New Job!

So here is my post for the week.  Remember I said I would post once a week, so I am still on track. Ha!

 

I accepted a new job this past week.  The Lord has always provided for us and He has done it again.  I will explain more in the future.

 

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!

 

Bible reading:  I have really stunk it up.

Maybe this will post... Maybe

The following blog did not post as it was instructed to:

 

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I am not a college football fan, but I do enjoy sports. Close games between two good teams is even better. Tonight I watched one such game.  Texas Longhorns against the USC Trojans.  Vince Young the QB for Texas did an awesome job.  He should jump to the pros this year and perhaps even unseat Bush from the No. 1 pick.  I had a great time with fellow brothers in Christ. 

 

I even brought my three year old son, Carson who had a great time.  On a few occasions he left his blissful life of playing with other kids and came and gave me a hug.  What a precious boy he is.  At one point he placed his head on my chest while watching the game.  I remember doing the same with my dad.  I love my family so much!!

 

I read the first 14 chapters of Matthew today.  In fact, I read along as I listened to a set of ESV CD's a friend purchased for my wife and me.  I won't do this all the time, but I did enjoy it.  I have many questions about the portion I read today.  Perhaps as I read it over and over again this year I will get a better overall understanding of the flow of thoughts in each book.  Then perhaps, beginning January of 2007, I can spend 27 months better understanding outlining and engaging each book.  We'll see.  Perhaps I should spend about 2 weeks in each book (2 weeks x 27 books = 54 weeks) all at once so that I can remain in the text rather than jumping around.  I may begin that next month.  Maybe.  I need to get through January and the NT first.

 

I initially set out to blog weekly.  That is still my goal, but at the moment I have the time, and enjoy it.  

 

I was able to share with a co-worker yesterday night.  It was one of those, 'got my feet in the door' types, but I see the door opening.  He has a religious background and appears open to discussion.  Please pray for this co-worker of mine, as well as other opportunities to share Christ.

 

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January 5th

 

I'm very tired.  I was swamped at both school and work.  Excuses... excuses, I know, but I was able to read my Bible.  I spent some time reading Philemon.  I won't say much more because I am not even sure this will post.  I can email my posts in and have been doing that from the beginning, but last night it did not work.  Maybe this will post... maybe.

Saved by God's grace!

Grace has been defined several ways.  Two of which are:

 

1) God giving us what we don't deserve and

2) God's Riches At Christ's Expense. 

 

I like these.  Everyone has experienced God's grace to some degree .  The flip side of this coin is mercy, that is, God not giving us what we do deserve.  I immediately think of Jonathan Edward's famous sermon, "Sinners in the hands of an angry God".  Edwards describes the mercy of God towards us.  The reality is that, if God would choose to do so, He could punish and condemn us immediately when we sin.  The fact that He mercifully allows us to live another day astounds me.  We (all mankind) deserve utter immediate destruction, yet he shows mercy and lets us live another day.  He then shows even greater mercy (and grace) by redeeming His elect through the redemptive work of Christ on the cross!

 

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!

 

BTW, I read Ephesians this morning which prompted my thoughts towards God grace.

Day 2, 363 more to go

I read Galatians today. Galatians was a book that helped me abandon my dispensational beliefs several years back. It was also the first book that I preached through. I loved preaching it. It has a repeating theme that is emphasized repeatedly through the book. This made it difficult for a new pastor to preach without sounding like the previous week's sermon. I don't have much time to write today, so I will just address one point in the book of Galatians.

In all of the commentaries that I have read, they all claim that the beginning of Galatians is Paul's defense of his ministry. What is he really defending? Is he trying to prove he is indeed an Apostle? Is he trying to prove the effectiveness and success of his ministry? I believe that you find his purpose beginning with the fourth word of the letter.

"not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father"

Later, in 1:10 Paul states that he is not a man pleaser - instead he is a servant of God.

The clearest statement is found in 1:11 where Paul says that the good news that he proclaimed was not "according to man".

I could comment quite a bit on this passage but please read it sometime and take note of Paul's defense. The gospel he proclaimed was not from men. He defends this several ways to include chronological points which do not do much for simply defending that he is an Apostle. He is proving that he was not influenced by men. He even had the guts to confront Peter, someone with high reputation.

Ultimately, I am thankful for the truth found here in Galatians. "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us." 3:13

I am not the best writer. Please be patient with me.

Because of God's Great Mercy!

Beginning the Year - 2006

Well, well, well...

It is Sunday, January 1st, 2006. The beginnings of a new year and many resolutions. I have a couple of friends who are going to attempt to blog each day for the coming year. This desire interests me. I will try and do something similar. But instead, I will try and blog at a minimum of once a week. Please notice the key word in the previous sentence, 'try'. Effort will be made, but time will tell.

I will however attempt with greater effort to read my Bible each and every day. I have read the Bible in its entirety in the past but not in recent years. Last year I began, but goofed up in May or so. My problem is that I am task oriented. When I am pressed for time I speed-read to complete my daily reading. Then I get discouraged when I fall behind. This year I am simply striving for daily reading and sincere prayer time. Over this past year I have not been consistent, so this will be good for me.

Don't hold me to this, but I have thought about reading a NT book each day of the month. I will have to double up on some days to even out books like Titus and Philemon with heftier books like Matthew and Revelation. In addition I have thought about reading 5 or so Psalms each day and a Proverb. I wonder how I would do if I end up with Revelation and Psalm 119 on the same day?

Another thought of mine is in regards to accountability. Perhaps I will publicly (via this blog) discuss how I am doing in key areas. Accountability (the kind where you fill our sheets which show how often or seldom a person read their Bible) often leads me to reading to complete a task, but don't be surprised If I throw one your way once in awhile. And by all means, feel free to ask me.

Well... That's it for this blog. Only 51 more to write!