the 7 project [an experimental mutiny against excess]
![the 7 project [an experimental mutiny against excess]](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/7-book-cover-150x150.jpg)
The thoughts running through my head make me sick to my stomach. The kind of sick that causes me to want to shake it up and do whatever it takes to purge myself of the crap (yeah, I said it) that spoils everything else that’s in there. And I’m blaming Jen Hatmaker. I read something [...]
which tree are you eating from?
And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” – Genesis 2:16-17 (ESV) Then the angel showed me [...]
chasing them away
Reading blogs gives me a chance to step into the lives of others. I often come across many Christians who bash gathering in church for a variety of reasons. Some of those reasons are painfully legitimate and some are simply unwilling to stay and make a difference because they come to be served, instead of [...]
purple jacket lady
I was at the drug store yesterday, in line for a prescription, and a woman in a purple jacket melted down…. just… went to pieces right there in the prescription line. “I can’t DO THIS ANYMORE!” She screamed at the stunned cashier, who blinked quickly while everyone stood there staring, watching Purple Jacket Lady hurtle [...]
the trophy wall [a testimony of God's healing]
![the trophy wall [a testimony of God's healing]](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/alexander-dowie-trophy-wall-150x150.jpg)
Jehovah Rapha. Among many other things, God reveals and refers to Himself as the Lord our Healer. So Moses cried out in prayer to God. God pointed him to a stick of wood. Moses threw it into the water and the water turned sweet. That’s the place where God set up rules and procedures; that’s where he started testing [...]
now go sit with someone…
On Guilt: “It is about as hard to absolve yourself of your own guilt as it is to sit in your own lap. Wrongdoing sparks guilt sparks wrongdoing ad nauseam, and we all try to disguise the grim process from both ourselves and everybody else. In order to break the circuit we need friends before [...]
on sacrifice, service, and strength: [saint luke, the winged ox]
![on sacrifice, service, and strength: [saint luke, the winged ox]](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/luke-winged-ox-150x150.jpg)
Historically, Luke has been symbolized by a winged ox or bull. It’s a figure of sacrifice, service and strength. These are the three qualities about Luke the New Testament writer that stand out the most as I try to imagine what his life would have been like. Stepping into the work that he was about [...]
still thirsty?
Some of us obtain success rather quickly. We’ve just been accepted to the college our dreams, we’ve gotten the job of our dreams, we’re making awesome money, we have awesome friends, and/or our churches are GREAT while they are preaching the word earnestly and serving the community. We get so geeked to be alive in this world! Many [...]
conflicts can get ugly; watch how you enter
I’ve noticed in my life that sometimes I don’t enter conflicts well. Even if I have good intentions, many times I enter conflict primarily to elevate my pain or hurt without acknowledging the other person’s pain or hurt. What about you? I don’t think we do this on purpose. It can be difficult to think [...]
are you gregory?
In this season of Advent we are reminded of what it means to wait for something special. We generally reflect upon the first coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how the ancient Jewish people waited for their messiah. We also consider the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our own waiting for [...]
how we really know those who don’t really know
Just a thought. . . I’ve been thinking about what it means to know and if I’m not sure about a number of things, I’m sure of this: to know is to be able to help someone to know too. Now I’m not playing with words, but seriously, I have had my share of teachers who appear [...]
stand firm. be immovable.
How often do we juggle the world’s (or our culture’s) way and Christ’s way? How often do we juggle the notion, “Should I keep this money and spend it on myself or should I give it to those who happen to be less fortunate or to my church?” How often do we act without guidance [...]
the already/not yet of advent
Coming from a church that followed a liturgical calendar, Advent was always a focal point of the year. The Advent wreath was lit each Sunday for the 4 weeks before Christmas Eve/Day with kids and families doing a reading and lighting candles. Our message series always followed a theme (like hope, joy, peace, life), and [...]
[video] defining thankfulness
![[video] defining thankfulness](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/defining-thankfulness-150x150.jpg)
What does it mean to be thankful? What does thankfulness look like? How does an attitude of thankfulness impact our actions and our lives? This short video from IgniterMedia.com attempts to define what thankfulness looks like for the Christian. What does it look like in your life?
complacency and counting your blessings [the heart of thanksliving]
![complacency and counting your blessings [the heart of thanksliving]](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/count-your-blessings-150x150.jpg)
OK, so yesterday I started off by saying that one of the keys to a heart of Thanksliving is learning the secret of contentment. Today for Thanksgiving, I want to share with you two other quick thoughts: First, it’s about Kicking Complacency. 1 Timothy 6:10 says, “For the love of money is a root of [...]
contentment [the heart of thanksliving]
![contentment [the heart of thanksliving]](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/contentment-150x150.jpg)
I started off yesterday asking some pretty serious questions of myself when it comes to my attitude around Thanksgiving. I want to have the right attitude, not only on Thursday, but year round. So if that’s the case, I need to be reminded of a few things that I picked up on in 1 Timothy [...]
the heart of thanksliving
With Thanksgiving right around the corner, it got me wondering if I’m a pretty ungrateful person. The reason I need to pose that question is because when I reflect on my prayer life, am I the kind of person who spends a fair amount of time counting my blessings, or is it really a once [...]
church: a consumerist choice?
Is church a choice? Certainly, from the perspective of the Bible attending church is not a choice. There are no Biblical examples of Christians in the New Testament period who were believers that did not attend church. However, many Christians today seem to treat church as if it was an optional Christian event. In our [...]
in defense of the church
On the one hand the church does not need any defending. The church is the people of God made holy by God’s holiness. It is a people in relationship with the Trinity. A people called by the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. On the other hand, there seems to be a lot of conversation [...]
![[reverend fun] groupon tithing](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/reverend-fun-groupon-150x150.jpg)
digging down deep [some thoughts on what we believe]
![digging down deep [some thoughts on what we believe]](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/dug-down-deep-150x150.jpg)
Okay, I really have to do this. I ran to the bookstore today and yes (on a really tight budget, LOL) I got Joshua Harris’ latest book titled Dug Down Deep: Unearthing What I Believe and Why It Matters. The cover’s got one of my favorite contemporary writers ( Donald Miller) writing a recommendation and [...]
the hard work of forgiveness [part three]
![the hard work of forgiveness [part three]](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/sisters-150x150.jpg)
Now, where do we go from here? You’ve done the hard work of forgiving a person who wounded you. You’ve worked towards peace while promoting reconciliation, which is forgiveness between two people. Now you make a choice to release the relationship, or move forward building a new foundation of trust. It is not easy. It is [...]
[reverend fun] something to believe in
![[reverend fun] something to believe in](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/reverend-fun-08082011-150x150.jpg)
We all do this, don’t we? We create our own systems based on what we think is best. But what if our kids started doing that too? It seems obvious that we are to follow the ways of God and not our own. When we come to salvation, we are to put off our [...]
jesus’ version of the butterfly effect: matthew 25:31-46 [#resonateseries]
It’s the last teaching of Jesus that’s recorded in the Gospel of Matthew. Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did [...]
Nov 15, 2011 | Categories: authentic christianity, bible literacy, book reviews, READ, SERVE, the latest | Tags: bible commentary, butterfly effect, intervarsity press, ivp, Jesus, least of these, matthew 25:31-46, resonate series, sayings, teaching, the final judgement, the sheep and the goats | 1 Comment »