I'm not a big quote restoration movement fathers guy, but this one is worth it. Alexander Campbell said this concerning God's Word...the Bible:
The Bible is to the intellectual and moral world of men what the sun is to the planets in our system – the foundation and source of light and life, spiritual and eternal. There is not a spiritual idea in the whole human race that is not drawn from the Bible. As soon will the philosopher’s find an independent sunbeam in nature, as the theologian a spiritual conception in man, independent of the ONE BEST BOOK. (The Christian System, Pg. 3)
Read it. Know it. Live it.
By the way, you can read The Christian SystemHere, if you are so inclined. It is considered to be Alexander Campbell's defining work.
Showing posts with label bible. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bible. Show all posts
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, August 1, 2008
My Bible Journey (Proverbs 8)
I recently read Proverbs 8. Another chapter with a heavy focus on wisdom. Part of me wants to say, "Okay already! I get it...I need to be wise and seek out wisdom!" But do I get it? Am I wise? Do I make wise choices regularly?
I could have my wife put her thoughts here on those questions and I think I know what she would say (thus the reason she isn't posting). I could have my kids put their thoughts on here in response to those questions...and I could threaten them with grounding to get a good response from them.
But the fact of the matter is, I live most of my life lacking wisdom. To be completely honest...I am unwise. I make poor choices frequently and regularly.
So, I may react with an air of confidence to another chapter on wisdom...but reality is much more bleak for me. I need to be honest with myself. I need to crave wisdom with all my heart. I need to surround myself with wise people and friends.
I need to search out wisdom in God's Word often and daily. I need more wisdom in my life.
On a side note, the latter part of Proverbs 8:36 says that all who love death hate God. I was listening to a translated video excerpt of Osama Bin Laden where he was ranting against America. He said that we in America "love life therefore we will never understand the true muslim, for the true muslim loves death." Funny how relevant God's Word is!
I could have my wife put her thoughts here on those questions and I think I know what she would say (thus the reason she isn't posting). I could have my kids put their thoughts on here in response to those questions...and I could threaten them with grounding to get a good response from them.
But the fact of the matter is, I live most of my life lacking wisdom. To be completely honest...I am unwise. I make poor choices frequently and regularly.
So, I may react with an air of confidence to another chapter on wisdom...but reality is much more bleak for me. I need to be honest with myself. I need to crave wisdom with all my heart. I need to surround myself with wise people and friends.
I need to search out wisdom in God's Word often and daily. I need more wisdom in my life.
On a side note, the latter part of Proverbs 8:36 says that all who love death hate God. I was listening to a translated video excerpt of Osama Bin Laden where he was ranting against America. He said that we in America "love life therefore we will never understand the true muslim, for the true muslim loves death." Funny how relevant God's Word is!
Monday, May 5, 2008
My Encounter Journey (Day 15)
Today's Scriptures are Matthew 12:46-50.
I never got along very well with my older sister. Still don’t, to be totally honest. We don’t get into fist fights like we had a tendency to do when I was a child. We just don’t talk to each other. I mean it. No birthday cards. No phone calls. No letters. We just don’t communicate at all.
That’s kind of weird, if you think about it. I have two sons. They are brothers. I would die if they treated each other the way my sister and I relate. Why is that? Why is it okay for me but not for them?
Probably because I’m a hypocrite. Getting along with others in my family wasn’t always an aspired to goal. We really knew how to fight. We learned to live in toleration of each other. We never really out right hated each other…we just lived life close together without really caring about each other.
That’s how it is in church sometimes. We just don’t really care that much about each other. And that is sad. Just as sad as me not having a relationship with my older sister.
If that’s how I relate to my sister, then it bums me out that Jesus thinks of me as his brother. I have a proven track record of being a bad brother. I wonder if Jesus feels like my sister at times? I wonder if I cold shoulder Jesus?
Well, I think I need to make some significant changes in my life. I am going to give my sister a call before this week is out and see how she is doing. Just talk. Not sure how that will go, but it can’t be any worse than what is happening now.
“Lord, thank you for calling me a brother. Forgive me for being a bad brother. Help me this week in talking with my sister. Help me to not have an agenda in calling but help me to just be interested in her and her life. Give me words, Lord. In Jesus’ Name."
I never got along very well with my older sister. Still don’t, to be totally honest. We don’t get into fist fights like we had a tendency to do when I was a child. We just don’t talk to each other. I mean it. No birthday cards. No phone calls. No letters. We just don’t communicate at all.
That’s kind of weird, if you think about it. I have two sons. They are brothers. I would die if they treated each other the way my sister and I relate. Why is that? Why is it okay for me but not for them?
Probably because I’m a hypocrite. Getting along with others in my family wasn’t always an aspired to goal. We really knew how to fight. We learned to live in toleration of each other. We never really out right hated each other…we just lived life close together without really caring about each other.
That’s how it is in church sometimes. We just don’t really care that much about each other. And that is sad. Just as sad as me not having a relationship with my older sister.
If that’s how I relate to my sister, then it bums me out that Jesus thinks of me as his brother. I have a proven track record of being a bad brother. I wonder if Jesus feels like my sister at times? I wonder if I cold shoulder Jesus?
Well, I think I need to make some significant changes in my life. I am going to give my sister a call before this week is out and see how she is doing. Just talk. Not sure how that will go, but it can’t be any worse than what is happening now.
“Lord, thank you for calling me a brother. Forgive me for being a bad brother. Help me this week in talking with my sister. Help me to not have an agenda in calling but help me to just be interested in her and her life. Give me words, Lord. In Jesus’ Name."
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
My Encounter Journey (Day 9)
Today's Scripture is John 17. This is a very different passage for me. I feel like a voyeur when I read it. Jesus is praying, very intimately with his Father. And I feel like I shouldn't be listening in on it, but I can't help myself when I read this section.
He prays for Himself, He prays for His followers, but He also prays for me. That is astounding! Jesus prayed for me. Why? And specifically (maybe even more scary) why does He think I need to be prayed for?
Apparently, what I can glean from listening in on this prayer, is that Jesus somehow thinks that I am going to have a difficult time getting along with other Christians. Like that is a possibility! I come from the Churches of Christ, the most unified group on planet earth! (Wait a second, I'm thinking I shouldn't have said that.)
Jesus knew that having unity in the Church would be the most difficult obstacle to overcome. And that is the heartbeat of His prayer for us today. That we would be One.
Now, not to turn this into an advertisement, but I am so excited that there will be overlap into an upcoming series that begins the second week of June. I am very excited about this series, it is probably one of the most unique experiences we will have ever had as a congregation. Click this to read more:
"Jesus, help us to answer your prayer by being one. Help me to understand that when I treat other Christians wrongly I am trying to mess with your prayers. Help me Father to love people. In Jesus' Name."
He prays for Himself, He prays for His followers, but He also prays for me. That is astounding! Jesus prayed for me. Why? And specifically (maybe even more scary) why does He think I need to be prayed for?
Apparently, what I can glean from listening in on this prayer, is that Jesus somehow thinks that I am going to have a difficult time getting along with other Christians. Like that is a possibility! I come from the Churches of Christ, the most unified group on planet earth! (Wait a second, I'm thinking I shouldn't have said that.)
Jesus knew that having unity in the Church would be the most difficult obstacle to overcome. And that is the heartbeat of His prayer for us today. That we would be One.
Now, not to turn this into an advertisement, but I am so excited that there will be overlap into an upcoming series that begins the second week of June. I am very excited about this series, it is probably one of the most unique experiences we will have ever had as a congregation. Click this to read more:
"Jesus, help us to answer your prayer by being one. Help me to understand that when I treat other Christians wrongly I am trying to mess with your prayers. Help me Father to love people. In Jesus' Name."
Saturday, April 26, 2008
My Encounter Journey (Day 6)
Today's Scriptures are Luke 5:1-11. I see myself resistant to things that God is wanting to reveal to me continuously. I am getting better though. The way God usually works with me, is that He will, at first, tap me on the shoulder. If I continue to ignore, or go about my own business, then He will hit me upside the head with a 2x4.
so to avoid pain and grief, I am learning to respond to Him quicker. I think Peter never dreamed as he had finished his work that morning that he would be leaving it forever to do something completely different. But when Jesus asked to use his boat, that's where this journey began for Peter.
And in the midst of being close to Jesus, Peter embraced a "because you say so" faith. And that was just enough faith for Jesus to do something amazing. And when Peter saw who it was that was really in the boat with him (the Lord), he realized at the same moment who he really is (a sinner).
That is the weirdest thing about our walk with God, to me. The closer I get to Him, the farther away I realize He is. The closer I get, I realize how far I have to go. You may think you're doing good, but you start drawing close to God and you will realize that you have an awful amount of growth ahead of you. The holier that you see God, the less holy you see yourself. The more you learn about God, the more stupid you become.
That's weird to me. But that's how that works. So I guess I want to have the realization that I am nothing more than a stupid sinner...and then I'll be doing pretty good.
"Lord, Jesus, help me to never think more of myself than that which I truly am...a sinner in need of your grace. Thank you for saving me. In Your Name."
so to avoid pain and grief, I am learning to respond to Him quicker. I think Peter never dreamed as he had finished his work that morning that he would be leaving it forever to do something completely different. But when Jesus asked to use his boat, that's where this journey began for Peter.
And in the midst of being close to Jesus, Peter embraced a "because you say so" faith. And that was just enough faith for Jesus to do something amazing. And when Peter saw who it was that was really in the boat with him (the Lord), he realized at the same moment who he really is (a sinner).
That is the weirdest thing about our walk with God, to me. The closer I get to Him, the farther away I realize He is. The closer I get, I realize how far I have to go. You may think you're doing good, but you start drawing close to God and you will realize that you have an awful amount of growth ahead of you. The holier that you see God, the less holy you see yourself. The more you learn about God, the more stupid you become.
That's weird to me. But that's how that works. So I guess I want to have the realization that I am nothing more than a stupid sinner...and then I'll be doing pretty good.
"Lord, Jesus, help me to never think more of myself than that which I truly am...a sinner in need of your grace. Thank you for saving me. In Your Name."
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