Friday, November 30, 2012
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Following God's Instructions/Joshua
What had just happened at the Jordan River crossing wasn't good news for a lot of the kings west of the river and in Canaan. In fact, it was such bad news, that many of them were paralyzed with fear (Joshua 5:1).
But God was about to do even greater things among the people of Israel. After taking the time to re-establish among the people some of the covenant ceremonies, God made the final preparations in the hearts of the people for them to take the land — starting with the city of Jericho.
The people who lived in the walled city of Jericho were terrified of the people of Israel, and all the gates of the city were tightly shut with no one allowed to come in or go out (Joshua 6:1). But walls and gates meant nothing, because God had told Joshua, “I have given you Jericho, its king, and all its strong warriors” (Joshua 6:2). In this passage of Scripture, it's not the fact that God continued to remind Joshua of His previous promises but the way He kept the promise about the fall of Jericho that grabs the reader';s attention.
God didn't tell Joshua and his fighting men to just go in and clean up, but instead instructed them to march around Jericho once a day for six days. Seven priests, each carrying with him a ram';s horn, were to walk ahead of the Ark of the Covenant. On the seventh day they were to march around the town seven times with the priests blowing the ram';s horns. When the priests gave out a long blast on their horns, all the people were to shout as loudly as they could and the walls of Jericho would collapse, allowing the Israelites to charge straight into town (Joshua 6:3–5).
Again, Joshua didn't question God or try to provide what he thought of as a better plan. Instead, he did exactly as he was told and instructed the people precisely what God had told them to do. On the seventh day, the people of Israel got up at dawn and marched around the city as they had been doing all that week — except this time they went around it seven times. On that seventh lap, the priests sounded a long blast on their horns, the people gave out a shout, and the walls of Jericho came tumbling down. Every living thing in the city — human and nonhuman alike — was destroyed. Only Rahab the prostitute and her family were spared, as Joshua told them to go to her house and bring her out so that she and her loved ones would live. From then on, she lived with the Israelites (Joshua 6:22–25).
With the destruction of Jericho complete, Joshua invoked a curse on anyone who tried to rebuild the city (Joshua 6:26). God was with Joshua, and his reputation grew in the area.
Monday, November 26, 2012
Friday, November 23, 2012
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Tell Lie Vision
The media will give an account to GOD for their LACK of informing us on the TRUTH of whats happening and their outright LIES!!!!
Pray for Israel
Psalm 122:6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. 7 Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces. 8 For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee. 9 Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek thy good.
Guard Your Mind
The article I just posted got me to thinking about how easily deceived our world is becoming. In layman's terms the target has been set upon our children. I think it's important as parents that we take extra caution with what our children are involved with on a daily basis. For instance the internet, movies, games, school activities etc... When did you as a parent last sit down and take the time to look at what your children are doing on their I-Pad's. When was the last time you listened in on a conversation your child was having with someone. You might be surprised...sad to say.
When was the last time you sat down with your child and really talked to them?
Even as an adult...recently I got to thinking about all the scary movies that were either on television or at the movies. Since I don't watch television I rent or buy movies now and to be honest I like a good scare from time to time, but nothing gruesome. I think the scariest movie I've ever seen was Jeepers Creepers and my friends laugh because they think it wasn't scary at all. I got to thinking how important it is that I be careful in what I open myself up to. I just don't think you can truthfully be used of God in anyway if you are.
Point being just be careful and take the time to know what you and yours are into. Guard you mind...
When was the last time you sat down with your child and really talked to them?
Even as an adult...recently I got to thinking about all the scary movies that were either on television or at the movies. Since I don't watch television I rent or buy movies now and to be honest I like a good scare from time to time, but nothing gruesome. I think the scariest movie I've ever seen was Jeepers Creepers and my friends laugh because they think it wasn't scary at all. I got to thinking how important it is that I be careful in what I open myself up to. I just don't think you can truthfully be used of God in anyway if you are.
Point being just be careful and take the time to know what you and yours are into. Guard you mind...
A New Atheist Strategy for Children
The American Humanist Association (AHA) has launched a new initiative aimed at kids. Their website, www.kidswithoutgod.com, is "a site for the millions of young people around the world who have embraced science, rejected superstition, and are dedicated to being Good Without A God!"
The children's section introduces us to "Darwin" the dog. He "loves to enjoy stories from a long, long time ago." But he "also knows that these are just stories, though, and that they aren't real." There's a teens section, with videos that coach young people on becoming atheists and telling others about their decision. The parents section offers tips for "helping our kids become humanists."
Let's consider the logic of the AHA's initiative for a moment. Their website is designed for those who have "embraced science" and "rejected superstition" (i.e., religion), as though the former requires the latter. This is a logical fallacy known as "affirming a disjunct," where we are erroneously told that if A is true, B must be false. Some of the greatest scientists in history have been very strong believers. I doubt they would agree that they have accepted "superstition."
"Darwin" the dog "only believes in things that he can see in the real world" such as "friendship, and being nice, and learning." How can he "see" an unprovable relational experience such as friendship? This is an assertion made by many atheists—they claim that truth must be verifiable, but they can't verify what they just claimed. Many are absolutely sure that absolute truth doesn't exist.
How can Christians respond to this strategy aimed at children and young people? By offering what no non-Christian can: a genuine encounter with a loving God. In John 14:15, Jesus promised us, "If you love me, you will obey what I command." The Greek syntax could be translated, "If you love me, you will inevitably in the future obey my commands." The more we love Jesus, the more our world will see his love expressed in our lives. Because there is a "God-shaped emptiness" (Pascal) in each of us, those who need God will be drawn to the God they see in us.
In my view, the rise of "aggressive atheism" is directly related to a decline of love for God in our churches. So many of us go to church because it's Sunday. We read the Bible and pray so God will bless and guide us. We do our part so he will do his part. But this transactional religion is a poor substitute for transformational relationship.
When last did you tell Jesus from your heart that you love him? When last did you spend even 15 minutes expressing your love for him in personal, private worship? If more of us were in love with Jesus, fewer in the world would be led away from him. Who will know that you love Jesus today?
Article Shared From Denison Forum on Truth and Culture
The children's section introduces us to "Darwin" the dog. He "loves to enjoy stories from a long, long time ago." But he "also knows that these are just stories, though, and that they aren't real." There's a teens section, with videos that coach young people on becoming atheists and telling others about their decision. The parents section offers tips for "helping our kids become humanists."
Let's consider the logic of the AHA's initiative for a moment. Their website is designed for those who have "embraced science" and "rejected superstition" (i.e., religion), as though the former requires the latter. This is a logical fallacy known as "affirming a disjunct," where we are erroneously told that if A is true, B must be false. Some of the greatest scientists in history have been very strong believers. I doubt they would agree that they have accepted "superstition."
"Darwin" the dog "only believes in things that he can see in the real world" such as "friendship, and being nice, and learning." How can he "see" an unprovable relational experience such as friendship? This is an assertion made by many atheists—they claim that truth must be verifiable, but they can't verify what they just claimed. Many are absolutely sure that absolute truth doesn't exist.
How can Christians respond to this strategy aimed at children and young people? By offering what no non-Christian can: a genuine encounter with a loving God. In John 14:15, Jesus promised us, "If you love me, you will obey what I command." The Greek syntax could be translated, "If you love me, you will inevitably in the future obey my commands." The more we love Jesus, the more our world will see his love expressed in our lives. Because there is a "God-shaped emptiness" (Pascal) in each of us, those who need God will be drawn to the God they see in us.
In my view, the rise of "aggressive atheism" is directly related to a decline of love for God in our churches. So many of us go to church because it's Sunday. We read the Bible and pray so God will bless and guide us. We do our part so he will do his part. But this transactional religion is a poor substitute for transformational relationship.
When last did you tell Jesus from your heart that you love him? When last did you spend even 15 minutes expressing your love for him in personal, private worship? If more of us were in love with Jesus, fewer in the world would be led away from him. Who will know that you love Jesus today?
Article Shared From Denison Forum on Truth and Culture
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
