tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-218648932024-03-05T00:30:25.054-05:00Dialogue3rd John 8: leadership, discipleship, truth, wisdom, events, people, and things of interestBill Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03338055272355566552noreply@blogger.comBlogger1006125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21864893.post-52884988943812949332021-12-25T07:27:00.005-05:002021-12-25T07:27:52.300-05:00<p> <img alt="May be an image of text that says 'FOR UNTO YOU THIS IS DAY BORN IN OF THE DAVID CITY A SAVIOR which is CHRIST THE LORD LUKE 2:11'" class="i09qtzwb n7fi1qx3 datstx6m pmk7jnqg j9ispegn kr520xx4 k4urcfbm bixrwtb6" height="262" src="https://scontent-ort2-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/269938641_861657326011_1770962285633506823_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_ohc=waE0Zs6YC0gAX_OBud2&_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-2.xx&oh=00_AT-X5j8-MbOsa23NmtZxn0C0U05GrGZHbHHqfuMHcIwU1g&oe=61CBD9C9" width="366" /></p>Bill Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03338055272355566552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21864893.post-9797573445657353212013-05-13T07:40:00.000-04:002013-05-13T07:40:24.385-04:00Monday, 5/13/2013<br />
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Dear BI343 Proverbs Students</div>
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Good morning, and welcome to the first day of
class. I trust this will be learning and growing experience; moreover,
my hope is that this course will just be the beginning of a lifelong
journey for you in the study and application of God-centered wisdom.
Here are a few reminders, some advise, and a few things to enhance your
course experience as you get started this week:</div>
<ol>
<li> Read through the preliminary materials at the
top—this will help you to know what is going on, and will also point you
towards some good resources for help in course work. </li>
<li>In those resources, there is a course schedule,
I strongly suggest you print that out and keep it somewhere convenient
for a quick reference (and look ahead, so you know what’s coming).</li>
<li>
Each week there is a checklist for the week, always read that first so you can plan out the week.</li>
<li>
Like most online courses, there is a lot of
reading. I have one suggestion in how to make this a bit more useful.
(Note: I really like the Steveson Commentary—some of you may have never
read a commentary cover-to-cover before; if not, this is a good one to
start with.) Here’s a hint to make it even more beneficial, <u>try reading it for your devotions</u>.
I realize you may already have some very good things you use, and if
so, fine. But if you want a change for a few weeks, or if you’re looking
for something, I suggest this commentary to you. You can break down the
reading for each week into daily portions. This will help you get your
reading accomplished, and I think you will be challenged, nourished, and
blessed in many ways.</li>
<li>
You will notice my Twitter page embedded into
the top of the course page. I have posted a daily Proverbs for several
years (blogs, Facebook, etc.)—and in it, a link to the Proverbs chapter
for the day. During our course time, I want to add some relevant and
informative Proverb related quotes and thoughts<u>,</u> <u>and I’d like your help</u>.
So, if you come across something in your reading, the course postings,
your own thinking, project research, etc., that you think would be good
to share with the world, I would like to Tweet it. Send it in an email
(bhigley@bbc.edu), with the source (if the sources is online, send me
the link as well), and if possible, I’ll put it up.</li>
<li>
And finally, I want you to be a help and
resources to each other. I’m not sure how I’m going to do it yet, but I
would like to build a page where you can recommend good sources to each
other. These sources can be books, articles, blog posts, internet sites,
journal articles, sermons, devotionals, studies, quotes, etc. But in
the end, I envision it as a grand list of Proverbs and Wisdom related
helps to anyone interested in growing in their knowledge of Proverbs and
wisdom study. Stay tuned . . .</li>
</ol>
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Wisdom and Blessing to You</div>
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Dr. Bill Higley
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BBCBill Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03338055272355566552noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21864893.post-90425987853206352322011-12-23T16:21:00.001-05:002011-12-23T16:24:24.650-05:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Merry Christmas!</span></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>Bill Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03338055272355566552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21864893.post-38738747829345280012011-12-22T08:16:00.000-05:002011-12-22T08:16:38.848-05:00<br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><b><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;">An Interview with Coach K on Leadership</span></span></b></span><b><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">December 16, 2011<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">by: Loren Gary</span><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Helvetica;">I recently came across a fascinating interview that
academics Sim Sitkin and Richard Hackman conducted with legendary Duke
basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski (“Developing Team Leadership: An Interview
with Coach Mike Krzyzewski,” Academy of Management Learning & Education,
2011, vol. 10, No. 3, 494–501). The conversation focused on recruiting and
developing team leaders, creating a context for team success, and sustaining
one’s own leadership capacity. I came away impressed with the broad
applicability of Krzyzewski ‘s insights. Here are a few excerpts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">On walking “the fine line between encouraging
individuals “to develop new capabilities as leaders and accepting their
liabilities:</span></span></b><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Helvetica;"> “I tried to meet twice a month . . . just empathizing
with them, not trying to get them to be anybody different. I was concerned
about insisting “You need to be this leader or that leader.” I wanted them to
be a player too, and I didn’t want leading to conflict with their natural
playing abilities. . . . We want to keep their strengths while working on their
leadership.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">On the connection between leadership roles and
demonstrated talent:</span></span></b><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Helvetica;"> In some organizations you only listen to talent.
You’ve got to be talented before you can give advice or be recognized. We’ve
tried not to have that culture. If you have a guy go from freshman to senior,
sometimes the freshman that you bring in is better than the senior. It wasn’t
always that way; it used to be that if you’re an upper classman, you should
always beat out the younger guy. . . . So how is that senior guy going to be a
leader when he is not the best player. “We had a walk-on who became a
scholarship player and was a 5-year player, Jordan Davidson. Guys listened to
him more than anybody because he had established himself. So I think some of it
is credibility.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">On coaching your top performers:</span></span></b><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Helvetica;">
“I’ve found that when I am coaching my Duke team, I need to be the best
player’s best friend. Being the best player is a lonely position. Even though
you get accolades, no matter how good of a team you have, there is always some
level of jealousy. Always. Because you’re competitive. A little bit of it is
not bad. But I want to make sure that I’m connected with that guy because in a
tense moment he also might produce better knowing that he’s not out there
alone.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">On dealing with so-called derailer, who is undermining
the morale or effectiveness of your team—do you try to save him or get rid of
him:</span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span></span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Helvetica;">“You save him. With the Olympic team, we would never select
them because you don’t have enough time to help them. It’s a different mission
when you’re coaching a college team. A kid can get sidetracked, and he might be
a derailer because of insecurity or for any number of reasons. Saving a kid is
important, because it might just be that he lost his starting job, or he’s
discovered that he’s not good enough no matter how hard he works. Part of it
can be redefining what success is for that kid.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">On ensuring that minor problems don’t become major
ones, distracting the team from its focus on achieving collective goals:</span></span></b><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Helvetica;"> “I
continue to pay close attention to the team’s context. Sometimes I’ll meet with
my team or my staff and I’ll say, ‘I want you to think about irritants. We’ll
have a meeting on irritants and let’s try to get rid of as many irritants as
possible. In other words, let’s not let Duke beat Duke because every day we
can’t stand something.’ I try to make sure, even with the Olympic team, ‘Ok,
let’s have a meeting. What’s bugging us right now . . . food, whatever?
Nothing? Good, let’s go.’ You can lead better if everybody is not distracted.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">On ensuring your own continuous development as a
leader:</span></span></b><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Helvetica;"> </span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Helvetica;">I’ve learned so much from getting outside of my area. I think
you need to get involved—whether it be a charity, a hospital, or working with a
kid’s group—to keep actively learning. If you look, you’ll see natural
leadership happening all around you all the time. You can learn about being a
better leader from everybody. You can go and study an orchestra. You can go
study a basketball team, a business, or whatever. . . . In developing
leadership, you’re not just helping a young kid on your team become a better
leader. By attempting to teach that person, you’re developing your.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Helvetica;">From: <a href="http://becomealeader.org/articles/interview-coach-k-leadership">Becoming A Leader</a></span></div>Bill Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03338055272355566552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21864893.post-20350629005465690692011-12-21T14:31:00.000-05:002011-12-22T08:27:11.908-05:00<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Developing a Theology of Leadership</span></b></div>
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A free eBook by Tony Morgan. He writes about the book:</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<i>"It’s important to wrestle with and understand how God defines leadership. In this eBook, I share what I have learned—and am still learning—about biblical leadership. I also challenge you to take a look at yourself and what motivates you in your leadership role."</i></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Morgan does a nice job of introducing the necessity for a theology of leadership, as well as giving a useful outline and ideas of how to create and implement this theology. You can read it below. And, if you would like, it can be downloaded from the home site liked below. </span><br />
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<br />
<div>
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<div style="text-align: left; width: 400px;">
<a href="http://issuu.com/tonymorganlive/docs/theology-of-leadership?mode=window&backgroundColor=%23222222" target="_blank">Open publication</a> - Free <a href="http://issuu.com/" target="_blank">publishing</a> - <a href="http://issuu.com/search?q=ben%20stroup" target="_blank">More ben stroup</a></div>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://issuu.com/tonymorganlive/docs/theology-of-leadership/1" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Link</a>Bill Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03338055272355566552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21864893.post-39160778636222083112011-12-21T06:00:00.000-05:002011-12-21T14:37:27.354-05:00<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;"><b>Communities of Grace vs. Communities of Performance</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So is your community a community of performance or a community of grace? Try these diagnostic tests: <b> </b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Communities of Performance</b></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The leaders appear to have it all figured out</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The community appears respectable</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Meetings must be a polished performance</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Failure is devastating, because identity is found in ministry</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Actions are driven by duty</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Conflict is suppressed or ignored</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The focus is on orthodox behavior (letting people think they have it all figured out)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></b></li>
</ul>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Communities of Grace</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<ul style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font: 1em/23px Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; list-style-type: none; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 40px;">
</ul>
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<ul>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The leaders are vulnerable</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The community is messy</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Meetings are just one part of community life</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Failure is disappointing but not devastating, because identity is found in Christ</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Actions are driven by joy</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Conflict is addressed in the open</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The focus is on the affections of the heart (with a strong view of sin and grace)</span></li>
</ul>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In performance-oriented churches, people pretend to be okay because their standing within the church depends on it. But this is the opposite of grace. Grace acknowledges that we're all sinners, all messed up, all struggling. And grace also affirms that in Christ we all belong, all make the grade, all are welcome.</span></div>
<div style="color: #555555; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font: normal normal normal 1em/1.75 Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<a href="http://theresurgence.com/2009/03/30/communities-of-grace-vs-communities-of-performance"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">From Tim Chester @ Resurgence</span></a></div>Bill Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03338055272355566552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21864893.post-56519349006268000532011-12-19T03:00:00.000-05:002011-12-21T14:39:13.586-05:00<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #356e7c;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #580006; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt;"><a href="http://seapointcenter.com/before-you-decide-vision-is-passe/"><span style="color: #0000ee; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;"></span></a></span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #285b69; font-family: Arial; font-size: 22pt;">The Power of Vision</span></b><span style="color: #285b69; font-family: Times; font-size: 22pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #580006; font-family: Verdana;">Shared vision is a unifying force
because it:</span></b><b><span style="color: #285b69; font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5a5a; font-family: Verdana;">Unleashes energy</span></i></b><b><span style="color: #285b69; font-family: Times;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana;">When an organization’s vision stems from the
innermost values and beliefs of its people, it generates a tremendous
excitement, a compelling spirit, and a powerful level of engagement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5a5a; font-family: Verdana;">Kindles Commitment</span></i></b><b><span style="color: #285b69; font-family: Verdana;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Seeing the relationship between their
organization’s vision and what they personally believe in and care deeply about
kindles a passionate commitment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5a5a; font-family: Verdana;">Provides Perspective</span></i></b><b><span style="color: #285b69; font-family: Verdana;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana;">A vision illuminates the organization’s purpose
so that all members are completely clear about what they are doing, why they
are doing it, and how their work relates to what they personally believe in.
Members see themselves as part of a larger whole and they see where they fit
in. Day-to-day activities have more meaning because it is clear how they
contribute to the greater welfare of the organization.</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5a5a; font-family: Verdana;">Supports Empowerment</span></i></b><b><span style="color: #285b69; font-family: Verdana;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana;">When leaders are assured that shared direction
and values drive employee decisions, they are more willing to let go of control
and let others assume responsibility. Leaders spend less time managing others
and day-to-day crises and more time focusing on planning and big picture
issues.</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5a5a; font-family: Verdana;">Sparks Creativity </span></i></b><b><span style="color: #285b69; font-family: Verdana;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Creativity flourishes because there is more room
for autonomy within the broad guidelines that a shared vision provides. Because
everyone knows that they desire the same result and share the same values, they
can act more independently without concern for competing self-interest.</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5a5a; font-family: Verdana;">Triggers Trust</span></i></b><b><span style="color: #285b69; font-family: Verdana;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana;">People work together more easily. Because they
realize they are not so different from each other, they begin to trust each
other’s unique contributions. The organization becomes a partnership, where
each person has something to contribute in his or her own way.</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5a5a; font-family: Verdana;">Stimulates Creative</span></i></b><b><span style="color: #0b5a5a; font-family: Verdana;"> <i>Disagreement</i></span></b><b><span style="color: #285b69; font-family: Verdana;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana;">People
can argue about ideas without fear of it leading to damaging personality
conflicts and without fear of ridicule and exclusion.</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5a5a; font-family: Verdana;">Encourages Proactive Action</span></i></b><b><span style="color: #285b69; font-family: Verdana;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Instead of passively waiting for
direction, people at all levels take proactive action because they share truly
responsibility for their organization’s future.</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #580006; font-family: Verdana;">Vision: A picture of your preferred
future. Can you, and your team, conceive (picture, articulate) what could your
team accomplish if you came together as a unified force? What do you want to
accomplish? Have you envisioned it? </span></b><b><span style="color: #285b69; font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #580006; font-family: Verdana;">From Jesse Lyn-Stoner: <a href="http://seapointcenter.com/before-you-decide-vision-is-passe/"><span style="color: #0000ee; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">Before You Decide Vision Is Passé: 8 Reasons Why Vision Matters</span></a></span></b><o:p></o:p></div>Bill Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03338055272355566552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21864893.post-16630366813503037622011-12-16T08:41:00.000-05:002011-12-16T08:41:56.715-05:00Coming Together on Culture: Theological Issues<div>From Tim Keller: The Mission of the Church and Cultural Transformation?</div><div><br /></div><a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2011/12/15/coming-together-on-culture-theological-issues/">Coming Together on Culture: Theological Issues</a>Bill Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03338055272355566552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21864893.post-39106611992876314222011-12-15T09:09:00.000-05:002011-12-21T14:39:34.502-05:00<a href="http://leadchangegroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/scrooged.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; clear: right; color: #234d76; float: right; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-5964" height="144" src="http://leadchangegroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/scrooged-300x217.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; float: right; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="scrooged" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #656565;"></span><br />
<h1 class="post-title" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif !important; font: normal normal normal 30px/40px Helvetica, Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica; letter-spacing: -1px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 570px;">
<a href="http://leadchangegroup.com/character-vs-charisma-in-leadership/" rel="bookmark" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none !important; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Permalink to Character vs. Charisma in Leadership"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Character vs. Charisma in Leadership</span></b></a></h1>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3a3a3a; font-family: 'Lucida Grande','Lucida Sans',sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px;"><a href="http://leadchangegroup.com/tag/character-based-leadership" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #234d76; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Posts on Character-based leadership">Character-based leadership</a> is leading from who you are, not your position or power. Your character creates true influence, especially when your character also includes being competent. Your rank in the company or your title doesn’t create real leadership influence, but a substitute influence that manipulates others to do what you want done. Your true influence comes from the people who volunteer to join you on your quest, from understanding the mission and trusting you have the strategy and the competence to help them get there.</span><br />
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But character is difficult to know and easy to mask. We often don’t know or even like who we truly are. For me, the real Mike Henry can be much less than I’d like. I’m reminded of the line by Frank Cross (Bill Murray’s character) from Scrooged. (It’s at the 5:50 mark in <a href="http://youtu.be/LALbdGv8mBc" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #234d76; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Frank's closing speech from Scrooged">this video</a>.)</div>
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<i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It’s Christmas Eve! It’s… it’s the one night of the year when we all act a little nicer, we… we… we smile a little easier, we… w-w-we… we… we cheer a little more.</i> <b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">For a couple of hours out of the whole year, we are the people that we always hoped we would be!</i></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3a3a3a; font-family: 'Lucida Grande','Lucida Sans',sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px;">Charisma can become a counterfeit for character. Charisma, defined <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charisma" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #234d76; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Wikipedia on Charisma">by Wikipedia</a> as a compelling attractiveness or charm that can inspire devotion in others, can help character-based leaders. When a leader has charisma, their charm inspires others. Charisma works like an emotional intelligence that enables leaders to be graceful in relationships</span></div>
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But if that charisma masks the truth, it becomes a counterfeit of character. Our world is one where image matters. Character-based leaders try to fix the true person, the source of the inspiration, influence and leadership rather than simply trying to mask it.</div>
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Character is what’s truly on the inside – the real you. If we believe in the power of character-based leadership we won’t substitute charisma. Our character will dictate the charisma. Maybe we’re not very charismatic. Character-based leaders don’t need charisma. Charisma makes a few things easier. But in the end, true character inspires, especially when bundled with a great idea and excellent execution. True character creates true influence. To generate influence through any other means is simply manipulation.</div>
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True character creates true influence.</div>
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So this year, for more than just a couple of hours, I will be the person I always hoped I would be. I will trust more (and for me that means I will trust Christ more, too). I’ve got to risk being vulnerable and I’ve got to stick with my plans. I must resist the temptation to change my mind and my commitment and persist with projects and ideas. I don’t want to be a quitter.</div>
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What about you? You don’t need permission to lead… you don’t need permission to change the world, if you start with yourself. If you’re going to spend more than just a couple of hours being the person you always hoped you would be, what will you change? Go ahead, ink it below. And thank you for reading this blog and being part of this group this year. I appreciate it</div>
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: 'Lucida Grande','Lucida Sans',sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 24px;">By <a href="http://leadchangegroup.com/author/mike/" rel="author" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #234d76; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Posts by Mike Henry">Mike Henry</a> in December 15th 2011</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: 'Lucida Grande','Lucida Sans',sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 24px;">@ <a href="http://leadchangegroup.com/author/mike/">Lead Change Group</a></span>Bill Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03338055272355566552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21864893.post-67740172081737483322011-12-10T07:53:00.001-05:002011-12-10T08:12:54.893-05:00<div style="color: red;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #660000;"><b><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;">Christmas vs. Christmas </span></span></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #660000;"><b><span style="color: #990000;">A very good reminder from Mark Taylor at</span></b> </span><a href="http://cymt.org/">The Center for Youth Ministry Training</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="color: #990000;">A re-post, The original article can be found here:</span></b> <a href="http://www.ymtoday.com/articles/3902/christmas-vs-christmas">Christmas vs. Christmas</a> </span><br />
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After watching a myriad of Christmas movies around this time of year, an overwhelming sense of frustration and, ultimately, disappointment begins to take over. We come to the climax of the typical Christmas movie. Things aren't going quite as planned. Nobody has any Christmas spirit. People bicker. No one believes in Santa anymore. Then someone begins to stoke the fire of the Christmas spirit within the characters. Maybe they even see Santa. The spirit of Christmas is restored. All is good and well in the world...for one day. Maybe only that night. </div>
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We grow up with movies about Santa and Christmas. Santa shows up on the eve of December 24th. Then he seems to be absent for the other 364 days of the year. What is he doing? Making the toys for the boys and girls of the world? No. I think the elves do that. Getting fat? Some role model. We grow up with commercials and commercialism. We buy presents. We give presents. We receive presents. This cycle represents the joy of the season. </div>
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And I sit here thinking how can Christmas, as it is presented, do anything but disappoint and let us all down? An obese man dressed in scarlet who pops up once a year? Billions in merchandise? Serving in a soup kitchen on Christmas day? Perhaps broken families? </div>
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As Ecclesiastes so aptly puts it, anything without Christ and God is meaningless. A season of good feelings, artificially generated (boostered by mass marketing) can only miserably, and utterly, fail. Human endeavors to produce good will toward men can only produce a shadow of that which is instilled in us by our Creator. The idea of taking Christ out of the Christmas season makes about as much sense celebrating someone's birthday by not inviting them to their own party. </div>
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So it only makes sense that the brokenness begins to overwhelm, suicides are more prevalent, and emptiness forms in our lives. Without Christ, all of our hopes and good intentions lie, teetering, on the edge of fantasy and futility. They will be dashed to pieces. They will never amount to anything. </div>
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Instead we turn to the answer—the meaning and hope in it all. And Christ Jesus, who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, came, and was born of the virgin, Mary, to save all people from their sins. And this doesn't lose its meaning or power when the clock strikes midnight on December 26th. God sending his son, Christ coming to live with his creation, the shedding of blood to save us all: these acts provide us with the means to love our neighbor. These acts provide us with the hope of restoration and healing in our lives. These acts cause the flashy lights, the cinematic drivel, the hypersaturated climaxes to fade away into the background where they deserve to be. </div>
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We celebrate a God, in ultimate power, taking the position of ultimate humility, to walk with his children. And that, Charlie Brown, is why we celebrate Christmas. That is why this counterfeit of a holiday that brings out the worst in people and disappoints to no end, amounts to nothing when compared to the incredibly true and powerful story of a baby that brought hope to the world.</div>Bill Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03338055272355566552noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21864893.post-53545921358876841552011-12-08T07:07:00.001-05:002011-12-08T07:11:05.305-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6NO-Jdo_4M7f08nCmqtIS5JVU3elPq3osoN-ody4DU123aIizPtWupgoGX5fX3DamU1xbGP_Gt5YzI96UejhDNiL0l6q4Qeu4P3TdwtOxKojHAQInMeObmMe5faHTfAdM9u1AsA/s1600/Merry+Christmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="370" width="485" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6NO-Jdo_4M7f08nCmqtIS5JVU3elPq3osoN-ody4DU123aIizPtWupgoGX5fX3DamU1xbGP_Gt5YzI96UejhDNiL0l6q4Qeu4P3TdwtOxKojHAQInMeObmMe5faHTfAdM9u1AsA/s400/Merry+Christmas.jpg" /></a></div>Bill Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03338055272355566552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21864893.post-38937885847632461242011-12-04T08:57:00.001-05:002011-12-04T08:57:33.653-05:00This is a test to see how my new format looks.Bill Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03338055272355566552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21864893.post-27129409234107189652011-05-28T06:50:00.001-04:002011-05-28T06:50:15.602-04:00For the Love of God<style type="text/css"> h1 a:hover {background-color:#888;color:#fff ! important;} div#emailbody table#itemcontentlist tr td div ul { list-style-type:square; padding-left:1em; } div#emailbody table#itemcontentlist tr td div blockquote { padding-left:6px; border-left: 6px solid #dadada; margin-left:1em; } div#emailbody table#itemcontentlist tr td div li { margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:1em; } table#itemcontentlist tr td a:link, table#itemcontentlist tr td a:visited, table#itemcontentlist tr td a:active, ul#summarylist li a { color:#000099; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:none; } img {border:none;} </style> <div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" id="emailbody" style="margin:0 2em;font-family:Georgia,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;line-height:140%;font-size:13px;color:#000000;"> <table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;width:100%"> <tr> <td style="vertical-align:top" width="99%"> <h1 style="margin:0;padding-bottom:6px;"> <a style="color:#888;font-size:22px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;" href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod" title="(http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod)">For the Love of God</a> <br /> <a href="http://fusion.google.com/add?source=atgs&feedurl=http://feeds.feedburner.com/loveofgodblog"> <img style="padding-top:6px" alt="" border="0" src="http://gmodules.com/ig/images/plus_google.gif" /> </a> </h1> </td> <td width="1%" /> </tr> </table> <hr style="border:1px solid #ccc;padding:0;margin:0" /> <table id="itemcontentlist"> <tr xmlns=""> <td style="margin-bottom:0;line-height:1.4em;"> <p style="margin:1em 0 3px 0;"> <a name="1" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:18px;" href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod/2011/05/28/deuteronomy-1-psalms-81%e2%80%9382-isaiah-29-3-john/">Deuteronomy 1; Psalms 81–82; Isaiah 29; 3 John</a> </p> <p style="font-size:13px;color:#555;margin:9px 0 3px 0;font-family:Georgia,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;line-height:140%;font-size:13px;"> <span>Posted:</span> 28 May 2011 12:00 AM PDT</p> <div style="margin:0;font-family:Georgia,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;line-height:140%;font-size:13px;color:#000000;"><p>Deuteronomy 1; Psalms 81–82; Isaiah 29; 3 John <a href="http://biblia.com/" target="_blank"><img title="Biblia" src="../files/2010/09/Biblia.png" alt="" width="65" height="16" /></a></p> <p>IN THE THIRD MAJOR SECTION of his book (chaps. 28–35), Isaiah focuses on the central issue that the Jerusalem monarch faces. Will the southern kingdom turn to Egypt as it seeks to withstand the aggression of Assyria, or will it trust the Lord? The nature of the crisis and the abysmal voices circulating in the court occupy chapters 28–29. Chapters 30–31 pronounce woes on all who rely on Egypt: in that direction lies only disaster. Chapters 32–33 depict the godly solution: trust the living God who reigns as King in the midst of his people. The last two chapters of the section, 34 and 35, display respectively the scorched earth of judgment that will result from trusting pagan nations, and the garden of delight that awaits those who trust the Lord.</p> <p><strong>Isaiah 29</strong>, then, is part of the description of the crisis. Jerusalem is addressed as "Ariel" (Isa. 29:1, 2, 7). We know this stands for Jerusalem, because it is described as "the city where David settled" (Isa. 29:1). The coinage is almost certainly Isaiah's; there is no record of any earlier use of this word for Jerusalem. "Ariel" is a pun on "altar hearth"—the flat surface on the altar where the fire consumed the sacrifices (cf. Ezek. 43:15). God says he is going to "besiege Ariel," which will be to him "like an altar hearth" (Isa. 29:2): God will ignite the fires of judgment under Jerusalem.</p> <p>The tragedy of the situation lies in the sheer blindness of the people. This is simultaneously their perversity and God's judgment (Isa. 29:9–10). No matter what God discloses through Isaiah, the people simply blank out when they hear his words. The truth they cannot fathom; they have no categories for it, for their hearts are far removed from God's ways (Isa. 29:13). For them, all that Isaiah says remains like words sealed up in a scroll they cannot read (Isa. 29:11–12). Even their worship becomes little more than conformity to rules (Isa. 29:13b). So when God does finally break through, it will be with "wonder upon wonder," all designed to overthrow the pretensions of the "wise" and "intelligent" (Isa. 29:14) who counsel the king to do what God forbids.</p> <p>The ultimate fulfillment of this pattern takes place in gospel times. Paul understands perfectly well how the person without the Spirit of God finds the truth of the Gospel largely incoherent, how the "wise" and "intelligent" broach many schemes, none of them consistent with the Gospel (1 Cor. 1:18–31; 2:14). Here, too, God destroys the wisdom of the wise (1 Cor. 1:19; Isa. 29:14), for his own way is what none of the wise had foreseen: the sheer "foolishness" of the cross.</p> <p><a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod/2011/05/28/deuteronomy-1-psalms-81%e2%80%9382-isaiah-29-3-john/">Deuteronomy 1; Psalms 81–82; Isaiah 29; 3 John<div class="post-avatar" style="float: right;" ><img alt='Deuteronomy 1; Psalms 81–82; Isaiah 29; 3 John avatar' src='http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/a0190a021b38d8ef7231bac226738192?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2F0.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G' class='avatar avatar-64 photo' height='64' width='64' /></div></a> is a post from: <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod">For the Love of God</a></p> </div> </td> </tr> </table> <table style="border-top:1px solid #999;padding-top:4px;margin-top:1.5em;width:100%" id="footer"> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;font-size:11px;margin:0 6px 1.2em 0;color:#333;">You are subscribed to email updates from <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod">For the Love of God</a> <br />To stop receiving these emails, you may <a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailunsubscribe?k=5AIXLKqAbOPVfaF91tiu6sI-Zd4">unsubscribe now</a>.</td> <td style="font-family:Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;font-size:11px;margin:0 6px 1.2em 0;color:#333;text-align:right;vertical-align:top">Email delivery powered by Google</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align:left;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;font-size:11px;margin:0 6px 1.2em 0;color:#333;">Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610</td> </tr> </table> </div> Bill Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03338055272355566552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21864893.post-21753948855498874782011-05-27T06:46:00.001-04:002011-05-27T06:46:32.393-04:00For the Love of God<style type="text/css"> h1 a:hover {background-color:#888;color:#fff ! important;} div#emailbody table#itemcontentlist tr td div ul { list-style-type:square; padding-left:1em; } div#emailbody table#itemcontentlist tr td div blockquote { padding-left:6px; border-left: 6px solid #dadada; margin-left:1em; } div#emailbody table#itemcontentlist tr td div li { margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:1em; } table#itemcontentlist tr td a:link, table#itemcontentlist tr td a:visited, table#itemcontentlist tr td a:active, ul#summarylist li a { color:#000099; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:none; } img {border:none;} </style> <div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" id="emailbody" style="margin:0 2em;font-family:Georgia,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;line-height:140%;font-size:13px;color:#000000;"> <table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;width:100%"> <tr> <td style="vertical-align:top" width="99%"> <h1 style="margin:0;padding-bottom:6px;"> <a style="color:#888;font-size:22px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;" href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod" title="(http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod)">For the Love of God</a> <br /> <a href="http://fusion.google.com/add?source=atgs&feedurl=http://feeds.feedburner.com/loveofgodblog"> <img style="padding-top:6px" alt="" border="0" src="http://gmodules.com/ig/images/plus_google.gif" /> </a> </h1> </td> <td width="1%" /> </tr> </table> <hr style="border:1px solid #ccc;padding:0;margin:0" /> <table id="itemcontentlist"> <tr xmlns=""> <td style="margin-bottom:0;line-height:1.4em;"> <p style="margin:1em 0 3px 0;"> <a name="1" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:18px;" href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod/2011/05/27/numbers-36-psalm-80-isaiah-28-2-john-2/">Numbers 36; Psalm 80; Isaiah 28; 2 John</a> </p> <p style="font-size:13px;color:#555;margin:9px 0 3px 0;font-family:Georgia,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;line-height:140%;font-size:13px;"> <span>Posted:</span> 27 May 2011 12:00 AM PDT</p> <div style="margin:0;font-family:Georgia,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;line-height:140%;font-size:13px;color:#000000;"><p>Numbers 36; Psalm 80; Isaiah 28; 2 John <a href="http://biblia.com/" target="_blank"><img title="Biblia" src="../files/2010/09/Biblia.png" alt="" width="65" height="16" /></a></p> <p>EVEN A CURSORY READING OF <strong>2 John </strong>shows that the background to this short epistle overlaps in some measure with the background to 1 John. In both epistles there is a truth question tied to the identity of Jesus Christ. "Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world" (2 John 7). These particular deceivers denied "Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh"—which, interpreted paraphrastically, means they denied that Jesus was Christ come in the flesh. They introduced a hiatus between the flesh-and-blood Jesus and the "Christ" who came upon him. Thus they denied the essential oneness of Jesus Christ, the God/man, the one who was simultaneously Son of God and human being. There were many sad implications.</p> <p>The reasons for this doctrinal aberration were bound up with widespread cultural pressures. Suffice it to say that these "deceivers," these "errorists" (as some have called them), thought of themselves as advanced thinkers, as progressives. They did not see themselves as evaluating the Christian faith and choosing to deny certain cardinal truths, picking and choosing according to some obscure principle. Rather, they saw themselves as providing a true and progressive interpretation of the whole, over against the conservatives and traditionalists who really did not understand the culture. That is why John speaks of them, with heavy irony, as running ahead of the truth: "Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son" (2 John 9). John's stance is much like the old minister who hears some newfangled doctrine and opines,</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>You say I am not with it.<br /> My friend, I do not doubt it.<br /> But when I see what I'm not with,</em><em><br /> I'd rather be without it.<br /> </em></p> <p>The crucial issue, of course, is not whether one is "progressive" or not, or a "traditionalist" or not: one could be a progressive in a good or a bad sense, and a traditionalist in a good or a bad sense. Such labels, by themselves, are frequently manipulative and rarely add much clarity to complex matters. The real issue is whether or not one is holding to the apostolic Gospel, whether or not one is continuing in the teaching of Christ. That is the perennial test.</p> <p>Which contemporary movements fail this test, either because they rush "ahead" of the Gospel in their drive to be contemporary or because they have become encrusted with traditions that domesticate the Gospel?</p> <p><a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod/2011/05/27/numbers-36-psalm-80-isaiah-28-2-john-2/">Numbers 36; Psalm 80; Isaiah 28; 2 John<div class="post-avatar" style="float: right;" ><img alt='Numbers 36; Psalm 80; Isaiah 28; 2 John avatar' src='http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/a0190a021b38d8ef7231bac226738192?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2F0.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G' class='avatar avatar-64 photo' height='64' width='64' /></div></a> is a post from: <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod">For the Love of God</a></p> </div> </td> </tr> </table> <table style="border-top:1px solid #999;padding-top:4px;margin-top:1.5em;width:100%" id="footer"> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;font-size:11px;margin:0 6px 1.2em 0;color:#333;">You are subscribed to email updates from <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod">For the Love of God</a> <br />To stop receiving these emails, you may <a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailunsubscribe?k=5AIXLKqAbOPVfaF91tiu6sI-Zd4">unsubscribe now</a>.</td> <td style="font-family:Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;font-size:11px;margin:0 6px 1.2em 0;color:#333;text-align:right;vertical-align:top">Email delivery powered by Google</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align:left;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;font-size:11px;margin:0 6px 1.2em 0;color:#333;">Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610</td> </tr> </table> </div> Bill Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03338055272355566552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21864893.post-15693798379461454362011-05-26T06:43:00.001-04:002011-05-26T06:43:30.507-04:00For the Love of God<style type="text/css"> h1 a:hover {background-color:#888;color:#fff ! important;} div#emailbody table#itemcontentlist tr td div ul { list-style-type:square; padding-left:1em; } div#emailbody table#itemcontentlist tr td div blockquote { padding-left:6px; border-left: 6px solid #dadada; margin-left:1em; } div#emailbody table#itemcontentlist tr td div li { margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:1em; } table#itemcontentlist tr td a:link, table#itemcontentlist tr td a:visited, table#itemcontentlist tr td a:active, ul#summarylist li a { color:#000099; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:none; } img {border:none;} </style> <div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" id="emailbody" style="margin:0 2em;font-family:Georgia,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;line-height:140%;font-size:13px;color:#000000;"> <table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;width:100%"> <tr> <td style="vertical-align:top" width="99%"> <h1 style="margin:0;padding-bottom:6px;"> <a style="color:#888;font-size:22px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;" href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod" title="(http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod)">For the Love of God</a> <br /> <a href="http://fusion.google.com/add?source=atgs&feedurl=http://feeds.feedburner.com/loveofgodblog"> <img style="padding-top:6px" alt="" border="0" src="http://gmodules.com/ig/images/plus_google.gif" /> </a> </h1> </td> <td width="1%" /> </tr> </table> <hr style="border:1px solid #ccc;padding:0;margin:0" /> <table id="itemcontentlist"> <tr xmlns=""> <td style="margin-bottom:0;line-height:1.4em;"> <p style="margin:1em 0 3px 0;"> <a name="1" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:18px;" href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod/2011/05/26/numbers-35-psalm-79-isaiah-27-1-john-5-2/">Numbers 35; Psalm 79; Isaiah 27; 1 John 5</a> </p> <p style="font-size:13px;color:#555;margin:9px 0 3px 0;font-family:Georgia,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;line-height:140%;font-size:13px;"> <span>Posted:</span> 26 May 2011 12:00 AM PDT</p> <div style="margin:0;font-family:Georgia,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;line-height:140%;font-size:13px;color:#000000;"><p>Numbers 35; Psalm 79; Isaiah 27; 1 John 5 <a href="http://biblia.com/" target="_blank"><img title="Biblia" src="../files/2010/09/Biblia.png" alt="" width="65" height="16" /></a></p> <p>MOST PEOPLE WHO HAVE READ 1 John a few times know that John discusses a number of evidences (some commentators call them "tests" or "tests of life") that clarify who truly is a Christian. Most people see three tests: (a) a test of truth, in particular the truth that Jesus is the Son of God; (b) a test of obedience, in particular obedience to the commands of Jesus; (c) a test of love, in particular love for our brothers and sisters. The danger lies in thinking that these "tests" somehow make independent contributions, as if a person might hope to pass two out of three. But toward the end of this epistle, not least in <strong>1 John 5:1–5</strong>, these three tests come together in such a way that they are not independent at all. They all hang together.</p> <p>This paragraph begins with the truth test, with the person "who believes that Jesus is the Christ" (1 John 5:1). That person is born of God—a point repeatedly reiterated in John's writings. But everyone who is born of God will surely love others who have been born of God—spiritual siblings, as it were (1 John 5:1). Thus the truth test is linked, through the new birth, to the love test. How then do we know that we really do love the children of God? Well, first of all, by loving God himself, and then in consequence carrying out his commands (1 John 5:2). Indeed, it is ridiculous to claim to love God and not obey him. So obvious is this that one might go so far as to say that "love for God" is "to obey his commands" (1 John 5:3). Of course, John has already reminded his readers that one of Jesus' central commands, his "new commandment," is that his disciples love one another (1 John 2:3–11; 3:11–20; cf. John 13:34–35). Thus the love test is tied to the obedience test at several levels.</p> <p>One must not think that Christianity is nothing more than tough-minded obedience. The truth is that Jesus' commands "are not burdensome" (1 John 5:3), for in the new birth God has given us the power to perform what Jesus commands, the ability to overcome "the world" (1 John 5:4–5; cf. 2:15–17). Who, then, has this power to overcome the world? Those who are born again, those who have genuine faith, of course—and genuine faith is defined in terms of faith's object, namely the truth that Jesus truly is the Son of God. Thus the test of obedience, and with it the test of love, is tied back to the truth test.</p> <p>The glorious reality is that, in the Christian way, truth and ethics are tied together. Creedal confession and transformed living go hand in hand. Any other alternative is either superstition or humbug.</p> <p><a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod/2011/05/26/numbers-35-psalm-79-isaiah-27-1-john-5-2/">Numbers 35; Psalm 79; Isaiah 27; 1 John 5<div class="post-avatar" style="float: right;" ><img alt='Numbers 35; Psalm 79; Isaiah 27; 1 John 5 avatar' src='http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/a0190a021b38d8ef7231bac226738192?s=64&d=http%3A%2F%2F0.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D64&r=G' class='avatar avatar-64 photo' height='64' width='64' /></div></a> is a post from: <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod">For the Love of God</a></p> </div> </td> </tr> </table> <table style="border-top:1px solid #999;padding-top:4px;margin-top:1.5em;width:100%" id="footer"> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;font-size:11px;margin:0 6px 1.2em 0;color:#333;">You are subscribed to email updates from <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod">For the Love of God</a> <br />To stop receiving these emails, you may <a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailunsubscribe?k=5AIXLKqAbOPVfaF91tiu6sI-Zd4">unsubscribe now</a>.</td> <td style="font-family:Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;font-size:11px;margin:0 6px 1.2em 0;color:#333;text-align:right;vertical-align:top">Email delivery powered by Google</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align:left;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;font-size:11px;margin:0 6px 1.2em 0;color:#333;">Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610</td> </tr> </table> </div> Bill Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03338055272355566552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21864893.post-73998137851652459402011-05-25T06:30:00.001-04:002011-05-25T06:30:48.476-04:00For the Love of God<style type="text/css"> h1 a:hover {background-color:#888;color:#fff ! important;} div#emailbody table#itemcontentlist tr td div ul { list-style-type:square; padding-left:1em; } div#emailbody table#itemcontentlist tr td div blockquote { padding-left:6px; border-left: 6px solid #dadada; margin-left:1em; } div#emailbody table#itemcontentlist tr td div li { margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:1em; } table#itemcontentlist tr td a:link, table#itemcontentlist tr td a:visited, table#itemcontentlist tr td a:active, ul#summarylist li a { color:#000099; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:none; } img {border:none;} </style> <div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" id="emailbody" style="margin:0 2em;font-family:Georgia,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;line-height:140%;font-size:13px;color:#000000;"> <table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;width:100%"> <tr> <td style="vertical-align:top" width="99%"> <h1 style="margin:0;padding-bottom:6px;"> <a style="color:#888;font-size:22px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;" href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod" title="(http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod)">For the Love of God</a> <br /> <a href="http://fusion.google.com/add?source=atgs&feedurl=http://feeds.feedburner.com/loveofgodblog"> <img style="padding-top:6px" alt="" border="0" src="http://gmodules.com/ig/images/plus_google.gif" /> </a> </h1> </td> <td width="1%" /> </tr> </table> <hr style="border:1px solid #ccc;padding:0;margin:0" /> <table id="itemcontentlist"> <tr xmlns=""> <td style="margin-bottom:0;line-height:1.4em;"> <p style="margin:1em 0 3px 0;"> <a name="1" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:18px;" href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod/2011/05/25/numbers-34-psalm-7840%e2%80%9372-isaiah-26-1-john-4/">Numbers 34; Psalm 78:40–72; Isaiah 26; 1 John 4</a> </p> <p style="font-size:13px;color:#555;margin:9px 0 3px 0;font-family:Georgia,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;line-height:140%;font-size:13px;"> <span>Posted:</span> 25 May 2011 12:00 AM PDT</p> <div style="margin:0;font-family:Georgia,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;line-height:140%;font-size:13px;color:#000000;"><p>Numbers 34; Psalm 78:40–72; Isaiah 26; 1 John 4 <a href="http://biblia.com/" target="_blank"><img title="Biblia" src="../files/2010/09/Biblia.png" alt="" width="65" height="16" /></a></p> <p>IN HIS SONG OF PRAISE, ISAIAH celebrates the Lord's impending triumph and demonstrates what it means to wait for him to act (<strong>Isaiah 26</strong>). The opening verses offer anticipatory praise (Isa. 26:1–6), offered to the God who makes the ultimate Jerusalem the rampart of security (Isa. 26:2) and preserves in peace the minds of all the individuals within it—all who trust in the living God (Isa. 26:3–4).</p> <p>Most of the chapter is devoted to reflections on what it means to wait for that ultimate triumph (Isa. 26:7–21). "Yes, LORD," Isaiah writes, "walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts" (Isa. 26:8). But while the righteous yearn for the living God (Isa. 26:9a), the shocking reality is that the people who do not know him never learn anything from the grace that God shows them (Isa. 26:9b–10). And so eventually the people of God cry out that God might come and impose his righteousness (Isa. 26:11)—very much as in Revelation 6:10.</p> <p>Meanwhile, the faithful remnant live with ambiguity and disappointment (Isa. 26:12–18). Idolatry flourishes in the land where the living God established peace (Isa. 26:12–13). The remnant remains faithful while the culture succumbs (Isa. 26:13). What is described in the next verses is almost the cyclical pattern of Israel's history. God responds to the infidelity with judgment. In due course he returns with grace, enlarges the nation, and extends his own glory. And yet, when all is said and done, what is the outcome? The nation is like a woman writhing in the pains of childbirth—and when she finally brings forth her offspring, all she has produced is wind (Isa. 26:18). "We have not brought salvation to the earth; we have not given birth to people of the world" (Isa. 26:18). Where is the great hope bound up with Israel's identity, with the promise to the patriarch that in Israel's seed all the nations of the earth would be blessed (Gen. 12)?</p> <p>Yet the chapter ends with hope. There is even hope for those who have died during the wearisome cycles of frustration, failure, futility, and judgment: they neither waited nor died in vain, for they will rise from the dead and share in the joy of victory (Isa. 26:19)—a promise of life briefly glimpsed in Isaiah 25:8, demonstrated in the resurrection of Jesus, and ultimately fulfilled at the end (1 Cor. 15; 1 Thess. 4:13–18). Meanwhile, those who are still alive must wait in patience for the wrath of God to pass (Isa. 26:20–21). More clearly than Isaiah, we know that "our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all" (2 Cor. 4:17–18; cf. Rom. 8:18).</p> <p><a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod/2011/05/25/numbers-34-psalm-7840%e2%80%9372-isaiah-26-1-john-4/">Numbers 34; Psalm 78:40–72; Isaiah 26; 1 John 4</a> is a post from: <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod">For the Love of God</a></p> </div> </td> </tr> </table> <table style="border-top:1px solid #999;padding-top:4px;margin-top:1.5em;width:100%" id="footer"> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;font-size:11px;margin:0 6px 1.2em 0;color:#333;">You are subscribed to email updates from <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod">For the Love of God</a> <br />To stop receiving these emails, you may <a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailunsubscribe?k=5AIXLKqAbOPVfaF91tiu6sI-Zd4">unsubscribe now</a>.</td> <td style="font-family:Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;font-size:11px;margin:0 6px 1.2em 0;color:#333;text-align:right;vertical-align:top">Email delivery powered by Google</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align:left;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;font-size:11px;margin:0 6px 1.2em 0;color:#333;">Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610</td> </tr> </table> </div> Bill Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03338055272355566552noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21864893.post-87832230108299381242011-05-24T06:42:00.001-04:002011-05-24T06:42:07.541-04:00For the Love of God<style type="text/css"> h1 a:hover {background-color:#888;color:#fff ! important;} div#emailbody table#itemcontentlist tr td div ul { list-style-type:square; padding-left:1em; } div#emailbody table#itemcontentlist tr td div blockquote { padding-left:6px; border-left: 6px solid #dadada; margin-left:1em; } div#emailbody table#itemcontentlist tr td div li { margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:1em; } table#itemcontentlist tr td a:link, table#itemcontentlist tr td a:visited, table#itemcontentlist tr td a:active, ul#summarylist li a { color:#000099; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:none; } img {border:none;} </style> <div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" id="emailbody" style="margin:0 2em;font-family:Georgia,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;line-height:140%;font-size:13px;color:#000000;"> <table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;width:100%"> <tr> <td style="vertical-align:top" width="99%"> <h1 style="margin:0;padding-bottom:6px;"> <a style="color:#888;font-size:22px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;" href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod" title="(http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod)">For the Love of God</a> <br /> <a href="http://fusion.google.com/add?source=atgs&feedurl=http://feeds.feedburner.com/loveofgodblog"> <img style="padding-top:6px" alt="" border="0" src="http://gmodules.com/ig/images/plus_google.gif" /> </a> </h1> </td> <td width="1%" /> </tr> </table> <hr style="border:1px solid #ccc;padding:0;margin:0" /> <table id="itemcontentlist"> <tr xmlns=""> <td style="margin-bottom:0;line-height:1.4em;"> <p style="margin:1em 0 3px 0;"> <a name="1" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:18px;" href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod/2011/05/24/numbers-33-psalm-781%e2%80%9339-isaiah-25-1-john-3/">Numbers 33; Psalm 78:1–39; Isaiah 25; 1 John 3</a> </p> <p style="font-size:13px;color:#555;margin:9px 0 3px 0;font-family:Georgia,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;line-height:140%;font-size:13px;"> <span>Posted:</span> 24 May 2011 12:00 AM PDT</p> <div style="margin:0;font-family:Georgia,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;line-height:140%;font-size:13px;color:#000000;"><p>Numbers 33; Psalm 78:1–39; Isaiah 25; 1 John 3 <a href="http://biblia.com/" target="_blank"><img title="Biblia" src="../files/2010/09/Biblia.png" alt="" width="65" height="16" /></a></p> <p><strong>ISAIAH 25 </strong>IS DIVIDED INTO three parts. In the center is a festive banquet (Isa. 25:6–8). On either side is a song. The first is sung by a solitary singer, doubtless Isaiah himself (Isa. 25:1–5); the second is a communal song of praise (Isa. 25:9–12).</p> <p>At the feast (Isa. 25:6–8) the food is the finest, and free—"a feast of rich food for all peoples." The "shroud" or "sheet" that "covers all nations" (Isa. 25:7) is death itself, the result of the curse mentioned in the preceding chapter. This feast is a celebration because God "will swallow up death forever" (Isa. 25:8). Indeed, all the results of the curse will be obliterated: "The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces" (Isa. 25:8; compare Rev. 21). Indeed, the blessings depicted in this verse are secured by Jesus (see Luke 14:15–24), who vanquishes death (1 Cor. 15:25–26, 51–57; 2 Tim. 1:10). This feast is for "all peoples" (Isa. 25:6)—another of the many Isaianic prefigurings of the universal application of the Gospel—yet they must come to "this mountain" (Isa. 25:7); for salvation, as Jesus insists to the Samaritan woman, is "from the Jews" (John 4:22). When Isaiah adds that God will remove the disgrace of "his people" from all the earth, the reference is slightly ambiguous: this may be a reference to Israel, or it may be a reference to those drawn from "all peoples" who truly prove to be his people on the last day.</p> <p>The song of the lone singer (Isa. 25:1–5) abounds in exuberant praise to God because he is perfectly faithful. This faithfulness is demonstrated both in the devastating judgments he has brought about and in God's perennial care for the poor and needy (Isa. 25:4). In short, God is praised for the faithful <em>justice </em>of his judgments. The final communal song (Isa. 25:9–12) finds God's people collectively praising him: "Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us" (Isa. 25:9). But here, too, the inverse activity of God is to be praised: God has brought judgment on those full of pride. Moab is singled out as an example of such waywardness. So at the end, there will be two communities: God's people at the festal banquet where God himself is host and death is destroyed; and the utterly proud, who will not bend the knee but whom God brings down "to the very dust" (Isa. 25:12). One commentator (Barry G. Webb) writes, "Either repentance will bring you to the feast or pride will keep you away, and the consequences will be unsullied joy or unspeakably terrible judgment. The alternatives which the Gospel sets before us are as stark as that."</p> <p><a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod/2011/05/24/numbers-33-psalm-781%e2%80%9339-isaiah-25-1-john-3/">Numbers 33; Psalm 78:1–39; Isaiah 25; 1 John 3</a> is a post from: <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod">For the Love of God</a></p> </div> </td> </tr> </table> <table style="border-top:1px solid #999;padding-top:4px;margin-top:1.5em;width:100%" id="footer"> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;font-size:11px;margin:0 6px 1.2em 0;color:#333;">You are subscribed to email updates from <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod">For the Love of God</a> <br />To stop receiving these emails, you may <a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailunsubscribe?k=5AIXLKqAbOPVfaF91tiu6sI-Zd4">unsubscribe now</a>.</td> <td style="font-family:Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;font-size:11px;margin:0 6px 1.2em 0;color:#333;text-align:right;vertical-align:top">Email delivery powered by Google</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align:left;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;font-size:11px;margin:0 6px 1.2em 0;color:#333;">Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610</td> </tr> </table> </div> Bill Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03338055272355566552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21864893.post-12904580966618591992011-05-23T06:11:00.001-04:002011-05-23T06:11:34.187-04:00For the Love of God<style type="text/css"> h1 a:hover {background-color:#888;color:#fff ! important;} div#emailbody table#itemcontentlist tr td div ul { list-style-type:square; padding-left:1em; } div#emailbody table#itemcontentlist tr td div blockquote { padding-left:6px; border-left: 6px solid #dadada; margin-left:1em; } div#emailbody table#itemcontentlist tr td div li { margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:1em; } table#itemcontentlist tr td a:link, table#itemcontentlist tr td a:visited, table#itemcontentlist tr td a:active, ul#summarylist li a { color:#000099; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:none; } img {border:none;} </style> <div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" id="emailbody" style="margin:0 2em;font-family:Georgia,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;line-height:140%;font-size:13px;color:#000000;"> <table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;width:100%"> <tr> <td style="vertical-align:top" width="99%"> <h1 style="margin:0;padding-bottom:6px;"> <a style="color:#888;font-size:22px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;" href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod" title="(http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod)">For the Love of God</a> <br /> <a href="http://fusion.google.com/add?source=atgs&feedurl=http://feeds.feedburner.com/loveofgodblog"> <img style="padding-top:6px" alt="" border="0" src="http://gmodules.com/ig/images/plus_google.gif" /> </a> </h1> </td> <td width="1%" /> </tr> </table> <hr style="border:1px solid #ccc;padding:0;margin:0" /> <table id="itemcontentlist"> <tr xmlns=""> <td style="margin-bottom:0;line-height:1.4em;"> <p style="margin:1em 0 3px 0;"> <a name="1" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:18px;" href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod/2011/05/23/numbers-32-psalm-77-isaiah-24-1-john-2-2/">Numbers 32; Psalm 77; Isaiah 24; 1 John 2</a> </p> <p style="font-size:13px;color:#555;margin:9px 0 3px 0;font-family:Georgia,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;line-height:140%;font-size:13px;"> <span>Posted:</span> 23 May 2011 12:00 AM PDT</p> <div style="margin:0;font-family:Georgia,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;line-height:140%;font-size:13px;color:#000000;"><p>Numbers 32; Psalm 77; Isaiah 24; 1 John 2 <a href="http://biblia.com/" target="_blank"><img title="Biblia" src="../files/2010/09/Biblia.png" alt="" width="65" height="16" /></a></p> <p>ISAIAH 24–27, WHICH CULMINATES the long section of chapters 13–27, is sometimes called "the Isaiah apocalypse." Here Isaiah moves from oracles against particular nations to an apocalypse (an "unveiling") regarding the entire world. The thought is not so much sequential or literalistic as a series of provocative images that tell their own story. <strong>Isaiah 24 </strong>primarily describes the devastation that must fall on the whole earth. This is followed by three chapters of songs and even feasting, joyously offered up to the Lord for the triumph that is finally and irrefragably his.</p> <p>Most of chapter 24 is taken up with the sheer devastation of the final judgment, its thoroughness and terror. In a series of shocking images, cities lie desolate (Isa. 24:10), vineyards are fruitless (Isa. 24:13), terror and traps rise everywhere (Isa. 24:18), and the whole earth is broken up while the heavens unleash cataclysmic floods (Isa. 24:18–19)—or, alternatively, in a mix of metaphors, the earth withers under devastating drought (Isa. 24:4). Yet there are two sub-themes that also capture the attention of the reader.</p> <p><em>First</em>: "The earth is defiled by its people; they have disobeyed the laws, violated the statutes, and broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore a curse consumes the earth; its people must bear their guilt" (Isa. 24:5–6). Probably the reference to "covenant" has in view the covenant God established with Noah and his descendants after the Flood (Gen. 9:8–17), which echoes the structure of obligations coming from creation itself. If so, the "laws" and "statutes" that have been violated are the fundamental standards of right behavior implicit and sometimes stipulated in a universe where God is absolutely central and where human beings, God's image-bearers, are rightly and lovingly related to him. The sad reality is that we have "broken the everlasting covenant" (Isa. 24:5). Our horrible breach has attracted the righteous curse of God (Isa. 24:6). The apocalyptic vision of final judgment in this chapter is the consequence.</p> <p><em>Second</em>: twice in this chapter the glory that accompanies judgment, or that awaits beyond it, breaks through the otherwise unrelenting gloom. In Isaiah 24:14–16a, Isaiah pictures people coming from the west and the east, acclaiming the majesty of the Lord, raising their voices in joyous praise, singing from the ends of the earth, "Glory to the Righteous One"—which simultaneously signals that the judgment is over and that God has been righteous in dispensing it. The last verse in the chapter (v. 23) is like a prelude to the closing vision of the Bible. The ultimate glory of the new Jerusalem is so brilliant that no sun is needed: "the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp" (Rev. 21:23).</p> <p><a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod/2011/05/23/numbers-32-psalm-77-isaiah-24-1-john-2-2/">Numbers 32; Psalm 77; Isaiah 24; 1 John 2</a> is a post from: <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod">For the Love of God</a></p> </div> </td> </tr> </table> <table style="border-top:1px solid #999;padding-top:4px;margin-top:1.5em;width:100%" id="footer"> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;font-size:11px;margin:0 6px 1.2em 0;color:#333;">You are subscribed to email updates from <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod">For the Love of God</a> <br />To stop receiving these emails, you may <a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailunsubscribe?k=5AIXLKqAbOPVfaF91tiu6sI-Zd4">unsubscribe now</a>.</td> <td style="font-family:Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;font-size:11px;margin:0 6px 1.2em 0;color:#333;text-align:right;vertical-align:top">Email delivery powered by Google</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align:left;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;font-size:11px;margin:0 6px 1.2em 0;color:#333;">Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610</td> </tr> </table> </div> Bill Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03338055272355566552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21864893.post-89539175277027556722011-05-22T06:33:00.001-04:002011-05-22T06:33:05.926-04:00For the Love of God<style type="text/css"> h1 a:hover {background-color:#888;color:#fff ! important;} div#emailbody table#itemcontentlist tr td div ul { list-style-type:square; padding-left:1em; } div#emailbody table#itemcontentlist tr td div blockquote { padding-left:6px; border-left: 6px solid #dadada; margin-left:1em; } div#emailbody table#itemcontentlist tr td div li { margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:1em; } table#itemcontentlist tr td a:link, table#itemcontentlist tr td a:visited, table#itemcontentlist tr td a:active, ul#summarylist li a { color:#000099; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:none; } img {border:none;} </style> <div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" id="emailbody" style="margin:0 2em;font-family:Georgia,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;line-height:140%;font-size:13px;color:#000000;"> <table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;width:100%"> <tr> <td style="vertical-align:top" width="99%"> <h1 style="margin:0;padding-bottom:6px;"> <a style="color:#888;font-size:22px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;" href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod" title="(http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod)">For the Love of God</a> <br /> <a href="http://fusion.google.com/add?source=atgs&feedurl=http://feeds.feedburner.com/loveofgodblog"> <img style="padding-top:6px" alt="" border="0" src="http://gmodules.com/ig/images/plus_google.gif" /> </a> </h1> </td> <td width="1%" /> </tr> </table> <hr style="border:1px solid #ccc;padding:0;margin:0" /> <table id="itemcontentlist"> <tr xmlns=""> <td style="margin-bottom:0;line-height:1.4em;"> <p style="margin:1em 0 3px 0;"> <a name="1" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:18px;" href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod/2011/05/22/numbers-31-psalms-75%e2%80%9376-isaiah-23-1-john-1/">Numbers 31; Psalms 75–76; Isaiah 23; 1 John 1</a> </p> <p style="font-size:13px;color:#555;margin:9px 0 3px 0;font-family:Georgia,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;line-height:140%;font-size:13px;"> <span>Posted:</span> 22 May 2011 12:00 AM PDT</p> <div style="margin:0;font-family:Georgia,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;line-height:140%;font-size:13px;color:#000000;"><p>Numbers 31; Psalms 75–76; Isaiah 23; 1 John 1 <a href="http://biblia.com/" target="_blank"><img title="Biblia" src="../files/2010/09/Biblia.png" alt="" width="65" height="16" /></a></p> <p>IN THIS SECTION OF ISAIAH'S PROPHECY (chaps. 13–27), the city-state of Tyre (<strong>Isaiah 23</strong>) is the last region to attract an oracle of God against it. If Babylon became proverbial for its imperial might and for its cultural and aesthetic achievements, Tyre was famous throughout the Mediterranean world for its wealth.</p> <p>The historical setting of this oracle is reasonably clear. Babylon has recently been destroyed by the Assyrians (Isa. 23:13)—a reference to either the attack of Sennacherib (710 B.C.) or the pillaging destruction under Sargon (689). This was before Babylon rose to become a superpower in its own right, one that would eventually destroy and replace Assyria. At this juncture in history, the recent destruction of Babylon serves as the model and threat of what will happen to Tyre.</p> <p>Tyre made its money as the premier trading center of the Mediterranean world. The ships of Tarshish (Spain, at the other end of the Mediterranean) wail at the reports of Tyre's destruction (Isa. 23:1, 14). These reports reach Cyprus (Isa. 23:1), just off the coast, and then Sidon (Isa. 23:2–4). Egypt, the bread-basket of the Mediterranean, weeps because of the effect on her trade in grain (Isa. 23:5). The fall of Tyre affected the Mediterranean the way the crash of Wall Street in 1929 affected the world.</p> <p>Whatever the historical pressures that brought about Tyre's destruction, Isaiah wants us to know that it was the Lord's doing (Isa. 23:8–12)—and it is he who restores the city-state again, even if all she does with her new lease on life is return to her old "prostitution" (Isa. 23:15, 17). Yet her sin, finally, is not money, but pride: "The LORD Almighty planned it, to bring low the pride of all glory and to humble all who are renowned on the earth" (Isa. 23:9). There is no <em>necessary </em>connection between wealth and pride (witness Job), but the link is frighteningly common. Great wealth often fosters a spirit of arrogant self-sufficiency. What steps should Christians in the relatively prosperous West take against this dreadful sin?</p> <p>In the spirit of prophetic foreshortening, the last verses (Isa. 23:17–18) dance from history to eschatology. Eventually the wealth of the earth, even if it is gathered by great commercial traders like Tyre, will all be set apart for the Lord: he is the One who gave it, and all things return to him. And all such wealth will go to "those who live before the LORD." Here is another adumbration of a reconstituted universe, no longer crippled by all that is vile, where God's people delight in him and his gifts forever.</p> <p><a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod/2011/05/22/numbers-31-psalms-75%e2%80%9376-isaiah-23-1-john-1/">Numbers 31; Psalms 75–76; Isaiah 23; 1 John 1</a> is a post from: <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod">For the Love of God</a></p> </div> </td> </tr> </table> <table style="border-top:1px solid #999;padding-top:4px;margin-top:1.5em;width:100%" id="footer"> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;font-size:11px;margin:0 6px 1.2em 0;color:#333;">You are subscribed to email updates from <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod">For the Love of God</a> <br />To stop receiving these emails, you may <a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailunsubscribe?k=5AIXLKqAbOPVfaF91tiu6sI-Zd4">unsubscribe now</a>.</td> <td style="font-family:Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;font-size:11px;margin:0 6px 1.2em 0;color:#333;text-align:right;vertical-align:top">Email delivery powered by Google</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align:left;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;font-size:11px;margin:0 6px 1.2em 0;color:#333;">Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610</td> </tr> </table> </div> Bill Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03338055272355566552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21864893.post-82288480667139648472011-05-21T06:33:00.001-04:002011-05-21T06:33:57.479-04:00For the Love of God<style type="text/css"> h1 a:hover {background-color:#888;color:#fff ! important;} div#emailbody table#itemcontentlist tr td div ul { list-style-type:square; padding-left:1em; } div#emailbody table#itemcontentlist tr td div blockquote { padding-left:6px; border-left: 6px solid #dadada; margin-left:1em; } div#emailbody table#itemcontentlist tr td div li { margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:1em; } table#itemcontentlist tr td a:link, table#itemcontentlist tr td a:visited, table#itemcontentlist tr td a:active, ul#summarylist li a { color:#000099; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:none; } img {border:none;} </style> <div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" id="emailbody" style="margin:0 2em;font-family:Georgia,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;line-height:140%;font-size:13px;color:#000000;"> <table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;width:100%"> <tr> <td style="vertical-align:top" width="99%"> <h1 style="margin:0;padding-bottom:6px;"> <a style="color:#888;font-size:22px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;" href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod" title="(http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod)">For the Love of God</a> <br /> <a href="http://fusion.google.com/add?source=atgs&feedurl=http://feeds.feedburner.com/loveofgodblog"> <img style="padding-top:6px" alt="" border="0" src="http://gmodules.com/ig/images/plus_google.gif" /> </a> </h1> </td> <td width="1%" /> </tr> </table> <hr style="border:1px solid #ccc;padding:0;margin:0" /> <table id="itemcontentlist"> <tr xmlns=""> <td style="margin-bottom:0;line-height:1.4em;"> <p style="margin:1em 0 3px 0;"> <a name="1" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:18px;" href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod/2011/05/21/numbers-30-psalm-74-isaiah-22-2-peter-3-2/">Numbers 30; Psalm 74; Isaiah 22; 2 Peter 3</a> </p> <p style="font-size:13px;color:#555;margin:9px 0 3px 0;font-family:Georgia,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;line-height:140%;font-size:13px;"> <span>Posted:</span> 21 May 2011 12:00 AM PDT</p> <div style="margin:0;font-family:Georgia,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;line-height:140%;font-size:13px;color:#000000;"><p>Numbers 30; Psalm 74; Isaiah 22; 2 Peter 3 <a href="http://biblia.com/" target="_blank"><img title="Biblia" src="../files/2010/09/Biblia.png" alt="" width="65" height="16" /></a></p> <p>PETER URGES HIS READERS TO "wholesome thinking" (<strong>2 Peter 3</strong>, especially v. 1), in particular about the Lord's return. This presupposes that unwholesome thinking about the Lord's return was circulating. Today even more forms of unwholesome thinking about this event exist than in the first century. Peter stresses that:</p> <p>(1) In every generation there will be scoffers who sneer at the notion of Christ's return (2 Pet. 3:3). Sometimes this scoffing will be grounded in a profoundly anti-Christian worldview. In our own day, philosophical naturalism obviously has no place for the ultimate supernatural visit to Planet Earth, nor even for an end of history brought about by God himself. The stance may be tied to some uniformitarian perspective (2 Pet. 3:4). Never should we forget that such perspectives often have moral dimensions to them. It is so much more convenient, for those who cherish their own moral autonomy, to deny that there is a final accounting (2 Pet. 3:3).</p> <p>(2) We should never overlook the fact that God has not left himself without witness in this regard. Not only has he imposed massive judgments on powerful nations and empires (often by "natural" means), but two events in the record of the earth's existence testify to God's cataclysmic intervention: Creation, and the destruction of the Deluge (2 Pet. 3:5–7). Here our society suppresses, for example, the extremely articulate forms of the argument from design: we "deliberately forget" what God has done. Our evaluation of these matters is tied to our <em>moral </em>and <em>spiritual </em>alienation from God our Maker.</p> <p>(3) The delay before Christ's return reflects not only God's very different view of the pace of events (2 Pet. 3:8), but his matchless forbearance: "He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Pet. 3:9). Paul says something similar: "Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?" (Rom. 2:4).</p> <p>(4) When Christ does return at the end, however, his return will be sudden, unmistakable, and cataclysmic (2 Pet. 3:10). It will mark the end of the universe as we know it. During the 1950s, when residents of North America were sometimes asked to build nuclear bomb shelters to shield themselves from the holocaust that threatened, I asked my dad if we should build one. He quietly replied, "Why? When Jesus comes, the very elements will be destroyed [cf. 2 Pet. 3:10, 12]. Be ready for him, and fear nothing else."</p> <p>(5) And that is the point. In light of all this, "what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming" (2 Pet. 3:11–12). The test of eschatology is ethics.</p> <p><a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod/2011/05/21/numbers-30-psalm-74-isaiah-22-2-peter-3-2/">Numbers 30; Psalm 74; Isaiah 22; 2 Peter 3</a> is a post from: <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod">For the Love of God</a></p> </div> </td> </tr> </table> <table style="border-top:1px solid #999;padding-top:4px;margin-top:1.5em;width:100%" id="footer"> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;font-size:11px;margin:0 6px 1.2em 0;color:#333;">You are subscribed to email updates from <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod">For the Love of God</a> <br />To stop receiving these emails, you may <a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailunsubscribe?k=5AIXLKqAbOPVfaF91tiu6sI-Zd4">unsubscribe now</a>.</td> <td style="font-family:Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;font-size:11px;margin:0 6px 1.2em 0;color:#333;text-align:right;vertical-align:top">Email delivery powered by Google</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align:left;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;font-size:11px;margin:0 6px 1.2em 0;color:#333;">Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610</td> </tr> </table> </div> Bill Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03338055272355566552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21864893.post-56846494523459260952011-05-20T06:19:00.001-04:002011-05-20T06:19:05.818-04:00For the Love of God<style type="text/css"> h1 a:hover {background-color:#888;color:#fff ! important;} div#emailbody table#itemcontentlist tr td div ul { list-style-type:square; padding-left:1em; } div#emailbody table#itemcontentlist tr td div blockquote { padding-left:6px; border-left: 6px solid #dadada; margin-left:1em; } div#emailbody table#itemcontentlist tr td div li { margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:1em; } table#itemcontentlist tr td a:link, table#itemcontentlist tr td a:visited, table#itemcontentlist tr td a:active, ul#summarylist li a { color:#000099; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:none; } img {border:none;} </style> <div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" id="emailbody" style="margin:0 2em;font-family:Georgia,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;line-height:140%;font-size:13px;color:#000000;"> <table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;width:100%"> <tr> <td style="vertical-align:top" width="99%"> <h1 style="margin:0;padding-bottom:6px;"> <a style="color:#888;font-size:22px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;" href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod" title="(http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod)">For the Love of God</a> <br /> <a href="http://fusion.google.com/add?source=atgs&feedurl=http://feeds.feedburner.com/loveofgodblog"> <img style="padding-top:6px" alt="" border="0" src="http://gmodules.com/ig/images/plus_google.gif" /> </a> </h1> </td> <td width="1%" /> </tr> </table> <hr style="border:1px solid #ccc;padding:0;margin:0" /> <table id="itemcontentlist"> <tr xmlns=""> <td style="margin-bottom:0;line-height:1.4em;"> <p style="margin:1em 0 3px 0;"> <a name="1" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:18px;" href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod/2011/05/20/numbers-29-psalm-73-isaiah-21-2-peter-2-2/">Numbers 29; Psalm 73; Isaiah 21; 2 Peter 2</a> </p> <p style="font-size:13px;color:#555;margin:9px 0 3px 0;font-family:Georgia,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;line-height:140%;font-size:13px;"> <span>Posted:</span> 20 May 2011 12:00 AM PDT</p> <div style="margin:0;font-family:Georgia,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;line-height:140%;font-size:13px;color:#000000;"><p>Numbers 29; Psalm 73; Isaiah 21; 2 Peter 2 <a href="http://biblia.com/" target="_blank"><img title="Biblia" src="../files/2010/09/Biblia.png" alt="" width="65" height="16" /></a></p> <p>IN <strong>2 PETER 2:1–3</strong>, AND THROUGHOUT much of the rest of the chapter, Peter warns against false teachers.</p> <p>(1) These false teachers emerge <em>from within </em>the believing community—in precisely the way that the most dangerous false prophets in Old Testament times were those who emerged <em>from within </em>the old covenant community (2 Pet. 2:1). False teachers and false prophets are a lot easier to spot when they stand outside the fellowship of God's people and criticize. A David Hume or a Bertrand Russell seduces far smaller numbers of God's people than many popular "televangelists." Even on a smaller scale, the most dangerous false teachers in a local church are those with either little biblical grasp or perverse biblical grasp who in the name of the Gospel twist the community into their particular mold. Expect such people. All of the Bible attests the frequency of their attacks and the tragic damage they cause.</p> <p>(2) What they "secretly introduce" are "destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them" (2 Pet. 2:2). They never describe their teaching in such terms, of course, nor do they stand in the pulpit and say something like "I disown Jesus" or "I deny that Jesus fully redeemed me from my sin." If they did, they would be turned out. Their approach is almost always to relativize Jesus, diminish his significance, or allow him to stand as part of the background noise while they direct the attention of believers to their own agenda—legalism, perhaps, or endless self-help, or sentimentalized therapy, or a Jesus who is no more than one of many options. Thus by their teaching they disown the Jesus whose death potentially embraced all, not least these false teachers who nominally submit to him but who in reality domesticate him or reinvent him.</p> <p>(3) Very often these false teachers are popular (2 Pet. 2:2). In fact, their popularity has two painful effects. In the eyes of many, it legitimizes these teachers—and then their ostensible legitimacy destroys the credibility of genuine Christianity, for their conduct brings "the way of truth into disrepute."</p> <p>(4) Quite commonly these false teachers "exploit you" (2 Pet. 2:3). Sometimes this exploitation is blatantly fiscal: always watch where the money goes. At least as commonly it is manipulative: they shape your mind and direction by their fluent storytelling.</p> <p>(5) God has the last word; the condemnation of these false teachers is inevitable (2 Pet. 2:3). As the following verses (2 Pet. 2:4–10) make clear, God is perfectly capable of saving the righteous remnant and of bringing these false teachers to condemnation.</p> <p>For each of the preceding five points, think of two examples, one drawn from the Bible and one from Christian history, recent or otherwise.</p> <p><a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod/2011/05/20/numbers-29-psalm-73-isaiah-21-2-peter-2-2/">Numbers 29; Psalm 73; Isaiah 21; 2 Peter 2</a> is a post from: <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod">For the Love of God</a></p> </div> </td> </tr> </table> <table style="border-top:1px solid #999;padding-top:4px;margin-top:1.5em;width:100%" id="footer"> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;font-size:11px;margin:0 6px 1.2em 0;color:#333;">You are subscribed to email updates from <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod">For the Love of God</a> <br />To stop receiving these emails, you may <a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailunsubscribe?k=5AIXLKqAbOPVfaF91tiu6sI-Zd4">unsubscribe now</a>.</td> <td style="font-family:Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;font-size:11px;margin:0 6px 1.2em 0;color:#333;text-align:right;vertical-align:top">Email delivery powered by Google</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align:left;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;font-size:11px;margin:0 6px 1.2em 0;color:#333;">Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610</td> </tr> </table> </div> Bill Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03338055272355566552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21864893.post-85780637151477615192011-05-19T06:12:00.001-04:002011-05-19T06:12:59.496-04:00For the Love of God<style type="text/css"> h1 a:hover {background-color:#888;color:#fff ! important;} div#emailbody table#itemcontentlist tr td div ul { list-style-type:square; padding-left:1em; } div#emailbody table#itemcontentlist tr td div blockquote { padding-left:6px; border-left: 6px solid #dadada; margin-left:1em; } div#emailbody table#itemcontentlist tr td div li { margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:1em; } table#itemcontentlist tr td a:link, table#itemcontentlist tr td a:visited, table#itemcontentlist tr td a:active, ul#summarylist li a { color:#000099; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:none; } img {border:none;} </style> <div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" id="emailbody" style="margin:0 2em;font-family:Georgia,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;line-height:140%;font-size:13px;color:#000000;"> <table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;width:100%"> <tr> <td style="vertical-align:top" width="99%"> <h1 style="margin:0;padding-bottom:6px;"> <a style="color:#888;font-size:22px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;" href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod" title="(http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod)">For the Love of God</a> <br /> <a href="http://fusion.google.com/add?source=atgs&feedurl=http://feeds.feedburner.com/loveofgodblog"> <img style="padding-top:6px" alt="" border="0" src="http://gmodules.com/ig/images/plus_google.gif" /> </a> </h1> </td> <td width="1%" /> </tr> </table> <hr style="border:1px solid #ccc;padding:0;margin:0" /> <table id="itemcontentlist"> <tr xmlns=""> <td style="margin-bottom:0;line-height:1.4em;"> <p style="margin:1em 0 3px 0;"> <a name="1" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:18px;" href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod/2011/05/19/numbers-28-psalm-72-isaiah-19%e2%80%9320-2-peter-1/">Numbers 28; Psalm 72; Isaiah 19–20; 2 Peter 1</a> </p> <p style="font-size:13px;color:#555;margin:9px 0 3px 0;font-family:Georgia,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;line-height:140%;font-size:13px;"> <span>Posted:</span> 19 May 2011 12:00 AM PDT</p> <div style="margin:0;font-family:Georgia,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;line-height:140%;font-size:13px;color:#000000;"><p>Numbers 28; Psalm 72; Isaiah 19–20; 2 Peter 1 <a href="http://biblia.com/" target="_blank"><img title="Biblia" src="../files/2010/09/Biblia.png" alt="" width="65" height="16" /></a></p> <p><strong>ISAIAH 19–20</strong> CONTINUES THE prophecies regarding Egypt/Cush. Here I shall outline the flow of thought and then draw out an important lesson for the contemporary world.</p> <p>Isaiah 19 is divided into two parts. The first is poetic in form (Isa. 19:1–15) and pronounces judgment on Egypt. The details are not sufficiently specific for us to be certain which historical assault on Egypt is in view. Egypt was seized by Esarhaddon (671 B.C.), Ashurbanipal (667), Nebuchadnezzar (568), Cambyses (525), and Alexander the Great (332). Probably the "cruel master" or "fierce king" (Isa. 19:4) is representative of all of them. The lesson for Isaiah's fellow citizens is the one constantly repeated in this book: do not make alliances with foreign powers; trust God alone. When God acts against Egypt, her religion will not save her (Isa. 19:1–4), nor will the Nile (normally her lifeblood, Isa. 19:5–10), nor her counselors (Isa. 19:11–15).</p> <p>The second part of Isaiah 19 is in prose (Isa. 19:16–25). The words "in that day" recur (Isa. 19:16, 18, 19, 23, 24)—a sign of the collapsing of the ultimate horizon, the final day of judgment, into the impending historical horizon, much closer to the prophet's immediate context. Using the categories of the day, Isaiah depicts the time when all of Egypt—even a city like Heliopolis (Isa. 19:18 fn.), formerly the center of the sun-god, Ra—will come under the reign of God. And not Egypt alone: other pagan powers, here represented by Assyria, will unite in common worship of Israel's God, and there will be peace (compare Isa. 2:2–5). Here is another adumbration of gospel power that draws in men and women from "every tribe and language and people and nation" (Rev. 5:9), in line with God's gracious promise to Abraham (Gen. 12:3b).</p> <p>The setting of Isaiah 20 is more specific: the Egyptian-backed Philistine revolt against Assyria (713–711 B.C.; cf. Isa. 14:28–31). The passage predicts the destruction of Ashdod, a major city of Philistia. During these three years, Isaiah was told by God to be dressed (or undressed!) like a captive, "stripped and barefoot" (Isa. 20:2), for at least part of each day, until Ashdod fell—and then he gave a stunning interpretation of his action: he was depicting the destruction and captive status, not of Philistia <em>but of Egypt </em>(Isa. 20:4–6). The lesson is obvious: do not trust your future to Egypt; she is a broken reed.</p> <p>One lesson to learn turns on the fact that this destruction of Egypt did not take place <em>until forty years later </em>(671). Often we demand immediate answers from God. But God took twelve years to bring down Hitler, seventy to bring down the Russian empire, two centuries to humble the British Empire. Reflect on the implications.</p> <p><a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod/2011/05/19/numbers-28-psalm-72-isaiah-19%e2%80%9320-2-peter-1/">Numbers 28; Psalm 72; Isaiah 19–20; 2 Peter 1</a> is a post from: <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod">For the Love of God</a></p> </div> </td> </tr> </table> <table style="border-top:1px solid #999;padding-top:4px;margin-top:1.5em;width:100%" id="footer"> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;font-size:11px;margin:0 6px 1.2em 0;color:#333;">You are subscribed to email updates from <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod">For the Love of God</a> <br />To stop receiving these emails, you may <a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailunsubscribe?k=5AIXLKqAbOPVfaF91tiu6sI-Zd4">unsubscribe now</a>.</td> <td style="font-family:Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;font-size:11px;margin:0 6px 1.2em 0;color:#333;text-align:right;vertical-align:top">Email delivery powered by Google</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align:left;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;font-size:11px;margin:0 6px 1.2em 0;color:#333;">Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610</td> </tr> </table> </div> Bill Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03338055272355566552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21864893.post-37811631238957846752011-05-18T06:46:00.000-04:002011-05-18T06:47:00.267-04:00For the Love of God<style type="text/css"> h1 a:hover {background-color:#888;color:#fff ! important;} div#emailbody table#itemcontentlist tr td div ul { list-style-type:square; padding-left:1em; } div#emailbody table#itemcontentlist tr td div blockquote { padding-left:6px; border-left: 6px solid #dadada; margin-left:1em; } div#emailbody table#itemcontentlist tr td div li { margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:1em; } table#itemcontentlist tr td a:link, table#itemcontentlist tr td a:visited, table#itemcontentlist tr td a:active, ul#summarylist li a { color:#000099; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:none; } img {border:none;} </style> <div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" id="emailbody" style="margin:0 2em;font-family:Georgia,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;line-height:140%;font-size:13px;color:#000000;"> <table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;width:100%"> <tr> <td style="vertical-align:top" width="99%"> <h1 style="margin:0;padding-bottom:6px;"> <a style="color:#888;font-size:22px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;" href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod" title="(http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod)">For the Love of God</a> <br /> <a href="http://fusion.google.com/add?source=atgs&feedurl=http://feeds.feedburner.com/loveofgodblog"> <img style="padding-top:6px" alt="" border="0" src="http://gmodules.com/ig/images/plus_google.gif" /> </a> </h1> </td> <td width="1%" /> </tr> </table> <hr style="border:1px solid #ccc;padding:0;margin:0" /> <table id="itemcontentlist"> <tr xmlns=""> <td style="margin-bottom:0;line-height:1.4em;"> <p style="margin:1em 0 3px 0;"> <a name="1" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:18px;" href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod/2011/05/18/numbers-27-psalms-70%e2%80%9371-isaiah-17%e2%80%9318-1-peter-5/">Numbers 27; Psalms 70–71; Isaiah 17–18; 1 Peter 5</a> </p> <p style="font-size:13px;color:#555;margin:9px 0 3px 0;font-family:Georgia,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;line-height:140%;font-size:13px;"> <span>Posted:</span> 18 May 2011 12:00 AM PDT</p> <div style="margin:0;font-family:Georgia,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;line-height:140%;font-size:13px;color:#000000;"><p>Numbers 27; Psalms 70–71; Isaiah 17–18; 1 Peter 5 <a href="http://biblia.com/" target="_blank"><img title="Biblia" src="../files/2010/09/Biblia.png" alt="" width="65" height="16" /></a></p> <p>IN CHAPTERS 14–16 ISAIAH records oracles against Philistia (to the west of Jerusalem) and against Moab (to the east). Now (<strong>Isaiah 17–18</strong>) he speaks against Syria to the north (with its capital Damascus) and Cush to the south. Ancient Cush was made up of modern Ethiopia, Sudan, and Somaliland, i.e., a large area south of the fourth cataract of the Nile River. By the late eighth century B.C., Cush had merged with Egypt, which is still in view in chapters 19–20. Indeed the twenty-fifth dynasty, which ruled this huge region, were Ethiopians.</p> <p>Recall that the crisis King Ahaz of Judah faced in Isaiah 7 was an alliance between Syria and Israel, designed to thwart Assyria; Syria and Israel tried to force Judah to join their alliance. So this oracle is against Damascus (Isa. 17:1) the capital of Syria, and includes Ephraim (Isa. 17:3—another name for the northern kingdom of Israel). Syria and Israel, so threatening to Judah, would soon be destroyed by Assyria. Damascus fell in 732, Samaria ten years later. After their destruction they would be like an emaciated man (Isa. 17:4), like a field after harvest with only a few stalks left (Isa. 17:5), like a grove of olive trees in which the fruit has been plucked and beaten with only a few olives left (Isa. 17:6). The ultimate cause of the destruction of these nations is their idolatry (Isa. 17:7–8), bound up with fertility cults (Isa. 17:10–11).</p> <p>The means for destroying Syria and Israel is depicted in Isaiah 17:12–14—almost certainly Assyria, which is in turn destroyed. Yet Isaiah speaks of "many nations" (Isa. 17:12): once again we have stumbled across prophetic foreshortening, Assyria serving as a model both of all the means of temporal judgment that God uses, and of the fact that he brings all nations to account, even those his providence has deployed as the club of his wrath (cf. Isa. 10:5).</p> <p>If there is no help for Judah and Jerusalem in the nations of Israel and Syria (and still less in Assyria), there is also no help in the other regional power, Egypt/Cush (chap. 18). Egypt sends its ambassadors to Judah (and doubtless to other minor states) to try to woo them into their camp (Isa. 18:1). Isaiah speaks to them (Isa. 18:2)—almost certainly he actually speaks to the king in a prophetic oracle about the ambassadors, rather than addressing them directly—and in brilliant rhetoric describes the destruction of their nation. Yet he also heralds a time when Egyptians, just one of the many "people of the world" (Isa. 18:3), will see the banner the Lord raises and bring gifts to "Mount Zion, the place of the Name of the LORD Almighty" (Isa. 18:7).</p> <p>Why fawn over pagan nations (and thinkers!) when the Lord himself will judge them, and when they will one day bow to him?</p> <p><a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod/2011/05/18/numbers-27-psalms-70%e2%80%9371-isaiah-17%e2%80%9318-1-peter-5/">Numbers 27; Psalms 70–71; Isaiah 17–18; 1 Peter 5</a> is a post from: <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod">For the Love of God</a></p> </div> </td> </tr> </table> <table style="border-top:1px solid #999;padding-top:4px;margin-top:1.5em;width:100%" id="footer"> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;font-size:11px;margin:0 6px 1.2em 0;color:#333;">You are subscribed to email updates from <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod">For the Love of God</a> <br />To stop receiving these emails, you may <a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailunsubscribe?k=5AIXLKqAbOPVfaF91tiu6sI-Zd4">unsubscribe now</a>.</td> <td style="font-family:Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;font-size:11px;margin:0 6px 1.2em 0;color:#333;text-align:right;vertical-align:top">Email delivery powered by Google</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align:left;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;font-size:11px;margin:0 6px 1.2em 0;color:#333;">Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610</td> </tr> </table> </div> Bill Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03338055272355566552noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21864893.post-35330538562401185062011-05-17T06:51:00.001-04:002011-05-17T06:51:26.443-04:00For the Love of God<style type="text/css"> h1 a:hover {background-color:#888;color:#fff ! important;} div#emailbody table#itemcontentlist tr td div ul { list-style-type:square; padding-left:1em; } div#emailbody table#itemcontentlist tr td div blockquote { padding-left:6px; border-left: 6px solid #dadada; margin-left:1em; } div#emailbody table#itemcontentlist tr td div li { margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:1em; } table#itemcontentlist tr td a:link, table#itemcontentlist tr td a:visited, table#itemcontentlist tr td a:active, ul#summarylist li a { color:#000099; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:none; } img {border:none;} </style> <div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" id="emailbody" style="margin:0 2em;font-family:Georgia,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;line-height:140%;font-size:13px;color:#000000;"> <table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;width:100%"> <tr> <td style="vertical-align:top" width="99%"> <h1 style="margin:0;padding-bottom:6px;"> <a style="color:#888;font-size:22px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;" href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod" title="(http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod)">For the Love of God</a> <br /> <a href="http://fusion.google.com/add?source=atgs&feedurl=http://feeds.feedburner.com/loveofgodblog"> <img style="padding-top:6px" alt="" border="0" src="http://gmodules.com/ig/images/plus_google.gif" /> </a> </h1> </td> <td width="1%" /> </tr> </table> <hr style="border:1px solid #ccc;padding:0;margin:0" /> <table id="itemcontentlist"> <tr xmlns=""> <td style="margin-bottom:0;line-height:1.4em;"> <p style="margin:1em 0 3px 0;"> <a name="1" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:18px;" href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod/2011/05/17/numbers-26-psalm-69-isaiah-16-1-peter-4-2/">Numbers 26; Psalm 69; Isaiah 16; 1 Peter 4</a> </p> <p style="font-size:13px;color:#555;margin:9px 0 3px 0;font-family:Georgia,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;line-height:140%;font-size:13px;"> <span>Posted:</span> 17 May 2011 12:00 AM PDT</p> <div style="margin:0;font-family:Georgia,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;line-height:140%;font-size:13px;color:#000000;"><p>Numbers 26; Psalm 69; Isaiah 16; 1 Peter 4 <a href="http://biblia.com/" target="_blank"><img title="Biblia" src="../files/2010/09/Biblia.png" alt="" width="65" height="16" /></a></p> <p>1 PETER 4 CONTINUES THE THEME of Christian conduct, including unjust suffering. This theme is now increasingly tied to identification with Christ (e.g., 1 Pet. 4:14), to final judgment (1 Pet. 4:5–6, 7, 17), and above all to the will of God: "So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and <em>continue to do good</em>" (1 Pet. 4:19, italics added).</p> <p>But what does it mean to "do good"? This is spelled out in part in <strong>1 Peter 4:7–11</strong>:</p> <p>(a) We must be "clear minded and self-controlled so that [we] can pray" (1 Pet. 4:7). Self-control is an element of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22–23). Minds clouded by the heated pursuit of hedonism are not minds that can pray.</p> <p>(b) We must "love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins" (1 Pet. 4:8). Peter assumes, realistically, that various breaches will occur in the Christian assembly—just as they occur in a family. But in a mature family, the love of each family member for the others covers over the breaches. So also in the church. This does not mean that there are no sins to expose and discipline; the whole New Testament stands against such reductionism. On the other hand, we must face the fact that sins will be committed—and be prepared to cover them over with love. For there is no way back to the innocence of Eden—certainly not by probing each blemish and letting it all hang out, going over the same sins and failures again and again. There is no way back; there is only a way forward—through the cross, to forgiveness and forbearance. Christians must love each other deeply, "because love covers over a multitude of sins." Mature Christians know their own hearts well enough to realize that they need such love and need to display it.</p> <p>(c) We must "[o]ffer hospitality to one another without grumbling" (1 Pet. 4:9). Loving has more to it than forbearing with another's faults; it has more to it than positive activity such as showing hospitality: it includes how we show such hospitality—not in a grumbling or resentful fashion, but eagerly, graciously, generously.</p> <p>(d) We must use whatever gifts we have received to serve others (1 Pet. 4:10–11). Peter gives some examples, but his list is not exhaustive. If one is called to speak in the church (for example), it is not a time for showing off or for amusing the goats, but for feeding the sheep, and that means speaking "as one speaking the very words of God" (1 Pet. 4:11). Meditate on Romans 12:6–8.</p> <p>Everything is to be done in such a way "that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ" (1 Pet. 4:11).</p> <p><a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod/2011/05/17/numbers-26-psalm-69-isaiah-16-1-peter-4-2/">Numbers 26; Psalm 69; Isaiah 16; 1 Peter 4</a> is a post from: <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod">For the Love of God</a></p> </div> </td> </tr> </table> <table style="border-top:1px solid #999;padding-top:4px;margin-top:1.5em;width:100%" id="footer"> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;font-size:11px;margin:0 6px 1.2em 0;color:#333;">You are subscribed to email updates from <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod">For the Love of God</a> <br />To stop receiving these emails, you may <a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailunsubscribe?k=5AIXLKqAbOPVfaF91tiu6sI-Zd4">unsubscribe now</a>.</td> <td style="font-family:Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;font-size:11px;margin:0 6px 1.2em 0;color:#333;text-align:right;vertical-align:top">Email delivery powered by Google</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align:left;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;font-size:11px;margin:0 6px 1.2em 0;color:#333;">Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610</td> </tr> </table> </div> Bill Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03338055272355566552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21864893.post-83136415598092447172011-05-16T06:11:00.001-04:002011-05-16T06:11:19.526-04:00For the Love of God<style type="text/css"> h1 a:hover {background-color:#888;color:#fff ! important;} div#emailbody table#itemcontentlist tr td div ul { list-style-type:square; padding-left:1em; } div#emailbody table#itemcontentlist tr td div blockquote { padding-left:6px; border-left: 6px solid #dadada; margin-left:1em; } div#emailbody table#itemcontentlist tr td div li { margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:1em; } table#itemcontentlist tr td a:link, table#itemcontentlist tr td a:visited, table#itemcontentlist tr td a:active, ul#summarylist li a { color:#000099; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:none; } img {border:none;} </style> <div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" id="emailbody" style="margin:0 2em;font-family:Georgia,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;line-height:140%;font-size:13px;color:#000000;"> <table style="border:0;padding:0;margin:0;width:100%"> <tr> <td style="vertical-align:top" width="99%"> <h1 style="margin:0;padding-bottom:6px;"> <a style="color:#888;font-size:22px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;" href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod" title="(http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod)">For the Love of God</a> <br /> <a href="http://fusion.google.com/add?source=atgs&feedurl=http://feeds.feedburner.com/loveofgodblog"> <img style="padding-top:6px" alt="" border="0" src="http://gmodules.com/ig/images/plus_google.gif" /> </a> </h1> </td> <td width="1%" /> </tr> </table> <hr style="border:1px solid #ccc;padding:0;margin:0" /> <table id="itemcontentlist"> <tr xmlns=""> <td style="margin-bottom:0;line-height:1.4em;"> <p style="margin:1em 0 3px 0;"> <a name="1" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:18px;" href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod/2011/05/16/numbers-25-psalm-68-isaiah-15-1-peter-3-2/">Numbers 25; Psalm 68; Isaiah 15; 1 Peter 3</a> </p> <p style="font-size:13px;color:#555;margin:9px 0 3px 0;font-family:Georgia,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;line-height:140%;font-size:13px;"> <span>Posted:</span> 16 May 2011 12:00 AM PDT</p> <div style="margin:0;font-family:Georgia,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;line-height:140%;font-size:13px;color:#000000;"><p>Numbers 25; Psalm 68; Isaiah 15; 1 Peter 3 <a href="http://biblia.com/" target="_blank"><img title="Biblia" src="../files/2010/09/Biblia.png" alt="" width="65" height="16" /></a></p> <p>ONE OF THE STRIKING THINGS ABOUT 1 Peter is how Christian conduct is tied to winning a hearing for the Gospel. We saw that theme in yesterday's meditation. Christians are to live in such a way that even the pagans will be forced to glorify God (1 Pet. 2:12). It is God's will "that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men" (1 Pet. 2:15). The same theme is developed in chapter 3. Wives with unbelieving husbands should so adorn themselves with a gentle and quiet spirit that their husbands "may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of [their] lives" (1 Pet. 3:2).</p> <p>Similarly in <strong>1 Peter 3:8–22</strong>. This passage includes one of the most difficult texts in the New Testament (1 Pet. 3:18b–21), one I cannot hope to broach here. But it also once again connects Christian conduct with Christian suffering and therefore with Christian witness. This does not mean that Christian conduct has a merely utilitarian function. Christians are not to act in godly ways simply because it increases their credibility for propagandistic purposes. There are many reasons for doing good. We were "called" to it (1 Pet. 3:9); doing good is constitutive of our very identity. Moreover, such behavior inherits blessing from God (1 Pet. 3:9–12). Apart from the horrible exceptions that arise out of corrupt regimes and renegades (all too many of them), a citizen doing good does not have to fear oppression from those in charge of criminal justice systems (1 Pet. 3:13). We ourselves ought to keep a clear conscience before the living God (1 Pet. 3:16). Above all there is the example of Jesus Christ (1 Pet. 3:17–18).</p> <p>But in addition to all these reasons for living godly lives, Peter again connects conduct with witness. Even if we suffer unjustly, we will not live our lives in fear, as pagans must (1 Pet. 3:13). Rather, in our tears we will "set apart Christ as Lord" (1 Pet. 3:15); we will "sanctify" or "consecrate" Christ as Lord. And in this context, we will hear the apostolic injunction: "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have" (1 Pet. 3:15). This is similar to Paul's "be prepared in season and out of season" (2 Tim. 4:2). Of course such readiness presupposes a heart attitude eager to bear witness and a commitment to grow in apologetic competence. As in so many other areas of life, we learn best how to do it by doing it. But Peter's immediate point is that as we bear witness, we must do so "with gentleness and respect … so that those who speak maliciously … may be ashamed of their slander" (1 Pet. 3:15, 16).</p> <p><a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod/2011/05/16/numbers-25-psalm-68-isaiah-15-1-peter-3-2/">Numbers 25; Psalm 68; Isaiah 15; 1 Peter 3</a> is a post from: <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod">For the Love of God</a></p> </div> </td> </tr> </table> <table style="border-top:1px solid #999;padding-top:4px;margin-top:1.5em;width:100%" id="footer"> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;font-size:11px;margin:0 6px 1.2em 0;color:#333;">You are subscribed to email updates from <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod">For the Love of God</a> <br />To stop receiving these emails, you may <a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailunsubscribe?k=5AIXLKqAbOPVfaF91tiu6sI-Zd4">unsubscribe now</a>.</td> <td style="font-family:Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;font-size:11px;margin:0 6px 1.2em 0;color:#333;text-align:right;vertical-align:top">Email delivery powered by Google</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align:left;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;font-size:11px;margin:0 6px 1.2em 0;color:#333;">Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610</td> </tr> </table> </div> Bill Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03338055272355566552noreply@blogger.com0