tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-231070072024-03-07T17:04:35.106-05:00In Pursuit of God"And if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you." Romans 8:10-11Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14217235831900652204noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23107007.post-64669092527663008842014-01-25T10:20:00.000-05:002014-01-25T10:20:48.151-05:00Reason Not To Sin - 1 Peter 2:16 - Freedom<div dir="ltr">
Reason Not To Sin - 1 Peter 2:16<br />
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Why not sin?<br />
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(1) "Live as people who are free," this verse says. This isn't pretending to be what you're not; it's living out what you are! You are no longer a slave to sin. You have been bought back, redeemed by the precious blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:18). Do you still feel enslaved? Then bank on this truth, reckon on it: in Christ you are free. God's word declares it, so believe it, looking to Jesus for the freedom He gives (John 8:31,36). Focus on your poor condition of ups and downs is pride: self is preeminent in your thoughts. Instead, set your mind on Christ and the truths of freedom in Him, and look to no other.<br />
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(2) Being freed, you are not free. After all, you have been bought by Someone. Being free from condemnation, can you live however you want,doing evil? Nothing of the sort! We are not just saved from sin and it's sentence, death. We are saved to righteousness (Romans 6:16-18). We are now servants of God. Just as the "foolishness" of God is wiser than the best wisdom man has to offer (1 Cor 1:25), so in bondage to God we are freer than in the "freedom" of "doing what we want."<br />
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(3) You are a servant of God. Just as employers want to use people who are qualified for the work, so God wants to use people who are qualified. 2 Timothy 2:20-22 describes our usefulness in direct relation to fleeing youthful lusts, and "pursuing righteousness, faith, love, and peace, with all those who call on the Lord from a pure heart." Again, it's not just fleeing lusts, but moving on to something: things that please our Lord, namely, righteousness, faith, love, and peace.<br />
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<i>Bonus: The verses that follow our key verse in 1 Peter give practical examples of exactly those things. Read through the rest of the book and see which categories the instructions fit into: righteousness, faith, love, or peace.</i></div>
Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14217235831900652204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23107007.post-54552658748050677842013-12-07T11:17:00.002-05:002013-12-07T11:17:13.300-05:00Despite It All, I Still Sin - Psalm 6Despite all our best efforts, despite all our knowledge, we still sin. Despite the Lord Jesus dying on the cross to condemn sin in the flesh (Rom. 8:3), we still sin. Even despite meditating on God's Word and on His love for us, and despite our cultivating a love for the Lord, we still sin. So then what?<br />
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Psalm 6 describes someone in this situation, and we can be encouraged by it.<i> </i><br />
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<b>Psalm 6 </b>(ESV)<br />
<b><i></i>1:</b> <i>O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath.</i><br />
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(First, a distinction by observation in this verse: anger is expressed in a rebuke by words; wrath is expressed in discipline, probably some circumstantial happenings.)<br />
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O Lord, please don't treat me as I deserve for my sin. I deserve rebuke and discipline, and I confess your right to discipline because I confess my sin as sin against you.<br />
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<b>2:</b> <i>Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing; heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled.</i><br />
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Instead of harsh treatment, please be gracious to me! Let me off the hook, O Lord, for I am weak and losing heart. I want the same end of purity that you want for me, but I am so weak. My sins already have troubled my strength. I have lost my buttressing against the force of sin in my life. I am near to being destroyed by it. I am near to giving up. I languish. My bones are troubled. If you would rebuke me or discipline me, will I not break completely? Let the bones you have broken rejoice. Do not quench a poorly-burning wick nor break an already bruised reed! (Psalm 51:8, Isaiah 42:3)<br />
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<b>3:</b> <i>My soul also is greatly troubled. But you, O Lord—how long?</i><br />
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It is very distressing to me that I can't stay away from sin. I try and I try and I try, but my ability is gone. Will you cast off one who doesn't have the ability to obey your will of holiness? How long will this situation persist in my soul? How long will I languish in my weakness toward sin? O Lord, will you deliver me? How long till I see such a deliverance?<br />
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<b>4:</b> <i>Turn, O Lord, deliver my life; save me for the sake of your steadfast love.</i><br />
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Instead of wrath, please turn and be gracious. Deliver me, I pray! May my life be used to praise you. Save me from this path. Surely you will, because you are love, right? You don't delight in the death of the wicked, but that all should turn from their sins and be saved. May I please see that in my life, according to your steadfast love?<i> </i><br />
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<b>5:</b> <i>For in death there is no remembrance of you; in Sheol who will give you praise?</i><br />
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Because, Lord, if I am not delivered, I will just continue worse and worse in sins. Deadness will grow in my soul and then what praise will I ever be able to offer you? If I am wallowing in my sins, I will never think to lift up praise to you. The sinful world doesn't praise you, and if I am left alone or not delivered, neither will I think of you.<br />
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<b>6:</b> <i>I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping.</i><br />
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I am so tired of my sins. Every time I sin I moan with despair. Why should I fall again, after you had saved me? Why should I continue in sin, seeing I am dead to it? This causes me frustration and grief. Tears flood my eyes as I think of how hopeless my situation is. At night I am ashamed of how I behaved during the day. Even during waking hours I remember how sinfully I have behaved. Is there no help? I am weary of this repeated pattern of sins!<br />
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<b>7:</b> <i>My eye wastes away because of grief; it grows weak because of all my foes.</i><br />
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My singularity of purpose toward you is compromised. Like a cataract, my sins cloud my vision of you. Where once I purposed to set my eyes on you, I am now distracted. As grief fills me because of my wayward behavior, I am appalled and seem only to see my sinful self now, which only causes me more despair. Any resolve I once had to seek you alone is weak, like a distant memory. Now in my current state it seems there's no way out. My own effort has left me defeated, and I feel overwhelmed, stupid, and worthless.<br />
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<b>8:</b> <i>Depart from me, all you workers of evil, for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping.</i><br />
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O that the part of me that works evil would be gone. Depart from me, sin which dwells in me! I don't want any of your influence in my life any more! (Romans 7:20) But this is not just a vain wish. I can have every confidence to command this, because the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping.<br />
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Even when I don't have words to say, when my heart just pours out in bitter tears; even when I feel like God doesn't hear, as though my heart cry is stopped by the ceiling—the Lord hears the sound of my weeping. He hears the sobs of grief, frustration, and hopelessness.<i> </i><br />
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<b>9:</b> <i>The Lord has heard my plea; the Lord accepts my prayer.</i><br />
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I did not only weep, I pled my cause to the King. If God doesn't just respond to my weeping, can I put into words what I want Him to do? I am desperate enough to importune Him. I addressed Him in prayer, asking urgently for favor.<br />
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He did not stop his ears, nor turn his back to me. He did not reject my desires nor cut me off. He didn't avoid or belittle me, nor discount my need. He didn't ignore me. He wasn't insensitive to my need, nor unsupportive. I was not rejected. The Lord <i>accepted </i>my prayer. It was enough to communicate to Him my need and the cry of my heart, and he accepts it. That is good enough for Him to act. I don't have to be perfect, I don't have to clean up my act first. He wants to be asked, and then He says, "What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee?" (Luke 18:41)<br />
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<b>10:</b> <i>All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled; they shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment.</i><br />
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Sin left me ashamed. I could not lift my eyes to heaven. I could not praise God. The guilt of sinning, all the while knowing to do better, left me only ashamed of myself. I was greatly troubled in my soul about this state. Who would deliver me? I felt I was turning back from following God. I was put to shame by my sinful behavior. How could God ever love me? How could anyone ever love me?<br /><br />My enemy seemed to be myself. I could not do the good that I truly wanted to do (Rom 7:19). The world also is arrayed as my enemy. It's values are paraded before me in advertisements, television, shopping malls, and conversations. Every sight and sound speaks seducingly to the sinful bent within me. And when I feel I may be doing okay, it seems out of nowhere negative thoughts arise, or reminders and memories of past sins, again tempting me. Satan, as a roaring lion, seeks to devour my soul.<br /><br />But all these enemies will experience the feelings they made me feel. They shall be ashamed. For God rebukes them for troubling me. He has accepted me into His victory over them and they shall be ashamed they ever bothered me. More than that they shall be greatly troubled, for God will discipline them in His wrath. The tempter-accuser, Satan, will be vanquished forever (Rev 20:10). The world and its works shall be burned up (2 Peter 3:9, 1 John 2:17). But what about the enemy within me? How is my sinful bent turned back and put to shame?<br />
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<li>God condemned sin in my flesh by Jesus' death on the cross. There is a death sentence on the sinfulness within me.</li>
<li>Being baptized into Christ Jesus, I have been united with Him in his death and resurrection. Identification with His death has set me free from sin which enslaved me. Identification with His resurrection means I now have the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit at work in me so that I can be enslaved to righteousness instead.</li>
<li>Now it's to some measure up to me: what will I set my mind upon and whose service will I yield my body to? Be careful that you don't yield to sin, or you will find a kind of enslavement to it again. (Romans 6:3-18, 8:10-11, Ephesians 1:19) </li>
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How gracious is God, that our groanings matter to him, and he collects every one of our tears in a bottle, as it were, recording our miseries
(Psalm 56:8). He has promised to continually work on us to make us like
Christ, therefore we can bank on his steadfast love, deliverance from
sin in our lives, and increased sanctification!Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14217235831900652204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23107007.post-77187326793345654282013-11-16T11:26:00.000-05:002013-11-16T11:26:02.983-05:00Reason Not To Sin - 1 John 4:15 - God Abides in You<div dir="ltr">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><i>Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.</i><br />1 John 4:15</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">God abides in you! Formerly, the wrath of God abode on you (John 3:36), but God has not only removed the wrath because of Jesus Christ, but He now lives in you.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">Formerly, the flesh was "sold under sin" (Romans 7:14, KJV); your body's master was sin. The will to do good may have been present, but without power to do it (Romans 8:3). However, Romans 8:9 says you are in the Spirit, if the Holy Spirit of God and of Christ is in you. Verse 10 says Christ is in you, and as a result, the ability to do good is present because of the resurrection power of God! (Romans 8:11)</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">Or did you not know that your body is described as a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you? In context, 1 Corinthians 6:19 is easy to apply thus: Don't sin, because you shouldn't want to defile the temple of God. But the fact is it's an amazing thing that God <i>dwells in you! </i>With Him dwelling in you, you have all the power you need to forsake sin. He wants to purge that temple from the inside out—clean it of all the trappings of sin and wickedness and man-made altars (See 2 Kings 16:10-18)</span></span></span></div>
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Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14217235831900652204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23107007.post-71673844807615716452013-11-08T22:34:00.004-05:002013-11-08T22:35:13.951-05:00Reason Not To Sin - 1 Peter 2:12, 15<div dir="ltr">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation....For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">1 Peter 2:12, 15, ESV</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">(1) For the glory of God among the unsaved. If others accuse us of being sinful in the ways that they are, looking for weakness and hypocrisy, and <i>don't </i>find it, that gives credence to God and <i>his</i> resurrection power in our lives. When God holds them accountable for those accusations, they will give God the glory for our deeds.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">(2) For the sake of conscience and not being hypocrites. The essence of the situation in this verse is that we may be accused of sin but we will be proven innocent. If we sin in ways that even the world would understand is wrong for a Christian, when accusations are made we won't be able to confidently plead innocence without being hypocrites and lying. If they suggest you do sinful actions when you go home or are alone, a clear conscience will support a heart-felt denial and cheerful demeanor. Defending yourself isn't necessary. Good<i> deeds</i> will do more to dispel accusations than words will.</span></span></div>
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Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14217235831900652204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23107007.post-24657987806584120612013-10-19T09:51:00.002-04:002013-10-19T09:53:21.153-04:00Reason Not To Sin - 1 Peter 2:11 - Strangers and War<div dir="ltr">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul.</i><br />1 Peter 2:11 </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">(1) Because we are strangers here. Jesus said in John 17:16 that we are not of the world, even as He is not of the world. We have a new origin: from God in heaven. Our lives shouldn't be conforming to this world. If we think our heart is with God, but treasure things of the world, Jesus has this to say: "Where your <i>treasure </i>is, there will your <i>heart </i>be also" (Matt. 6:21). Where is your treasure of time and money placed? That's where your heart actually is. (See also 1 John 2:15-17.)</span>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">(2) Lusts of the flesh wage war against the soul. Sin in our flesh fights to control us. Our soul is superior to the flesh, so when we give into fleshly urges (anger, lust, sometimes even eating!), we are letting our body win over our soul. This is not how God has created us in Christ! Rather, we now have God's resurrection power to rise above the deadness of the lust of the flesh, and our bodies now can be properly submitted to God's control. (See Romans 8:9-11, NASB).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">One more way lusts war against the soul is there will be an increasing deadness in our lives the more we sin (Rom 8:13, NASB). One sin leads to another, or to a new branch of sins. Sin separates us from God and his renewing influence (Rom 12:2). Sin takes you farther than you ever want to go. But Jesus can restore you quicker than you think possible!</span></div>
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Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14217235831900652204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23107007.post-57367476321631879072013-10-17T07:36:00.000-04:002013-10-17T07:36:37.255-04:00Reason Not To Sin - 1 Peter 2:9 - Into the Light<div dir="ltr">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><i>But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.</i><br /> 1 Peter 2:9</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Why not sin?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Because you were called out of darkness into His light. Have you known the darkness of sin? Maybe it left you feeling trapped or imprisoned. Maybe crushed and cast aside like highway litter. When sin rules our lives it can feel like we're at the bottom of a pit where the light can't reach. Habits are impossible to break, attitudes hopeless to change. Joy in the Lord impossible to manufacture.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">There <i>is </i>hope, however. Lazarus should never have seen the light of day again. He was dead and entombed. But Jesus <i>called him out of darkness into light. </i>1 Peter 2:9 is saying you are <i>already </i>in the light. "For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness," says 1 Thess. 5:5. "At one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light" (Ephesians 5:8). Have you known the light of true fellowship with Jesus? Our sins cloud our way, but to walk in the light begins with bringing our sins to Jesus (1 John 1:7,9).</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">After a week of clouds and rain, when you've had enough of depressing weather, how welcome is the sun peeking through the clouds? How much more the full brightness of a cloudless day! That is God's love for you! He came into your darkness and said, "I'll take care of this. You go free; You're forgiven." And He became your sins and died in your place once for all.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">You, however, must keep coming into the light before Him when you're dirty. You don't have to cleanse yourself, though, because God promised if you confess your sins, <i>He</i> will cleanse you from all unrighteousness!</span></span></div>
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Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14217235831900652204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23107007.post-3447006318600102352013-10-12T13:53:00.000-04:002013-10-12T13:54:20.814-04:00Reason Not to Sin - 1 Peter 2:5 - Holy priesthood<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><i>you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.</i></span><span style="color: black;"><br /> 1 Peter 2:5, ESV</span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Because in these last days, God chose you, in Jesus Christ, to exemplify how man ought to worship God.</span><span style="color: black;"> About 350 years after the priesthood was instituted, the priests despised God's rules, fattening themselves off the sacrifices and committing adultery with the female servants of the tabernacle (1 Samuel 2:12-17, 22). nearly 1000 years after the institution of the priesthood, God rebuked them for their contempt in Malachi 1:6-14. "Better to make no sacrifices at all than to keep up the charade!" God laments in Mal 1:10.</span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">But God wasn't satisfied with dissolving the priesthood. Malachi 3:1-3 describes His plan. The Lord would come to the temple and refine—purify the Levites to offer to the Lord an offering in <i>righteousness, </i>no longer in show! This is a picture of us. The Lord Jesus sacrificed Himself, entered the Holiest of Holies by His blood, and there made atonement for our sins before the Father (Heb 9:11-12, 14). Now we are <i>purified</i> from our former sins (2 Peter 1:9) and are fit to offer to God sacrifices in <i>righteousness</i>, acceptable to Him: "the fruit of lips giving thanks to His name" (Hebrews 13:15, KJV).</span></span></span></div>
Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14217235831900652204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23107007.post-83863583029581616272013-10-10T22:49:00.000-04:002013-10-10T22:49:15.435-04:00Reason Not To Sin - 1 Peter 1:23-25 - Born of Incorruptible Seed<div dir="ltr">
<i>Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.</i><br />
1 Peter 1:23-25, KJV<br />
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You have been born. Again. This time not of Adam, characterized by a flesh destined to perish because of sin, but of the Word of God. This was planted in our hearts when we first heard the gospel. The "flower of youth" lasts more briefly than your whole life, just as wildflowers bloom for a shorter lifespan than the stems beneath, which soon wither. Corruptible seeds are good for only so long, but the incorruptible Word of God bears eternal fruit. Your eternal life with God is its fruit! You don't have to walk around characterized by the corrupted flesh, because <i>you</i> are the one who was born brand new!<br />
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Verse 24 is quoted from Isaiah 40:6-8. Isaiah 40:26-31 continues from that starting point: don't bemoan your limitations due to your weak flesh. Let God raise you up to run and not be weary, and walk without becoming faint.</div>
Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14217235831900652204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23107007.post-40253668787746024762013-10-01T07:47:00.002-04:002013-10-01T07:52:48.139-04:00Reason Not To Sin - 1 Peter 1:22 - You Have Been Purified<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="color: black;">Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart</span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">1 Peter 1:22, ESV</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Because you are already pure in God's sight. Do you remember being convicted of your sin, seeing it as revolting as God does? Didn't you want to be delivered from its judgment and effects? In turning to God for His salvation, you found a purification of your soul. Where once it only brought forth corruption, at salvation you were <i>purified!</i> Did you know that, in God's sight, you have never stopped being pure?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Maybe you think, as one brother put it, "I've done too much [sin]. I don't want to trudge back through all that junk to get back to God; I'm just going to live over here." Don't throw your life away in sin, giving up on atoning for each sin you piled up before God. Sins after salvation do not corrupt our standing before God, because our standing is based on <i>Christ</i>, not on ourselves. Simply confess to God that you have sinned, and He promises to <i>forgive</i> (1 John 1:9). The atonement is already complete. Remember Jesus' words too: "The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean" (John 13:10, ESV).</span></span></div>
Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14217235831900652204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23107007.post-31913769968576261312013-09-30T22:28:00.001-04:002013-09-30T22:29:00.477-04:00Reason Not To Sin - "I'm saved"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I was out of town for the weekend so haven't gotten a new post together. In the meantime, here's a quick thought on the current topic.</div>
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<br />Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14217235831900652204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23107007.post-62951777661292895932013-09-27T08:27:00.000-04:002013-09-30T22:01:01.972-04:00Reason Not To Sin - 1 Peter 1:18-19 - Redeemed!<div dir="ltr">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-US"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers,</span></i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-US"><i><b> </b></i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-US"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.</span></i></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Why not sin?</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">(1) Because you have been redeemed. Bought back out of slavery to sin. The price paid wasn't ten bucks. it was the </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-US"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">highest </span></i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">price: Jesus Christ, Son of God! Can you imagine how filthy the world must look to God? Picture the earth, shrouded in darkness of sin, hanging in the darkness of space, with but one pinprick of light on the surface. That would be Jesus. He perfectly did what is right and good. How </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-US"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">precious </span></i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">He must have been to the Father! Such a precious lamb, He poured out his life on the cross.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">(2) That way of life is </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-US"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">futile</span></i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">. 1 Peter 4:3 says that </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-US"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">within our lifetime</span></i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> we have already experienced enough of the desires of "the gentiles," in lusts and everything else. Was it fully satisfying? No, it was the same thing over and over. We may have hoped for a different, better result each time, but instead it just trapped us further in sin. No one has ever found satisfaction in sin throughout all history. It's empty and like trying to grasp the wind. Only God is the source of unending pleasure! See Psalm 16:11!</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14217235831900652204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23107007.post-52691297905028144732013-09-25T22:42:00.002-04:002013-09-25T22:42:44.723-04:00Reason Not To Sin - 1 Peter 1:16-17 - Like the Father, Strangers in the World<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:</i><span style="color: black;">1Pet 1:16-17, KJV</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Why not sin?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">(1) To be like our Father. Verse 17 is almost saying, "Well, </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">you're </span></i></span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the one who calls God </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">Father. </span></i></span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Act like it, then."</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></i></span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">You claim Him as your Father, who begot you anew. Just as a child exhibits characteristics both inherited and learned from his parents, we too have, from our Father, an </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">ability </span></i></span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">to do what's right, but we also must learn to </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">do</span></i></span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> what's right. Since our Father is holy, it's fitting that we should also be holy: apart from sin like Jesus was.</span></span></span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">In contrast to the Holy Father, God, we have our surroundings: the world. The more we grow to be like God, the more out of place we will feel in this world. Which brings us to the next point.</span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">(2) You don't belong here. We are called exiles or sojourners (ESV, KJV). "This world is not my home, I'm just a-passing through." That song is right! The saying, "When in Rome, do as the Romans" does not apply to us! Though we are in the world, we must not act like the world because it is corrupted and fit only for burning (1 John 2:17, 2 Peter 3:10). Let us not act like those who are headed for that condemnation since we have been </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">saved </span></i></span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">from that doom!</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14217235831900652204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23107007.post-87680391951277407642013-09-23T22:48:00.000-04:002013-09-23T22:48:26.430-04:00Reason Not To Sin - 1 Peter 1:15 - Called by God<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><i>but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct</i></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><br />1 Peter 1:15, ESV</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Why not sin?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">We were called by God. He has a purpose for us, not to subject us to slavery and things we don't want to do (Rom 8:15). Rather, He has a purpose that makes us free and joyful. When sin entered the world, man and nature were subjected to vanity (Rom 8:20), but God's goal for you now is not vanity but fulness in Christ (Col 2:10). "He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it." (1 Thess 5:23-24, Phil 1:6).</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span lang="ja-JP"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">What a </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span lang="ja-JP"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">hope </span></i></span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span lang="ja-JP"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">we have! What </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span lang="ja-JP"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">grace</span></i></span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span lang="ja-JP"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> to be brought to us at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Pet 1:13)!</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span lang="ja-JP"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">God will surely do this independent of you, but you won't find joy in God's commands of holiness unless you consider Him faithful who promised, as Sarah did (Heb 11:11)—you won't find power to sanctify yourself or stay away from sin unless you trust in </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span lang="ja-JP"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">God's </span></i></span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span lang="ja-JP"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">power and purpose of holiness during each temptation.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14217235831900652204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23107007.post-88087844180046801072013-09-21T09:40:00.002-04:002013-09-21T14:37:17.281-04:00Reason Not To Sin - 1 Peter 1:14<i>As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
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1 Peter 1:14, KJV
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Why not sin?
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First, let me ask: do you or don't you want to be obedient? You may go through a time when you know what is right but aren't ready to do it. But if you do have a desire somewhere inside you to eventually submit and obey God, consider this: the lusts in which you may indulge—however heinous or not—are things associated with ignorance. Ignorance of God and ignorance of the soul-damaging characteristic of sin. But you are not now ignorant
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Or do you not know the love of God that sought you out long before you were born, that died on the cross for the sins which you may even now entertain? All your sins were still in the future when Jesus gave up His life for you. You are now fully accepted. You are brand new, created according to new things! So don't fashion yourself according to old lusts!Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14217235831900652204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23107007.post-35421651163244046072013-09-17T22:39:00.000-04:002013-09-17T22:40:36.832-04:00Reason Not To Sin - 1 Peter 1:13<div dir="ltr">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><i>Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;</i><br />1 Peter 1:13, KJV</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">There is a grace to be brought to us at the revelation of Jesus Christ. When Christ appears, we shall be like him, 1 John 3:2 says. That's quite a grace! Right now we have tendencies to sin. On <i>that</i> day, however—no longer! So we are told to "perfectly hope" upon that grace. Think of what you will be! And it is God's love and grace that will bring that to pass <i>without fail. </i>1 John 3:3 says that those who thus hope purify themselves. You can't think of sinning if you are in love with the God who will transform you into the likeness of Christ when he is revealed.</span></span></div>
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Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14217235831900652204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23107007.post-55996604220127774022013-09-16T20:09:00.001-04:002013-09-18T22:16:19.344-04:00Reason Not To Sin - 1 Peter 1:3 <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="JA"><span lang="JA" style="color: black;"><span lang="JA"><i>Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead...</i></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="JA"><span lang="JA" style="color: black;"><span lang="JA">1 Peter 1:3, NASB</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="JA"><span lang="JA" style="color: black;"><span lang="JA">Why not sin?</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="JA"><span lang="JA"><span lang="JA">(1) God exercised great mercy towards us! Our sins incurred a debt and didn't we come to God for mercy? All of God's wrath was upon us, who were sons of disobedience and not of sons God. But, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner," we cried like the tax collector in </span></span></span><span lang="JA"><span lang="JA"><span lang="JA">Luke 18:13</span></span></span><span lang="JA"><span lang="JA">, and God forgave all our sins. How can we sin with God's great, unconditional love on our side? (See </span></span><span lang="JA"><span lang="JA"><span lang="JA">Romans 8:31-39</span></span></span><span lang="JA"><span lang="JA">)</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="JA"><span lang="JA" style="color: black;">(2) We are born <i>again, </i>no longer defined by our Adamic birth and corrupted flesh. This is confirmed for us eternally because Jesus still is risen from the dead. Romans 6 explains we were crucified with Christ—<span lang="JA">dying to the corrupt rule of sin—and we were raised with Him to walk in new life. 1 Peter 1:3 indicates Jesus’ resurrection also was the moment of a new birth for us, where we come into God’s world as His children, according to </span><i>His</i> nature instead of that of Adam. Psalm 2:7 was quoted in Acts 13:33, clearly meaning that when God the Father said to the Son, “This day have I begotten thee,” it referred to the resurrection from the dead. So it makes sense that, if Jesus was birthed from the tomb, going from death to life, thereby being proclaimed to be the Son of God and proving to be of a divine birth; so we too have gone from death to life <i>with Christ</i>. Thus we are children of God. As children, we have His likeness indelibly within us; yet we must grow into that likeness as a child, who, though he looks like his parents and has their genetic makeup, must be trained and raised to be conformed to their will through obedience.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14217235831900652204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23107007.post-48929770609963878112013-09-12T22:11:00.005-04:002013-09-18T22:55:00.890-04:00More Than One Resurrection Going On Here!<b>Resurrection of Behavior</b><br />
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The verse in the header of this blog (Romans 8:10-11) has been a favorite of mine since I "discovered" it five years ago. It's a promise from God that, though our bodies still have a principle of sin in them, we, having been made alive to God, now have power at our disposal to choose not to sin and instead do right. What kind of power is that? Check it out in Ephesians 1:19-20. The power is the same that raised Christ from the dead! Wow! What power is greater than that?<br />
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Does sin have greater power than that? No. Nothing does. That's what I find encouraging. If we have a very small desire to rise above sin in our lives, all of God's power is available for us, and it is HE who wields it to a practical, day-to-day "resurrection" from sinful habits!<br />
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<b>Resurrection of Blog</b><br />
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The other resurrection going on here is that of this blog, which I haven't used in about five years.<b> </b>As the Lord allows, I plan to post frequent, brief devotionals on Bible verses, applying truths of God's love to our day-to-day "striving against sin" (Heb. 12:4). This series will be called "Reasons Not to Sin."<br />
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I welcome your comments on the posts. Let us "exhort <u>one another</u> daily, while it is called "today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." (Heb. 3:13)<br />
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If we set our minds on God's love for us in Christ, sin will lose it's appeal. I pray that the God will graciously use the upcoming posts for your encouragement and growth. <br />
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Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, [what kind of power? RESURRECTION power] to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21)Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14217235831900652204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23107007.post-59780253975726644922009-04-29T09:31:00.004-04:002013-09-18T22:58:44.687-04:00Clothed with ChristIt has been over a year since I last posted. God has been working in my life, growing me, and I have not been led to post anything. I am learning more to pursue God, and it is both trying to self and yet exciting to my spirit.<br />
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"The night is almost gone, and the day is at hand. Let us therefore lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts." (Romans 13:12-14)</blockquote>
I am struck by the fact that wearing deeds of darkness is contrasted with putting on Christ, NOT putting on good deeds. This indicates not subjecting myself to a law resulting in slavery, sin, and death, but to the principle of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus, a relationship with Christ (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%208:2,15;&version=49;">Romans 8:2,15</a>). I could be tempted to turn to good deeds when <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2013:11-14;&version=47;">"casting off" (ESV)</a> the evil deeds of darkness, but good deeds are to be an outflow of my relationship with Christ (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%208:3-4;&version=49;">Romans 8:3-4</a>).<br />
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Therefore, above all, to cast off my deeds of darkness <span style="font-style: italic;">I must maintain my personal relationship with God through Christ.</span> I have been learning and proving the necessity of this in my own life the past couple of days. It is only by being clothed by the sacrifice (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=gen%203:21;&version=49;">Gen. 3:21</a>) that my sins are atoned. It is only with the blood of the lamb the high priest could enter God's presence. It is only by coming to God in the name of His Son--the Lamb, the Sacrifice on my behalf--that I can come to Him at all! And so I must come to Him very CONSCIOUS of the fact that I come only because of my position "in Christ," and not by my own merit.<br />
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Being thus conscious before God of my own WORTHLESSNESS without Christ and my redeemed position IN Christ is to "put on" Christ.<br />
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This is not limited to prayer, the allocated time when I "come before God," but ALL THE TIME. For all my life is lived before the Lord (<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Gen. 17:1</span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=gen%2017:1;&version=49;"></a>).<br />
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Starting by remembering my relationship with God "in Christ," this becomes practical by the doing of the opposite of those deeds of darkness. In <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=eph%204:21-32;&version=49;">Ephesians 4:21-32</a> we see this very thing: put off falsehood, speak truth; cease stealing, work and give to the needy; speak not what is unwholesome, but edify with your speech. I must consider the specific sins, the "deeds of darkness," that I myself have indulged in, and ask the Lord, "What is the opposite of that sin, that, clothed with Christ, I may do instead?"<br />
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It is also important to note that verse 12 says I am to put on the armor of light. I have heard it explained that part of this is bringing my sins into the light, exposing them. Sin thrives in secrecy and darkness, and if there is any hope of being set free from its hold, I must confess it.Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14217235831900652204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23107007.post-20694444216945614942008-02-01T09:07:00.001-05:002008-02-01T13:08:27.897-05:00The Greatest Challenge to Doing What Is Right......Is doing what is hard."<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-size:85%;" >This quote is from an article by Mark W. Gaither, published in <span style="font-style: italic;">Insights</span> (Sept. 2007, p.2), the monthly newsletter from Insight for Living. I found it challenging to me, for, like in the life of King Saul, I find myself often doing what's right as long as it aligns with my comfort—or put another way: doing God's will when it happens to be mine as well. This is dangerous dealing and must be abandoned posthaste!</span><br /><br />"Generally speaking, people have two important values they hope to preserve: comfort and integrity. And, more often than not, right choices are the best way to preserve both. Obedience to the law and honest dealings are not only right, but they pay good dividends—usually. However, doing what is right often requires as step of faith, and it may include a measure of suffering. That's when we come face-to-face with an ugly truth: We typically make decisions that preserve our comfort and then feel relieved when they also happen tot maintain our integrity. When doing what is right requires us to choose between comfort and integrity, the resulting crisis can be debilitating. Because the instinct to safeguard our comfort is so powerful, we will have to be deliberate about making integrity the primary value in every decision—even the easy ones."Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14217235831900652204noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23107007.post-28715376004265474502008-01-31T09:32:00.000-05:002008-01-31T09:51:07.652-05:00Meditations from ChambersMy brother got me my own copy of Oswald Chambers' <span style="font-style: italic;">My Utmost for His Highest</span> for Christmas, and the Lord has blessed me with very relevant meditations from the book every day.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">January 28 — All I do should be based on a perfect oneness with Him, not on a self-willed determination to be godly.<br /><br />January 29 — Have I been persecuting Jesus by an eager determination to serve Him in my own way? ...My way will not be to foster a meek and quiet spirit, only the spirit of self-satisfaction. We presume that whatever is unpleasant is our duty! Is that anything like the spirit of our Lord— "I </span><em style="font-style: italic;">delight</em><span style="font-style: italic;"> to do Your will, O my God . . ." (</span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+40:8">Psalm 40:8</a><span style="font-style: italic;">).<br /><br />January 31 —</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Our calling is not primarily to be holy men and women, but to be proclaimers of the gospel of God....And as long as our eyes are focused on our own personal holiness, we will never even get close to the full reality of redemption. Christian workers fail because they place their desire for their own holiness above their desire to know God. "Don’t ask me to be confronted with the strong reality of redemption on behalf of the filth of human life surrounding me today; what I want is anything God can do for me to make me more desirable in my own eyes." ...There is no reckless abandon to God in that.</span><br /><br />I have been distracted by pursuit of holiness to the point of forgetting <span style="font-style: italic;">knowing God.</span> After all, <span style="font-style: italic;">redemption</span> is all about knowing God. Jesus said in John 17:3, "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." And redemption involves the fact that we are utterly sinful and helpless without Christ. No amount of satisfaction should be gained by how well we are doing or how mature we are growing in Christ. Focus should be on the Lord alone—His love while we were sinners, His grace in supplying salvation, His grace every step of the way.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Oh, the love that drew salvation's plan!</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Oh, the grace that brought it down to man!</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> At Calvary!</span><br /></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14217235831900652204noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23107007.post-47333809694240159432007-12-15T11:39:00.000-05:002007-12-15T11:58:01.612-05:00Acceptance Is Not By ConditionFirst of all, we must consider the area in which we are not accepted by God, nor ever can be. It is only natural for us to feel that our spiritual walk and service make us acceptable to our Father. We imagine that it is our responsibility (with His help) to live and serve so faithfully and fruitfully that He will approve of us, and therefore continually and abundantly bless us. We are making the natural mistake of depending on condition, instead of position, for our acceptance.<br /><br />Important as it is, service is often a condition-centered detriment in the lives of many zealous believers. When service is given predominance over fellowship with and growth in the Lord Jesus, <span style="font-style: italic;">doing, </span>instead of <span style="font-style: italic;">being, </span>takes over in the life. Fellowship and growth must ever take precedence over service and activity, otherwise spiritual declension sets in.<br /><br />In this reversal of God's order for us, the heart seeks satisfaction and a sens of acceptance through production (law), instead of reception (grace). Bible study and prayer, as well as one's outlook, become almost exclusively service-centered. Instead of life bringing forth service, service becomes the life. Thus, as long as the service goes well, the servant is happy and feels accepted. But once the service wanes, or fails to produce results, all else falls with it. We are to be sons, not servants. "Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son..." (Gal. 4:7).<br /><br />In time, we begin to realize that there is something very wrong with this entire concept. We become aware that our walk and service are less and less acceptable, even to ourselves. In seeking to <span style="font-style: italic;">do</span> rather than to <span style="font-style: italic;">be</span>, attempting to give out more than we take in, our condition becomes barren and carnal. We have been depending on self to do what only Christ our life can do; the farther we move on this tangent, the more active and malignant the self-life appears to be.<br /><br />What the condition-centered believer does not realize is that God Himself is causing this shattering revelation of self. He takes us into situations and relationships that finally cause us to face up tot the fact of our failure as Christians—our nothingness, our total unacceptability in ourselves. Not until we understand that in our flesh there "dwelleth no good thing" (Rom. 7:18), can we rest in our position of complete acceptance in the Lord Jesus, just as we are. To abide in Christ, and to consent to be loved while unworthy, is the believer's positional privilege and responsibility. Love functions according to its nature, not according to the quality of its object.<br /><br />The believer who is not abiding by faith in the acceptable One, but who is relying on his personal condition for acceptance, is hopelessly handicapped in the matter of fellowship, growth, and service. He is entangled in the self-effort of working to improve his condition, and is inevitably cast down in utter defeat. How can a defeated, depressed, self-centered Christian enjoy fellowship with the Father, or be at peace with Him? Yet, devastating as this Romans 7 trek is, it is our Father's preparation of us in order that we may shift our reliance and faith from our condition in ourselves, to our position in Christ. "...not I, but Christ..." (Gal. 2:20).<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"><span style="font-size:85%;">From <span style="font-style: italic;">The Complete Green Letters</span> by Miles J. Stanford; Zondervan Publishing House, 1983; pages 91-92.<br /></span></span>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14217235831900652204noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23107007.post-10600431481028064562007-12-10T21:34:00.000-05:002007-12-10T21:45:40.321-05:00Abba, Thou Art There<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-size:85%;" >While meditating on Psalm 139 and Psalm 63:6-8, I was moved to write a song. I believe it is from the Lord, for I have never found it easy to put together words that rhyme and convey the desired message.</span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Abba, Thou Art There<br /><br /></span></span>All my thoughts Thou <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">knowest</span>, all my ways canst see<br />Whether walking justly or full selfishly.<br />Thou, my Father <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">guardest</span> with Thy hand so <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">strong</span><br />With wonder I will praise Thee as I walk along.<br /><br />Whither from Thy Spirit can I ever go?<br />Furthest, deepest reaches—Thou my place dost know.<br />Though the billows hide me, cause me to despair,<br />Still Thy hand doth hold me, reaching even there.<br /><br />Abba, Thou art there so close beside me!<br />Though the night surrounds me it's not dark to Thee!<br />I will Thee remember in my darkest hour,<br />Think on all Thy goodness and Thy loving <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">pow'r</span>.<br /><br />Search me in my heart, my anxious thoughts please know;<br />Often they're not proper, faithlessness they show.<br />Lead me in Thy truth and guide me in Thy way<br />Till I'm come to glory in Thine eternal day.<br /></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14217235831900652204noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23107007.post-75770448033204889822007-11-17T13:05:00.000-05:002007-11-17T13:04:22.671-05:00Follow-up on "Doing Hard Things Starves the Flesh"<span style="font-size:85%;color:#999999;">In the comments on the last post, Gracie said some things which got me thinking. Since my post was also featured on </span><a href="http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2007/07/do-hard-things-according-to-ryan/"><span style="font-size:85%;">The Rebelution</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> <span style="color:#999999;">there was some good discussion which followed and I recommend to the readers of this blog. This post, however is to share the thoughts Gracie's comment provoked, and what the Lord has taught me on the subject.</span></span><span style="color:#999999;"><br /></span><br />In the months since I wrote the last post, I have learned first-hand that it is utterly impossible to rely on doing Hard Things to starve the flesh and "become godly." For the mature child of God especially, this is very much to be minimized.<br /><br />My point was possibly more applicable to a less mature Christian. For example, parents may train their children to obey without asking questions. Unconditional obedience builds habits and behavior patterns that are extremely influential in a lifetime of things to come. There's no question that's good training. However, as a child grows older and more mature, it is increasingly important for the parents to back off on the legalistic do-it-because-I'm-your-father approach and in lenience test the young person's training and love for his parents.<br /><br />This is what God does with us, too. When we were dead in sins, His commands were burdensome because they only showed us our incapacity to obey and brought condemnation upon us. When we place our faith in Christ's death on our behalf, our relationship with God is based on grace, not law (as Romans 7 says, we are now dead to the law).<br /><br />Being based on grace, our relationship to God is not conditional upon our performance. I shall repeat: <em>our relationship to God is not conditional upon our performance.</em> He bought us while sinners; He will not "dump" us because we sin after we're saved.<br /><br />My emphasis on doing in order to keep the flesh in subjection was undue. It is helpful only a little bit, especially, as I said above, in areas of more spiritual immaturity.<br /><br />Moreover, this Doing to keep the flesh subject is of "no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh" (Col. 2:23).<br /><br />Let's look at Colossians 2:20-23 (NASB)<br /><br /><blockquote>"If [since] you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of this world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, 'Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!' (which all refer to things destined to perish with the using)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom [a good thing] in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence." (Italics and brackets mine)</blockquote>These verses speak of the things we need not and should not bother with if we have died with Christ. Notice that they are all things in the physical world (like Doing Hard Things). Admittedly, such things are easier to remember to do, and they appear to be wise things to do, but actually have no power in themselves against indulging in the fleshly lusts. I find they are ineffective for two reasons.<br /><br />First, being things (Hard Things) we do with our physical bodies, in which is still the residual sin nature, they are in essence done with our bodies against our flesh. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. The problem arises when, with a subtle shift of focus, the become things done with our flesh against our flesh. You can immediately see the result: "if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand" (Mark 3:24).<br /><br />Second, everything we do flows out of our spirit. Whether you do good or evil, "The good man out of the good treasure of the heart brings forth good things; the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things" (Matt. 12:35). Thus the decision to sin, to indulge in fleshly desires, comes from the spirit. And no matter what your body is doing, if you are inclined to sin, no self-abasement in the physical realm will prevent the sin. Therefore the safeguard against sin lies instead in the spirit, and not in the flesh!<br /><br />While my original post was rather on the subject of Doing Hard Things, the subject was more about how to starve the flesh. But seeing from God's Word that Doing Things is ultimately of no use against fleshly indulgence, how can we overcome the flesh?<br /><br />Gracie put it well in the comments when she wrote,<br /><br /><blockquote>"[W]hen we are tempted to sin we can say, 'I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself up for me.' (Gal 2:20)"</blockquote>That is the essence, I believe, of Paul's command to "reckon yourselves dead to sin" in Romans 6:11. Let's also look at this in the context of Colossians where we were.<br /><br />Chapter 3 goes on to indicate growth in Christ and suppression of the flesh is effected in the unseen, spiritual realm to which we have been made alive: "seek the things that are above, where Christ is....Set your minds on things that are above." It’s not a physical activity required to prevent you from sinning; it’s a change of focus, a shift of reference point from the earthly to the realm to which you really belong: the heavenlies.<br /><br />Romans 13:14 is also indicative: "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts." Putting on the Lord Jesus is prerequisite to beating out the flesh.<br /><br />Setting your mind on Christ, and knowing your life is hidden with Him in God—resting in the fact that nothing of your condition will affect your eternal position—is a primary cause of reckoning yourself dead to sin.Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14217235831900652204noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23107007.post-49441143289454057752007-07-25T10:30:00.000-04:002008-01-02T21:21:08.039-05:00BUCKIT Week—Tuesday, July 24<span style="font-style: italic;">Wednesday, July 25, 2007</span> [writing about Tuesday, July 24]<br /><br />Picking up where I left off, the first two sessions yesterday were taught by Craig and were about “Unfolding the Book of Romans.” Several helpful things we learned:<br /><ol><li>Know what the book is about</li><li>Master the doctrine of Romans and the language of John (both books are about the gospel; John gives it all in illustration and example. Craig did this: he would teach some deep things and then give an example that appeals to common sense and justice.)</li><li>A kleptomaniac is not judged, when caught, because he is a kleptomaniac, but because of what he stole. We learn that God doesn’t punish us for being sinners, but for sinning. But the fact is that He did deliver us from both problems: the wrath of God (because of sinS) and the wreckage of Adam (we sin).</li><li>We went over the witnesses of Creation, Conscience, and the Law in God’s courtroom. All of them are lower than God’s perfect standard, but we can’t even meet those!</li><li>Belief is not a work meritorious of eternal life anymore than a bum on the street’s extending his arm to take a hamburger, that you graciously offer him, <span style="font-style: italic;">earns </span>him the hamburger.</li></ol>At the first break I was talking with Megan and Rachel H. and David about Japanese. Megan spent a school year in Japan and has been taking Japanese in college.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMOfo21YgdKc0OgmUf4XLAvn4zWW-DCTv1TmxpLSe02k20qIqpwxK0qGZAV5YuKCWvAUib9DbJuGFdnhcVdgCF7BKF4OhMzU9WuREAmumOee97kYLwmPntOlVhJybcVHr_fh1w/s1600-h/P1010008.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMOfo21YgdKc0OgmUf4XLAvn4zWW-DCTv1TmxpLSe02k20qIqpwxK0qGZAV5YuKCWvAUib9DbJuGFdnhcVdgCF7BKF4OhMzU9WuREAmumOee97kYLwmPntOlVhJybcVHr_fh1w/s320/P1010008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151059460502825778" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">A few smiling faces during a break. :) Craig is the one standing in the middle.</span><br /></div><br />During the lunch break (boxes and boxes of pizza brought in), I decided to hang out with Jeremiah. His prayers were very Bible-based and powerful, and I saw a heart for God in him. We had great conversation—Jeremiah, Daniel K., and me—discussing what we had learned and encouraging one another.<br /><br />After the first two sessions we had several hours of free time. Daniel and Rachel were indicating going over to the mall here to pass out tracts and talk to people about the gospel. Frankly, I was terrified. But our group, minus Nathanael, drove over and prayed, then entered the mall.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7y695r0I9fJf4MCncv7_TbFy-oT0pWVXLzgcupCYot0RisGfYJbTpq0mk9hrmpfQ5R-CCnCZaltnmjlJMY3zoradB3frN_kNkRwvsn_8XcQiZ8WzhxYayzT-tZAK6SbLDR1q/s1600-h/IMG_1537.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7y695r0I9fJf4MCncv7_TbFy-oT0pWVXLzgcupCYot0RisGfYJbTpq0mk9hrmpfQ5R-CCnCZaltnmjlJMY3zoradB3frN_kNkRwvsn_8XcQiZ8WzhxYayzT-tZAK6SbLDR1q/s400/IMG_1537.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151057815530351378" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">The mall, viewed from the direction of the hotel.</span><br /></div><br />Rachel and Jessica paired up, as did Arielle and Bethany. Daniel wanted to go off by himself, and that left me by myself. I saw Daniel got into a conversation with a man right away, but at every turn, when I saw someone sitting on a bench, I was reasoned my way out of doing anything. My time there was visibly unprofitable, except to show me how cowardly I am in beginning conversations about the gospel! Then I saw Jeremiah and Anna and was encouraged that others were there for evangelism too. Jeremiah soon was talking to a young man at a cellular phone kiosk. He is very outgoing...what an example! I also ran into Josiah and Megan, and David and Rachel H. They were all there and passed out a couple tracts, but Josiah felt like it was horrible, because of how little they did. I felt even worse about how I did, and I told them what happened with me.<br /><br />My group returned to the hotel about 5:45—we were expecting to go somewhere for supper at 6:00. Daniel and I took a brief walk around the hotel, and we discussed the difficulty I had doing God’s work earlier. No revelatory solutions came of it, but it was good to talk. :)<br /><br />When we had left the mall, Jeremiah was still talking to that fellow at the kiosk! We all left for supper without him. Transportation was the same as the previous evening: all those with cars drive past the entrance and all the people pile in, and we drive off. Supper was at El Ranchero, obviously a Mexican Restaurant. I sat in a booth in the corner with Nathanael, Josiah, and Daniel.<br /><br />As we waited for the food and then ate, we talked about all the things that we had learned that day and the previous day, and just how different our lives could and probably should be. Like what are we doing here in America, living like <span style="font-style: italic;">Americans?</span> Shouldn’t we be <span style="font-style: italic;">Christians?</span> Let’s live more simply, giving up all the world craves, so that we can have more time or money or resources to devote to the Lord’s work. We discussed the treasures we lay up in heaven versus the treasures of earth; the importance of doing everything for God from the heart or else it’s useless; and we marveled that Jeremiah was still talking at the Mall! Josiah sent him a text message, but we never heard back from them, so we were continually amazed. After the meal was finished and we were still sitting there (while the whole group finished), Josiah encouraged us to pray for Jeremiah’s work for God over there. So at 8:00 all four of us prayed for him and for the week and for our lives and God’s glory. We prayed with power that God would save the young man <span style="font-style: italic;">today</span>. What a great time of fellowship and marveling in the calling to which we have been called!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyjvz0DgXNkFft3GoaJIWaCuNIhigpbQXCNQSYc22wLoVPAW9yPunxz6HDgReLs-mW5FYvL9lbrrq4HHKJNZN-8dD1RJ_VzSqZSCi5jLW9Uz_BDw0w8DDlDlAhEoK41yY3OezX/s1600-h/nathanaeljosiah.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyjvz0DgXNkFft3GoaJIWaCuNIhigpbQXCNQSYc22wLoVPAW9yPunxz6HDgReLs-mW5FYvL9lbrrq4HHKJNZN-8dD1RJ_VzSqZSCi5jLW9Uz_BDw0w8DDlDlAhEoK41yY3OezX/s400/nathanaeljosiah.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151061522087127874" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Nathanael and Josiah</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfXuvbh6lFpKvNS1Vs7lMW6lm3Y4_ZZXt2ORKUZHugEk8IBQJ1wc-IY5MGzfaIP4OCaneYgYUXO5WMduAhNotxO1owwz3HWwdhiIvllmvUliBMFSlxSFWaZoDPcePRCQ__X6Gs/s1600-h/ryandaniel.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfXuvbh6lFpKvNS1Vs7lMW6lm3Y4_ZZXt2ORKUZHugEk8IBQJ1wc-IY5MGzfaIP4OCaneYgYUXO5WMduAhNotxO1owwz3HWwdhiIvllmvUliBMFSlxSFWaZoDPcePRCQ__X6Gs/s400/ryandaniel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151061577921702738" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Me and Daniel</span><br /></div><br />When we got back, we found Jeremiah and Anna in the conference room with sandwich materials on the table. Jeremiah began telling us about his experiences.<br /><br />The young man I saw him with, Collin, had not been sure whether we evolved or were created, and didn’t know if heaven and hell were real, physical places. Jeremiah asked if he had some time; he looked around and said, “I have all the time in the world!” (the mall was not at all crowded).<br /><br />And he heard the complete gospel. Jeremiah said that he was able to incorporate things that we learned only hours before, as he talked with Collin. When he was done he asked him if all of what he said made sense.<br /><br />“Man, that’s made the most sense of any religion I’ve ever heard,” was the reply.<br /><br />Jeremiah and Anna made sure to get him a Bible, and Jeremiah is pretty sure the young man is now saved!<br /><br />God gave him an open door with a man from another kiosk as they were leaving, and he stayed for another hour talking with a man who used to be in the churches, but who now suppressed the truth in unrighteousness, denying Jesus as the Son of God. The Lord was so faithful to bring to Jeremiah’s mind answers regarding evolution that he had heard many years before from <a href="http://www.answersingenesis.org/">Ken Ham</a>, and there was nothing to which he had to say, “I don’t know.” Finally, despite this man’s talkative nature, the Lord impressed on Jeremiah to share his personal testimony with the man, whose name was Cory. God shut Cory up the whole time that Jeremiah told his testimony. As he said is usual while he shares how he was saved, Jeremiah was weeping, and at the end, the man had gone away quiet and with a changed countenance, having been upset from his mindset of denial.<br /><br />Just think: God brought Jeremiah from Kentucky to Maryland to tell the gospel to these two people! I pray Cory also got saved.<br /><br />Jeremiah shared more of the details before the whole group in a few minutes, just before the last session of the evening. When he had finished his account Craig asked someone to pray for Collin and Cory and the night’s session (it was now 9:00). The Lord moved me to pray, and during the prayer, I was overcome by God’s grace and goodness in bringing together things we had learned, and the power and love of God through Jeremiah. I couldn't help but break down in tears, and I didn’t care. I was praying to God, not to men. In my spirit I claimed in those two men’s salvation. I ended the prayer, just falling into the Father’s arms, praising Him. O Lord, to you be all glory and honor! May I decrease and you increase forever!<br /><br />After the prayer, Jeremiah got up, came over, and gave me a hard hug. Craig suggested we sing “Thank You, Lord (for saving my soul).”<br /><br />The last session was about some tips for presenting biblical truths, very helpful for newbies like me!<br /><br />Afterward I noticed Rachel, Jessica, and Arielle retired immediately. It was kind of amusing, because it is so easy to get involved in conversations and go to bed late, that if you want any good amount of sleep, you have to not talk to anyone!<br /><br />I went over to Josiah and Jeremiah again, and Nathanael was there again too. We talked some more, marveling over God’s work. Jeremiah suggested—since he was going to bed—that we commit our night to the Lord in prayer. Josiah began, then Nathanael, then Jeremiah, then I ended. It was another tearful and awe-struck prayer session! I feel such a bond with these brothers! God, your power is amazing, and we owe you everything. You loved us despite our deserving wrath, but we can’t love you even according to what you deserve! Thank you for the privilege to spread your love to the unlovable world.<br /><br />Jeremiah went upstairs to spend time with his Lord and talk about the day with Him, while Josiah, Nathanael, and I decided to go for a walk. A young lady named Katie joined us after our prayer, feeling like she just missed something really important and deep. I felt sorry for her, because I have known what that’s like—walking in on the tail end of something so awesome and wishing I’d been there. So we invited her on our walk, and we walked probably a mile around the whole mall. She went in when we got back, but we men made lap after lap around the hotel while we talked some more. We must have walked four miles last night! What great fellowship!<br /><br />I managed to get to bed at 11:30 and sleep seven hours. Nathanael stayed up talking about biblical things with Justin until 1:00 or so! What a sweet sleep, and a sweet remembrance of what God did yesterday. I am so thankful that He is the same <span style="font-style: italic;">yesterday, today, and forever.</span>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14217235831900652204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23107007.post-35903300740988840542007-07-23T10:25:00.000-04:002007-12-19T21:46:04.299-05:00BUCKIT Week—Monday, July 23<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="en-US"><i>Tuesday, July 24, 2007 </i></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-style: normal;">[writing about Monday, July 23]</span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br />The pillows were very downy and squished down to thinner than I’m used to. I finally got to sleep about 12:00. Unfortunately I couldn’t sleep past 6:00 am., so I managed to survive on six hours of sleep for the day. I took my Bible and notebooks outside for a while to spend time with the Lord. It was a little chilly, but refreshingly so. After a while of looking at the 1 Chronicles 17 passage I’m studying, I determined I needed to write some more down, so I set up the laptop computer back in our room, while Daniel and Nathanael went down to breakfast.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br />About 8:00 I myself breakfasted in the lounge with James A. from Georgia, Austin T. from North Carolina, and Leah R. from Georgia. It’s inexpressibly joyous to fellowship with these people! We come from all over but are as close as family.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz_qC5apmVa6_TlHY13hClrPC-m8OmyPleqq-vl1nufUXGHXVVuYC1V7kUuUrRRYjUCF4-djX13BGUzIfuw926MALqmWFh3-PJc-NMQV_VabwYQmB59tytfgENmtwflnuRFESg/s1600-h/Jabe.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz_qC5apmVa6_TlHY13hClrPC-m8OmyPleqq-vl1nufUXGHXVVuYC1V7kUuUrRRYjUCF4-djX13BGUzIfuw926MALqmWFh3-PJc-NMQV_VabwYQmB59tytfgENmtwflnuRFESg/s200/Jabe.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145871363417425442" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;">A little past 9:30 the first session began. Jabe Nicholson is only here Monday and Wednesday this week, so we had three sessions in a row from Jabe. The first session was an introduction to Local Church Truths, concentrating on what God’s big idea for the church is:<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></span><ul><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><i>man and God in intimate fellowship!</i></span></span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;">The church should be marked by <i>supernatural love </i>and <i>supernatural power</i>. We are to live lives so different that there is no way people can refute the existence of God. What an awesome responsibility!</span></span></li></ul><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;">We had a half-hour break after the first session. Daniel, Rachel, Nathanael, Bethany, Megan (from Maryland University), Rachel H., and Austin and I all were talking with Jeremiah M. about his upcoming tour with the <a href="http://www.uplook.org/web/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogsection&id=11&Itemid=104">Good News on the Move</a> bus, and evangelism methods. It is so encouraging to see this eighteen-year-old’s zeal for the Lord and the gospel.<br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBvcPovFohuIOtAppLMCuSl1MN11GDeqrc7wUAakPUezE4vHHsQyFyVvXZSLdjZ3F5_58OV_E2VJdFRddPEpYmdNznGX4KjKSHlyQnh-iaPGFw9udZjs9DRDGKZyP4yeLNZBmB/s1600-h/David+and+Jeremiah.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBvcPovFohuIOtAppLMCuSl1MN11GDeqrc7wUAakPUezE4vHHsQyFyVvXZSLdjZ3F5_58OV_E2VJdFRddPEpYmdNznGX4KjKSHlyQnh-iaPGFw9udZjs9DRDGKZyP4yeLNZBmB/s320/David+and+Jeremiah.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145872239590753858" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">David and Jeremiah<br /></span></div><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;">The second session concentrated on culling church principles from the Acts, looking to what the early believers <i>did </i>before we look into the epistles. This was also insightful into the fundamentals that make up a church.<br /></span></span><ul><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;">Patient waiting on the Spirit of God—so often we just run ahead with our ideas instead of really relying on the Holy Spirit.</span></span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;">Occupation with Christ—the early church was willing to die for the name of Christ. Everything they did was in His name, and everything they did therefore reflected well or evil of Christ.</span></span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;">Loyalty to the Word of God—they were faithful to show from the scriptures why Jesus had to die, and to point out Israel’s and everyone’s sin which separates them from God. The Word of God was their only authority; nothing was from their own opinions.</span></span></li></ul><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;">During the second break—in which we ate Chick-Fil-A brought in—I got to talk to Daniel G., an MK from Zambia. It was very interesting to hear about the mission field there: the struggles of the believers to overcome their cultural preference for going to the witch doctor or to buck their traditions and not conform to their close-knit communities. I know better how to pray for believers in Zambia now, and believers in more tribal kinds of cultures.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br />The third session involved some small-group discussions about hypothetical situations in which churches could begin. For instance, a remote tribe gets a hold of a Bible in their own language and is converted through reading God’s word. What do they do now? How will they form the church? They won’t be preprogramed with Western ideas of Church. This session, though long, was very informative. Very eye-opening about how little we need to “do church.”</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br />For supper, we went up I-81 a couple exits to Ryan’s, a buffet restaurant. There was great food and fellowship. I got photos of all the tables of the BUCKIT Week attendees (below are most of them). We finished supper about 8:00.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqFfZSkjlMd39nadgbI6OdRragIiWSs0aVqMyeSxnR3NkGH56Snf-vgludsrQTvmZ8MHaGCpdW-GiMwVSHcKBjIU2QCv8Q7fylLftxhFjbKgqNtgt1NKL3SsUy6upGIqUoKmTG/s1600-h/IMG_0658.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqFfZSkjlMd39nadgbI6OdRragIiWSs0aVqMyeSxnR3NkGH56Snf-vgludsrQTvmZ8MHaGCpdW-GiMwVSHcKBjIU2QCv8Q7fylLftxhFjbKgqNtgt1NKL3SsUy6upGIqUoKmTG/s320/IMG_0658.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145873721354470994" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Our teachers: Craig Shakarji, Jabe Nicholson, and Mike Flester<br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGuOCoweirBs3putrnoCWWH3pDb0ziOF4T1IBpjZ0VGbIXwUpZJWSK_eTBY4gMV4vd-jBgfpcWe6oKJjLhtY2u_l-1MGfPedObOAkKbnJFLemxxxL-j74moOb2nGuC0BAIxXV6/s1600-h/IMG_2452.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGuOCoweirBs3putrnoCWWH3pDb0ziOF4T1IBpjZ0VGbIXwUpZJWSK_eTBY4gMV4vd-jBgfpcWe6oKJjLhtY2u_l-1MGfPedObOAkKbnJFLemxxxL-j74moOb2nGuC0BAIxXV6/s320/IMG_2452.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145874232455579234" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Me and Daniel K.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP7_4iJcaln3N2NeNd0MP2M1WeRzmm4IEVnFiNifnwsis87iGQL34ZwQFXrin44_WuGH7nEo2LO5tVA9vpPnCh3n7M7WGuUz2To-1vKYZxRJKAty_va-1siPz2MqGTl0QpAeil/s1600-h/IMG_2453b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP7_4iJcaln3N2NeNd0MP2M1WeRzmm4IEVnFiNifnwsis87iGQL34ZwQFXrin44_WuGH7nEo2LO5tVA9vpPnCh3n7M7WGuUz2To-1vKYZxRJKAty_va-1siPz2MqGTl0QpAeil/s320/IMG_2453b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145874382779434610" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Rachel K. and Rachel H.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiAebWgR9ZFAdL6mUurVqMsxC2u4ODXf3imc35FeWFaqZL9QdE9bfKmaDj07FqDOKhMbVX0ZdLsuLJ8v_GCCp6_TO_zYCszL266kw9j-fgtbDGgC_A0_KF7LJ1ZstopvCpQixy/s1600-h/IMG_0648.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiAebWgR9ZFAdL6mUurVqMsxC2u4ODXf3imc35FeWFaqZL9QdE9bfKmaDj07FqDOKhMbVX0ZdLsuLJ8v_GCCp6_TO_zYCszL266kw9j-fgtbDGgC_A0_KF7LJ1ZstopvCpQixy/s320/IMG_0648.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145874769326491266" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">David, Jeremiah, Mike A., Jonathan, Austin</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDBxZU2Mo_XdSDS_ZoZyPrdDPZHZViD166WQ5iYQ7_kdwbMKDO-K2h2YNxy6OGYa83zq9veIYkdLT5FdWUowdoRO6Y_6KAFRUygZuzP5sulPcqzwfdSQRxOxz3Vg8EZVlZRI5j/s1600-h/IMG_0649.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDBxZU2Mo_XdSDS_ZoZyPrdDPZHZViD166WQ5iYQ7_kdwbMKDO-K2h2YNxy6OGYa83zq9veIYkdLT5FdWUowdoRO6Y_6KAFRUygZuzP5sulPcqzwfdSQRxOxz3Vg8EZVlZRI5j/s320/IMG_0649.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145875164463482514" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Jason, Andrew H., Shane<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxDS8es1yPmIUSVEnlCQOH1asZrhZWKQ-C3Du_pF6JrP9bdzkMj6aBVA-gmUt-MHh1k0DbNCYWsC3hlMYCKgiXlmANPLxoY9Sb9mVA3Pw75lnmS40gANHVu9I6Wiak-G9lWAmP/s1600-h/IMG_0650.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxDS8es1yPmIUSVEnlCQOH1asZrhZWKQ-C3Du_pF6JrP9bdzkMj6aBVA-gmUt-MHh1k0DbNCYWsC3hlMYCKgiXlmANPLxoY9Sb9mVA3Pw75lnmS40gANHVu9I6Wiak-G9lWAmP/s320/IMG_0650.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145875495175964322" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Sharon, Katie, John, Nathanael, Josiah<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYLwuiQ5zzPBrPSv344NPvr0Hmw4UbGKMnaXXry8TrhxVpQF_wC5ezHmbFoyyRZroq_HPlsemAB8jQRCxih_2IEdaKCtsGrf5Os1loHRx5zUqyk2ebN35ANcOwbQf8L9jh80ES/s1600-h/IMG_0652.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYLwuiQ5zzPBrPSv344NPvr0Hmw4UbGKMnaXXry8TrhxVpQF_wC5ezHmbFoyyRZroq_HPlsemAB8jQRCxih_2IEdaKCtsGrf5Os1loHRx5zUqyk2ebN35ANcOwbQf8L9jh80ES/s320/IMG_0652.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145876354169423538" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Mike and Jess R., me, Tami and Ozzie<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkEEtjHnF_w3wq_iJthfl0g7zA5N3IAV9er7TbWpj6MZQ0b7wOj4jo5JnvdTWYwRyMXzy9keApR-tuBm7_07rK4J42DFu5tQGnz4TSVV_e1IZqumL9QV0i6kW3zRjjFLA8irA0/s1600-h/Tiffany+Elspeth+Leah.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkEEtjHnF_w3wq_iJthfl0g7zA5N3IAV9er7TbWpj6MZQ0b7wOj4jo5JnvdTWYwRyMXzy9keApR-tuBm7_07rK4J42DFu5tQGnz4TSVV_e1IZqumL9QV0i6kW3zRjjFLA8irA0/s320/Tiffany+Elspeth+Leah.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145877067133994690" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Tiffany, Elspeth, Leah<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1gVT2_uF925Fsti_SvjWGcJMisoTvOz2WUFTferayADh4mK-XXwmwpX2WOL2-crEO0pd9hRvGChk_MQBfW4w8wm8YJkPyYvzxmC-X7nnEn-LmqqlDCVA5VEhB0yoUhiRIAv9S/s1600-h/IMG_0655.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1gVT2_uF925Fsti_SvjWGcJMisoTvOz2WUFTferayADh4mK-XXwmwpX2WOL2-crEO0pd9hRvGChk_MQBfW4w8wm8YJkPyYvzxmC-X7nnEn-LmqqlDCVA5VEhB0yoUhiRIAv9S/s320/IMG_0655.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145877522400528082" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Jeremy, James, Joe-Paul<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOLGUClwGmTSBxJqRY5OQySIiEm6nuCOoK4BEU0T9za18aRrPx2nCA9FYcoj6eId7vHON-lVENKbdolmR2UqGp0BgLnwKBMSi7eX3GgUVicdjRCTYwdPo1cQnjRagaOGFfc6kf/s1600-h/IMG_0656.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOLGUClwGmTSBxJqRY5OQySIiEm6nuCOoK4BEU0T9za18aRrPx2nCA9FYcoj6eId7vHON-lVENKbdolmR2UqGp0BgLnwKBMSi7eX3GgUVicdjRCTYwdPo1cQnjRagaOGFfc6kf/s320/IMG_0656.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145877792983467746" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Charlotte, Megan, Anna H., Elizabeth<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBTNg0PaGcA-YES5udFNkHzXlddHtW80AIfaCZ-x9TH5FPTjbYtxVANg3_lQatmZtKqp8K-cOz5UUO54G0znG8OczHdgnhxslQ2n4bbd2HEnn0sJ41EkVUCn9vyd_W-j0TOwl2/s1600-h/IMG_0657.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBTNg0PaGcA-YES5udFNkHzXlddHtW80AIfaCZ-x9TH5FPTjbYtxVANg3_lQatmZtKqp8K-cOz5UUO54G0znG8OczHdgnhxslQ2n4bbd2HEnn0sJ41EkVUCn9vyd_W-j0TOwl2/s320/IMG_0657.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145878175235557106" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Bethany, Arielle, Joyce, June</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;">Back at the hotel I tried to figure out the wireless network on Mom’s laptop (on which I’m typing this) but to no avail. Nathanael and I traded photos we’d taken so far.<br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZac4FivTtf7Tiv5yXpQDOnb1mi2jKIiYt4MJGmdwy0YP3E3pEu82sVZLZf3tNLClNvhiwi5X1dfxzgDoGCa9g2lfFekzvjwVHfjegBZczzuZ7AKoJpxbO16FSSCCAeK-FwYx3/s1600-h/ryanlaptop.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZac4FivTtf7Tiv5yXpQDOnb1mi2jKIiYt4MJGmdwy0YP3E3pEu82sVZLZf3tNLClNvhiwi5X1dfxzgDoGCa9g2lfFekzvjwVHfjegBZczzuZ7AKoJpxbO16FSSCCAeK-FwYx3/s320/ryanlaptop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145879081473656578" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">As you can see, the network problem was frustrating! :)<br /></span></div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />Craig had given us an assignment of a passage of Matthew to read and make observations about, so I tried to do that in the lounge. It proved too noisy to be fruitful, however, and I went back to the room to work on it. That worked! It was about 10:30 by the time I was done observing, and I was tired enough to go to bed, but lonely enough to return back to the lounge to see who was around and what was going on.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-style: normal;"><br /><br />I found Nathanael, Daniel </span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-style: normal;">G</span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-style: normal;">., Rachel and Anna H., Bethany, and Austin talking. It wasn’t long before Justin found and joined us and immediately wrested control of the conversation! I smile to think of it, because Justin is an extreme extrovert, and loves finding connections between other people to facilitate conversation. He’s so funny and inspiring. He makes me want to step out of my reserved shell.<br /><br /></span></span></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75g9Ivypnei7FNGL29PHiUMSOf3bUx6b1JupsaVRXlM-B7Otz9q03C9hd1k9rCXh7YcD0WSg9MSGBEwzX2lShNHQYxD-GJmhmLLSGoD6TASZ3PAibrOxw0Fjg8BrQypgmzbQq/s1600-h/justintalking.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75g9Ivypnei7FNGL29PHiUMSOf3bUx6b1JupsaVRXlM-B7Otz9q03C9hd1k9rCXh7YcD0WSg9MSGBEwzX2lShNHQYxD-GJmhmLLSGoD6TASZ3PAibrOxw0Fjg8BrQypgmzbQq/s320/justintalking.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145879747193587474" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">(Clockwise) Bethany, Daniel G., Rachel H., me, Justin, Austin<br /></span></div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-style: normal;"><br />After a good long time, it was down to Austin, Nathanael, me, Justin and Daniel Geesey. Justin, having no sisters good-naturedly grilled Nathanael on what it’s like to have eight sisters, and what </span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="en-US"><i>they</i></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-style: normal;"> are like. That kept us up until 12:30. I slept for six hours again, getting up this morning at 6:30.</span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br />[writing about Tuesday, July 24]</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br />It’s almost time for the first session now, so I’m going to pause for now and pick this up later.</span></span>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14217235831900652204noreply@blogger.com4