I am subscribed to an email group of people in a particular area of my profession that spans all across the State of NY. This morning I received an invitation to a "Summit" that was going to be held in Skaneateles Falls (near Syracuse) some time in May.
Well, a funny thing happened. Another subscriber to the list who happens to live in New York City, meant to forward the summit invitation to a co-worker of hers. Instead of clicking Forward, however, she clicked Reply to All or something like that. The result was she wrote:
"Do you think this is worth the trek? Perhaps you and Doug could go. The big issue is the travel - it is up in the boonies."
I laughed... ha ha...
14 minutes later, received another email from same person, "Sorry all. That was meant for my staff not all of you. The travel upstate is difficult and time consuming for us City folk."
I chuckled again remembering the first email...
Then, 45 minutes later, another subscriber to the list (up in Niagara County) writes:
"Those 'boonies' are the most beautiful part of New York, it is called the Finger Lakes. Wake up Big 'rotten' Apple!
- Geography, you'd be lost without it!"
Now, I like the City, so I'm already 'against' this guy, but really... did he have to bother writing that. I mean, why not just accept the apology, and realize that City folks look at the rest of the state differently - just like this guy looks at the city differently!
Oh well, I don't know... funny enough, as I was typing this post, I got another email from teh same list with someone asking to be removed from the list! And it was a direct reply to the previous email! - now that's funny.
Just a thought...
Friday, January 18, 2008
Thursday, January 17, 2008
How Have You Proved Him?
As we were singing in church last night... "Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him. How I've proved Him o'er and o'er." I was thinking about ways in which I have proved Jesus in my life.
What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you ask yourself, How have I proved Jesus? How have I tried Him?
I have asked Him to answer prayers in my life, and He has. I have asked Him to make known certain paths, and He has done these things and not let me down. He has been faithful to His word every step of the way. It is great that His mercies are new every morning, that great is His faithfulness!
But, if I were to be honest with myself, and ask myself, what's the first thing that comes to my mind when I ask that question, How have I proved Jesus? It has to do with my sinfulness. Every time I sin, I am trying Jesus' longsuffering and forbearance towards me. I am proving that He indeed has washed all of my sins in His blood.
I am reading in Revelation right now, and a couple times I have seen that phrase about the Lamb having washed our sins in His blood. I trust Him with my salvation, but I have proved Him o'er and o'er and o'er and o'er... 'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus.
Just a thought...
What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you ask yourself, How have I proved Jesus? How have I tried Him?
I have asked Him to answer prayers in my life, and He has. I have asked Him to make known certain paths, and He has done these things and not let me down. He has been faithful to His word every step of the way. It is great that His mercies are new every morning, that great is His faithfulness!
But, if I were to be honest with myself, and ask myself, what's the first thing that comes to my mind when I ask that question, How have I proved Jesus? It has to do with my sinfulness. Every time I sin, I am trying Jesus' longsuffering and forbearance towards me. I am proving that He indeed has washed all of my sins in His blood.
I am reading in Revelation right now, and a couple times I have seen that phrase about the Lamb having washed our sins in His blood. I trust Him with my salvation, but I have proved Him o'er and o'er and o'er and o'er... 'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus.
Just a thought...
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
A Soft Answer
A soft answer turneth away wrath...
a SOFT answer...
{pauing to consider how I can give a SOFT answer}
turneth away wrath...
That is, if I want to avoid strife (caused by grievous words), then I should give a soft answer. If I like strife and wrath, then I should answer the way that I 'naturally' would answer. But if I want peace, whether it be with my spouse, co-workers, kids, teachers, friends, etc., then I should give a soft answer.
Proverbs 15:1 - think about that today.
Just a thought...
a SOFT answer...
{pauing to consider how I can give a SOFT answer}
turneth away wrath...
That is, if I want to avoid strife (caused by grievous words), then I should give a soft answer. If I like strife and wrath, then I should answer the way that I 'naturally' would answer. But if I want peace, whether it be with my spouse, co-workers, kids, teachers, friends, etc., then I should give a soft answer.
Proverbs 15:1 - think about that today.
Just a thought...
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
It Means THAT? Really?
I had a couple different ideas to post today, but the others required more work, so I am just going to share a pet peeve of mine that I experienced recently. I was reading something, and I found the author of this material trying to show that the 'secular' thing they were talking about was supported biblically. I will not use names to protect the guilty.
An example... no, I won't use that one... hmm...
Ok, let's say that there was someone that was trying to tell me that Michael Jordan was not a good defensive player. And they bring out the Bible to show that they "passed over Jordan." That would be an extreme example of what I am talking about. They want to make some kind of extrabiblical statement, and re-inforce their position by using some wording in the Bible.
Or, maybe they want to show that whatever principle they believe, whether good or bad, is found in the Bible and therefore we should follow their example.
Alight, I'll stop now to avoid getting in trouble, but let's just let the Bible say what it says, and there is room to say good things that aren't in the Bible (brush your teeth!), but let's not pretend that these things are biblical.
Just a thought...
An example... no, I won't use that one... hmm...
Ok, let's say that there was someone that was trying to tell me that Michael Jordan was not a good defensive player. And they bring out the Bible to show that they "passed over Jordan." That would be an extreme example of what I am talking about. They want to make some kind of extrabiblical statement, and re-inforce their position by using some wording in the Bible.
Or, maybe they want to show that whatever principle they believe, whether good or bad, is found in the Bible and therefore we should follow their example.
Alight, I'll stop now to avoid getting in trouble, but let's just let the Bible say what it says, and there is room to say good things that aren't in the Bible (brush your teeth!), but let's not pretend that these things are biblical.
Just a thought...
Monday, January 14, 2008
Sola Gratia? Impossible
(I just like catching people with fun titles :)
Sola Gratia - Grace Alone. This is one of the five main sola's of the Reformation. Sola Scriptura, Soli Deo Gloria, Solo Christo, Sola Gratia, and Sola Fide. (Scripture Alone is the standard, For the glory of God alone, By Christ's work alone are we saved, Salvation by grace alone, Justification by faith alone)
Now, my title implies that Sola Gratia is impossible. Really, though, the purpose of my post is to comment on how we use a particular word: Grace. We often elevate the actual function of that word to the point where it loses its actual meaning. Grace means: "Favor; good will; kindness; disposition to oblige another..." (according to Webster's "1611" dictionary).
Here's my point. We often speak of "Grace" as being the actual action taken. The way I understand the word, grace is the 'disposition' to do some action. If I show grace to somebody, then I show them favor. If I show them favor, if I have grace, then I will proceed to perform some action, or respond in some particular way, etc.
When we say that we are saved by grace. Grace is not the effectual saving agent, but rather the causal saving agent (Whoa! Really loaded words!) That is, Grace is not what saves. Grace is what caused God to perform some action (sending His Son to appease God's wrath in our stead's) which saves.
"I am what I am by the grace of God." It is not grace alone, but rather grace caused God to move in certain ways in Paul's life to make him what he was. The cause was grace, but grace cannot be alone.
Am I babbling today? Do I make any sense? If I do make sense and you disagree with me, I'd love to hear from you. If I made no sense at all, and you'd like some further explanation, I'd also love to hear from you.
Just a thought...
Sola Gratia - Grace Alone. This is one of the five main sola's of the Reformation. Sola Scriptura, Soli Deo Gloria, Solo Christo, Sola Gratia, and Sola Fide. (Scripture Alone is the standard, For the glory of God alone, By Christ's work alone are we saved, Salvation by grace alone, Justification by faith alone)
Now, my title implies that Sola Gratia is impossible. Really, though, the purpose of my post is to comment on how we use a particular word: Grace. We often elevate the actual function of that word to the point where it loses its actual meaning. Grace means: "Favor; good will; kindness; disposition to oblige another..." (according to Webster's "1611" dictionary).
Here's my point. We often speak of "Grace" as being the actual action taken. The way I understand the word, grace is the 'disposition' to do some action. If I show grace to somebody, then I show them favor. If I show them favor, if I have grace, then I will proceed to perform some action, or respond in some particular way, etc.
When we say that we are saved by grace. Grace is not the effectual saving agent, but rather the causal saving agent (Whoa! Really loaded words!) That is, Grace is not what saves. Grace is what caused God to perform some action (sending His Son to appease God's wrath in our stead's) which saves.
"I am what I am by the grace of God." It is not grace alone, but rather grace caused God to move in certain ways in Paul's life to make him what he was. The cause was grace, but grace cannot be alone.
Am I babbling today? Do I make any sense? If I do make sense and you disagree with me, I'd love to hear from you. If I made no sense at all, and you'd like some further explanation, I'd also love to hear from you.
Just a thought...
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