tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246717922024-03-07T15:28:51.819-06:00rustymodem blogs<b>Gospel Centered, Faithful to Scripture,
Desiring Christ Exalted,
Falling out of Love with the World,
And into Rest in God</b>Rusty Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17842912193452161446noreply@blogger.comBlogger73125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24671792.post-89882250924131330192024-01-02T14:43:00.000-06:002024-01-02T14:43:18.540-06:00Fixed vs Fluid<p> I didn't attempt to be poetic, but after rereading this I thought I should post it. </p><p><br /></p><p>What if things that are fixed became fluid? <br />Things like the sun always rises at this point at this time. <br />Monday always turns into Tuesday never Sunday. <br />Acorns grow into oaks. Is their growing fluid or fixed?<br /><br />And what if things that are fluid became fixed? <br />I can choose meat or vegetables. I can travel to Paris or Rome. <br />I can study math and football yet become a gardener. <br />Gardners planting acorns are growing oaks. Is their planting fixed or fluid?<br /><br />Where is the boundary between things fixed and things fluid? <br />Between land and sea, between air and outer-space, between life and death?<br />What if Alice in Wonderland woke up inside Groundhog Day? <br /><br />--<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">You set a boundary that they may not pass,<br />so that they might not again cover the earth.<br /> Psalm 104:9</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixYZ_TdYBVgg2Rmq81OHSUIl9tXSNfMVBUfF7mdU7gGOUBznrIQKnKUz_WBUEE9-I_VusmpGMrvZofbYoMg8FKf1hdLkRdpKWFkonu0U9bk40D2XHmydyKjUzqtGE3TKwchyTvmfOFJMyNfAZ-rMSXSvtSoZqOrJXsfT74zXxhnZ8AEkzoURqlYw/s1600/God%20placed%20a%20sea%20sand%20boundary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="941" data-original-width="1600" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixYZ_TdYBVgg2Rmq81OHSUIl9tXSNfMVBUfF7mdU7gGOUBznrIQKnKUz_WBUEE9-I_VusmpGMrvZofbYoMg8FKf1hdLkRdpKWFkonu0U9bk40D2XHmydyKjUzqtGE3TKwchyTvmfOFJMyNfAZ-rMSXSvtSoZqOrJXsfT74zXxhnZ8AEkzoURqlYw/w581-h341/God%20placed%20a%20sea%20sand%20boundary.jpg" width="581" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Rusty Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17842912193452161446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24671792.post-44424721253389567042022-04-28T10:59:00.000-05:002022-04-28T10:59:14.985-05:00<p> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ordinary Criminals Like You and Me</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLDfdy7nGNp_NpjX0Rcw-mJmS5g55CSI7Lh8eL5T3ydEGit7hGLYwRdX0e9tkkBRcMNSvAh-odSOUDjD05TBH2gNsE8LBQm--k2KIBaIf0Hj0Rg6ZF6H-IMtF-9ky548hshDvYcoQX0srAUpZFFltXsG8MQh1oFPCxvdZnQoYwAtjH7qp2af8/s815/looks-like-youve-had-a-bit-too-much-to-think-8771430.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="815" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLDfdy7nGNp_NpjX0Rcw-mJmS5g55CSI7Lh8eL5T3ydEGit7hGLYwRdX0e9tkkBRcMNSvAh-odSOUDjD05TBH2gNsE8LBQm--k2KIBaIf0Hj0Rg6ZF6H-IMtF-9ky548hshDvYcoQX0srAUpZFFltXsG8MQh1oFPCxvdZnQoYwAtjH7qp2af8/s320/looks-like-youve-had-a-bit-too-much-to-think-8771430.png" width="196" /></a></div><br /><span id="docs-internal-guid-11cf9213-7fff-f1ee-ce1d-4e771b7b95ca"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Seventeen Stages of Evil</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 Establish a set of ideals and beliefs that insinuate your superiority over others. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2 Provide logical justification for implementing your beliefs.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3 Have clearly defined behaviors that the members of your group must endorse. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4 Reinforce steps 1, 2, and 3 as often as possible through discussion and written material until they become your primary beliefs. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5 Have members contractually agree to the above steps– this reinforces a sense of obligation to the group and it’s leaders. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6 Select a charismatic spokesman to advertise your group and reinforce your beliefs. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7 Create a range of punishments for those who do not conform. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8 Emphasize the importance of conformity and punishment to help members aspire to your ideals. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9 Insist that each member find new initiates to join the group. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">10 Institute severe penalties for those who may wish to leave the group.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">11 Limit alternative perspectives and communication between members of your group.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">12 Exclude, as much as possible, contact with people from outside the group.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">13 Identify a group that opposes your beliefs and ideals.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">14 Depersonalize and denigrate those who are not members of your group.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">15 Gradually increase hostility and aggression toward the out-group.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">16 When dealing with the “enemy” create a sense of anonymity. a) Don’t use names for your victims. b) Give impressive titles to active members of your group. c) Wear a uniform or a mask, or some other distinctive marker.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">17 The final solution: eliminate the enemy.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“ The first 5 steps can be found in the dynamics of nearly every group, whether social, political, religious etc. Farther down the list, groups become more authoritarian and cult-like. The final steps are used to coerce members of hostile fringe groups into carrying out socially disruptive acts. Nearly all these steps are used to various degrees by military and prison authorities throughout the world.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “ We can conclude that moral behavior is highly dependent on our personal interactions with others. The more anonymous we can be, the easier it is for us to behave immorally.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I hope that you, as I did, became more and more uncomfortable as I read down this list. Especially once you passed #6.</span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Rusty Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17842912193452161446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24671792.post-11763902532244343752020-07-08T11:55:00.003-05:002020-07-08T11:55:54.438-05:00Take My Yoke Upon You - Meditation from Matthew 11:28-30<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGp4eaKrUmAYAs1clLuBZNjs7l8YrhqzzdxyIlcXYm1hyUxToqZLR_bTnLj4knAv64qsTdU7N5w7eMaZoalsmDf8FtuU2cbhUuorhvsEWMo15P9uPNHhMYRzCWOxSxKodddDBYRg/s1600/kelly_harvest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="402" data-original-width="600" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGp4eaKrUmAYAs1clLuBZNjs7l8YrhqzzdxyIlcXYm1hyUxToqZLR_bTnLj4knAv64qsTdU7N5w7eMaZoalsmDf8FtuU2cbhUuorhvsEWMo15P9uPNHhMYRzCWOxSxKodddDBYRg/s320/kelly_harvest.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The artist is named J D Kelly. He was Canadian and lived from 1862-1958. Many of the subjects of his paintings were from the War of 1812.<br />
<br />
This image takes me back to my childhood. We spent many summers and Christmases in the High Sierra Mountains in Northern California. My mother’s father had built a cabin during the depression on forest service property and it was full of nostalgic stuff from before I was born. There were calendars in each room from different years, all of them expired. But they adorned the otherwise bare walls with Coca Cola Girls, Pipe Tobacco Tins, and Sportsman’s Scenes of hunting and fishing. That on one level is why I like this picture. It reminds me of those calendars from those happy days.<br />
<br />
On another level, and one that makes me ponder deeply, I hear the words of Jesus as I look at the oxen. In Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Jesus tells us about his heart. It is lowly and gentle. And he asks us, come to him, take his yoke, and learn from him.<br />
<br />
Driving a team of oxen is a lost art today. There are a few associations of enthusiasts that compete in pulling events, but beyond that the tractor has taken over. But as I look at this picture I see that the flourishing and prosperity of the family is directly related to the team of oxen. With them they traveled to this place, cleared the land, plowed their field and are now harvesting their crop. This was how my grandparents and great-grandparents lived.<br />
<br />
On a spiritual level this painting is a metaphor of relationships. There is a relationship within the team of oxen. One of them is the lead ox. There is a relationship between the team, the farmer, and his family. In order for this family to be successful in their work they need the team. So then if Jesus bids us to come, take up the yoke, and learn of him that makes him the lead ox. Our task is to wear the yoke he gives us. To learn of him while wearing the yoke is easy as we do exactly what he does because we are connected. When the lead ox put his head down so does the other. When the lead ox moves in any direction so does the other. The ox that follows learns to take instructions from the yoke and movement is then in concert. So we take our instructions from our Lord and as we submit to him teamwork is achieved. So then relationship to my family, my church, is one of being yoked to my Lord. And the purpose is to provide flourishing and prosperity. I hear people in the church complain about their pastor. Why doesn’t he do this or that. Why isn’t it like this or whatever. And I wonder, don’t they see that their pastor needs a team? The work of ministry in the church is not done by the pastor alone. It requires each of us to take up our yokes and pull together.Rusty Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17842912193452161446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24671792.post-18847513171361624862020-04-10T12:47:00.001-05:002020-04-10T12:47:40.588-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdbj9b_-JJF4w7aiLrGMQp1uisw5Fyl7r09cLnSvxIYxKBrYukZvXloZJPebLazmxUbxncP3WEadAMerEy5VKnhEEcBccRubez2IlQREbCA5M0wMYfZyNKQBDx1bOmoVbE9bYUFA/s1600/Cruxifixion+panel+1457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="938" data-original-width="1300" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdbj9b_-JJF4w7aiLrGMQp1uisw5Fyl7r09cLnSvxIYxKBrYukZvXloZJPebLazmxUbxncP3WEadAMerEy5VKnhEEcBccRubez2IlQREbCA5M0wMYfZyNKQBDx1bOmoVbE9bYUFA/s320/Cruxifixion+panel+1457.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div align="center" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Good Friday Meditation</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Jesus spoke from the
cross as he was dying. Seven words as they have come to be known.
From these words we can hear whom our Lord addressed in his time of
suffering.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
First word; “Father
forgive them for they do not know what they are doing”. This of
course is spoken to the Father on behalf of those crucifying him.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Second word; “Today
you will be with me in paradise”. This is a surprising word to us.
Our Lord suffering as a prisoner of Rome speaks to his fellow inmate.
Words of comfort and assurance. Can any more powerful metaphor be
given to show us our state and our responsibility to our fellows?
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Third word; “Woman
behold your son….behold your mother.” A conversation with the one
who bore him and the disciple who loved him.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Fourth word; “My
God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” This is traditionally taken
as Christ’s cry in agony. I don’t dispute it, but I wonder if it
could also be the common method of teaching; quoting the first line
from the Psalm would in the mind of the hearer recall the entire
Psalm. Psalm 22 verse 1 is being quoted and if you were to read the
Psalm you would see it describes the crucifixion event to the tee.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Fifth word; “I
thirst”. We assume our Lord is thirsty, parched upon the cross.
But his consistent compassion echos his earlier words “Blessed are
those who hunger and <i>thirst for righteousness</i>” His thirst
for the will of the Father as he spoke to the Samaritan woman, “Give
me a drink”, answering his disciples he said, “My food is <i>to
do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work</i>”.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Sixth word; “It is
finished”. This is a continuation of the previous word. “My food
is to do the will of him who sent me and to<i><b> </b></i><b><i>accomplish</i></b> his work” Accomplish and finished<i><b> </b></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">are
English translations of the same Greek word, </span></span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">teleo.
</span></i>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Seventh
word; “Father into your hands I commend my spirit” </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Another
quotation from the Psalms this time Psalm 31:5. An appropriate prayer
at such a time. All who know him would know this to be our Lord’s
default prayer. Confirmation that his Father was with him. “He has
not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to
him.”</span></span></div>
<br />Rusty Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17842912193452161446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24671792.post-16525917860784886072019-10-18T16:02:00.001-05:002019-10-18T16:02:52.374-05:00Habakkuk 1:13 Misunderstood<br />
<br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>God cannot be in the
presence of sin or even look upon it.”</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>This is one of
the most ridiculous statements I have ever heard. </i>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
It is based on <b>half
a verse</b> in Habakkuk 1:13. “Thou art of purer eyes than to
behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity”</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
God is omnipresent.
This is one of the things that makes Him unique. It’s one of the
things that makes Him God. No one else has this characteristic.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Take Psa 33:13-15
for instance: “13 The LORD looks down from heaven; <i>he sees all
</i>the children of man; 14 from where he sits enthroned he looks out
on all the inhabitants of the earth, 15 <i>he who fashions the hearts
of them all and observes all their deeds</i>.”
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Here we are told
that God does indeed look at all people, and all their deeds; good or
evil. He sees everyone which is only possible for God, it’s one of
the attributes that makes Him God.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Acts 17:27-28: “27
that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and
find him. Yet <i>he is actually not far from each one of us</i>, 28
for ‘<i>In him we live and move and have our being</i>’; as even
some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are indeed his
offspring.’”</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
God is not far from
each one of us, evil or good, sinner or righteous. For we have our
very “being” in Him. All creation is held together by Him. (cf
Eph 4:6).</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
God’s presence can
not be limited by sin! That idea is pure nonsense. Omnipresence is present everywhere, in every place and time. With or without sin God is present. <b>The real question is; How is God present with sin? </b>Not whether He is or isn't. </div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
For Psa 139:7-12
teaches us that is just not so. “Where shall I go from your Spirit?
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Or where shall I
flee from your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
If I make my bed in
Sheol, you are there! 9 If I take the wings of the morning
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
and dwell in the
uttermost parts of the sea, 10 even there your hand shall lead me,
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
and your right hand
shall hold me. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
and the light about
me be night,” 12 <i>even the darkness is not dark to you; </i>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>the night is
bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you</i>.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
From this
misrepresentation a teaching of what Christ was saying from the cross
when he spoke the words “My God, My God why have you forsaken me?”
in Matt 27:46 (quoted from Psa 22:1) has been totally misunderstood.
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<br />
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The idea that the
Father turned His face away from Jesus as he took upon Himself the
sins of mankind while upon the cross. This is the explanation that is
offered for Jesus’ quoting Psalm 22:1, <br />
“My God, my God, why
have you forsaken me?” Because from Hab 1:13 it is argued that God
can not look at sin, therefore He couldn’t look at Jesus as he took
upon Himself the sin of mankind. All that needs to be done is read
the entire Psalm, verse 24 says plainly that this idea is just not
so. “24 For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the
afflicted, and <i><b>h</b></i><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>e
has not hidden his face from him</b></i></span>, but has heard, when
he cried to him.”</div>
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We even sing songs
with this misrepresentation.
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<br />
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How deep the
Father’s love for us,</div>
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How vast beyond all
measure,</div>
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That He should give
His only Son</div>
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To make a wretch His
treasure.</div>
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How great the pain
of searing loss –</div>
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<b><i>The Father
turns His face away</i>,</b></div>
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As wounds which mar
the Chosen One</div>
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Bring many sons to
glory.</div>
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<br />
</div>
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Words from How Deep
The Father’s Love For Us by Stuart Townsend.
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<br />
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I love this song
but… I can’t say it’s scriptural.
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<br /></div>
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Scripture to reflect on:
</div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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Matt 1:23; “Behold,
the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his
name Immanuel”
</div>
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(which means, <i><b>God
with us</b></i>).
</div>
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<br />
</div>
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</div>
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John 14:15-18; “If
you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the
Father, and he will give you another Helper, <i>to be with you forever</i>,
17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because
it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for <i>he dwells with
you and will be in you</i>. 18 “<i><b>I will not leave you as orphans;
I will come to you.</b></i>”</div>
<br />Rusty Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17842912193452161446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24671792.post-13631376282907471002019-09-10T16:29:00.001-05:002019-09-10T16:29:40.621-05:00“If you feel far from God… Guess who moved”<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZWhRr4WA3NMZbsFV0bmWcjHtlkz-KJrkUaeKxeYBD2sipspHoVoQl8pcLxZZwUD6MlMrheVUQFzmW6u7suNdKFHyvbHqY6lpixcpp8FXsVbYnZAk3-DXC84RjAvthUxwm1Qb5VQ/s1600/into+his+presence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZWhRr4WA3NMZbsFV0bmWcjHtlkz-KJrkUaeKxeYBD2sipspHoVoQl8pcLxZZwUD6MlMrheVUQFzmW6u7suNdKFHyvbHqY6lpixcpp8FXsVbYnZAk3-DXC84RjAvthUxwm1Qb5VQ/s320/into+his+presence.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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When I was a young
Believer I found a bumper sticker that said, “If you feel far from
God… Guess who moved”. I placarded it across the glove box. I
supposed I needed it’s constant reminder. Tim Anderson’s very
readable book, Into His Presence a Theology of Intimacy With God, is
an awe inspiring work. He takes a common experience that crosses all
traditions and shows us all the significance of it and the theology
of it. He teaches us to think biblically and theologically about our
shared experience.
</div>
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<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Chapter one gives us
a biblical basis of intimacy with four elements. First there is a
scriptural movement towards intimacy; seeking, turning, and coming.
Second there is God’s intimate knowledge of us. Some things are
known to us and God alone; some things about us are known only to
God. Yet God seeks to share
with us knowledge of Himself, “He invites worshipful believers into
His secret counsel and knowledge of Him (Ps 25:14; Prov 3:32; Jn
7:17; 17:25, 26).” Third there is an intimate place. And it is not
a matter of miles but of experience as in brokenness and humility.
Fourth is intimate touch as when the father embraces and kisses the
prodigal son upon his return.</div>
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<br />
</div>
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Chapters four and
six were especially helpful in that the exploration of metaphor and
symbols are rich in providing what I would call a point of contact. I
have always had difficulty as a male with “bride” images. I have
found much help in taking another look at how to understand these
metaphors.
</div>
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<br />
</div>
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Chapter eight
Suffering and Intimacy is perhaps the capstone chapter and of deep
significance to me personally. During our deepest grief and suffering
why do we experience God as silent? Anderson uses the examples of
Moses, Elijah, Jesus, and Stephen to show how “God reveals His
nearness to them, in order for them to bring others near to Him.”
</div>
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<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I recommend this
book to anyone seeking to be near to God and who desires gain a
deeper theological understanding of what that means. It would be a
good tool for a group study since reflection questions are at the end
of each chapter. I would have preferred a full bibliography but a
good scripture and author index is provided as well as footnotes.
Thanks to Kregel Publications for a review copy of this book. My
views are my own and given in the hope to be an assistance to those
pondering whether or not this work would be a good read for them.
Happy reading.
</div>
<br />Rusty Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17842912193452161446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24671792.post-80535854093375292542019-09-05T16:27:00.000-05:002019-09-05T16:26:59.981-05:00HYPER DISPENSATIONALISM HYPER DISPENSATIONALISM<br />
<br />
<b>In a nutshell why I do not accept the view that the Gospel of Matthew is for the "Jews Only" </b><br />
<br />
Matt 1:1 This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, <i>the son of Abraham</i>:<br />
<br />
This is the book of the "beginning" of the Messiah, this is another way of speaking about the gospel without using the word "gospel". cf Mark 1:1 The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah<br />
<br />
<b>The son of Abraham</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
This is a major theme all throughout scripture. Ask yourself, who are <i>the sons of Abraham</i>?<br />
This is answered by Paul, Rom 4:11 And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, <i>he is the father of all who believe</i> but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them.<br />
<br />
Matt 24:14 And<i><b> this gospel </b></i>of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.<br />
<br />
<b>Which gospel is "this gospel" it is Matthew's! </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
cf. Matt 26:13 Truly I tell you, wherever <b><i>this gospel </i></b>is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” ;<br />
<br />
Mark includes the story but makes a distinction between "this gospel" and "the gospel"<br />
Mk 14:9 Truly I tell you, wherever <b><i>the gospel</i></b> is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” ;<br />
<br />
John includes the story but makes no mention of Christs comment about her as a memorial.<br />
Jn 12:1-8 1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.<br />
<br />
4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.<br />
<br />
7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”<br />
<br />
<b>This gospel, Matthew's, will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations!</b><br />
<br />
It should become very plain in the great commission. Matt 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of <i>all nations</i>, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey <i>everything I have commanded you</i>. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”<br />
<br />
Again, all nations (not just Jews) teaching them (all nations not just Jews) everything I have commanded you (that has been recorded in the book you have in your hand that you are reading which is Matthew).<br />
<br />
This in a nutshell is why I reject the idea that Matthews teaching is for the Jews only.<br />
<br />Rusty Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17842912193452161446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24671792.post-26429163995997016832019-08-24T05:07:00.001-05:002019-08-24T05:07:19.611-05:00Can We Properly Call The Lord's Prayer "The Lord's Prayer"?<br />
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Solidarity with Christ</div>
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Can we call the
Lord's Prayer "the Lord's Prayer" or should it be more
properly called "the Disciple's Prayer"? I maintain that
we should call it the Lord's Prayer. Here is why I think this way.
There is a way to confess sin that is not your own.
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1) We Have
Solidarity with Christ and He with us. Although He had no sin, yet He
took upon himself our sin, and made confession as our Head, our
Leader, and Savior of our sin. He became a human being.
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There are examples in the Old Testament where leaders repented on
behalf of their people even though the leaders themselves were not
individually guilty. Here are the ones I have found:
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Daniel Repents</div>
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Daniel 9:3-5 Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by
prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.<br />
I
prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, saying, “O Lord, the
great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with
those who love him and keep his commandments, <br />
we have sinned
and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from
your commandments and rules.<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span lang="hi-IN"></span></span></div>
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Ezra Repents<br />
<br />
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Ezra 9:6-7 saying: “O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my
face to you, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our
heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens.<br />
From the
days of our fathers to this day we have been in great guilt. And for
our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been given into
the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to
plundering, and to utter shame, as it is today.</div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span lang="hi-IN"></span></span>Hosea
Repents<br />
<br />
</div>
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Hosea 6:1-3 “Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn us,
that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up.<br />
After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us
up, that we may live before him. <br />
Let us know; let us press on
to know the Lord; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to
us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.”<br />
<br />
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Joshua Repents<br />
<br />
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Joshua 7:6 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the earth on his
face before the ark of the Lord until the evening, he and the elders
of Israel. And they put dust on their heads.<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span lang="hi-IN"></span></span></div>
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Moses Repents</div>
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<br />
Exodus 34:9 And he said, “If now I have found favor in
your sight, O Lord, please let the Lord go in the midst of us, for it
is a stiff-necked people, and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and
take us for your inheritance.”</div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span lang="hi-IN"></span></span>Nehemiah
Repents</div>
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<br />
Nehemiah 1:5-7 And I said, “O Lord God of heaven, the great
and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who
love him and keep his commandments, <br />
let your ear be attentive
and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now
pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants,
confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned
against you. Even I and my father's house have sinned.<br />
We have
acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments,
the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses.<br />
<br />
</div>
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Solomon Repents<br />
<br />
</div>
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1 Kings 8:30 And listen to the plea of your servant and of your
people Israel, when they pray toward this place. And listen in heaven
your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive.<br />
<br />
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<br />
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There are statements by Christ that I think can be read as
confessions. Where Christ makes confession of the sins of others by
out their sins. I call these confessions because although he is confronting the sin of others, he does not condemn. He only speaks the truth. Why would he do this? To demonstrate his role
as The Servant; (Isa 53:11) Not only by confessing sin but by
actually bearing it.
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A good example of this is found in Mark 10:38-45 Jesus said to them,
“You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup
that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am
baptized?” 39 And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus
said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the
baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, 40 but to sit
at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for
those for whom it has been prepared.” 41 And when the ten heard it,
they began to be indignant at James and John. 42 And Jesus called
them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are
considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great
ones exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be so among
you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44
and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For
even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give
his life as a ransom for many.”</div>
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<br />
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Luke 23:34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not
what they do.”</div>
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<br />
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John 13:27 Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do
quickly.”</div>
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<br />
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Mark 14:30 And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very
night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.”</div>
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<br />
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John 4:16 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come
here.”</div>
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John 18:23 Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear
witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you
strike me?”</div>
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<br />
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Matt 3:15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is
fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”</div>
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2) There is a
certain aspect of being in solidarity with others that makes me
responsible even if I am not guilty.
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In a marriage husband and wife are legally one. The debt of one is
the debt of both. So I confess my guilt because of my wife's actions
because I consider us one. As a nation I am a member of society. I
have solidarity with my countrymen. If they fall under God's judgment
I am guilty along with them. This is the condition Daniel found
himself in. Today as I think about the abortion laws in the USA I
confess "Lord we are a wicked people" "Cleanse our sin
and restore our land" Although I have never committed an
abortion, I still ask God to forgive us. (not just them) As an
American, as a constitutional republic WE are partially responsible
WE have allowed it. (I am not suggesting that Christ is taking
responsibility for our sin, making himself a cause of it. Rather that
Christ as a human being is in solidarity with us in our sin.)</div>
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<br />
</div>
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3) A Thought
Experiment:</div>
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Imagine you are in a
locked room and everyone in there with you is an AIDs patient all in
various stages of the disease. Every day a man with keys walked past
the room. What would you say to him? Would you cry out "Help
me!" or "Help us!"?</div>
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<br />
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Jesus was in a similar situation living among us. Here is what he
asked the man with the keys (The Father) Jn 17:2 you have given him
authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have
given him. And verse 9; I am praying for them. I am not praying for
the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.
And verse 21; that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in
me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, And verse 26; that the
love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”</div>
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<br />
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In this thought experiment I confess, I would be crying out to the
man with the keys "Help me, Get me out of here!" Jesus on
the other hand prayed "give them eternal life, make them one
with me, lets share our love with them" Christ had solidarity
with us as a human being but here in John 17 he is asking for
solidarity with us in glory! Is it a small thing for Christ to be
with me in my confession of sin? It was "to fulfill all
righteousness" in order that I might be with Him in glory. Jn
17:24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be
with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because
you loved me before the foundation of the world.</div>
<br />Rusty Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17842912193452161446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24671792.post-71493801178025576522019-04-21T12:30:00.000-05:002019-04-21T12:31:10.641-05:00A Poem of Lament<h3>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Poetry and Philosophy have always been at odds</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Poets declare praises; Philosophers deny the gods</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And is it any wonder we've forgotten mystery?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Revolving, Devolving with scientific history</div>
</h3>
<div style="text-align: center;">
~fragment by rustymodem, 2019~</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7NCrQEP_YD4aI37Bax7mi8rKEWHh6yLWTphe-nNsI_p55WD3R6VK0C30BvHIZz-icZs85TNk3krluxSgfbcrXHnlhXQC3Gltd6wcK_c5bkY_x2BsLSKz7U63sscLWhZJ-D97UgA/s1600/gulliver-laputa-engine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="940" data-original-width="700" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7NCrQEP_YD4aI37Bax7mi8rKEWHh6yLWTphe-nNsI_p55WD3R6VK0C30BvHIZz-icZs85TNk3krluxSgfbcrXHnlhXQC3Gltd6wcK_c5bkY_x2BsLSKz7U63sscLWhZJ-D97UgA/s320/gulliver-laputa-engine.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
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"We crossed a Walk to the other Part of the Academy, where, as I have already said, the Projectors in speculative Learning resided.<br />
<br />
The first Professor I saw was in a very large Room, with forty Pupils about him. After Salutation, observing me to look earnestly upon a Frame, which took up the greatest part of both the Length and Breadth of the Room, he said perhaps I might wonder to see him employed in a Project for improving speculative Knowledge by practical and mechanical Operations. But the World would soon be sensible of its Usefulness, and he flattered himself that a more noble exalted Thought never sprung in any other Man's Head. Every one knew how laborious the usual Method is of attaining to Arts and Sciences; whereas by his Contrivance, the most ignorant Person at a reasonable Charge, and with a little bodily Labour, may write Books in Philosophy, Poetry, Politicks, Law, Mathematicks and Theology, without the least Assistance from Genius or Study. He then led me to the Frame, about the Sides whereof all his Pupils stood in Ranks. It was twenty Foot Square, placed in the middle of the Room. The Superficies was composed of several bits of Wood, about the bigness of a Dye, but some larger than others. They were all linked together by slender Wires. These bits of Wood were covered on every Square with Paper pasted on them, and on these Papers were written all the Words of their Language, in their several Moods, Tenses, and Declensions, but without any Order. The Professor then desired me to observe, for he was going to set his Engine at Work. The Pupils at his Command took each of them hold of an Iron Handle, whereof there were fourty fixed round the Edges of the Frame, and giving them a sudden turn, the whole Disposition of the Words was entirely changed. He then commanded six and thirty of the Lads to read the several Lines softly as they appeared upon the Frame; and where they found three or four Words together that might make part of a Sentence, they dictated to the four remaining Boys who were Scribes. This Work was repeated three or four Times, and at every turn the Engine was so contrived that the Words shifted into new Places, as the Square bits of Wood moved upside down." <b><i>~Jonathan Swift, Gulliver's Travels chapter 5~</i></b>Rusty Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17842912193452161446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24671792.post-51078395997608343902019-04-18T14:54:00.000-05:002019-04-21T12:31:24.217-05:0040 Day Fast from facebook - Week 4 Prayer for Prisoners<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTqdIBLB7G2Dflps33u_byISt3Lz5zQBnpTQPgn3emZRaaX5LeuDW_UxXWpdeGiSlTI4R2I7MKJAgPG9-r7X0U5oW4DQz6a37jxwaOGW0O1H7bJaHL6z6nznuQDOeP8gMQ0I6K1w/s1600/Lampstand+Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="473" data-original-width="1600" height="94" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTqdIBLB7G2Dflps33u_byISt3Lz5zQBnpTQPgn3emZRaaX5LeuDW_UxXWpdeGiSlTI4R2I7MKJAgPG9-r7X0U5oW4DQz6a37jxwaOGW0O1H7bJaHL6z6nznuQDOeP8gMQ0I6K1w/s320/Lampstand+Logo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black;">All over Oklahoma inmates inside prison walls
are praying this prayer; </span> And he said, “Jesus, <i><span style="font-weight: normal;">remember
me</span></i> when you come into your kingdom.”<span style="color: black;">
(Luke 23:42). </span>What is Christ's answer to them? We know the
answer Jesus gave to the prisoner on the cross, <span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">“</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Truly,
I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">
(Luke 23:43). That man was condemned to die next to Jesus, and so he
received his answer. But what about the thousands of men and women
inside who are trying to serve Christ to the best of their ability?
What do they hear in answer to this prayer? </span></span>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Jesus
taught us that the righteous who will inherit the kingdom prepared
for them are the ones who </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">remembered
him</span></i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">.
For they ask; “And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit
you?’And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><i>as
you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to
me</i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">.”
(Matthew 25:39, 40). </span></span>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Would you
consider praying a prayer of remembrance with me for out brothers and sisters
inside the walls of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections? </span></span>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><i><b>A Prayer of
Remembrance</b></i></span></span></div>
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<i><b><br />
</b></i></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><i><b>O Lord
please remember those you have chosen behind the walls of prison.
Help them to grow, help them to endure to the end. Lord, what you
have planted in their hearts, water by Your Spirit and by your word.
Strengthen them in heart, mind, and soul. Fill them with Your Peace
that passes all understanding and build them up into Your Church, helping
them to be fitly joined together. Supply all their needs and make
them fruitful unto every good work. In Your Precious Name, Amen. </b></i></span></span>
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<br />Rusty Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17842912193452161446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24671792.post-77778867619210989682019-04-05T11:17:00.000-05:002019-04-05T11:17:52.675-05:0040 Day Fast from facebook - Week 3<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Time Lost on fb is Time Gained Reading Dead Guys</h3>
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One of the things I like to post on facebook is what I call "Dead Guy Quotes" I do this to help keep myself focused, because, time is short. No I am not talking about the rapture or anything like that. I mean I have lived longer than I expect to continue to live. For me time is literally short. So the time I spend reading I want to get the best bang for my buck. This means "read the dead guys" because the living have not out lasted them yet! The guys that wrote 100 years ago, 250 years ago, 500 years ago and are still getting published, you get the idea. Dems my homies. That said I will now share with you my faithful reader my dead guy quote for week 3 of my 40 day fast from facebook. Please feel free to "Like and Share" Papias of Hierapolis was a contemporary of Polycarp and the Apostle John, so he lived almost 2 millenniums ago.<br />
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<b><i>Days will come in which vines will be grown, each having ten</i></b></div>
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<b><i>thousand shoots, and on each shoot ten thousand branches, and on</i></b></div>
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<b><i>each branch ten thousand twigs, and on each twig ten thousand</i></b></div>
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<b><i>clusters, and on each cluster ten thousand grapes. And each grape,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>having been pressed, will yield twenty-five measures of wine. And,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>when anyone of these holy ones will apprehend a cluster, another</i></b></div>
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<b><i>cluster will cry out, ‘I am a better cluster. Be taking me. Be blessing</i></b></div>
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<b><i>the Lord through me.’</i></b></div>
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~Papias of Hierapolis~</div>
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The "holy ones" Papias is referring to are the believing Christians.Rusty Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17842912193452161446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24671792.post-90242556371333393422019-03-30T16:52:00.003-05:002019-03-30T16:52:41.530-05:00Top 10 things I missed this week while on my 40 Day Fast from facebook - Week 2 <h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Week 2 without</span><b> facebook</b></h2>
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What have I missed? </div>
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I can't think of a thing. Wait a minute..... Top 10 things I missed this week </div>
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<ol>
<li>I didn't get to "like" any cute pics. </li>
<li>I didn't get to respond in my quirky snarky manner to any jokes. </li>
<li>I didn't have to roll my eyes at any posts that I would have been too embarrassed to post.</li>
<li>I didn't get to see anyone post a pic of their "totally awesome" dinner. </li>
<li>I didn't get to see that video of that crazy person. </li>
<li>I didn't get disgusted at my overly sensitive friends about their over reaction to some stupidity that has been on the web since 1994!</li>
<li>I didn't get the warning from those 2 or 3 friends that are warning me not to accept new friend requests from them because they got hacked. </li>
<li>I didn't get to see the latest pics of misspelled tattoos. </li>
<li>I didn't get an invite to that event that's happening 3 months from now that's 1200 miles away. </li>
<li>I didn't get to click on "hid this ad", not even once. </li>
</ol>
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Always remember:<br />
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<br />Rusty Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17842912193452161446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24671792.post-67265958974937041092019-03-15T12:23:00.000-05:002019-03-15T18:36:43.688-05:0040 Day Fast from facebook - Week 1<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Greetings! 40 Day fb Fast Week One</h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidxb32cAeZsgAXBZc99PZtgyT5GQ-RtDAvPTprImQkByY3Mo0hyphenhyphenLiwgLkPzSYaNaeepv3NwbGzYZQ2n2-hjlNWHJpVAVwLROW70Fxxg1Bc4h6E9N_ObUcEqvhYORSntUoJtmKmQw/s1600/ban_facebook.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="548" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidxb32cAeZsgAXBZc99PZtgyT5GQ-RtDAvPTprImQkByY3Mo0hyphenhyphenLiwgLkPzSYaNaeepv3NwbGzYZQ2n2-hjlNWHJpVAVwLROW70Fxxg1Bc4h6E9N_ObUcEqvhYORSntUoJtmKmQw/s320/ban_facebook.png" width="317" /></a></div>
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Someplace between Mardi Gras and Ash Wednesday I felt impressed, had the desire, thought it beneficial, to <i>disconnect</i> from facebook.<br />
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Why? Because I wanted to do something Christian? Because I wanted to follow the Church Calendar? Because I was getting too distracted? None of the above.<br />
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<i>Disconnect</i> is a word that I hear a lot in prison. (I go inside twice a week to teach inmates) In the prison environment it is hard to be alone. Inmates often tell me that they wish there was some way to get alone short of getting put in solitary confinement. There is always noise, always people in your business, lonely lost souls looking to connect but not quite knowing how. (Sort of like fb) So the inmates shut down, <i>disconnect </i>for self preservation more than anything. They stop talking, stop interacting in any deep real sense. They put on their stoic personas and wait out their time. Many have been doing this for decades, not weeks!<br />
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I needed space so I <i>disconnected</i>. When I fill up my time and energy, my thoughts and musings, activities and pastimes, I find myself in a similar situation as my inmate friends. (yes they are inmates, and yes I call them friends) My head and heart are too full of petty minutia to think. It's like swimming in the surf with your eyes open but there is just too much froth and foam to see clearly.<br />
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There is always the primary goal, then there are secondary and sometimes tertiary gains. Like tossing a rock into a pond there is more than one ripple. I've reached my primary goal. I am absent from fb. Better yet fb is absent from me. (No, I don't have someone else sending me updates)<br />
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Secondary gain: time, time to get out beyond the breakers churning the beach. Gently floating on the swells enjoying the vast horizon and the distance from the noise. When the nonsense is absent the substance can be heard. (yes, the latest fake news is nonsense!)<br />
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Tertiary gain: two thoughts, both from scripture. First, "My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad." Psalm 34:2. So in my words, <i><b>when I make my boasting about Jesus, the humble, the lowly, the oppressed, the forsaken, the ordinary, will hear and by hearing become glad. </b></i>(not the proud, the haughty, or the cocky; these remain deaf) Second, "But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the LORD who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things. I, the LORD, have spoken!" Jeremiah 9:24. Again in my words, <b style="font-style: italic;">boasting in Christ is not about me or my accomplishments but about the character of God! If I am boasting in anything else other than His character then I am posting fake news!</b> Fake news makes no one glad!<br />
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<br />Rusty Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17842912193452161446noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24671792.post-62630769329071197992018-10-13T12:25:00.000-05:002018-10-13T12:29:29.650-05:00An Invitation to Join God in His Work Equipping Christian Inmate Leaders<style type="text/css">
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<b>An
Invitation to Join God in His Work Equipping Christian Inmate Leaders
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Henry Blackaby in his Experiencing God series of books has told the Church to “Watch to see where God is working and join Him in His work”.</div>
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Scripture teaches us that we are “created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand” (Eph 2:10).</div>
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Any Christian who has been involved in prison ministry in Oklahoma can testify that God is working inside our prisons and jails. In fact, I have heard reports from volunteers that they can’t imagine not serving inside because of the difference it made in their own life as they served in prisons and jails. My own testimony is the same. As I joined God in His work inside prison I discovered the meaning of Ephesians 2:10. God had prepared this ministry for me to serve in; all my life experiences, all my training, all my desires are fulfilled in what God has prepared for me to do, not what I deemed most fulfilling.</div>
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The Need.<br />
Christ is at work. The Holy Spirit is sending men and women into prisons and jails to preach the good news of Jesus Christ. Many come to Christ in prison, many return to Christ in prison. Volunteers go inside prisons and jails on a weekly basis preaching, teaching, and encouraging. This is an ongoing process, but discipleship in the prison context is impossibly hard on just a weekly or monthly basis. Jesus called the twelve disciples to be “with him” 24/7. The need is to train inmates to become fishers of men, disciplers making disciples within their environment. Equip them so that they can independently carry the Gospel into the prison gangs, into the lost, into their prison culture. This is what any missionary society would want, indigenous Pastors, Teachers, and Evangelists growing churches within their own people group. Prison is it’s own culture. Christian inmate leaders inside the prison system need to be identified and trained. The baton must be passed. Disciple makers must make disciple makers. Dependence on Christian media and volunteer programs is short changing the body of Christ inside prison. Missionaries travel to foreign countries to plant churches for Christ’s Kingdom. Their ultimate goal is to train up and release into the ministry the indigenous people they have converted. Until the indigenous people can succeed at the work of evangelizing their own people the work of the missionary is not done.</div>
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The Vision.<br />
In order to equip the inmate Church inside the prison walls of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections a Seminary Program needs to be established. This might sound like a radical idea. Why should we provide this kind of education to inmates? The the answer is because they have trusted in Christ and are sincerely living as model inmates. All over the world Churches have started Seminaries to better equip leaders for their communities. God is today calling our nation’s Churches to establish Seminaries inside state prison systems. It started twenty years ago in Louisiana. New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary began to teach seminary level classes inside Louisiana’s Angola prison. Since that time many other states recognizing the benefits to the prison system have allowed similar programs to begin (see Fig. 1). There are documented tangible benefits to the prison system in adopting a seminary program (see Fig. 2). God is indeed working in the prison system, for the inmates and for the institutions. Will you join Him? </div>
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<b>Fig. 1</b></div>
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Global
Prison Seminaries Foundation has been up and running since June of
2016. In just a very short period of time, we gratefully report the
current activity in the following states:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Tier I:
Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Tier
I is defined as a prison seminary that is in good standing with all
of the four key players; graduating on a yearly basis; students are
lifers or have extremely long sentences; accredited, biblical,
convictional, Bachelor-level curriculum and four-year degrees; AND
systemically sending out Field Ministers in a joint effort with the
prison system on a yearly basis and in a timely, well-planned manner
with full support on the local prison level.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
GPSF’s
Role: to continue to touch base with key players in these states and
address and on-board transition changes in these key player positions
is essential. A state is strongest when it has all four key players
in place and accredited, quality, convictional, biblical instruction
delivered to lifers with a vision toward active Field Ministry
started during their four years of classwork and moves to full-time
Field Ministry access upon graduation.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Tier
II: Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, West Virginia, Wisconsin</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Tier
II is defined as a prison seminary that has started and is in good
standing with all of four key players but has not yet graduated a
class and due to that, has not yet sent out Field Ministers. Global
Prison Seminaries’ role in this state.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
GPSF’s
Role: to advise, educate, and advocate all four key players in their
separate roles all toward the same Field Ministry vision. GPSF is
uniquely qualified to assist those in the Corrections arena by
educating them about moral rehabilitation and how to actually carry
out the Field Ministry vision in Corrections — giving lifers access
to the prison and to fellow inmates to do peer-to-peer ministry.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Tier
III: Arkansas, Illinois, Missouri, Oregon</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Tier
III is a prison seminary that is up and running, but needs
strengthening in the areas of leadership, funding, communication,
increased number of graduates, OR has no systemic vision for Field
Ministers inside of the state’s prison system.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
GPSF’s
Role: to strengthen this states effort by offering assistance in
identifying the key player or players who need support to fully
execute the Field Ministry Vision that is the prison seminary
movement. The yellow category status is totally dependent on having
two key pieces: 1.) the Prison Seminary Model, 2.) Active Field
Ministry. If the second piece is missing, the yellow status simply
clarifies to us at GPSF that this is a state and prison system that
needs strengthening. We believe we can offer strong assistance to a
state’s prison system for how to carry out Field Ministry based on
the overwhelming success in Texas, proving this is a replicable
model.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Tier
IV: Georgia, Mississippi</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Tier
IV is is a state that is showing significant interest in beginning a
prison seminary in their state and moving into real development and
substantial planning stages for a prison seminary in their state WITH
Field Ministry as the vision for the end goal, but has not yet held
its first class.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
GPSF’s
Role: to stay with each of the state’s key players through each
phase of development celebrating with them their first day of class.
GPSF does not raise funds for the state, rather counsels and supports
and encourages the identified non-profit key player in the state who
will become the state’s advocate.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Tier V:
(not included on this map) – Global Prison Seminaries Foundation
has identified a Tier V, not included on this map, but taking place
in the following states: Alabama, Illinois, Maryland, Ohio, South
Carolina, Texas (two that are not Darrington).</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Tier
V is a program within a prison often referred to as a prison seminary
that has started but is not using the same essential elements of the
model that we would subscribe to nor requiring the four key-players.
These essential elements are Lifers, Equipped with a four-year
accredited bachelor degree anchored in sound Christ-centered
doctrine, Transferred to other prisons upon graduation, Living in the
prison, Access to the prison given to do ministry, Peer-to-peer
inmate-led ministry. The four key players being leaders in the
following four arenas: Executive or Legislative elected positions
(Governor, Senator, Representative); Corrections; Seminary, and
Non-profit catalyst or champion (the project manager).</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Fig. 2</b></span><br />
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<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Point of View: An innovative solution for Oklahoma's criminal justice impasse</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b>By Joshua Hays, Published: Sun, February 12, 2017 12:00 AM</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
Just three months after Oklahoma voters approved criminal justice reforms through ballot initiative, state legislators have filed bills to roll back the changes. Despite Oklahoma's prisons operating at 109 percent capacity, these bills would revoke public funds from treatment programs aimed at reducing recidivism. If passed, these bills would directly counter the public's wishes and exacerbate already dangerous prison crowding.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
But there is a compromise available to preserve programs while limiting public expense. Oklahoma could learn from its neighbors and allow faith-based, privately funded programs to offer education to inmates, training them for roles of service to one another. Louisiana has operated such a program for over two decades, and Texas has followed suit since 2011. In both states, inmates who volunteer to participate receive a fully accredited, four-year bachelor's degree at no cost to themselves or to taxpayers.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
In return, graduates commit to apply their education to serve their peers. Designated “field ministers,” they work as caretakers in a variety of roles including grief counselors, academic tutors, mentors for new arrivals to their units, and instructors for courses on substance abuse, anger management and victim awareness. In other words, these college-educated men replicate as volunteers many of the rehabilitative services that Oklahoma's Legislature seems so loath to finance.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<b><i>An intensive four-year study by a team from Baylor University found overwhelmingly positive outcomes at Louisiana's Angola Prison. Program participants had the prison's highest levels of mental and emotional well-being and stability, positive attitudes toward staff, and sense of meaning and purpose in life, even while incarcerated. Perhaps even more striking, other inmates who participated in religious congregations with these field ministers but without the same educational advantages outperformed the rest of the general population on these same measures. Preliminary findings from the newer program in Texas have been similarly encouraging.</i></b> (italics added)</div>
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<br />
Faith-based education programs also make fiscal sense. Angola's program launched as a response to austerity aggravated by Congress's revocation of Pell Grant eligibility for prisoners. Kris Steele, former Republican speaker of the Oklahoma House and now executive director of The Education and Employment Ministry, a justice reform group, stresses the importance of “positive return on investment.” Angola's inmate ministers show the financial return that allowing faith-based service invites.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
The prison employs 30 inmate ministers as “re-entry mentors” for men serving shorter sentences; ministers provide mentees with social and vocational support as they prepare for parole. Wages for these 30 ministers cost the state $34,000 annually, compared with an estimated $1.45 million to replace them with comparably qualified civil service employees. This single program saves Louisiana taxpayers over $1.41 million in direct costs, not to mention the savings and tax revenue generated by parolees who succeed thanks to the influence of a mentor</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
Rehabilitative services are the right choice for prisoners and the public, but Oklahoma legislators seem unwilling to foot the bill. Why not then allow faith-based schools to offer voluntary education to prisoners and train them for caretaking service</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
Hays (william_hays@baylor.edu) is a research associate with Baylor University's Institute for Studies of Religion and co-author of "The Angola Prison Seminary: Effects of Faith-Based Ministry on Identity Transformation, Desistance, and Rehabilitation" (Routledge, 2016).</div>
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Rusty Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17842912193452161446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24671792.post-88867487922173237602018-08-02T09:41:00.001-05:002018-08-02T09:41:51.538-05:00Meditation on the Lord's Prayer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIW1PVQYRftCgh-zhLXo08_c5YdaqgELpjwxahP0mxSgjBZvtd3ik8AJn-DBq44qrWt0gXL8XNRNzXyWsQsMUT1jdRl4JoiaNFi0h8LFMZCbBOemjlCgrCSS5km9TfTG8zYHz6lg/s1600/THE-LORDS-PRAYER+Meditation.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIW1PVQYRftCgh-zhLXo08_c5YdaqgELpjwxahP0mxSgjBZvtd3ik8AJn-DBq44qrWt0gXL8XNRNzXyWsQsMUT1jdRl4JoiaNFi0h8LFMZCbBOemjlCgrCSS5km9TfTG8zYHz6lg/s320/THE-LORDS-PRAYER+Meditation.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Some folks have suggested that praying the Lord's Prayer leads to just speaking a rote prayer. To counter that idea I offer this meditation based on the Lord's Prayer. As you will see I have used the prayer as a template so to speak. I have placed my meditations in italics beneath each line of text of the Lord's Prayer. This is not intended to be exhaustive by any means. It is just a simple example of how the prayer could be used. I would suggest you try this and see if it is helpful to you. </div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-top: 0.13in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our
Father in heaven, </span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-top: 0.13in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Although
You are King of the Universe, Jesus teaches us to address you as Our
Father.</i></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0.13in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hallowed
be Your name. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-top: 0.13in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>We
ask that we would love you with all of our heart, mind, soul, and
strength.</i></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0.5in; margin-top: 0.13in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">Your
kingdom come. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 0.5in; margin-top: 0.13in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Help
us to bring the good news of your kingdom to those around us lost in
darkness. </i></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-top: 0.13in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">Your
will be done</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0.13in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Help
us to discern your will in all things and to acknowledge your
sovereignty.</i> </span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-top: 0.13in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">On
earth as <i>it is</i> in heaven.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0.13in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>That
Your presence would be near to us.</i></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0.5in; margin-top: 0.13in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">Give us
this day our daily bread. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 0.5in; margin-top: 0.13in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Help
us make good use of all the things you have provided material and
spiritual. </i></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 0.5in; margin-top: 0.13in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">And
forgive us our debts,</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0.5in; margin-top: 0.13in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Show
us when we stand in need of repentance.</i></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0.13in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">As
we forgive our debtors.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0.13in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Help
us to love our enemies as you have shown so that we would be like
you.</span> </i></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 0.5in; margin-top: 0.13in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">And lead
us not into temptation,</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0.5in; margin-top: 0.13in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Help
us to see your beautiful glory so that we would fear nothing or love
nothing more than you. </i></span></span>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-top: 0.13in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">but
deliver us from evil.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-top: 0.13in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Help
us remember, Jesus Christ risen from the dead and the power of the
Holy Spirit given to us. </i></span></span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Rusty Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17842912193452161446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24671792.post-56686233977228161212018-04-24T12:26:00.000-05:002018-04-24T12:43:45.838-05:00Review of "Messiah in the Passover"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdeYQ5_6Oe_4SW_BmsLcb0YZchT5cBfxvnjTX3_9eNbXYxRySoFhncS1Eo5Fa2TZlQ7HXTUJbXA0Y9dBc-dMB9XFOa_sMRCLfPDDPQ0ancrBiySq5myrM4fojRtj3w2wgP0sxD0A/s1600/Messiah+in+the+Passover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdeYQ5_6Oe_4SW_BmsLcb0YZchT5cBfxvnjTX3_9eNbXYxRySoFhncS1Eo5Fa2TZlQ7HXTUJbXA0Y9dBc-dMB9XFOa_sMRCLfPDDPQ0ancrBiySq5myrM4fojRtj3w2wgP0sxD0A/s320/Messiah+in+the+Passover.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Messiah in the
Passover by Darrell L. Bock and Mitch Glaser.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Since this book is a
work by multiple authors (20+) you can approach reading it as a
reference work. It is divided into five parts.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Biblical Foundations</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I was looking for
background on the Passover and how it informs Christianity. This book
does that well and much more. I received my copy just before Easter
so the information I appreciated first of all were the chapters on
the Gospels and the treatment of the questions around whether or not
the Last Supper was a Passover Seder and the chronology of John’s
Gospel.
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Passover and Church
History</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The Presidential
Message on International Holocaust Remembrance Day (Jan 2018) has
been in the news of late, bemoaning the fact that many of our younger
generation do not know what the Holocaust was. This book should be on
every Christian’s shelf for this reason alone. It contains a wealth
of history that is directly related to similar events in the
twentieth century that we call the Holocaust. For example, Jews were
required to be identified by badges sewn onto their clothing by The
Fourth Lateran Council (circa 1215).
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Jewish Tradition and
the Passover</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Although the
earliest writings we have on the traditions of the Passover are from
the third century, the Messianic Analogies (p. 178) are intriguing
and thought provoking.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Communicating the
Gospel Through the Passover</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The insights and
allusions to Messiah in this section are good and communicate well.
However more interesting to me is the idea that the words Seder and
Haggadah have the meaning of Order and Telling. This answered for my
long standing question, how did the Jews as a people survive for
millenniums while keeping their identity as a people. I believe this
section shows us their calendar and liturgy kept them united. There
is a lesson here for Christians.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Celebrating Messiah
in the Passover
</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Practical guidelines
for participating in a Passover Seder. Complete with recipes and
resources to guide you through your own celebration. I am planning to
have one next Passover/Easter.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The end material
includes 9 Appendices, 7 indices, a substantial bibliography, a good
recommended reading list, a glossary, and abbreviations.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
My take away is
this, Rom 11:18 “remember it is not you who support the root, but
the root that supports you”</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
My thanks to Kregel Academic for providing me a copy for an unbiased review. </div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />Rusty Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17842912193452161446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24671792.post-37509326704798558922017-12-28T10:29:00.000-06:002017-12-31T08:50:28.932-06:00Hitchhiking Through Mark<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
This is a review of
a book. <u>Mark Through Old Testament Eyes</u> The author is Andrew
T. Le Peau. I had never heard of him but two things caught my
attention.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
1) He has taught the book of Mark for over 10 years at
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. </div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
2) The offer of reading
intertextually, seeing how the Old Testament can illuminate the New
Testament.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I can best describe
my experience reading this book with a couple of analogies. </div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
1)
Hitchhiking. While traveling dependent upon the goodwill of fellow
travelers you are sometimes stuck in places where there has been
little traffic. In these places previous hitchhikers inscribe their
thoughts and ponderings on the backside of street signs. These texts
tell you if you should wait or push off on foot. They give you a
sense of not being alone, others have traveled this way before. </div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
2)
Postcards. Everyplace I have visited I like to pick up postcards.
They remind me of my visit and they are images I can share with
others who have not been to those places.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The book is not
technical and not quite devotional. It is a guide for learning and
teaching Mark’s Gospel. More of a map with multiple points of
interest noted nicely in tables and sidebars. I knew I was traveling
in Mark but I didn't know there was so much to see along the way.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The notes the author
has built into this commentary are informative and refreshing. You
will go through the Gospel verse by verse for the most part. The
brilliance of this author is the way he uses the many iterations of
his teaching to pass on to the reader a rich experience. It shows. He
points out Old Testament references a lot. Some of them I really
appreciated, some of them I still need to ponder. All of them are
worthwhile. You won’t feel like you've wasted your time with this
book. Le Peau pays attention to the structure and passes on his
insights. I found this really refreshing.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
His bibliography is
four and a half pages. Names with more than one entry are Kenneth
Bailey, G. K. Beal, Craig Blomberg, Walter Bruggemann, R T France,
John Gondingay, Richard Hays, Derek Kidner, Temper Longman, Alec
Motyer, Rodney Stark, Mark Strauss, Willard Swartley John Walton,
Christopher Writght, and N. T. Wright. As you can see the author has
done his homework. My thanks and appreciation to Kregel Academic for
providing me with a copy of this book for an unbiased review.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I recommend this
work to students, teachers, pastors or anyone wishing to study/travel
through Mark. The author, Andrew T. Le Peau, is an excellent
teacher/guide. I look forward to future volumes in this series. Like
postcards they will be worth collecting and showing to others who
wish to travel this journey.
</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
Rusty Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17842912193452161446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24671792.post-56446392765676955152017-12-27T21:57:00.000-06:002017-12-31T08:57:34.552-06:00Thy will be done…<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Thy will be done…
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
We have come to the
3<sup>rd</sup> imperative in the Lord’s Prayer. But I have to get
something off my chest.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I knee jerk at the
idea that it is wrong to pray “thy will be done” or that praying
the Lord’s prayer is “vain repetition”. I have read some
word-of-faith teachers claim that praying “if it be your will” or
“thy will be done” is evidence of a lack of faith. The
hyper-grace teachers claim that the Lord’s prayer belongs to the
old covenant and therefore it is not for Christians. Both of these
assertions are ridiculous.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Here’s why. Now I
might step on some toes, so if I do I’m sorry. <i><b>Soapbox mode
ON</b></i>.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Praying
the Lord’s prayer is praying scripture not “vain repetition”. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #444444;">“</span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Use
not vain repetitions” is the King James translation, </span></span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">o</span></span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">ther
translations say, “Do not use meaningless repetition” (NASB), “Do
not heap up empty phrases” (ESV), or “Do not keep on babbling”
(NIV). </span></span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">To
suggest that praying the word of God back to God is vain or babbling
is nonsense. </span></span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The
word of God spoken is powerful. “But the word is very near you. It
is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it” (Deu
30:14). We have been entrusted with the word of God and reading it,
speaking it, praying it, meditating on it are all ways of learning it
and keeping it in our heart. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Psalm
119 is full of examples: </span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.98in;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">13
With my lips I declare</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.98in;">
<span style="color: #444444;">
<span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">all
the rules of your mouth.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.98in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.98in;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">43
And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.98in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.98in;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">48
I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love,</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.98in;">
<span style="color: #444444;">
<span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">and
I will meditate on your statutes.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.98in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.98in;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">54
Your statutes have been my songs</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.98in;">
<span style="color: #444444;">
<span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">in
the house of my sojourning.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.98in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">And
here is a New Testament example: </span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.98in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.98in;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Eph
5:18 &19</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.98in;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">And
do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled
with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and
spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your
heart,</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.98in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.98in;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Eph
6: 17 & 18</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.98in;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">take
the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the
word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and
supplication. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I would have to say
that it is appropriate to worship God with His word in prayer from
the passages above.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
What about a lack of
faith? Does praying “thy will be done” or “if it be your will”
demonstrate a lack of faith? Here’s the rub. Insinuating that
someone is deficient in faith because they claim not to know the will
of God is also insinuating that somehow you are superior in your
faith since you don’t pray like that. Well, how convenient for
you. So then if you are superior in faith how about you just tell
them what the will of God is and they won’t need to pray at all
since they are standing in front of you, the prophet that insinuates!
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
What about the
Lord’s prayer being a part of the old covenant according to
hyper-grace teachers? Dumb and dumber. The logic goes like this.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ol type="A">
<li>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The portions
of the Gospels before the Crucifixion belong to the old covenant
because of Heb 9:22, “Indeed, under the law almost everything is
purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no
forgiveness of sins.”
</div>
</li>
<li>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The Lord’s
prayer occurred prior to the Crucifixion.
</div>
</li>
<li>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Therefore it
is part of the old covenant.
</div>
</li>
</ol>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
See any problem with
that logic? (One problem is the first half of Heb 9:22 that says
“almost everything” but I’ll leave that for another post.) The
logic is built on a weak analogy. Every book of the New Testament was
written <i><b>after</b></i> the Crucifixion. Every word of every book
was <i><b>breathed out by God </b></i><i><b>after</b></i>
the Crucifixion. So by their own definition (after the Crucifixion)
every word of the Lord’s prayer was written down by an Apostle
directed
by the Spirit,
after Pentecost. So where do the hyper-grace teachers get the
authority to place these things into the old covenant?
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
John
1:16 &17, “For from his fullness we have all received, grace
upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came
through Jesus Christ.” Grace came through Jesus Christ. Forgiveness
came by Jesus Christ. Hyper-grace teachers will tell you that there
was no forgiveness before the cross because there was no “shedding
of blood”. Well that is just not true.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Here
are two
New Testament
examples of forgiveness without blood (pre-crucifixion).
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="yui-gen43"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="yui-gen42"></a>
<span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">M</span></span><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">att
9:2 </span></span><span style="color: #0a0a0a;"><span style="font-family: "liberation" serif , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">And
behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And
when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart,
</span></span></span>my son; <i><b>your
sins are forgiven</b></i>.”
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
3 And behold, some
of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” 4
But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in
your hearts? 5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are
forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 6 But that you may know
that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he
then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Lu 7:47 Therefore I
tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved
much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 And he said
to her, “<i><b>Your sins are forgiven</b></i>.” 49 Then those who
were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this,
who even forgives sins?” 50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith
has saved you; go in peace.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><b>Soapbox mode
O</b></i><i><b>FF</b></i>.</div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
Rusty Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17842912193452161446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24671792.post-61142972074520016912017-12-17T14:28:00.000-06:002017-12-31T09:19:10.604-06:00A review of Leaving Mormonism Why Four Scholars Changed Their Minds <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOoCh1Xlr3mKOA7ept9PYNAoN9QC_sQnOTDTQRrJQOfSN7_aKZwXqqAZQ9csUNC-NoT6B4uWfkmg1Q7U9Ri2A4trdPDIY-jQEYITU42ZCjH188DZ4K5Y6bbQXe2XKjNhqcONTgkA/s1600/Leaving+Mormonism.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="333" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOoCh1Xlr3mKOA7ept9PYNAoN9QC_sQnOTDTQRrJQOfSN7_aKZwXqqAZQ9csUNC-NoT6B4uWfkmg1Q7U9Ri2A4trdPDIY-jQEYITU42ZCjH188DZ4K5Y6bbQXe2XKjNhqcONTgkA/s320/Leaving+Mormonism.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
To receive truth is
a fundamental principle of Mormonism… Joseph Smith.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
This work is the
testimony of four scholars, all formerly LDS, contending for truth in
a loving spirit of peace. If you are expecting another book about
problems with Mormon history or Mormon scriptures this is not that
book. You will find references to those things but the thrust here is
to tell the how and why of the journey towards truth for these four
authors. I encourage you to read on.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Dr Corey Miller CEO
of Ratio Christi, searched the faith of his roots for the good life.
Dr Miller answers questions most don’t think to ask about the
nature and limitations of personal testimony. The implications of
which are relevant for traditional Christians and Mormons alike. His
exposure to the gospel of traditional Christianity made his Mormon
experience feel like a “religious veneer of behaviorism” (p25).
His working through these conflicts clarified his faith and he shows
how we can have confidence in our testimonies. He clarifies the
significant differences between the Mormon and Christian concepts of
God and the plan of salvation.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Dr Latayne C. Scott
tells of her heartbreaking journey from Mormonism. She was determined
to discover the truth. Her journey led her to “Representational
Research” a research method for reasoning or perhaps you could call
it a hermeneutic for our mind. This tool along with “True Narrative
Representations” enables one to rationally discern truth from
fiction from error from lies. These tools Dr Scott explains very well
and they have implications that are further reaching than just Mormon
studies. This is a rich field to glean from for anyone who works with
words. This section alone is worth the price of the book.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Dr Lynn K Wilder was
a tenured professor at Brigham Young University. She has three sons
who all served missions. She believed that the outside world was in
opposition to the LDS Church and the Prophet. She never took
seriously anti-Mormon literature but dismissed them as lies. However
her position at BYU required her to wrestle with some hard questions
about racist ideas in the LDS scriptures. This fractured her bubble.
She writes that it wasn’t only these difficulties that led her away
from Mormonism but rather it was her search for truth in the words of
Christ. She doubted everything else. She found these most fully in
the New Testament.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Dr Vince Eccles is
descended from a well known Utah family. His upbringing was both
wonderful and tumultuous. By the laying on of hands, after his
baptism into Mormonism, his father prayed “Make him a peacemaker”
quoting a section of Matthew 5. His father also instilled in him a
rich imagination and a love of rigorous study. As a six year old boy
he wondered what he would see if he flew a rocket ship to the edge of
the universe. This was a good mix for a future physicist.
Disillusioned by the LDS Church his search for the Creator took on a
scientific quality. His boyhood rocket became a metaphor in his
search for truth. Dr Eccles established criteria for assessing
doctrines. He came through with three creed-like statements, God is
One, God is Spirit, and God is Love. His journey of faith has been
like his childhood both wonderful and tumultuous. Discouragement and
a “dark night of the soul” eventually comes to all Christians.
The truth Dr Eccles found and his dogged determinism to keep his
rocket ship flying has enriched the Christian Church. His insights on
the call of Abraham, the meeting with Melchizedek, the Shema, and the
Golden Rule are wonderful and edifying. It is this reviewers hope
that Dr Eccles will continue to write and share more.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Thanks to Kregel
Publishing for a review copy of this book for an unbiased review. </div>
Rusty Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17842912193452161446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24671792.post-43454065600402022162017-11-22T15:10:00.000-06:002017-12-31T09:01:10.969-06:00Review of: "Walking Through Twilight" by Douglas Groothuis.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsn2l3f_IZ9e999qU_v80OVieejY5ZMUtkqwkWSNeMpkFcJSsHeDuyo_g7u8TyFEc6n8i_DsHPS5oDI0kCrNWk5fL8N8LYSvOQHTqfBJDCvDnhxCD9sU0Z7yE0fBnrMAGImKc5jA/s1600/Walking+Through+Twilight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="316" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsn2l3f_IZ9e999qU_v80OVieejY5ZMUtkqwkWSNeMpkFcJSsHeDuyo_g7u8TyFEc6n8i_DsHPS5oDI0kCrNWk5fL8N8LYSvOQHTqfBJDCvDnhxCD9sU0Z7yE0fBnrMAGImKc5jA/s320/Walking+Through+Twilight.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;">As
a reviewer of books it is a privilege to write reviews. This one is
special. As I read this book I realized I was peeking into private
personal space. (mine as well as the author’s) As Dr. Groothuis
thinks deeply about his experience and recounts them to us vulnerable
and honest. Sort of like reading someone else's mail. An older
brother helping us clean up the mess we made. </span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;">I
am barely acquainted with the author, just a face in the crowd. But
for you dear reader I offer as my review this open letter so that you
may get a glimmer of the same experience I had reading this work of
faith. </span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;">Dear
Dr. <span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">G,</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I
just finished your book, “Walking Through Twilight: A Wife's
Illness--A Philosopher's Lament”. I have to tell you, while reading
your book, I felt like I was walking in your shadow. Although a
shadow it was reflective. Dark yet strangely shimmering. Like when I
put my John Coletrane vinyl on my turntable and it reflects the light
coming in the window and makes it dance on the ceiling as I listen to
“A Love Supreme”. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> The
reflections off your shadow leave a trail to follow. You have become
a trailblazer and a guide. It’s not that I have never had a dark
night of the soul, it’s that I have just barely learned to navigate
them. </span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Yet
you are encouraging me not to just navigate them but to navigate them
well. I suppose it is your gift to put into words what others can
only sense. </span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Thank
you.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> I
need to tell you what touched me most. </span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">You
mentioned the eeriness of lament and how opaque our situations can
be. This description helps, it orients me to normal, or at least the
normal of the lament. Your reflections on Psalm 90 was like a flash
of lightning at night, illuminating the surroundings for just a split
second. As it did I could see my lament wrapped up inside God’s
bigger world. It’s as if “My God, my God why have you forsaken
me” is surrounded in the greater “the </span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">steadfast
love of the Lord never ceases”. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Thank
you for this. </span></span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Liberation Serif", serif; font-size: 12pt;">I have already given a copy to a good friend and
companion in lament. As our generation of baby boomers grow older
lament will be more and more our new normal. I am grateful for this
thoughtful and considerate guide.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Yours
in lament, </span></span></span>
</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">rl</span></span></span></div>
Rusty Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17842912193452161446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24671792.post-13899570083077515362017-08-30T20:43:00.002-05:002017-08-30T20:51:33.139-05:00Road Rage<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGrb7s_5J15v1OS4VHdp8zN20eL0u6tPKP5AOtOCAwrndbp-Q_x_y-Nzx7T9wUq9ht51_HVrIWJ6Ed6QXRGfWbUlvVFSpEvABIqqHfucIObCEOkosvlhHfussBh2UAz_84QSYoQw/s1600/roadrage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGrb7s_5J15v1OS4VHdp8zN20eL0u6tPKP5AOtOCAwrndbp-Q_x_y-Nzx7T9wUq9ht51_HVrIWJ6Ed6QXRGfWbUlvVFSpEvABIqqHfucIObCEOkosvlhHfussBh2UAz_84QSYoQw/s320/roadrage.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
Road Rage</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I have a saying I
tell myself and others as the occasion warrants; “Driving a car is
like looking at yourself in the mirror”.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Mirrors have a long
history, ancients thought mirrors were portals to the supernatural so
their use in divination became widespread around the globe. They were
used throughout the ages by the wealthy to help them enhance their
beauty. Today mirrors are a practical item in every home. They help
us prepare ourselves to greet the world outside. Mirrors are many
times placed on the inside of entrances not just for decoration but
as reminders of how we appear to others. Most of us make use of
mirrors in private. Men shave, women apply makeup all in the privacy
of our own space. Most of us drive our cars alone, as it were, in
private and it is in private that we usually see ourselves as we
truly are.
</div>
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<br /></div>
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This is what I mean
when I say that, “Driving a car is like looking at yourself in the
mirror”. Whenever I go driving I can’t believe how many idiots
and jerks are on the road! It seems to me that wherever I go the road
is full of jerks in front of me and idiots behind me. Why can’t
they just drive the way they’re supposed to? Or in other words, why
can’t they drive just like me? After all isn’t my level of
driving the best? Do you see now why I say that driving a car is like
looking in a mirror? Let me add this, all the licensed drivers on the
road have just as much right to be there as I do.
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
James 1:22-25
</div>
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But be doers of the
word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a
hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks
intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and
goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks
into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no
hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his
doing.</div>
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<br /></div>
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When we look in a
mirror it is usually for the purpose of making a correction, brushing
our hair or straightening a tie. As I said, men shave and women apply
make up. James is telling us that just hearing the word and not doing
the word is like looking in the mirror, forgetting what you saw
without making corrections. Applying this to my story about driving,
when I see the driving of all those jerks and idiots I would have to
say that I am passing judgment on their driving skills. Right? I am
using my standard of driving to evaluate everyone else on the road.
My reaction to others on the road is a reflection (like a mirror) of
what is in my heart. As a Christian I am uncomfortable with that.
First, I hate being angry at strangers on the highway. Second, Where
does this rage come from? Third, What can I do about it? I would like
to make corrections.
</div>
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<br /></div>
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James 4:1-4</div>
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What causes quarrels
and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions
are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You
covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have,
because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask
wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you
not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?
</div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
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Ouch! Is James
really telling me that my driving behavior (judging everyone else on
the road) is like being an enemy of God! My desires are at war within
me. I want everyone on the road to drive according to my standard or
at least according to my interpretation of the driving laws. I have
set myself up as the standard and justify it by my condemnation of
everyone else on the road. Ouch! I am upset with other people’s
driving but I hardly notice the condemnation that is in my heart
toward other people, people made in God’s image, people just like
me.
</div>
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<br /></div>
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Matt 7: 3-5</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Why do you see the
speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that
is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me
take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own
eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then
you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
My condemnation of
others and my unnoticed hypocrisy are the products of misplaced
passions. I am in love with my own driving skill and my own judgment
of others. James says that is enmity with God. I am opposing God when
I should be embracing Him. Ouch!
</div>
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<br /></div>
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So what can I do
about it?
</div>
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<br /></div>
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Heb 10:24</div>
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And let us consider
how to stir up one another to love and good works,
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I love this verse
from Hebrews. It asks me to make use of a part of my mind that in
today’s world we hardly notice anymore. It asks me to “consider”.
I looked up the word consider in a thesaurus and here are some
synonyms; contemplate, examine, study, meditate, ponder, ruminate.
Scripture is asking me not to just think about this but to think hard
and long. It asks me not only to consider but to “consider how”.
I have found that when I ask questions of myself (like looking in a
mirror) I usually ask questions like, “Why did you do that?”. My
usual response to myself is, “Because you’re an idiot”. Not
very helpful. I know that already, I’ve looked in the mirror
remember? Hebrews asks us “how”, consider how. How can I change
my experience on the road? How can I communicate to a stranger’s
private space while driving down the road. Is there something I can
do that will make a difference? How can I stir up others to love and
good works?
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Remember. (a word
very similar to ‘consider’) Remember that everyone else on the
road has just as much right to be there as you do. Remember that your
anger won’t change the others drivers behavior. Remember you are in
public. Driving in your car seems like you are in your private
personal space but that is an illusion. You are actually on a public
road that you must share it with others regardless of how they choose
to drive. As a Christian this is an opportunity to display the love
of God to those around you. What would that look like? Your travel
time; give yourself extra time. You don’t want time constraints to
bring frustration and anger into your drive. Give others preference.
Let others go first. This is a basic Christian principle. 1
Corinthians 9:19 says, “For though I am free from all, I have made
myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them”. Servant of
all, as you drive down the road remember you are a servant. Drive
accordingly.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I would suggest that
your drive can become for you a freedom and a blessing instead of a
rat race. You have the power to look in this mirror and make the
adjustments needed. This is where I hope you are “stirred up”.
That you accept the challenge to drive with the love of Christ in
your heart and demonstrate that by preferring others before yourself.
Turn your commute into an act of worship instead of an act of
hypocrisy.
</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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Helpful references:
</div>
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Romans 12:10</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
10 Love one another
with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Philippians 2:4</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
4 Let each of you
look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of
others.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
1 John 4:20</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
20 If anyone says,
“I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who
does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he
has not seen.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
1 Corinthians 9:19</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
19 For though I am
free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win
more of them.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: none; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; padding-bottom: 0.03in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Road rage in the
news…</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
August 4 2017 Around
2 a.m., officials say Michael McCaskey, 64, of Kellyville, Okla., was
driving westbound on the Turner Turnpike near Luther, when he swerved
in front of a semi-truck.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
An Oklahoma County
jury chose to punish Samuel Max Powell, 45, with life in prison.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Police reported the
shooting occurred about 7:45 p.m. Jan. 8, 2015, in south Oklahoma
City.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“You messed with
the wrong white guy, Mexican,” Assistant District Attorney Lori
McConnell said, quoting a witness who testified during the trial.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
May 26, 2017</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Thirty-one-year-old
Lawrence Finn of Pettigrew remained in jail Friday on a charge of
second-degree murder. Arkansas State Police described the death
Wednesday of 41-year-old Jason Miller of Alma as the result of a
road-rage incident along Interstate 40 near the Oklahoma line.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
OKLAHOMA CITY - The
defendant in the road rage murder trial David Bloebaum has been found
guilty of the first-degree murder and the jury has recommended he
serve life in prison.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Bloebaum was accused
of gunning down 29-year-old Jason Yousif after a road rage incident
in the parking lot of a Super Target near Penn and Memorial back in
September 2012.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
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<br /></div>
Rusty Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17842912193452161446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24671792.post-88939349010002929642017-08-08T15:03:00.001-05:002017-12-31T08:52:24.002-06:00Reordering the Trinity: Six Movements of God in the New Testament by Rodrick K. Durst<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ijAVtLA0vtXSjyw64YcZ3CB6SyZewQ5ucNx0ggQumYHEfM3nzoo_JlLD52uYtTBp9tYDjOxogaFR51MsiwuhJI3_3cHS-diJU4E3lCG_C-iwUPcydoqKCeSp6RXH6zzGBq3T9Q/s1600/RickDurst-with-book-232x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ijAVtLA0vtXSjyw64YcZ3CB6SyZewQ5ucNx0ggQumYHEfM3nzoo_JlLD52uYtTBp9tYDjOxogaFR51MsiwuhJI3_3cHS-diJU4E3lCG_C-iwUPcydoqKCeSp6RXH6zzGBq3T9Q/s1600/RickDurst-with-book-232x300.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://scriptoriumdaily.com/a-census-of-triadic-occurrences-rodrick-durst/" target="_blank">Image borrowed from here</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Rodrick K. Durst
gives a marvelous gift to the Body of Christ, the Church. In his book
he explores the triadic patterns of the Trinity in the New Testament.
Dr. Durst took up the challenge to explore the meaning of the
varieties of triadic orders presented in scripture. There are six
possible combinations of Father Son and Spirit. Dr. Durst identifies
seventy-five places in the New Testament where they are discernible
and notes the context of each order and it’s implications.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
In Part 1:
Considering Four Key Questions, Durst discusses things like why does
the Trinity matter? Where did the Trinity come from? Was the Trinity
in the minds of the New Testament writers? As well as a very good
chapter on the development of ideas about the Trinity throughout
history.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The heart of the
book is Part 2: The Contextual Question and the Trinitarian Matrix.
Divided into six chapters each addressing one of the possible triadic
orders. Those chapters are as follows:
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Chapter 5: The
Sending Triad: Father Son Spirit as the Missional Order</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Chapter 6: The
Saving Triad: Son Spirit Father as the Regenerative Order</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Chapter 7: The
Indwelling Triad: Son Father Spirit as the Christological Witness
Order</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Chapter 8: The
Standing Triad: Spirit Father Son as the Sanctifying Order</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Chapter 9: The
Shaping Triad: Father Spirit Son as the Spiritual Formation Order</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Chapter 10: The
Uniting Triad: Spirit Son Father as the Ecclesial Order</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
This book will help
anyone who desires to better understand the Trinity doctrinally as
well as practical applications for living a fuller Trinitarian
experience as a Christian believer. The book is scholarly but not
written in a way that would keep non-specialists from gaining much
benefit. The ample footnotes, very useful appendices, and
bibliography are welcome resources. Each chapter has discussion
questions and Part 2 in addition has what Dr. Durst calls sermon
starters. To me they seem to be meditative synopsis with practical
applications. Excellent work in my opinion. </div>
Rusty Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17842912193452161446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24671792.post-26016509400835753692017-04-26T14:10:00.000-05:002017-04-26T14:15:10.133-05:00TWO PARABLES Part 1<div align="center" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
1.
The Parable of the Sower
or<i><b>
</b></i>The Parable of the Soil</div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh04REGGWzx-ysMcEihs1Npmbh1Cb2ye8R1kCbe6PJEp-TzoObt2T9eqLWO3wM-ja3zPQ31U8NjUww5WNWYr8cgDIieTX2VssDUKWZ-C5nJf9TdlCmxmzCYhioY1tpwnDroJJ7VDg/s1600/Sower+1-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh04REGGWzx-ysMcEihs1Npmbh1Cb2ye8R1kCbe6PJEp-TzoObt2T9eqLWO3wM-ja3zPQ31U8NjUww5WNWYr8cgDIieTX2VssDUKWZ-C5nJf9TdlCmxmzCYhioY1tpwnDroJJ7VDg/s1600/Sower+1-2.jpg" /></a></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
In this series I am
writing about two parables. I don’t mean to infer from my title
that this parable is actually two, just that it is known by two
names. First I will discuss the parable of the sower, then in future
posts I will discuss this parable in relation to the parable of the
<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+13:44&version=ESV" target="_blank">hidden treasure</a>.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The parable of the
sower is told in three gospels, commonly called the synoptic gospels,
Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The parable of the hidden treasure is found
only in Matthew. As we look at the parables I would like to
demonstrate a principle of biblical interpretation (hermeneutics)
that I call <b>Scripture Best
Interprets Scripture</b>. “Use the Bible to help interpret
itself. Interpret difficult passages with clear ones. This is
sometimes called the law of non-contradiction. Because the Bible is
God’s word, and God is true, the Bible will not contradict itself.”
<a class="sdendnoteanc" href="https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-6-principles-biblical-interpretation" name="sdendnote1anc" target="_blank"><sup>i</sup></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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So let us begin. For
sake of space I will leave you to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mk+4&version=ESV" target="_blank">read the parable</a> for yourself. I suggest you read it from all three of
the gospels. It is the same parable but each gospel author tells it
with some slight differences. It is my thinking that these
differences clarify rather than confuse, more views give us a wider
perspective. I will highlight some of these along the way.
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All three gospels
begin “a sower went out to sow”.
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<i><b>The first
condition</b></i> is that the seeds fell along <i><b>the path</b></i>
and then the birds devoured them. Not unusual; birds like seed. I
remember <a href="http://imgur.com/3SHjing" target="_blank">feeding pigeons</a> as a
young boy. I was fascinated by the power I held in my hand. These
birds would normally never come near me but as I began to scatter
seed they came from everywhere and some were even so bold as to land
on my head and arm. So is the intended meaning that a farmer should
take care not to waste the seed or is it to show how to attract
birds? Hmmmm? Lets keep reading.
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<i><b>The second
condition</b></i> we are told is <i><b>rocky ground</b></i> without
much soil. Luke tells us that the soil “had no moisture” So what
happens to seeds under these conditions? They spring up but have no
depth so when the sun is hot they wither away. Again as a young boy
at my school’s science fair, I had to present a science project.
Mine was radish seeds/sprouts, my experiment was <a href="http://my.chicagobotanic.org/education/youth_ed/eleven-experiments-with-radish-seeds/" target="_blank">something like this</a>. I learned the basics of germination. In order for
seeds to grow, they need moisture and light (but not too much). The
moral? A lack of moisture plus a hot sun kills the seedlings. So
wouldn't <a href="https://permaculturenews.org/2013/04/04/rocky-resources/" target="_blank">a farmer</a> avoid this situation? You bet, farmers clear the rocks
from their fields.</div>
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<i><b>Third
condition</b></i> is some seeds fell among <i><b>thorns </b></i>and
“the thorns grew up and choked them.” Have you noticed anything
yet? Perhaps a progression? First birds eat the seeds, this is rapid
they don’t even get to germinate. Then the rocky ground prevents
the seedlings from developing after germination but at least they
sprouted. Here the thorns are choking the plants. This takes a little
more time. I planted strawberries about five years ago. Overall they
are doing good. I made one small mistake though. I thought I was
doing the right thing. I used my lawnmower clippings as mulch. It
worked great the first couple of years. I thought I was keeping the
weeds down and it
did for a time. But slowly the Bermuda grass clippings I was placing
in my strawberries for mulch took root. Now it is a yearly battle to
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8LtsHFDln59q_TymU6mWalYb0oGLeDRzkylFA7sko4VR-XqtSXlDP_rsHPtrI2GohCa32mXTabveyPU1H2FzWEcU8GnwZmjGWLYqnEcLGZ6TwuYbOFKPrLpj_7vil4vPiD3GWrQ/s1600/Bermudagrass+in+Strawberry+Patch.jpg" target="_blank">pull the Bermuda grass out</a>. The
grass is choking my strawberries! I am not a very good farmer.
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<i><b>T</b></i><i><b>he
fourth condition</b></i>
is what every farmer wants, the seeds fell on <i><b>good
soil</b></i>
and produced crops. So
what does all this mean? Jesus’ disciples had the same question.
Mark’s version of the disciples asking Jesus about this
is informative for <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mark+4.13&version=ESV" target="_blank">interpreting parables</a>
“How then will you understand all the parables?” Luke and Matthew
record for us that Jesus intends for the disciples “know the
secrets of the Kingdom” so shouldn't we pay attention to what
Jesus is about to tell them?
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</div>
<div id="sdendnote1">
<div class="sdendnote" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<a class="sdendnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=24671792#sdendnote1anc" name="sdendnote1sym">i</a>
Lesson 6: Principles of Biblical Interpretation,
<a href="https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-6-principles-biblical-interpretation">https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-6-principles-biblical-interpretation</a>,
last accessed 4/26/2017</div>
</div>
Rusty Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17842912193452161446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24671792.post-33324535882191390832017-04-24T11:34:00.001-05:002017-12-31T08:52:23.530-06:00Review: REFLECT, Becoming Yourself by Mirroring the Greatest Person in History by Thaddeus J. Williams<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsgl3YGMRkv5F4vRnZbomadpyA3c_4vr-KCJ0erwuQFQ1Xvr4goTPjY-siwegzNhTHZAHYT_OjzvwBs4fksC_SWEqXHMjvVBjZmLGkdRhJdaArwirQ70f1bzpOwBEbsl_MeC0TXw/s1600/Williams%252C+REFLECT+%2528final+8-27-16%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsgl3YGMRkv5F4vRnZbomadpyA3c_4vr-KCJ0erwuQFQ1Xvr4goTPjY-siwegzNhTHZAHYT_OjzvwBs4fksC_SWEqXHMjvVBjZmLGkdRhJdaArwirQ70f1bzpOwBEbsl_MeC0TXw/s320/Williams%252C+REFLECT+%2528final+8-27-16%2529.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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How would I describe
this book? Is it theology, spiritual-formation, Christian living?
Yes, yes and yes. I once read that the fruit of the Spirit is
singular in Galatians 5:22 because they are not fruits but fruit; one
fruit with multiple facets. To have one is to have them all. <i><b>REFLECT</b></i><i>,
Becoming Yourself by Mirroring the Greatest Person in History </i>by
Thaddeus J. Williams is very helpful towards that end. Integrating
the characteristics of Christ in an authentic way to bring Him glory,
the author shows, is God’s
design for our lives and God’s means to bring it about.
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Each
chapter; Reason, Emote (passion), Flip (holiness), Love, Elevate
(grace), Create, Transform could stand on their own. The author
provides many notes and challenged my thinking and preconceptions in
an engaging and stimulating manner. Like
a good friend speaking to my doubts and intimidations he leads me to
the place where I can see for myself. There
is much food for thought in each progressive chapter.
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There
are many quotes that I could give but my favorite came from the last
chapter Transform, “Jesus is not a sum; he is a fully integrated
Person. Every one of his attributes can be used as an adjective or
adverb to describe any other attribute.” The author also kindly
provides a REFLECT log you can copy from his book or download from
his webpage. It is a suggested tool that he has used for 10 years and
it is sort of a check list or inventory to help you to reflect on the
status of your journey.
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If
purchase this book I would recommend buying two. You will get part
way through and think of others you would love to share this journey
with. If you lead a small study or prayer group this would make an
excellent addition to your times together.
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="en-ESV-22657"></a>
I love to meditate on scripture;
this book would, in my mind, fall under Micah 6:8 “He
has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of
you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with
your God”</div>
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<br /></div>
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<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I
am very grateful to The Weaver Book Company for providing me a copy
of the book for an unbiased review. I am hopeful for the books
success and looking forward to a
study guide. I will be using this in my small group.
</div>
Rusty Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17842912193452161446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24671792.post-34296854720304515732017-04-05T14:43:00.002-05:002017-12-31T09:08:20.175-06:00Meditation for Easter<div align="center" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>Meditation
for Easter</b></span></div>
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Psalm 2 verse 6
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✠I
have set my King on Zion, my holy hill. ✠</div>
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<br /></div>
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Psalm 3 verse 2
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✠Many
are saying of my soul, </div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
‘There is no salvation for him in God.’
<i>(cf. Mk 15:26-32)</i><i>✠</i></div>
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Psalm 3 verse 4</div>
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✠I
cried aloud to the LORD, </div>
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and he answered me from his holy hill. <i>(cf.
Mk 15:34)</i><i>✠</i></div>
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<i>Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani</i></div>
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Psalm 3 verse 5</div>
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✠I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the LORD sustained me.
<i>(cf. Mk 16:6)</i><i>✠</i></div>
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Rusty Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17842912193452161446noreply@blogger.com0