Tag Religion and Spirituality

Godly Persistance Produces Plenty

Allen Frederick 1 Comment

Keep Pushing Tender Sprout

Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out if they’ve got a second. Give your dreams all you’ve got and you’ll be amazed at the energy that comes out of you.

William James

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39 (NKJV)

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Moderates: Unable to Stand for Anything

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Insight for your “Journey across the Sky”
A View from the Nest www.eagleviews.org
Random Ramblings from the Resident Raptor

“`I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth. Rev 3:15-16 (RSV)

And Eli’jah came near to all the people, and said, “How long will you go limping with two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Ba’al, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word. 1 Kings 18:21 (RSV)

Hot and Cold
Image by Alex Barth via Flickr

A lukewarm individual is always torn between two opinions and unable to come to a conclusive decision on anything. They have to wait until the consensus comes in. Poll takers form their decisions and opinions for them based upon the popular opinions and beliefs of the day. They are ever changing, never able to come to a solid conviction. They do not stand for anything and are easily led astray. A lukewarm individual will usually follow after the path of least resistance which eventually leads to their downfall and destruction.

For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the billowing surge out at sea that is blown hither and thither and tossed by the wind. For truly, let not such a person imagine that he will receive anything [he asks for] from the Lord, [For being as he is] a man of two minds (hesitating, dubious, irresolute), [he is] unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything [he thinks, feels, decides]. James 1:6-8 (AMP)

When confronted to take a stand for what they believe the lukewarm quickly acquiesce and change their minds and positions so as not to appear inflexible. In doing so they loose themselves in the process, no longer an individual with individual thought, they become assimilated to the crowd. Like the name suggests lukewarm water is a mixture of hot and cold and once mixed you can no longer differentiate between the two sources.

 

Jesus does not want us to be lukewarm individuals for his desire for us is to follow in paths of His righteousness. We are not merely mindless sheep just going in whatever direction we are pushed. That was our state before we had an encounter with Jesus the Great Shepherd.

Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you men of double mind. James 4:8 (RSV)

He now dwells with us and has given to us His Spirit wherewith we are able to stand against great opposition. When we take a stand for the Lord He takes a stand for us. We can not afford to be lukewarm in our walk with the Lord. He prefers we were either on fire for Him or totally cold toward Him, the Lord takes no delight in those who can not seem to make up their minds one way or the other.

And if you be unwilling to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Josh 24:15 (RSV)

Hot or cold it’s your choice! Take a stand! Choose a side! Make a decision!

But those who are waiting for the Lord will have new strength; they will get wings like eagles: running, they will not be tired, and walking, they will have no weariness. Isaiah 40:31 (BBE)

Along for the journey

image

December 31 edition of ‘Pop Goes the Gospel’

Allen Frederick 1 Comment

'Pop Goes the Gospel'

'Pop Goes the Gospel'

Welcome to the December 31, 2008 edition of pop goes the gospel.

This Month’s Feature Article

Mike Weaver presents Red, Yellow, Green, and Blue posted at COURAGE FOR TODAY, Mike offers up a memory from Christmas past. Sometimes we need to take a journey back in time in order to appreciate where we are in the present time. Read about Mike’s encounter with the silver Christmas tree and perhaps you will remember your own encounter of the strange kind.

In Family Life

Rich presents Always Be Thankful posted at Blogger For Christ . com.Rich reminds us all to ALWAYS be thankful. We may never know when it will be too late to offer up a word of thanks. Thanks Rich.

In Church Life

Yvette Nietzen presents Ministry opportunities are right in front of you posted at Fresh Wind Ministries, Int´l.Yvette, a frequent contributor to this blog carnival, once again comes through with a thought provoking piece about love. Christmas may be past but the Christmas Spirit of love should continue throughout the year, Yvette reminds each of us to not over look the ‘lepers’ of society for those are the very ones Jesus came to save. And never forget we were once just like they are lost without Christ.

Stephen Miracle presents 5 Inspirational Bible Quotes To Enhance Your Day posted at AltNoise.net, Stephen offers us 5 bible quotes to get us all thinking. If we just put into practice these 5 verses they could change our lives in 2009 for the better. It seems so simple doesn’t it and yet sometimes it takes all we have to just forgive those who trespass against us. Apart from the Holy Spirit that enables us it would be impossible to live the life that Christ would have us live. Thank God He offers His Spirit as a helper. Thank you Stephen.

In Culture

ChristianPF presents What the Bible says about this economic downturn posted at Money in the Bible | Christian Personal Finance Blog.A must read for anyone who may be facing financial difficulties in 2009. ChristianPF offers solid biblical counsel in regards to how we should handle our finances according to God’s blueprint.

Rich Bordner presents Cross-less Christ posted at The Pugnacious Irishman, saying, Rich, a new contributor to this carnival, offers a well written post of a problem of our culture’s inability to call sin sin, or call evil evil. A good reminder that “why can’t we all just get along” is not a sound biblical basis in which to base your life. I hope Rich will contribute more posts in the future. Thanks Rich.

Brent Diggs presents Save Your Christmas posted at the Ominous Comma.Brent asks us to stop and consider What If? What if Christmas was more of a time of self-giving rather than gift-giving? Hmmm do we dare?

In Family

Tiffany Partin presents Electric Blankets vs. Cabbage Patch Dolls posted at Fathom Deep: Sounding the Depths of God.Tiffany’s post will give you that warm cozy feeling all over when you get done reading it. As a child we want what we want, but as parents we provide what is best. Sometimes what is best and needed is not what us children want and we rebel. But as we grow in God’s grace, and mature in our walk with Him we learn that His gifts are always on time and appropriate. The Lord truly shall supply all our needs. And when you think about it, that should be all we want.

Merry Christmas and may God bless you abundantly in 2009!
There you have it. This month’s edition of ‘Pop Goes the Gospel’ has gone to press. Thanks to everyone who contributed great articles to make this blog carnival a MUST READ.

So until next month. Keep blogging.

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of pop goes the gospel using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

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The Legend of the Friendly Beasts

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There’s an old Christmas legend about the animals who shared the stable with the Christ child. Each animal bestowed a gift on Him. The legend says the animals in the stable gained the power of speech for that night.

Jesus, our brother, kind and good,
Was humbly born in a stable rude;
And the friendly beasts around Him stood.
Jesus, our brother, kind and good.

"I," said the Donkey, shaggy and brown,
"I carried His mother up hill and down; 
I carried His mother to Bethlehem town." 
"I," said the Donkey, shaggy and brown.



"I," said the Cow, all white and red,
"I gave Him my manger for His bed;
I gave Him my hay to pillow His head."
"I," said the Cow, all white and red.



"I," said the Sheep, with the curly horn,
"I gave Him my wool for His blanket warm;
He wore my coat on Christmas morn."
"I," said the Sheep, with the curly horn.
"I," said the Dove, from the rafters high,
"I cooed Him to sleep that He should not cry;
We cooed Him to sleep, my mate and I."
"I," said the Dove, from the rafters high.
Thus every beast by some glad spell,
In the stable dark was glad to tell
Of the gift he gave Emmanuel,
The gift he gave Emmanuel.

A Franciscan Benediction

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eagletail feather.gif (350x76 pixels)
“If then you were raised with Christ,
seek those things which are above,
where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.
Set your mind on things above,
not on things on the earth.” (Colossians 3:1-2)

May God bless you with DISCOMFORT …
At easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships,
So that you may live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with ANGER …
At injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people,
So that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.

May God bless you with TEARS …

To shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war.

So that you may reach out your hand to comfort them And to turn their pain into JOY.

And may God bless you with enough FOOLISHNESS…
To believe that you can make a difference in this world,
So that you can DO what others claim cannot be done. Amen

The Life and Legends of Saint Francis of Assisi

Gregorian Chants: The Franciscan Monks of Assisi

Gregorian Chant: Early Recordings

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