praise sleeping Jesus on the boat during a storm
instead they woke him up!

7. I truly believe that Gospel power of the Gospel

a. 2 Tim 3:16 - All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

b. Heb. 4:12- For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

8. If I truly believe all the above then

a. It is time to live it up for Jesus

b. Let the Gospel saturate my soul

c. Share Jesus with everyone

d. Time to praise, surrender and glorify God

James 1:22 - Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

Questions of reflection:

Am I living the work of faith?

Am I enduring in the patience of hope?

Am I laboring in the love of Christ?

Am I praying about everything? or making some choices without Him?

Am I living what I believe?

If I really believe it then I shall live that way right?

Am I being selfish with the Gospel?

Lying: hurts a reputation

Alexander_Dolin@yahoo.com — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 22:04:00 PST

There is a lot of mixed reactions today regarding this (the latest) sports news store in Central Ohio: Ohio State suspends Jim Trestle two games for NCAA violation.

The news in a nutshell is that coach Jim Trestle was holding key information sent to him via email reporting to him directly and specifically on certain players that were violating NCAA violations. The coach was partly not reporting this information to his superiors or the NCAA because he was trying to protect his players but the situation is also messier. The players were involved with a convicted criminal. The situation is also messy because while coach Trestle had a responsibility to do something (possibly tell a compliance lawyer or the University president or Big Ten commissioner)- which he did not, while in September 2010 Tressel signed a compliance form with both Ohio State University and the NCAA saying that he had no knowledge of any possible violations.

Then all of the questions and "extra scrutiny" on Jim Trestle and the Buckeyes since there was :

NCAA violations by these six players to begin with, why didn’t Tressel say anything before? Did he lie in Sept?
These players are missing four games, why is Jim only missing 2? Why is there have such a small penalty placed on him from OSU?
In light of other recent controversies at OSU, many local sports media personalities and fans are getting sick and tired of hearing about the negative news. T hey once were proud to be called OSU alum but now they are upset. Are they taking this too far?
Jim Tressel has been known for being an honest, good religious man. He has taught boys to be men. He is outspoken about his faith and integrity. Although he is still a man who occasional makes a mistake. This is one of them, maybe too big of a mistake? He lost a lot of respect of many...
Questioning of motives, was Tressel, in protecting his players, looking to win football games? Isn't that what most coaches are looking to do?

Yes, Jim Tressel made a mistake. But if I was in his shoes, I am not sure how I would have handled the information. I am not sure who I would have told. I too was upset in Tressel when I fully understood the situation, but I think that there is a lot of "extra scrutiny" on Tressel that is a little over-the-top, too much. I wonder, if I was in his situation what would I have done? Yeah it is important to be full of integrity and tell someone, like a lawyer about the emails, but I can understand him questioning the source and validity of the emails. I can also understand that he wanted to protect his players and win football games. The one fact that bothers me most, is that Tressel, in essence, lied by signing compliance forms back in September.

The Bible speaks about lying. While I do not think you will find any human being who has never told a lie, it is clear that we should strive not to lie:

John 8:44,45 says that Satan is a liar and the father of lies.

1Peter 3:16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

Colossians 3:9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices

Ephesians 4:25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.

Proverbs 26:18,19 Like a madman shooting firebrands or deadly arrows is a man who deceives his neighbor and says,“I was only joking!”

Lying hurts a man's reputation and hurts his faith witness. Jim Tressel has weakend his reputation because of this incident. I think that lie is what really hurts a lot of people the most in this entire mess. He was known for his integrity up until this point. Now both the Christian and secular audiences take notice of this lie. It hurts.

Continue reading on Examiner.com: Lying: hurts a reputation - Columbus Biblical living | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/biblical-living-in-columbus/lying-hurts-a-reputation#ixzz1GGhF6V7G

Helping the needy

Alexander_Dolin@yahoo.com — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 22:02:01 PST

Several central Ohio churches and religious groups teach English as a second language, seeing it as a way to minister to immigrants, who often feel isolated in their new country.

This is a great ministry helping people put who are in need, who are struggling to make it through the day becuase they struggle just to communicate daily with the English-speaking world around them. The Bible speaks to the idea of helping struggling people, especailly the needy and poor.

Dt. 27:19 says ‘Cursed is he who distorts the justice due an alien, orphan, and widow.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

Not only does the Scriptures warn against people who do not serve justice to widows and orphans (those in need), in fact the Bible commands proactive behavior:

Dt 26:12 says “When you have finished paying all the tithe of your increase in the third year, the year of tithing, then you shall give it to the Levite, to the stranger, to the orphan and to the widow, that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied."

Who are you helping and showing the love of God to? How are you helping the needy?

New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update, LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.

Continue reading on Examiner.com: Helping the needy - Columbus Biblical living | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/biblical-living-in-columbus/helping-the-needy#ixzz1GGh3MTTE

Good thought for the day

Alexander_Dolin@yahoo.com — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 22:01:10 PST

My "dad" at work (not related to me in real life) told me something that stuck with me tonight as I was leaving work. He had stuck around and helped some of the last people who were still finishing up their work. I passed him by since I had been told to leave and clock out. I said to him, "dad, you are a nice guy for sticking around and helping." He said, "Hey. It is all about who we are."

What stuck out about this most was his actions. His actions spoke louder than the words. He was a good guy. He was doing the right thing and helping out, even if he did not have to stick around and help.

The excitement of a fresh start

Alexander_Dolin@yahoo.com — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 10:03:47 PST

Last night the Columbus Crew played Real Salt Lake in a quarterfinal CONCACAF match. The MLS season does not begin for almost a month yet despite the bad weather a few thousand die-hard soccer fans came out to support the Crew. The game was sloppy but exciting. While the match ended in a scoreless tie, there were some close plays that could have turned the game into a big win for the Crew.

The field was icy; the seats were below freezing cold, despite being a pre-season (as far as MLS fans are concerned) game on dreary February evening; still fans showed up. It is in the human nature to be excited about the things that we love. Sports fans love the live entertainment of sports. Soccer fans have been waiting all winter for the season to start up again. There may still be a month before the MLS season starts but fans around the Columbus area are ready for Crew season.

Others may not be soccer fans, but are excited for the start of spring, the warmer weather or the start of a break from school. Humans need fresh starts. The Bible speaks about fresh starts. 2 Co 5:17 says that “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” Romans 10: 9 says that “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” The Lord Jesus Christ can give your heart a new, fresh start today!

The investment of the offerings

Alexander_Dolin@yahoo.com — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 10:31:57 PST

In the Old Testament, The Levites were commanded by God to give a tithe (a tenth) of the tithes they received from Israel to a priest (for God) in Numbers 18:26 . Traditional Jewish law and practice has included various forms of tithing since ancient times, including both financial and argicultural tithing. The word tithe is not found in the New Testament. Instead the New Testament scriptures are seen as teaching the concept of "freewill offerings," give freely as you feel lead.A lot of churches base the idea of the tithe/offerings on Malachi 3:10. It is the “storehouse” concept, that the tithe belongs to the local church. Basically a good church will have a wide and varied missionary/outreach program.

They like the storehouses of the Old Testament will accomplish many things with the tithe/money we give to the church:
use it to care for the spiritual leaders, pastors, church staff members, evangelists, and missionaries,
to reach unbelievers outside the church, and to care for the needy within the church.

Many people investing in the fund, the congregation, has power to do things one person couldn’t do on his own and it invests money in valid ministries he or she might not know about otherwise. So a good church will not keep all of the financial gain for themselves but rather will be finding ways to bless others, those in need especailly. But if the church is not well investing the money then it is a good idea to give to other organizations to take care of these things like taking care of the needy.
If God is leading you to help someone or a group then it is right to give to them as God leads. He will bless us for doing what we can.

June Hunt, Biblical Counseling Keys on Financial Freedom: Principles of Wise Money Management (Dallas, TX: Hope For The Heart, 2008), 31.

Bill Hybels, D. Stuart Briscoe and Haddon W. Robinson, Mastering Contemporary Preaching (Portland, Or.: Multnomah, 1990), 108.

Continue reading on Examiner.com: The investment of the offerings - Columbus Biblical living | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/biblical-living-in-columbus/the-investment-of-the-offerings#ixzz1EcTjskxc

Integrity: do the right thing

Alexander_Dolin@yahoo.com — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 10:30:03 PST

The Bible clearly stresses the importance of living with character. God wants us to try to do the right thing, to live with integrity. A life verse of mine has been 1 Co 10:31, "Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." In all areas of life, we can choose to glorify God. Even when we are eating, when we are sleeping, at work or at home, in all things, in all ways Christians have the opportunity to bring glory to God.

Proverbs 22:1 says that "A good name is to be chosen over great wealth; favor is better than silver and gold." A man with good character is more important that all the wealth and riches this world has to offer. A man with a good name does not slack off as a lazy man would but instead works hard at everything he does. People around him can see his character. They can see God in Him because in all things that he does, he brings glory to God. Not glory to himself, but to God. A man of integrity does what is right even when no one is watching. A man if character has an audience of one, God. (Phil. 2:12-15, 1 Thes. 2:12).

A popular saying in recent years is “What would Jesus do?” Whatever you are doing today at work or at home, ask yourself if what you are doing brings glory to God. Are you living with integrity and doing what is right in the sight of the Lord God?

New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.

Continue reading on Examiner.com: Integrity: do the right thing - Columbus Biblical living | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/biblical-living-in-columbus/integrity-do-the-right-thing#ixzz1EcTHvlsd

The blessings keep coming

Alexander_Dolin@yahoo.com — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 06:36:04 PST

This year so far has been exhilarating. God has been blessing me a lot and my little heart can hardly stand it.

The first one: Beginning on January 3rd, a month ago today, I started emailing this stranger. Honestly, I was sort of going out on a whim (on an online dating website); I was not sure she would even write back. This stranger has quickly become a great friend. I have learned a lot from her already and she inspires me. She is an amazing lady and what a blessing to have her in my life as a girlfriend.

The second: I am finishing up the process to become an ordained free will baptist minister. This journey has been such a great adventure and learning experience. I have been working closely with my pastor and church, doing the work of ministry. I have learned a lot from my mentor and friend. I appreciate him very much and continue to learn to love people the way he loves his flock!

The third: After three years of being on annoying schedule at UPS Freight, they have finally moved me to a M-F shift! No more split shifts on the weekends, I can sleep in everyday of the week (except Sundays now!) YES!

And finally I have more opportunities to do things that I love and make more money. While UPS Freight is easy money. It is not much money and it is not something I want to do for the rest of my life. Two companies have offered me independent positions. I will be working for myself but with their help. The first is with Examiner.com. I am a "Biblical Living Examiner." I get to write articles on what I love: Christian Living, theology in relation to culture and etc!

The second is with wyzant.com, as a tutor. I can find students and students can find me. I will hopefully be tutoring students in psychology, English, guitar, Bible Study, basic software and other topics. The plan for now is to stay with UPS Freight and do these side jobs for extra side money. UPS has not been super busy lately and I have been pushed back to the bottom of seniority. So besides being put on M-F shift, my relationship with them is not the most pleasant. I would much rather being writing, blogging, teaching and tutoring. So if I get super busy with the other two jobs, or find a real ministry job then I can quit UPS Freight.

Maybe it is time

Alexander_Dolin@yahoo.com — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 18:35:04 PST

Life has taken some interesting turns lately.

UPS Freight has been slow and since they hired on new group of full-timers I am at the bottom of the totem pole once again. UPS Freight has been good to me in some ways but not many...something to do, a little bit of money, insurance...but it might be time to move on....

I've been working here cause of the benefits and because it is an easy not-too-demanding job while I finish up my Master's degree. I'll be done with my Master's classes in December. The original plan was to graduate and then go into a ministry career having my MDiv....but now with UPS Freight treating me this way, maybe it is time to find a ministry job NOW before I graduate completely.

New Year

Alexander_Dolin@yahoo.com — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 07:57:44 PST

I am usually pretty reflective during the end-of-the-year holidays. This year I have not been too reflective or goal-planning...but I have decided that I want to improve my life in one key way that involves all areas of my life:

Surrender.

Bad things happen to [____] people

Alexander_Dolin@yahoo.com — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 11:13:29 PST

You might think I am crazy, that is okay. I think that bad things happen to all people because all people are fallen sinners who live in a fallen world. No one is inherently 'good': “There is none righteous, not even one” (Rom. 3:10). Because of that reality, suffering is universal.

What is beautiful is that the story does not end there! The God that loves us offers grace and forgiveness and wants to help make us good. He offers the love and forgiveness to everyone: the oppressed, persecuted, the poor, the rich, everyone.... the question is : Will you accept it? God offers His grace to all, but many people reject it.

God blesses Us for His Glory

Alexander_Dolin@yahoo.com — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 13:06:18 PST

We are blessed by God by and through his Grace for His glory.

Yeah I've been listening to David Platt as he reads his book Radical to me in my car.

This is not a new message to me. I've read Piper's Desiring God. In which Piper proves through Scriptures that the great business of life is to glorify God by enjoying Him forever.

We can enjoy our blessings and life. God wants to make us happy but ultimately He is blessing us for His own glory. So we will share the Good News of God and tell others about the blessings from God. They are not to be selfishly absorbed but shared.

Does this make God selfish?

Yea, but would He really be God if His chief goal was to bring glory to something other than Himself? NO. Whatever He was bringing glory to would be a Higher, more important thing and therefore should be "God."

This is one key theological point that challenges our thinking but also our living.

It is weird to think about and kinda fun, but ultimately, now what?

Now with this truth processed we must live it!

When we are blessed and happy, let us not get complacent and focused in on living with our blessings, instead let us give God the credit and make sure to use these blessings to bring Glory back to the One who first loved and blessed us.

IT is so easy to live caught up in the American dream. It is easy to take the blessings and forget the One who has blessed us.

Isn't our faith a relationship? Are we sharing the Good News and the blessings and the ultimate Blessing with others?

The gift-giving

Alexander_Dolin@yahoo.com — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 14:02:03 PST

I love it and hate it.

Of course I love receiving gifts, who doesn't?

But honestly I love giving gifts too because I enjoy making other happy.

What i hate is the fact that I am dirt poor.

I never have enough money to give good gifts to everyone who gives me good gifts, forget about anyone else I love and would like to get gifts for.

Comfort in knowing God is in complete control

Alexander_Dolin@yahoo.com — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 00:14:02 PST

Earlier this week my pastor (and mentor) gave me some advice that has stuck with me and already changing the way that I am thinking and living.

He said that ultimately God is in control of all things, ultimately where you at is where God wants you to be....I'll spare you the details... (I am more reformed in thinking than my pastor, he is a free will baptist pastor! but ultimately we both agree that God has ordained things to be the way that they in the end will be....the "how" we get there details can vary depending on how you view free will issues)

So in ministry where ever you are at physically (a chaplain in the Army, a pastor of a church plant, an associate pastor of a long established church, a business person in a large corporation, a construction worker) is where God wants you to be.

He said we all have doubts sometimes...instead of living in the moment of emotion, we can live in the moment of the Spirit. We can stand firm in His Word and in His Sovereignty.

He was saying all of this to help prepare me for my calling into chaplaincy. Where ever the government sends me I will go. It will be exciting and an adventure. There will be things I will see that I have not ever seen yet before. There will be people hurting. There will be a lot of opportunities for love, service and ministry. There will be hardships and times of frustration and maybe even doubt.

While I am not there yet (in the Army) I am able to use this advice already! At UPS Freight, where I work, it is so easy to get so caught up in my work that I ignore people. I ignore the Spirit. I just live in my little "lala" land or I live in the emotions of work: not good. (There is a lot of anger and frustration there)

I told myself tonight at work, "God wants me here now. He has a reason and purpose for me to be here. I might be the only Jesus some of these men will ever see."

I tried today to be a leader. I tried today to love and listen to people. I tried to do all things at work for the glory of God. This is just practice for future ministry. I want to be living it now before I go off to the Army.

What is legacy about anyways?

Alexander_Dolin@yahoo.com — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 13:06:11 PDT

Think about it with me for a minuet.
The things we do to impress people...
like wearing certain clothing, buying a nice car, building a big house, working for the right company, planning a nice career, knowing the right people, etc...
The reality is that in a century (give or take a few decades), all of our generation will be dead. You (and myself) and everyone that knows/knew you as well. Eventually everyone who has ever have remembered you will pass away...for many people, that is all legacy is. A few memories. Far less will anyone remember your nice clothing, cars, homes, career, etc.
The few exceptions, the few people that have left a memorial legacy (you know the people who made it into the textbooks) are not in their, are not remembered by their things: clothing, homes, cars, etc....they are remembered by their actions. Besides, there are a lot of names in textbooks that people who read the books ignore...they say "who cares?" It is history.

Legacy, what will you be remembered by? And who will care? Who will remember you?

Snapple cap facts

Alexander_Dolin@yahoo.com — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 12:00:18 PDT

During my vacation car rides, I drank a lot of Snapple teas, which I really enjoy.
Here are some of the "facts" under the bottle caps:

It takes an interaction of 72 muscles to produce human speech.
Your skull is made up of 29 different bones.
All scorpions glow.
Wild camels once roamed Arizona's deserts.
More turkeys are raised in California than in any other state in the USA.
New Jersey is the home of the world's first drive-in movie theater.
George Washington took the oath of office in New York City in 1789.
Before Thomas Jefferson took office people bowed to the president, rather than shaking his hand.
Until the nineteenth Century, solid blocks of tea were used as money in Siberia.
The first MTV video was "Video killed the Radio Star," by the Buggles.

Impressions of Logos 4 Bible Software

Alexander_Dolin@yahoo.com — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 11:03:05 PDT

Earlier this year I tested out Logos Bible Software. Long story short, I loved it so much I purchased the Scholar's Edition. There are several Editions to this Bible Software, depending on your needs and usage, there is something right for everyone (compare the editions here!)

In about a month Logs 4 for the Mac will be released. This fantastic software has been running strong on PCs for 25 years, it is now a new chapter in the company's life as they finally release editions for the Mac.They re so excited about the release to Macs, that they are giving away free prizes ( including an iMac, a MacBook Pro, an iPad, an iPod Touch, an iPod Nano, and an assortment of 100 gift cards from the Apple Store, iTunes, and Logos.com)

Their aggressive goal is to be the worldwide leader in electronic tools and resources for multilingual Bible study. Their mission is to serve the church. They do this by providing tools and resources that make studying the Bible easier and more accessible all over the world.

So what is Logos 4 Bible Software?

Logos 4 Bible Software is a mighty resource! In the Scholars' edition (http://www.logos.com/contents/scholars#001), which I own includes over 600 resources:

including 40 English Bible translation and interlinears,

over 65 Bible Commentaries,

nearly 50 volumes of grammars, lexicons, and original language resources,

texts in original language texts/bibles,

media resources including maps and charts

and some of my favorite resources: an unlimited library that includes theological resource books, ministry application books, small group study guides, Bible/church history books, exegesis books, books to help provide sermon illustrations, help me learn to teach/preach better and so much more!

1. One key is that these are electronic resources. I can take my phone or laptop anywhere and I have access to these books!

2. Imagine how much money all of these books would cost! And how much space 600 books would fill! Instead of spending around $20-$60 a book, I get them all much cheaper and all take up much less space in my hard drive.

3. My hard drive crashed less than month ago, but Logos had synced all my resources, prayer requests, memory verses and preferences in real time online, so I did not have any trouble when I downloaded Logos 4 again on my new hard drive, everything was exactly they way I had left it on my old hard drive!

4. Logos provides tons of free training and resources on their website, so everyday I learn something new about my software.

5. The Logos team is constantly updating and providing new tools and resources and improving the software. On their blog, they also provide updates on how I can better use their software! It is great!

So far having Logs 4 Software has been great and extremely useful. In Bible Studies I take my laptop with me, so I can read from multiple translation and also look up answers to questions using the commentaries, dictionaries, and other study tools!

The Portfolio edition includes over 1600 resources all in one!

thought of the day

Alexander_Dolin@yahoo.com — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 11:21:00 PDT

In American culture tolerance is a virtue and conviction a vice

The Decision Episode 2

Alexander_Dolin@yahoo.com — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 00:21:47 PDT

ESPN should make a series : "The Decision" staring LeBron James....

The next episode LeBron decides what ot eat for lunch