GOOD FRIDAY

GOOD FRIDAY

GotQuestions.org: "What is Good Friday / Holy Friday?"

  Good Friday, also known as "Holy Friday," is the Friday immediately preceding Easter Sunday. It is celebrated traditionally as the day on which Jesus was crucified. If you are interested in a study of the issue, please see our article that discusses the various views on which day Jesus was crucified. Assuming that Jesus was crucified and died on a Friday, should Christians remember Jesus' death by celebrating Good Friday?

  The Bible does not instruct Christians to remember Christ’s death by honoring a certain day. The Bible does give us freedom in these matters, however. Romans 14:5 tells us, “One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.” Rather than remembering Christ's death on a certain day, once a year, the Bible instructs us to remember Christ’s death by observing the Lord’s Supper. First Corinthians 11:24-26 declares, “...do this in remembrance of me...for whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.”
  Why is Good Friday referred to as “good”? What the Jewish authorities and Romans did to Jesus was definitely not good (see Matthew chapters 26-27). However, the results of Christ’s death are very good! Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” First Peter 3:18 tells us, “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.”
  Many Christian churches celebrate Good Friday with a subdued service, usually in the evening, in which Christ’s death is remembered with solemn hymns, prayers of thanksgiving, a message centered on Christ’s suffering for our sakes, and observance of the Lord’s Supper. Whether or not Christians choose to “celebrate” Good Friday, the events of that day should be ever on our minds because the death of Christ on the cross—along with His bodily resurrection—is the paramount event of the Christian faith.

LIFE WITHOUT RESURRECTION

LIFE WITHOUT RESURRECTION

   1Peter [GW] 1:3-9 Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! God has given us a new birth because of his great mercy. We have been born into a new life that has a confidence which is alive because Jesus Christ has come back to life. We have been born into a new life which has an inheritance that can't be destroyed or corrupted and can't fade away. That inheritance is kept in heaven for you, since you are guarded by God's power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed at the end of time. You are extremely happy about these things, even though you have to suffer different kinds of trouble for a little while now. The purpose of these troubles is to test your faith as fire tests how genuine gold is. Your faith is more precious than gold, and by passing the test, it gives praise, glory, and honor to God. This will happen when Jesus Christ appears again. Although you have never seen Christ, you love him. You don't see him now, but you believe in him. You are extremely happy with joy and praise that can hardly be expressed in words as you obtain the salvation that is the goal of your faith.

  An oxymoron is figure of speech in which 2 or more contradictory words are combined to make a point, sometimes becoming a well-worn cliché. For example: “thunderous silence” “sweet sorrow” “a fine mess” “accurate estimate” “accidently on purpose” “awful pretty” “Amtrak schedule”, and my all time favorites, “all natural artificial flavoring” “genuine simulated leather” and “a little pregnant”.

  Today’s title, “life without resurrection”, is just such play on words, carrying a meaning, but actually an oxymoron; there being no life without resurrection!

  Without Christ’ resurrection personally ours, this temporal world sojourn whether it pleasurable or disagreeable, prosperous or poor, is naught but existent plodding in eternal death. (Jn.3:18)

  Study His Word and we discover believers trusting Lord Jesus Christ possess resurrection now. But are we living as resurrected? Do we walk in the power of Jesus’ resurrection? Do we know the supremacy of His resurrection? (Phil.3:9-10)

  Wonderful though it be, Jesus did not come and die that men may only escape eternal damnation. He came that men may realize abundant life here and now; accomplished only through personal experience of His resurrection power. Without it we will not be His confidant or realize relational godly confidence. (Jn.10:7-11; Phil.3:1-11)

  As His family, we are created by and in Christ Jesus a resurrected people unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should exactly walk in them. (Eph.2:10)

  Live as resurrected, for “you hath he quickened [made alive!], who were dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph.2:1) 

EBB4   Thursday, March 29, 2018

THAT AUTHORITY BUSINESS

THAT AUTHORITY BUSINESS

   Luke [ESV] 24:47-49 … "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high."

   Acts 2:32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.

  Yesterday I personally reviewed and shared the truth that “in Christ” we are with God’s authority His representatives. (Jn.1:12; 2Cor.5:17) Do those outside of Christ recognize this business in us? Exactly what does our actual individual witness of our Messiah’s redemption amount too? Are we primarily identified with “Merry Christmas” nativity retention and such battles?

EBB4   Wednesday, March 28, 2018

AUTHORIZED

AUTHORIZED

   In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He [Jesus] was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and without Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being. … But as many as received Him, He gave to them authority to become the children of God, to those who believe on His name, [MKJV John 1:1-12

  Persons “in Christ” are God’s authorized family members. But what means this authorization? Plus what does it matter whether we followers of Christ understand what it entails, or not? To answer let’s first look at the Greek word interpreted “authority” (ISV, LITV, MKJV, YLT), “power” (KJV, WT), “right” (ASV, CEV, ESV).

G1849 ἐξουσία; exousia; ex-oo-see'-ah From G1832 (in the sense of ability); privilege, that is, (subjectively) force, capacity, competency, freedom, or (objectively) mastery (concretely magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token of control), delegated influence: - authority, jurisdiction, liberty, power, right, strength.

  Rereading the Greek several times left me again confronted with the choice of feeling engulfed and overwhelmed by the enfranchised responsibilities or to embrace the influence of God’s delegated entrustment. (Jesus’ words in Luke 9:23 inform us that it’s not a singular lifetime decision.) Even before knowing the Greek I opted to compete with egocentric self in endeavoring to live as His 2Corinthians 5:14-20 authoritative ambassador.

  Knowing all this how now shall we act this day, tomorrow, then …?

EBB4   Tuesday, March 27, 2018

GROWING BY GOSSIP

GROWING BY GOSSIP

   Proverbs [GW] 1:1-7 The proverbs of Solomon, David's son who was king of Israel, given to grasp wisdom and discipline, to understand deep thoughts, to acquire the discipline of wise behavior- righteousness and justice and fairness- to give insight to gullible people, to give knowledge and foresight to the young- a wise person will listen and continue to learn, and an understanding person will gain direction-to understand a proverb and a clever saying, the words of wise people and their riddles. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge. Stubborn fools despise wisdom and discipline.

   Luke [GW] 16:8-12 "The master praised the dishonest manager for being so clever. Worldly people are more clever than spiritually-minded people when it comes to dealing with others." Jesus continued, "I'm telling you that although wealth is often used in dishonest ways, you should use it to make friends for yourselves. When life is over, you will be welcomed into an eternal home. Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with a lot. Whoever is dishonest with very little is dishonest with a lot. Therefore, if you can't be trusted with wealth that is often used dishonestly, who will trust you with wealth that is real? If you can't be trusted with someone else's wealth, who will give you your own?

   2Corinthians 13:5-6 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.

  My life training includes “Never just simply dismiss some things circulating as gossip.” Which of course flies in the face of standard that gossip is totally bad, period, and should be immediately firmly discounted. The mining and refining process I was taught:

1.       Do not merely dismiss it. Hear it.

2.       Investigate whether it has foundation or bits of truth.

3.       Trace it back to the initiator.

4.       Courteously hear them.

5.       If it has foundation or bits of truth, accept those.

6.       Is there a remedial solution?

7.       If so, am I/are we willing to confer on and attempt to implement the remedy? (This step may require further maturity-in-faith personal examination.)

8.       If willing, lovingly implement regardless of angst about self or party reaction.

  All wealth is not monetary. Biblical maturity is great wealth to invest now for eternity. Let us emulate God’s grace in constructively doing so.

EBB4   Monday, March 26, 2018

PS. Whereas I was preached to that all gossip should be sent to the trash heap, clever worldly leaders showed me not to be so narrowly simple-minded.

I AM NOT

I AM NOT

   Exodus [ESV] 3:13-14  Then Moses said to God, "If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' what shall I say to them?"

God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And he said, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'"

  Easter season brings reminders of Jesus death, burial, and resurrection. We ponder these things as well we should, for before all and above all Jesus is the eternally great I AM, whereas you and I are not. This a fact even though we often in exercising free will act as though we are. How wonderful is His amazing love and grace!

  My unnatural desire is to grow in faith, acceptance, and trust in Jesus as way, the truth, and the life. To combat my natural bent of egocentric I am, beginning with Exodus I researched and reviewed the Gospel of John presenting His clarification of who He is. For your convenient edification I share with you.

  John 6:35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

  John 8:12; 8:58 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."… Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am."

  John 10:9, 11, 25-26 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. … I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. … Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"

  John 14:6-7 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him."

  John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

  I AM sent Moses to men. (Ex.3:13-14) I AM came to mankind. (Jn.1:1; 3:16) Let us not fall to the otherwise trappings of a seasonal holiday.  Let us consider and worship the Risen One, Lord Jesus Christ.

EBB4    Thursday, March 22, 2018

USA EASTER

USA EASTER

   John 14:15; 15:10 “If ye love me, keep my commandments. … If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.”

Easter in the USA could be titled “Incongruity Day” with its bit serious contemplation and tons of eggs.

Jesus is mentioned but how much is He loved and honored by this Christian nation?

His resurrection is spoken of but do we live as His’ resurrected people?

I say this not to criticize or condemn. I speak from a troubled heart.

EBB4, Thursday, March 21, 2018

A BIBLICALLY GUARDED TONGUE

A BIBLICALLY GUARDED TONGUE

Dear fellow travelers,

  Mary J. and Lisa F. aired the following Biblical guarded tongue list. After very little consideration I decided it’s something I and possibly you need to work on. So I redacted the list, added a few, put the verses in order, and making it personal lest I slip into “Oh my yes, ______ needs to do this!”

  Please feel free to print, look up the Scripture in your Bible, and carry for review and application unto mature Romans 12:1-3 worship pleasing the Lord.

I should remain silent when …..

1.       I’m about to blame God for my failure. Gen.3:12; Jam.1:13-16

2.       I’m about to blame someone else for my failure. Gen.3:12

3.       I’m about to blame Satan for my failure. Gen.3:13

4.       I haven’t verified the story. Deut.17:6

5.       I’m tempted to speak lightly of holy matters. Eccl.5:2

6.       I want to know and hear God. Ps.46:10

7.       I am tempted to tell a lie. Pr.4:24

8.       I will be ashamed of your words later. Pr.8:8

9.       It is time for me to listen. Pr.13:1

10.   I am tempted to joke about sin. Pr.14:9

11.   The issue is none of my business. Pr.14:10

12.   I am about to speak angrily. Pr.14:17

13.   I’m supposed to be working instead of talking. Pr.14:23

14.   My words will damage someone’s reputation. Pr.16:27

15.   My words will damage a friendship. Pr.16:28

16.   My words would convey the wrong impression. Pr.17:27

17.   I don’t have all the facts. Pr.18:13

18.   I may have to eat my words later. Pr.18:21

19.   I’ve already said it several times. Pr.19:13

20.   I want to guard my soul from trouble. Pr.21:23

21.   I’m tempted to flatter an evil person. Pr.24:24

22.   I can’t speak without screaming. Pr.25:28

23.   My words will contribute to a weaker person stumbling. 1Cor.8:11

24.   I am feeling critical. Jam.3:9

25.   My words will reflect poorly on the Lord, family, and friends. 1Pet.2:21-23

26. When the nice Police Officer tells me that I have that right.  Miranda Warning 101

27.  The wife threatens not to cook dinner. Hezekiah 3: 27

When I'm about to say something foolish. Ecclesiastes 10:1

  Possibly you could add a few with Bible verses. If so, please do and I’ll add them to the list.

EBB4

LACKING AMELIORATION

LACKING AMELIORATION

   John [ESV] 3:16-18 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

   Hebrews 3:7-13 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness, where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years. Therefore I was provoked with that generation, and said, 'They always go astray in their heart; they have not known my ways.' As I swore in my wrath, 'They shall not enter my rest.'" Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

  A healthy church is populated with individuals that lack amelioration of the Word of God. They present the whole counsel of God. They in word and deed demonstrate the loving grace of God. They also speak the plain truth about the dreadful results of rejecting God’s loving gracious redemption.

EBB4

RELIANT AND COMPPLIANT

RELIANT AND COMPLIANT

   Proverbs [ESV] 3:5-7 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.

   Ecclesiastes 12:11-14 The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

   Romans 12:1-2 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

  A healthy church is populated with God’s sons and daughters that are at best reliant upon and in compliance with God’s guidance. This being His Word living (Lord Jesus Christ) and written (the Bible).

  In practice what does this mean?

  When there is individual, group, or congregation question, issue, or problem God’s family first of all prayerfully searches His Word for direction. This includes study and implementation of relevant Scripture and example. It may frequently require Biblical repentance; to think differently according to God’s Word and act accordingly.

EBB4

WHEAT AND TARES

WHEAT AND TARES

1John [MKJV] 4:1-5  Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but try the spirits to see if they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God; and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the antichrist you heard is coming, and even now is already in the world. You are of God, little children, and you have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are of the world, therefore they speak of the world, and the world hears them.

  The true church is made up of John 1:12; 3:3 repentant born-again authorized sons and daughters of God’s family. However, the Word tells us that the visible church is a mixed group that includes darnel, false wheat; those of the family of the wicked one, the devil. (Mt.13:24-30)

  But how may we recognize them?

  By the measure of sound doctrine, that’s how. The Apostle John tells us the acid test is their position on the divinity of Jesus. (Jn.1:1) The Apostle Peter Said they bring destructive heresies contrary to sound doctrine. (1Tim.1:10; 2Tim.4:3; Tit.1:9; 2:1; 1Pet.2:1) These heresies could be as subtle as Satan with Eve: reliance on marketing strategies instead of declaring the gospel (Act.4:12), Eastern practices such as yoga, mindfulness, channeling, T.M., or many other contrarian ways.

  God does not prevent these false prophets any more than He restricted Satan from the garden in Eden. Restricting was Adam’s task as it is now ours. Adam failed. Shall we?

  God’s equipping is available. Shall we acquire it in mind (Tim.2:15), heart (Heb.4:12), and hand (Eph.6:17)? Or shall we be less than noble sons and daughters. (Act.17:11)

EBB4

DOT TO DOT PROVES A LOT

DOT TO DOT PROVES A LOT

Monday, March 12, 2018

Psalm 104:1 Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.

  Though we didn’t get them very often, they cost money you see, as a boy I very much enjoyed dot to dot puzzles.

  For those of you uninitiated in such delight, or do consider pencil and paper games far below remote stick and button, I explain: Picture paper page with printed dots that are sequentially numbered 1-2-3-4- and so on. Beginning with dot 1 a line was drawn to dot 2 and so on until when completing all numbers a picture is drawn. It could be object, scene, animal, insect, person, or other. I liked the famous person ones, especially if a historical figure. Wonderful fun was the puzzles containing 100 or more dots.

  If my above paragraph leaves you “Unable to connect the dots.” (Yes, the axiom came from the game. J ), please web Dot to Dot Printables and educate yourself through play the old fashioned way.

  Individuals and groups connect dots to solve problems and discover solutions. This method is remarkably useful in sorting out and discovering pictures beyond our normal vision.

  For faithful obedient 2Timothy 2:15 Christians connecting the dots in God’s Word is not so light a task as the childhood game. The work however does require that same faith of our yesteryear; that though appearing to be printed pages, significant pictures are there. (I confess at times a proclivity for playing games as opposed to serious dot to dot toil.)

   Read Genesis 3:6 in context. Then read 1Corinthians 15:21-22. Draw line between the two and what picture do we see?  Though woman, Eve, sinned first of all, man is ultimately responsible party! And connect a few more dots throughout the Word of God and we see that though all are individually responsible for actions or lack thereof, men (male) are still ultimately responsible.

  Ok, here’s one for you without giving away the picture: Read Genesis 3:14-15. Now read Matthew 1:18. Draw the line between the two. What big picture do you discover? And what is something it proves?

EBB4

HERE!

HERE!

Sunday, March 11, 2018

  When I found out my congregation wasn’t giving away cars this morning as some churches are now doing to boost attendance . . . I almost didn’t go. But then I remembered being told that John the Baptist didn’t give free camel rides with Jesus leading plus I recalled Hebrews 10:24-26.

EBB4

PS. Yep. Cars and more, even cash.

DESCRIBING A HEALTHY CHURCH

DESCRIBING A HEALTHY CHURCH

Friday, March 09, 2018

  Please describe a healthy church, the characteristics and evidence thereof. I’ll publish your input next week.

EBB4

THE SOCIAL GOSPEL

THE SOCIAL GOSPEL

Thursday, March 8, 2018

GotQuestions.org: "What is the social gospel?"

Answer: The phrase “social gospel” is usually used to describe a Protestant Christian intellectual movement that came to prominence in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Those who adhered to a social gospel sought to apply Christian ethics to social problems such as poverty, slums, poor nutrition and education, alcoholism, crime, and war. These things were emphasized while the doctrines of sin, salvation, heaven and hell, and the future kingdom of God were downplayed. Theologically, the social gospel leaders were overwhelmingly postmillennialist, asserting that Christ’s Second Coming could not happen until humankind rid itself of social evils by human effort.
  For a Christian perspective on the idea of a social gospel, we need to look to Jesus, who lived in one of history’s most corrupt societies. Jesus never issued any call for political change, not even by peaceful means. He did not come to earth to be a political or social reformer. The gospel Jesus preached did not have to do with social reform or social justice or political change. Rather than attempt to change governments and institutions, which are made up of people, Jesus came to change people's hearts and point them to God's kingdom. He preached the saving power of the gospel and the transforming work of the Holy Spirit.
  Yes, Jesus showed deep compassion for the poor, the sick, the dispossessed, and the outcasts of society. He healed them, but before taking care of their physical or emotional needs, He first took care of their spiritual needs. He was most concerned about the state of their souls and preached the gospel of repentance from sin through Him so they understood that their eternal destiny was far more important than their circumstances here on earth. Several of His parables conveyed this truth, including Lazarus and the rich man (Luke 16:19–31). The rich man, who had every possible social advantage, spent eternity in hell while Lazarus, the poorest of the poor with dire social needs, was comforted in heaven.
  Social justice is based on the concepts of human rights and equality. The Bible supports social justice with regard to the plight of the poor and the afflicted, orphans and widows, and people unable to support themselves. The nation of Israel was commanded by God to care for the less fortunate in society. Jesus told us to care for those who are hungry and thirsty, who are sick or in prison, the outcasts of society (Matthew 25:34–40).
  Jesus reflected God’s sense of justice by bringing the gospel message to the lower rungs of society. The wealthy also need to hear the gospel message, but it is noteworthy that the well-to-do, the upstanding and respected members of society are less likely to see their utter spiritual bankruptcy before God and embrace the message of the gospel. Christians are under a personal obligation to love their neighbours as they love themselves (Matthew 22:39). We have a responsibility to be good stewards of our own wealth because all wealth comes from and belongs to God. Christians should take a God-centered approach to social justice, not a man-centered approach. We see Christ Jesus as our Savior. When He returns, He will restore justice. In the meantime, Christians are to express God’s love and justice by showing kindness in practical ways to those less fortunate.

RECLAMATION

RECLAMATION

Wednesday, March 07, 2018      

   Isaiah [GW] 43:1-12 The LORD created Jacob and formed Israel. Now, this is what the LORD says: Do not be afraid, because I have reclaimed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.  When you go through the sea, I am with you. When you go through rivers, they will not sweep you away. When you walk through fire, you will not be burned, and the flames will not harm you. I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. Egypt is the ransom I exchanged for you. Sudan and Seba are the price I paid for you. Since you are precious to me, you are honored and I love you. I will exchange others for you. Nations will be the price I pay for your life. Do not be afraid, because I am with you. I will bring your descendants from the east and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, "Give them up," and to the south, "Do not keep them." Bring my sons from far away and my daughters from the ends of the earth. Bring everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made. Bring the people who are blind but still have eyes, the people who are deaf but still have ears.

All nations have gathered together, and people have assembled. Who among them could have revealed this? Who among them could have foretold this to us? They should bring their witnesses to prove that they were right. Let the people hear them. Then they will say that it is true. "You are my witnesses," declares the LORD. "I have chosen you as my servant so that you can know and believe in me and understand that I am the one who did this. No god was formed before me, and there will be none after me. I alone am the LORD, and there is no savior except me. I have revealed it to you, I have saved you, and I have announced it to you. There was no foreign god among you. You are my witnesses that I am God," declares the LORD.

   Luke 19:10  Indeed, the Son of Man has come to seek and to save people who are lost."

   Romans 5:8-9 Christ died for us while we were still sinners. This demonstrates God's love for us. Since Christ's blood has now given us God's approval, we are even more certain that Christ will save us from God's anger. If the death of his Son restored our relationship with God while we were still his enemies, we are even more certain that, because of this restored relationship, the life of his Son will save us.

  Because God loves us, His creation, ever since Adam’s disobedience He is in the reclamation business . . . retrieval paid for by the effectual sacrificial death, burial, and resurrection of the Messiah (1Cor.15:1-4), Lord Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son (Jn.3:16).

  Do we Christians, as adopted sons and daughters manifest in kind as His witnesses? Or have we left our first love and vision of those lost without Jesus for some sort of social churchliness? Is our message now the same as is that of Jesus and the apostles? Do we personally share the gospel or limit ourselves to church invitations and promotional marketing strategies?

  As John 1:12 family we are His ambassadors of reconciliation. (2Cor.5:1-21) Are we acting accordingly?

EBB4

TRAVELING BY GOD'S WAY, OR NOT

TRAVELING BY GOD’S WAY, OR NOT

   Mark [MKJV] 8:35 [Jesus explained] For whoever will save his life shall lose it; but whoever shall lose his life for My sake and the gospel's, he shall save it.    

   Acts 2:40-42 [After passionately presenting the plain truth of the gospel] Peter said much more to warn them. He urged, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation."  Those who accepted what Peter said were baptized. That day about 3,000 people were added to the group. The disciples were devoted to the teachings of the apostles, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.

Dear fellow travelers,

  My heart is troubled.

  Recently sitting in a congregational meeting on church growth, actually the lack thereof, I heard not quotes from or references to God’s Word, the Bible, on the topic. This led me to prayerfully doing another topical search of Scripture and read the comments of Christ-like Bible-centered writers.

  First I reviewed the Greek meaning of “church”; ἐκκλησία; ekklēsia; ek-klay-see'-ah From a compound of G1537 and a derivative of G2564; a calling out, that is, (concretely) a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation (Jewish synagogue, or Christian community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both): - assembly, church. Source; Strong’s. Discovering 80 matches in 79 verses. (Available upon request.)

  Reading on I found what I have observed through my decades as a follower of Christ. The longer a congregation or denomination exists, the more concerned members become with comfort, self-preservation . . . and the less concerned with the church’s original reason for being: to direct souls to Christ as personal Savior and thereafter disciple those that believe. As time goes on a congregation becomes increasingly self-centered, self-serving, organizational and business like program oriented. The result, not surprisingly, is they stop growing spiritually and in numbers, even diminishing in both. This is when we must turn our focus back to Biblical church growth. Back to our original mission as followers of Christ, doing as did He, denying ourselves—Speaking of and living the plain truth on man’s need for Christ the Redeemer and unto those that believe being a mentor. (Mt.28:19)

Sincerely,

Edwin Bennett Bullock 4^th

CHRIST-LIKE?

CHRIST-LIKE?

Monday, March 05, 2018

   Mathew [ESV] 10:34-38 "Do not think that I [Jesus] have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. [Eph.6:17; Heb.4:12]For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. [Lk.12:52-53]

   John 5:30-31  "I [Jesus] can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me. If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true.

  He being our perfect example we are to be Christ-like in thought and deed, right? I say yes. But what does that all-inclusively entail?

  We could say “Nice”, but was He always so at all times? What of His unequivocal declaration of confrontation? What of His plain spoken message of lost mans’ need for repentance and redemption? What of His clarion call for the followers’ discomfort of denying self? These and more that He exemplified.

  Are we in concord with Christ’s example of word and action, or do we act out some modified more acceptable form of Him? Jesus had but one over arching strategy and He made it very plain: To do the will of the Father. That which for the most part is not comfortable.

  Is our testimony true to the will of the Father manifested through Jesus Christ?

EBB4

GROUPTHINK?

GROUPTHINK?

Sunday, March 04, 2018

Acts [ESV] 17:11  Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

  Participating in the dynamic of group Bible study is advantageous. I strongly encourage doing so.

  But I also advise doing so with thoughtful caution.

  Why be personally prudent?

  Because if slack in individual personal study and meditation the familial collegiate influence of the guys and gals, including learned teachers, easily becomes our unexamined mindset: Consider it has been said that each religion, church, and group swims in its own soup recipe. (Additionally, peer pressure doesn’t always end after High School.)

  I am privileged and blessed that there are those that trust my shared daily personal thoughts, but “elder Ed said so” “our pastor said so” “my priest said so” “Calvin said so” et al is not to be final utterance of justification of personally held Bible doctrine, philosophy and worldview.

  It is we alone that are ultimately personally responsible before God in this.

  Luke 4:4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.; 2Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

EBB4

EXPECTING SANITY?

EXPECTING SANITY?

Friday, March 02, 2018

   Genesis [MKJV] 3:1-9 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which Jehovah God had made. And he said to the woman, Is it so that God has said, You shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said to the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden. But of the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, You shall not eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die. And the serpent said to the woman, You shall not surely die, for God knows that in the day you eat of it, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as God, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasing to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make wise, she took of its fruit, and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. And the eyes of both of them were opened. And they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made girdles for themselves. And they heard the voice of Jehovah God walking in the garden in the cool of the day. And Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of Jehovah God in the middle of the trees of the garden. And Jehovah God called to Adam and said to him, Where are you? And he said, I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I am naked, and I hid myself.

   2Timothy [MKJV] 1:7-9 For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Therefore you should not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner. But be partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the eternal times.

  Eve and then Adam were the first in line to add the knowledge of evil to the good they knew. This immediately evidenced in newfound neurosis and paranoia with its accompanying lack of prior sense of peace and security. And mankind has continued in queue ever since.

  People keep expecting sanity in this world dominated by life apart from God? For the masses it is not going to happen! (Eph.2:2; 6:10-18) But for His John 1:12 children God provides sanity . . . if we appropriate living His Way.

  Holding everlasting life through trusting Lord Jesus Christ as personal Redeemer, we are still faced with optional provisions from God, one of which is soundness of mind with its attendant peace; the condition always being reliance (trust) on His provision. (Heaven-bound and personal peace, though shouldn’t be in practice, for many Christians is two separate areas.)

  Let us accept that we are naked and ashamed without God’s covering; His covering the only true one; said covering exampled and explained throughout His Word. Examples involving those that accepted God’s covering and of those that did not are explained from Genesis through Revelation.

  God has put all we need for sanity on the level of human intellect. Our problem in not apprehending is not the lack of understanding, but that we filter truth thru our un-submissive resistant spirit; thereby denying ourselves sanity with peace that we long for and God wants us to enjoy.

  Jesus summed this up when he explained “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. … These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.“ (Jn.14:27;16:33) 

EBB4

LIKE WATER

LIKE WATER

Thursday, March 01, 2018

  Matthew [GW] 7:16-18 You will know them by what they produce. "People don't pick grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles, do they? In the same way every good tree produces good fruit, but a rotten tree produces bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, and a rotten tree cannot produce good fruit.

   James 1:22-25 Do what God's word says. Don't merely listen to it, or you will fool yourselves. If someone listens to God's word but doesn't do what it says, he is like a person who looks at his face in a mirror, studies his features, goes away, and immediately forgets what he looks like. However, the person who continues to study God's perfect teachings that make people free and who remains committed to them will be blessed. People like that don't merely listen and forget; they actually do what God's teachings say.

  Beginning when I was a very young boy my Uncle Gordon taught me much. Not just how to identify and use tools, but how stuff worked. One item that I thought fascinating at the time is that water seeks its own level and people are no different said he. An unchangeable fact I soon discovered through experience and then self observation in the mirror of God’s Word. As we truly believe, we act accordingly. To think otherwise we are fooling ourselves.

  I’ve conversed with murderers that believe they are justified but that resolutely believe it is wrong for the state to kill them. (I’m not writing about capital punishment here, but individual belief pertaining to self.) Some saying they would kill themselves first as they believe doing so is acceptable.

  We justify ourselves in concord with what we truly believe.  Few murder, but there are common practices that substantiate this fact. How many of us have or do believe that we can drive above posted speed limits because we are inherently and practiced superior to other drivers?

  This evident in every one of us, self included. Doesn’t the Word of God tell us that what we actually believe is confirmed by our production?

  Albert Barnes succinctly wrote: The Saviour gives the proper test of their character. People do not judge of a tree by its leaves, or bark, or flowers, but by the fruit which it bears. The flowers may be beautiful and fragrant, the foliage thick and green; but these are merely ornamental. It is the “fruit” that is of chief service to man; and he forms his opinion of the nature and value of the tree by that fruit. So of pretensions to religion. The profession may be fair; but the “conduct” - the fruit - is to determine the nature of the principles.

  Lest I be merely ornamental, again this day I must return to the mirror of God’s Word. Please join me.

EBB4