tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15062242944230363102024-02-20T00:06:45.897-06:00Treasures In HeavenAustin Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11230528018742728223noreply@blogger.comBlogger155125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506224294423036310.post-76240084100991310632013-05-28T14:36:00.001-05:002013-05-28T14:38:06.267-05:00Pray Amidst the Challenges of Life<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Several years ago we took our children on a canoe trip. My wife, Kathy, sat in the front of the canoe holding our three-year-old daughter. I steered in back while my two sons paddled from the middle. After a stretch of calm water, the currents began to quicken. We were not scared until the canoe in front of us suddenly disappeared. It simply dropped from sight on an open stretch of water. At first, we did not understand. Then as the water began to race past us and we heard the sound of crashing water, we realized ahead-a waterfall!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The currents rushed us toward the drop, and our three-year-old began to cry. But as we approached the drop, we could see that safety lay in a narrow channel that skirted the edge of the waterfall and led through rapids to the lower stream. I shouted, "Paddle, boys, paddle." My wife screamed, "And pray."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We barely made the channel, plunged down the rapids, and made it into the lower stream drenched but upright. Howling with laughter and excitement, the boys yelled, "We made it!" Kathy shouted to the sky, "Thank you, Lord!" We had paddled hard, but we knew, as we watched canoe after canoe behind us tumble down the falls (which were really only about five feet high), that the Lord had carried us through. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Somehow that episode has become a metaphor of life for our family. Kathy has written of it in her stories and both of us refer to it often when we address church groups. We encourage others to paddle hard through the challenges the Lord places before them, but at the same time we remind everyone and oursleves to pray to the One who carries us forward according to his perfect plan. The currents of life will sweep everyone forward, but there is peace in the knowledge that as we entrust ourselves to God and seek the glory of his Son, he grants us the power to paddle where the streams are most blessed."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Praying-Backwards-Transform-Beginning-ebook/dp/B007KOI01A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1369769544&sr=8-1&keywords=Praying+backwards">Praying Backwards: Transform Your Prayer Life by Beginning in Jesus' Name </a>(Bryan Chapell, pgs 189-190).</span>Austin Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11230528018742728223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506224294423036310.post-67923690603683715562013-05-05T22:53:00.000-05:002013-05-05T22:53:00.069-05:00Jesus>Sin<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One sin can destroy you. One sin that you may not think is "that bad" has the potential to damage your soul. Jesus says in Matthew 5:29: "<span style="background-color: white; color: #363030; line-height: 22px;">If your right eye </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #363030; line-height: 22px;">causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #363030; line-height: 22px;">hell."</span></span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #363030; line-height: 22px;">Why does Jesus seem so radical about you getting rid of the sin in your life? Why do pastors and Christian leaders of all ages seem to be so serious about sin? Simply because sin is the cause of all misery in this world. Sin is bad. Anything that is wrong in your life is because of sin. Sin has destroyed everything. And we would be foolish to take sin lightly. Proverbs 14:9 says, "Fools mock at making amends for sin, but goodwill is found among the upright." </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #363030; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">To go further, it is not wise to play with sin. Even sin that may seem small to you. Sin's very nature is deceitful. Sin will say to you, "It's okay. A little here will not hurt you. And don't worry, God will forgive you." That is why Jesus tells us to make radical sacrifices to do away with our sin. He loves us and he cares about our eternal destiny. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #363030; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">Some people today, however, would claim that sin is fun. Why be so serious, they say? Why not enjoy life?</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #363030; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">Hear this: Sin may be fun for a time, but in the end sin will destroy you. In the end sin will be unsatisfying, empty, and pointless. Why? Because we were not on this earth to indulge in our sinful desires. We were put on this earth to glorify God with our lives. It's what we were made for.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #363030; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">Jesus is the answer to the promises that sin claims for your life. Jesus promises life and he gives life. Sin promises life but doesn't give life. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #363030; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">Jesus is better than sin. Jesus can free you from living a sin filled life, to a life glorifying to Jesus. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #363030; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">You see, 2000 years ago Jesus came down to this earth on a rescue mission. He came to deliver people swimming in a sea of sin. He came full of love! He lived a perfect life for sinners and died a horrible death for rebels like us! We must turn from our sins and trust Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #363030; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">Sin destroys. Jesus saves. Turn to Jesus. </span></span></div>
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Austin Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11230528018742728223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506224294423036310.post-19433714543400386082013-03-24T00:23:00.002-05:002013-03-24T00:23:50.741-05:00Satan's Devices<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This might be one of the most powerful paragraphs I've ever read by a man:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Satan's first device to draw the soul into sin is, to present the bait—and hide the hook; </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">to present the golden cup—and hide the poison; to present the sweet, the pleasure, and </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">the profit that may flow in upon the soul by yielding to sin—and to hide from the soul </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">the wrath and misery that will certainly follow the committing of sin. By this device he </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">deceived our first parents, "And the serpent said unto the woman, You shall not surely </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">die—for God does know, that in the day you eat thereof, then your eyes shall be</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">opened; and you shall be as gods, knowing good and evil" (Gen. 3:4-5). Your eyes shall </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">he opened, and you shall be as gods! Here is the bait, the sweet, the pleasure, the</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">profit. Oh—but he hides the hook—the shame, the wrath, and the loss that would</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">certainly follow!" (Thomas Brooks, <i>Precious Remedies for Satan's Devices)</i></span><br />
Austin Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11230528018742728223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506224294423036310.post-8711814726694456492013-02-14T10:03:00.000-06:002013-02-14T10:03:21.360-06:00Tweets of the Week Part 14<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Grace, Grace, Grace! Keep shouting this message to everyone you know. Grace changes everything. @JustinBuzzard</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Repentance is, the Spirit opening our eyes to see how costly and evil our sin truly is. @JoshCousineau</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">While the law defines righteousness, only grace delivers it. @PastorTullian</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">What are all of the world's offerings compared to knowing God and making Him known? Let us press on in both endeavors with all our heart (Hosea 6:3)! @PaulWasher</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Every other religion is offering swimming lessons to drowning men. @MattSmethurst</span></div>
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<br />Austin Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11230528018742728223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506224294423036310.post-24478651623065378022013-01-10T15:44:00.002-06:002013-01-10T15:44:35.957-06:00Explicit Gospel Quotes<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I read Matt Chandler's book, "the Explicit Gospel" over Christmas break and I have typed out my favorite quotes from the book. This is one of the best books I've read in awhile (as you can tell by how many quotes I've written)! Enjoy and give me your feedback.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #262626; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"The idea behind moral, therapeutic deism is that we are able to earn favor with God and justify ourselves before God by virtue of our behavior. This mode of thinking can be Christian, but it's more about self-actualization and self-fulfillment, and it posits a God who does not so much intervene and redeem but basically hangs out behind the scenes, cheering on your you-ness and hoping you pick up the clues he's left to become the best you can be." (pg.13)</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00390625);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"The assumed gospel" happens when well-meaning teachers set out to see lives first and foremost conformed to a pattern of behavior (religion) and not transformed by the Holy Spirit's power (gospel)." (pg.14)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00390625);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"In Romans <a href="" style="color: #1155cc;"></a><a href="" style="color: #1155cc;"></a><a href="" style="color: #1155cc;"></a></span><a href="" style="color: #1155cc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">8:22-23</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> we see that the gospel is the fulfillment of the longing of all of fallen creation but also (and chiefly) the fulfillment of the longing of mankind, the only creature made in God's image." (pg. 17)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00390625);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"God's creavity is so rich, so expansive, and so far above us that he simply says, "I want this," and there it is." (pg.25)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00390625);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Trying to figure out God is like trying to catch fish in the Pacific Ocean with an inch of dental floss." (pg. 27)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00390625);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"When we question God, we are the four-year-old in the backseat telling Dad he doesn't know where he's going." (pg.29)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00390625);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"While we lament the apparent injustice of pain and suffering, how often do we forget that every good thing in a fallen world is wholly a gift of God's mercy and grace." (pg. 30)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00390625);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"The reality is that all God has to do is reveal himself to you, and you'll gladly join the mission in service to his kingdom. He doesn't force the issue; he just has to reveal himself as he is: mighty, wondrous, gracious, loving, and radically saving. No man goes back to saltine crackers when he's had filet mignon. (pg. 31)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00390625);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"We can read the Bible as a reference book about us. Or we can see that the Bible is a book about God." (pg.33)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00390625);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Worship is the attributing of ultimate worth to something. When this ultimate worth is attributed to anyone or anything other than the one, true triune God of the universe, it is idolatry." (pg.36)</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Worship is the way of life for those entranced by and passionate for the glory of God." (pg. 36)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00390625);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Apart from worshiping God, everything becomes superficial. But when you understand the driving force behind everything, all of a sudden there's an eternal amount of joy at our disposal, because everything we do is enlightened and enlivened by the endless glory of the eternal God." (pg. 36)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00390625);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Surely anyone can see that our worship switch is always set to On, and we've tuned to some ridiculously finite broadcasts." (pg. 37)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00390625);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Hell, when it's all said and done, is the absence of God's goodness and blessedness. Therefore, hell is the absence of anything we can think of that's good, right, comforting, joyous, happy, and peaceful." (pg.44)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00390625);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"The horror of hell is an echo of the infinite worth of God's glory." (pg.45)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00390625);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"The cross of Christ exists because mankind-loved by God, created by God, set in motion by God-betrayed God and prefers his stuff to him." (pg.55)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00390625);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"God's response to the belittlement of his name, from the beginning of time, has been the sacrifice of Jesus on a Roman cross." (pg. 57)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00390625);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"The sacrificial system was instituted under the established truth that to dwell in God's holy presence requires perfection." (pg.60)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00390625);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"What if the sacrificial system was given so that we would learn, no matter how much we gave and how much we worked and how many pricey things we sacrificed, that we still can't fix what is broken?" (pg.66)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00390625);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"So, relational evangelism? Go for it, as long as it turns into actual evangelism. You hanging out having a beer with your buddy so he can see that Christians are cool is not what we're called to do. You're eventually going to have to open up your mouth and share the gospel. When the pure gospel is shared, people respond." (pg.81)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00390625);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"The context of the gospel message is not our benefit or our salvation; the context of the gospel is the supremacy of Christ and the glory of God." (pg. 90)</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"We are never not worshiping. We evidence that we were created to look at something beyond ourselves and marvel at it, desire it, like it with zeal, and love it with affection." (pg. 103)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00390625);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"The miracles of Jesus are signs of the right order of things. The miracles of healing, deliverance, provision, and resurrection all reveal that God, through Jesus, is making all things new now, that he is restoring what was once was unbroken." (pg. 107)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00390625);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Everybody knows something's broken in the world. But illogically, foolishly, we are looking for fixes from broken people with broken ideas in broken places." (pg.120</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00390625);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"If Solomon liked a certain song, he didn't download the MP3; he bought the band." (pg.124)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00390625);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Solomon indulged in all of this stuff very heavily, all the while maintaining his wisdom. He never lost sight that he was intentionally seeking meaning in his indulgences." (pg.124)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00390625);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Ecclesiastes is in the Bible so that nothing would be in our heart but Jesus." (pg.126)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00390625);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"According to Lewis, God doesn't look at us and say, "I can't believe they're seeking their own pleasure," but he looks at us and says, "They're not seeking hard enough." (pg. 128)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00390625);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Almost all of us, whether we'll admit it or not, have bought into the philosophy that what we need to finally make us happy is more of what we already possess." (pg.129)</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"God gives gifts to all men. Whether you believe in God or not, you are living, walking, and wearing his stuff. He gives gifts to all, but only the children of God, only those who believe in Jesus, receive the gift of lasting enjoyment. Why? Because if we're oriented around Jesus, our satisfaction is not tied to anything but him. We can actually enjoy God's good gifts the way they're designed to be enjoyed, because they are in orbit around the right sun-not our self, but our Savior." (pg. 133)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00390625);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">in heaven, all things are oriented to the worship of God. The triune Godhead is at the center of the heavenly universe. On earth, the fall has knocked everything out of orbit. We revolve around an assortment of idols, which is just a projection of our orientation around ourselves as gods." (pg. 136)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00390625);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Because we understand that this life is perishable and these bodies are seeds, we live and see the world differently. We're much more willing to serve, much more willing to sacrifice, and much more willing to endure discomfort because we know that this broken life is momentary." (pg.169)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00390625);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"The person who understands the gospel understands that, as a new creation, his spiritual nature is in opposition to sin now, and he seeks not just to weaken sin in his life but to outright destroy it." (pg. 217)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00390625);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"A moralist is not on the hunt; he's not aggressively seeking to destroy that which is evil in him but is content to simply wash his hands." (pg.218)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00390625);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"People who understand the gospel of Jesus Christ seek to put sin to death because they understand that sin is a lion and will eventually destroy and devour them." (pg.219)</span></span></div>
Austin Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11230528018742728223noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506224294423036310.post-70105770055910755502012-12-18T12:29:00.000-06:002012-12-18T12:35:45.352-06:00Best Books of 2012<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This year has probably been the first year that I've mostly read digital books. From getting good deals on Amazon for the Kindle, or just choosing to read digitally I've been soaking it in. These books below have been the most enjoyable to me and may or may not have been published this year. I give all these books full recommendation to you!</span><br />
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<a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR72L_NwjG9MPet5MNpAVtvorJpmi9Z0ShLi-fmOhAsLbJ5Z3OQ" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR72L_NwjG9MPet5MNpAVtvorJpmi9Z0ShLi-fmOhAsLbJ5Z3OQ" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Chai Linne, <u><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Heart-Freedom-Remarkable-Dissident-Daughters/dp/1414362471/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1355855441&sr=8-1&keywords=a+heart+for+freedom">A Heart For Freedom: The Remarkable Journey of a Young Dissent, Her Daring Escape, and Her Quest to Free China's Daughters</a></u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This was probably my favorite book I read, just in terms of awesome reading. This is an amazing story and I could not put it down. At the end I was so encouraged at what God had done in this woman's life. Amazing!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Creston Mapes, <u><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Star-Confessions-Rock-Chronicles/dp/B003E7EZ66/ref=la_B001JP88LS_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1355855510&sr=1-4">Dark Star: Confessions of a Rock Idol</a></u></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Creston Mapes is a skilled writer. I loved the story of this book. It was a quick read. And I want to read it again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Jared Wilson, </span><u style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gospel-Wakefulness-Jared-C-Wilson/dp/1433526360/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1355855540&sr=1-1&keywords=gospel+wakefulness+jared+wilson">Gospel Wakefulness</a></u><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Gospel Wakefulness is simply a treasure for me. I plan on going back to this book often to stir me to Christ. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Raymond C. Ortlund, </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Proverbs-Wisdom-that-Works-Preaching/dp/1581348835/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1355855563&sr=1-1&keywords=proverbs+wisdom+that+works"><u style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Proverbs: Wisdom that Works</u><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></a><br />
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRXuNIn8jgYxZzFAZr_Td9oW_Ua282E4PrVJaV0-Cj9C3_SEHab" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRXuNIn8jgYxZzFAZr_Td9oW_Ua282E4PrVJaV0-Cj9C3_SEHab" width="134" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is the only commentary that I put on this list, but it's not a dry commentary by any means. A lot of people think of commentaries as books that only pastors should read, but this one is different in that sense. Of course it is helpful for pastors or church leaders, but many people will be able to read this and enjoy it. It is Christ-centered, faithful to the text, practical, and devotional. It is one of the best commentaries I have ever read. </span><br />
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<a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQUK0DHl0CeUG-PQf-AykGcmbtTJ--2pVGvWr-j1iNJhEj7rYdDhg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQUK0DHl0CeUG-PQf-AykGcmbtTJ--2pVGvWr-j1iNJhEj7rYdDhg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sam Crabtree,<u> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Practicing-Affirmation-God-Centered-Praise-Those/dp/1433522438/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1355855593&sr=1-1&keywords=practicing+affirmation+by+sam+crabtree">Practicing Affirmation: God-Centered Praise of Those Who Are Not God </a></u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When I first picked this book up, I knew it would be good, but I did not know it would be that good! Wow! We all struggle with giving compliments in a God-centered way that encourages the person but doesn't flatter them. This book will help you a ton. I loved it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Jerry Bridges, </span><u style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Trusting-God-Even-When-Hurts/dp/1600063055/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1355855614&sr=1-1&keywords=trusting+god+even+when+life+hurts+jerry+bridges">Trusting God: Even When Life Hurts</a></u><br />
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSQZdnovuD-m-CEmrSguQh2A9ki-IS5yNuILJgAFXh_gUmWRDhK" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSQZdnovuD-m-CEmrSguQh2A9ki-IS5yNuILJgAFXh_gUmWRDhK" width="133" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Highly recommend this book. Every Christian should read this. Everyone of us will go through hard times, and we need to know the truth's that will help us during that time. Bridges will help you to do that. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">J.D. Greear, </span><u style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gospel-Recovering-Power-Christianity-Revolutionary/dp/1433673126/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1355855641&sr=1-1&keywords=gospel+jd+greear">Gospel: Recovering the Power that Made Christianity Revolutionary</a></u><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Gospel is a call for the church to give up legalistic or moralistic tendencies and dive into the truth that the gospel of Christ is the power to live godly lives to the glory of God. I loved this book. </span><br />
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<br />Austin Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11230528018742728223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506224294423036310.post-43957045142209816122012-12-17T16:06:00.000-06:002012-12-17T16:06:59.866-06:00Where is our Hope?<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"She was a creative, beautiful girl who loved playing with her little brothers..." "We cannot imagine our life without her. We are mourning her loss, sharing our beautiful memories we have of her, and trying to help her brother understand why he can't play with his best friend."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On December 14th, 2012 tragedy hit the town of Newport, Connecticut. A 20 year old gunman stormed into an elementary school and killed 20 children and 6 adults including his mother.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Precious lives were taken. Precious children, who had their whole life in front of them, were killed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And now a couple days after the massacre the stories about each person are coming out. As I read about each individual, I just couldn't help but cry. Why did this happen? Why God? Those are some of the questions that many people are asking. Who would kill innocent children? I don't have the answers and I can't speak about why God allowed this to happen. But I do know that God has something to say to us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A couple things I want to talk about to offer hope in this awful situation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1) God does not promise us an easy life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We have a tendency to put our hope in the people and the things of this world. We often look to this world to fulfill us. But Scripture tells us in 1 John 2:15-17, "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world-the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life-comes not from the Father but from the world. the world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever" (NIV).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If there is anything that the shootings in Connecticut can do for us is to wake us up. The shooting tells us that our lives are fragile. Anything can happen. We could die or our loved ones could die. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We are foolish if we put our ultimate hope in this world. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2) Everyone has a story. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In other words, people matter. The twenty year old shooter did not value human life and he took 26 human lives in a couple minutes. But God graciously gave those people life. He created them in His own image. And God has made all of us in his own image. We all have stories of joy, success, and failures. We all have fears, hopes, and dreams. Every person in this world matters, and should be pointed to the only One who can satisfy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">3) Jesus is the treasure. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This shooting happened right in the middle of advent, the time when Christians all over the world prepare to celebrate the coming of the Savior into this world. Where do we turn for hope? Do we just hope things will get better? God tells us to put our hope in Him. He tells us to come to Him for life and everlasting joy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">God, the Father, sent his only Son to this sinful world to die. To die for his enemies. "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" Romans 5:8 (NIV). That tells us something about the heart of God. He cares about us. He's not going to leave us alone. He chose to respond to our sinfulness and brokenness. Jesus came to this earth humbly, living a perfect life for us, dying in our place on the cross to pay for our sins, and he rose again triumphantly defeating sin, Satan, and death for all who place their faith in Him! Wow!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The events of this past weekend have left me heartbroken that so many lives were taken and so many families will have to spend this Christmas without their precious child or friend right next to them. It is so sad. But there is hope for us. Jesus Christ is an ever present Savior, responding to our brokenness with his grace.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">These events have reminded me that this world is a bad savior, our lives are precious, and Jesus Christ deserves my full devotion and trust. </span></div>
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Austin Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11230528018742728223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506224294423036310.post-6438243855738064822012-12-01T15:00:00.002-06:002012-12-01T15:00:40.867-06:00Tweets of the Week Part 13The law demands that we do it all; the gospel declares that Jesus paid it all. @PastorTullian<br />
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OT: anticipation. Gospels: manifestation. Acts: proclamation. Epistles: explanation. Revelation: consummation. Your Bible is about Jesus. @MattSmethurst<br />
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Holiness and sin cannot both survive and thrive in our lives. One or the other must die. @NancyDeMoss<br />
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Everyone lives for something, just a lot of people live for something that doesn't really matter. @JeffersonBethke<br />
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Prayer reminds us of who we're not. @BurkParsonsAustin Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11230528018742728223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506224294423036310.post-58382057475502614152012-11-17T22:25:00.000-06:002012-11-17T22:25:46.476-06:00Tweets Of The Week Part 12<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jesus offers good news about how to receive a new life, not good advice about how to achieve a better life. @JustinBuzzard</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The command to cast our cares on the Lord is just as much a command as "Do not murder". Let's obey both today. @ScottySmith</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">God's grace is abundant. No wrong doing can contradict that fact. @JarridWilson</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Prayer is hard because coming to the end of ourselves is hard. @BurkParsons</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Spirit of God uses the gospel of God to motivate the people of God to be on mission with God. @TrevinWax</span><br />
<br />Austin Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11230528018742728223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506224294423036310.post-90016987502007370202012-07-20T18:03:00.000-05:002012-07-20T18:03:07.603-05:00Tweets Of the Week Part 11<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son..." The greatest Giver, greatest Gift. Nothing greater. Nothing. @rayortlund</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Once you meet Jesus, you start to change. You start to hate sin and pursue holiness. You stop rebelling, you start obeying. @PastorMark</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">No need to hide in guilt and shame today because whatever sin is revealed has already been covered by the blood of Jesus. @PaulTripp</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Jesus flipped over tables and ran vendors out of the temple. Principle- Jesus is opposed to anything standing in the way of our worship! @ChrisHruska</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The gospel is NOT "do something for Jesus"; it is "Jesus has done something for you." @Pastor Tullian</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Grace is free to us because it cost God everything. @JeffersonBethke</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Prayer is as natural an expression of faith as breathing is of life. @theResurgence</span></div>Austin Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11230528018742728223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506224294423036310.post-52585423050423175272012-05-11T09:42:00.000-05:002012-05-11T09:42:26.056-05:00Tweets of the Week Part 10<span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">No one, no thing, no time, no place, will be more glorious than seeing the face of Jesus Christ. @bkauflin</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">How Jesus forgives sin: Condemns it, carries it, cancels it, kills it, casts it, and clean forgets it. If we'll confess it. @jaredcwilson</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">For a guy to say he doesn't struggle with lust is a double-sin... Because he's lusting AND lying. </span><a class=" twitter-hashtag pretty-link" data-query-source="hashtag_click" href="https://twitter.com/#!/search/%23FIGHTHARD" style="background-color: whitesmoke; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #0084b4; font: inherit; line-height: 18px; 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; vertical-align: baseline;" title="#FIGHTHARD"><s style="background-color: whitesmoke; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #66b5d2; font: inherit; line-height: 18px; 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; vertical-align: baseline;">#</s><b style="background-color: whitesmoke; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; font: inherit; 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; vertical-align: baseline;">FIGHTHARD</b></a> @WhiteFlagXP</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If you're God's child you need to know that no dark thing in you is a surprise to the One lived, died and rose to be your Savior. @PaulTripp</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Religion tells us to try to buy right-standing with God with good works. Gospel says God bought right-standing with us with His son's blood. @StephenMiller</span></span>Austin Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11230528018742728223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506224294423036310.post-68658454046424789252012-04-29T18:03:00.000-05:002012-04-29T18:03:43.698-05:00Tweets of the Week Part 9<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Beloved fellow-believer, wherever you are, wherever you dwell, God will be to you a constant place of refuge. @SPURGEONdotUS</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The glory of God often shines brightest when we are in our darkest nights. @StephenMiller</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Gospel irony: those freely forgiven of their sin make war against it while those enslaved to sin make peace treaties w/ it. @timmybrister</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The gospel frees me to love the glory of Jesus Christ more than my own. That's very good news. @bkauflin</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Though we'll desire more, even demand more, we won't need anythingn more than Jesus and what he chooses to give us today. @ScottyWardSmith</span><br />
<br />Austin Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11230528018742728223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506224294423036310.post-73605861303878883062012-04-20T08:57:00.000-05:002012-04-20T08:57:55.469-05:00My New Favorite Hymn<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When I first came across this ten verse Augustus Toplady hymn “Immovable Our Hope Remains,” I was significantly affected by the confident faith the lyrics expressed. I rearranged, rephrased, and trimmed down the hymn into four verses. Later on, my dad came across my lyrics on our piano and set them to a melody that tries to capture the triumph of the words. No matter how we feel, no matter how hopeless or unsure our future appears, no matter what lies Satan uses to weaken our hearts, our hope is immovable. Jesus is already in heaven, and we are in Christ! — Brittany Kauflin</span></div>
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<a href="http://f0.bcbits.com/z/42/24/4224474528-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://f0.bcbits.com/z/42/24/4224474528-1.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This is from the CD <a href="http://sovereigngracemusic.bandcamp.com/track/immovable-our-hope-remains">"From Age to Age</a>" by Sovereign Grace. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">VERSE 1<br />Immovable our hope remains<br />Though shifting sands before us lie<br />The One who washed away our stains<br />Shall bear us safely to the skies<br />The floods may rise, the winds may beat<br />Torrential rains descend<br />Yet God His own will not forget<br />He’ll love and keep us till the end<br />You’ll love and keep us till the end </span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /><br />VERSE 2<br />This is eternal life: to know<br />The living God and Christ, the Son<br />The Savior will not let us go<br />Until His saving work is done<br />Our debt was great, as was our need<br />But now the price is paid<br />Who can behold Immanuel bleed<br />And doubt His willingness to save?<br />We trust Your willingness to save<br /><br />VERSE 3<br />The Lord acquits, who can condemn?<br />Though Satan’s accusations fly<br />His pow’r can never reach our names<br />To blot them from the Book of Life<br />The Son has surely made us free<br />His Word forever stands<br />And all our joy is knowing we<br />Are graven on His wounded hands<br />We’re graven on Your wounded hands<br /><br />VERSE 4<br />Built into Christ, secure we stand<br />For with His Spirit we’ve been sealed<br />By grace we’ll see the promised land<br />Where every sorrow shall be healed<br />To God who gave His only Son<br />To Jesus Christ, our Lord<br />To God the Spirit, Three-in-one<br />Be songs of praise forevermore<br />We’ll sing Your praise forevermore</span></div>Austin Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11230528018742728223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506224294423036310.post-83561182776917943862012-04-07T21:27:00.000-05:002012-04-07T21:27:29.326-05:00Tweets of the Week Part 8<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Promises kept. King crowned. Sinners rescued. Rebels made sons.</span><a class=" twitter-hashtag pretty-link" data-query-source="hashtag_click" href="https://twitter.com/#!/search/%23GoodFriday" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #0084b4; font: inherit; line-height: 18px; 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; vertical-align: baseline;" title="#GoodFriday"><s style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #66b5d2; font: inherit; line-height: 18px; 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; vertical-align: baseline;">#</s><b style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; font: inherit; 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; vertical-align: baseline;">GoodFriday</b></a> @timmybrister</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm the crowd who mocked, ridiculed, & screamed, "Crucify Him!" then stood by & let an innocent man die. @StephenMiller</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Psalm 5 - prayer: might I walk through this day mindful that God hears, protects and provides for His children. @ZacSMartin</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Jesus, on this Maundy Thursday, stun us with the full extent of your love for us that we might life more fully to your glory. @ScottyWardSmith</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Whether today seems to go your way or not, it's always going God's way. He doesn't make mistakes. Trust Him. Proverbs 3:5-6 @Lecrae</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">God is not embarrassed of you. He really does delight in you. The cross is the biggest shout in the universe that. He. Wants. You. @JeffersonBethke</span></span>Austin Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11230528018742728223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506224294423036310.post-32960841758675462922012-03-31T17:36:00.000-05:002012-03-31T17:36:08.827-05:00Tweets of the Week Part 7<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If you love God, you hopefully abandon yourself to Him. If you love sin you hopelessly abandon yourself to sin. Jer. 2:25 Trevor M. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Christian life is a life in Christ, with Christ, and for Christ all because of Christ. Burk Parsons</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">God's grace is not for when we feel we most deserve it. It is for when we feel we least deserve it. Let grace be grace. Dane Ortlund</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. That ain't gonna happen without the gospel. Scotty Smith</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I reckon that grace has filled more buckets with saints' tears than law has. Erik Raymond</span></span>Austin Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11230528018742728223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506224294423036310.post-68321060455687742052012-03-27T22:24:00.000-05:002012-03-27T22:24:02.388-05:00Book Review: Dark Star: Confessions of a Rock Idol<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: -webkit-left;">If there is one main point that was made clear to me after reading this book, it is the fact that NOBODY is beyond reach of the gospel of Jesus Christ.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-left;" /><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-left;">Creston Mapes skillfully writes the story of rocker Everett Lester, who, for most of his life was chasing after things that would promise him freedom, but ultimately enslaved him. One person in his life, however, saw the futility of Everett's enslavement to sin and began praying for him to surrender his life to Jesus Christ.</span><br style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-left;" /><br style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-left;" /><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-left;">Although I can't identify with being a hugely popular rock star, I can identify with looking for things outside of Jesus Christ to satisfy me. This book makes you think. And you come to the conclusion that the high life is not getting everything you want, but rather being a servant of Jesus Christ.</span><br style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-left;" /><br style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-left;" /><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-left;">On the other hand, reading about Karen Bayliss, the person who prayed for Everett Lester, was so encouraging. She was someone who greatly cared for Everett and believed in the power of prayer.</span><br style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-left;" /><br style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-left;" /><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-left;">If you're a Christian I think you will greatly enjoy and learn from this book. If you are a non-Christian this book might be hard for you to read, however, I leave you with the question, why not see if Jesus can do the same to you as he did to Everett Lester?</span></span>Austin Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11230528018742728223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506224294423036310.post-40044649601261574492012-03-24T19:45:00.000-05:002012-03-24T20:38:27.560-05:00Tweets of the Week Part 6<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">It's a massive lie to believe that the "good life" is a life where the world revolves around me & I get whatever I want.</span> Stephen Miller</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">There is not even a distant second to compare to when it comes to the glory, beauty & supremacy of King Jesus.</span> Stephen Miller</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Let's be ravenous readers of the Bible. How else will we know what grace looks like in every situation & relationship?</span> Scotty Smith</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Comfort is not about a situation or location, but about the presence of a God of grace in every situation and each location.</span> Paul Tripp</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">If you are united with Christ, you are as secure as he is.</span> Jared Wilson</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Psalm 23 - believing the Lord is my shepherd means trusting He knows what I need and where I need to go.</span> Zac Martin</span>Austin Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11230528018742728223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506224294423036310.post-40585203731059505702012-03-17T22:41:00.000-05:002012-03-24T20:38:27.561-05:00Tweets of the Week Part 5<br />
<a href="http://gigaom2.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/twitter.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="http://gigaom2.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/twitter.png" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Seeking God's will for your life can be a big distraction from seeking God Himself. You cannot know God and miss His will.</span> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Be not condemned by the ways God doesn't use you, but surprised at the ways He does!</span> Mark Dever</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Whether or not we believe it, see it or seize it, there will be enough of God's grace for this day. God does not lie. Scotty Smith</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">If you abandon all this world offers and follow Jesus, you will have more than you could ever dream. And it will last forever. Lk. 18:28-29</span> Trevor M.<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">Happiness is found only in holiness, and holiness is only in keeping God's word. Psalm 119:8-18</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Jesse Johnson</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We exist, for nothing less, than to enjoy the glory of Jesus. Jeff Medders</span></span>Austin Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11230528018742728223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506224294423036310.post-19280404483401404432012-03-15T17:14:00.000-05:002012-03-15T17:14:02.794-05:00Can Non-Believers be Moral?<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I was listening to the audio of a debate between a Christian pastor and an </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">atheist</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">. The pastor is Bob Thune, who is the head pastor at Corem Deo Church, in Omaha, NE. I typed out his answer to a couple questions below. You can listen to the audio <a href="http://www.bobthune.com/2012/03/uno-debate-audio/">here.</a> I would highly </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">reccomend</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Question: Can you name one moral or ethical act
that you think cannot be performed by a non-believer?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Answer: There is no moral or ethical act that
cannot be performed by a non-believer. Ethics is a human thing not a
distinctively Christian thing. Humans are made in the image of God. So the fact
that we are human means every human being has the capability to perform ethical
acts. Non-believers can sometimes be more moral than believers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;">Christianity is
not a religion that believes that people are saved based on their ethical
obedience. Rather Christianity is a religion that acknowledges and admits human
brokenness in the world. Christianity encourages us to look to Christ for salvation
and for restoration to the image of God. So my answer to the question is
nothing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">On the other hand my answer to this question is
everything. The bigger question is what makes an act ultimately good? Why
should I live an ethical life? The ultimate standard for ethics is not what we
think is right or good, but that we should live for the glory of God. By this estimation,
every act would be judged by human criteria of ethics or morality, but is it
done with the intent of worship to and glory toward God? By that capacity only
a believer would have the capacity to act in a way that is glorifying God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Conclusion: It is possible for nonbelievers and
all human beings to act ethically in a limited sense for the good for human
society. But in the ultimate sense, we have to refer to the higher question of
what defines the ultimate standard of reality, and that is the glory of God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Question: Can you have morals without believing
in the Christian deity?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Answer: I think you can have morals without
believing in the Christian deity, because morals have very little to do with
what you believe or don’t believe, and a whole lot to do with what is exactly
true about the human condition and what it means to be a human person.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">You can have morals without believing in the
Christian deity, however, you cannot have morals without the existence of a
deity. If there is no God you can have no basis for morality. All moral judgments
assume an absolute moral vantage point. Anytime someone says should or should
not is making an absolute ethical obligation. And such statements can only be
made if there is some external vantage point outside of us that can ground
those statements. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Obviously not all of us believe in the existence of a deity,
but we all believe that people should and shouldn’t act in certain ways. <b>Anyone who has a morality is borrowing from
the Christian tradition whether they know it or not. </b>It is not possible to
make any moral judgement except borrowing from the Christian worldview by
making that judgement. You can absolutely have morals without believing in the
Christian deity, but you cannot have morals without the existence of a deity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Austin Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11230528018742728223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506224294423036310.post-74026568625911698522012-03-11T17:42:00.000-05:002012-03-24T20:38:27.561-05:00Tweets of the Week Part 4<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If I demand more of this life than God promises, I'm a fool. If I expect less in this life than God promises, I'm a fool. Scotty Smith</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If you have any doubt, whatsoever, about what Jesus thinks about you, by all means, don't look at you, look at the cross. Scotty Smith</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Whatever momentary delight or relief sin may offer, it is never worth the cost. Nancy Leigh DeMoss</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If you have breath in your lungs today, don't waste it. It's for the purpose of worshiping Christ. Stephen Miller</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If we could call forth the greatest preachers of history, they would testify that during their earthly life they were babes in the Gospel. Paul Washer</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>Austin Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11230528018742728223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506224294423036310.post-7801337948742916392012-03-06T06:47:00.000-06:002012-03-06T06:47:02.640-06:00Service in God's Local Church (Guest Post)<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222;">1) The church is a body of people who have received redemption from creation's fall so that the Father would put Jesus' preeminence on display (Col. 1:14-18)</span><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222;" /><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222;">2) Redemption is for the glory of God: The way in which the God delights in and glorifies each Trinitarian member as it pertains to creation/redemption is by the Father electing some and giving them to His Son; the Son laying down His life so that He may save a people for God's own possession who reflect Him; and the Spirit taking the work of Christ and applying it to the elect (Jn. 6:37-65; Eph. 1:3-14; Col. 1:15-22). According to the eternal covenant, the Father and Son (and, by implication, the Spirit) delighted to do this for their name's sake (Isa. 42:1-8; 49:1-6).</span><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222;" /><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222;">3) Redemption involves restoring image-bearers back into their intended state and condition. The definition of a human being is an image-bearer - particularly, God's image-bearer (Gen. 1:26-27). That image was spoiled by the fall (but not completely destroyed). Redemption involves restoring that image-bearer back into his intended state of fellowship and peace with God and imaging His glory. Because Jesus is the image of the invisible God (Col. 1:15), to image God is to image Jesus.</span><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222;" /><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222;">4) Consequently, God's purpose for His church is to conform them to the image of His Son: "For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers" (Rom. 8:29). Our gathering as a body is toward this purpose: "But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift...to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" (Eph. 4:7, 12-13). This is why we are given spiritual gifts. </span><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222;" /><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222;">5) God commands us to joyfully minister to one another (using the grace/spiritual gifts he has given us) for the purpose of building one another up into Christ's likeness/image (All of Paul's epistles; 1 Pet. 4:9-11). </span><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222;" /><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222;">6) The God-ordained means for doing number 5 is in a local church where all the spiritual gifts come together in unity, and under the authority of the church offices God has established (elders/pastors, deacons) (Eph. 4; 1 Tim. 3:1-15; Tit. 1:5ff). Submitting to and obeying the leaders God has placed in our lives involves coming under their shepherding care as those who have watch over our souls and will have to give an account (Heb. 13:17). </span><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222;" /><br style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222;">7) A believer is someone who loves his brothers by laying down his life for his brother in service to him. This is not a first-class Christian; this is a Christian. We do not love merely in word and in tongue, but in deed and in truth (1 Jn. 3:10-18).</span></span>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-Brian Onstead</span>Austin Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11230528018742728223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506224294423036310.post-35408189430205742202012-02-27T22:07:00.001-06:002012-02-28T00:58:32.803-06:00Gospel-Centered Discipleship<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"The gospel is about what Jesus has done to save us, not what we do to save ourselves. Gospel-centered discipleship is about living into our identity as accepted, adopted sons and daughters of God, and following Jesus by the strength and power he provides.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> The discipleship that many of us have experienced is often about self-control, self-reliance, self-righteousness when we "succeed" and self reproach when we "fail." Gospel-centered discipleship is about celebrating and growing into our acceptance, while works-centered discipleship is the ill-fated, soul-sucking, burnout-inducing attempt to earn God's approval." -Stephen Lutz</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.gospelcentereddiscipleship.com/the-challenge-of-making-disciples-on-campus/">Gospel Centered Discipleship</a></span><br />
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<br />Austin Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11230528018742728223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506224294423036310.post-7044746751971747002012-02-18T17:32:00.000-06:002012-03-24T20:38:27.562-05:00Tweets of the Week Part 3<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">We deserve hell. Everything else is a gift. That's a lot of gifts.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Mark Driscoll</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">There are no great Christians, only those with faith in a great Savior.</span> Burk Parsons<br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Nobody has joy like someone who serves something bigger than their own agenda. Lecrae</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called the children of God; and so we are." (1 John 3:1)</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There's no one more accepting of our brokenness, patient w/ our faithlessness & present in our helplessness than Jesus. Scotty Smith</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Don’t despise the day of small things (like today). In the gathering of the saints there's the big announcement of a king & his conquest! Erik Raymond</span></span>Austin Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11230528018742728223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506224294423036310.post-77601756464526484582012-02-15T23:24:00.000-06:002012-02-15T23:24:08.205-06:00Ring The Bells Of Heaven<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 18px;">"'Good Prayers,' says an old divine, 'never come weeping home. I am sure I shall receive either what I ask, or what I should ask. Prayer pulls the rope below, and the great bell rings above in the ears of God. Some scarcely stir the bell, for they pray so languidly: others give but an occasional pull at the rope: but he who wins with heaven is the man who grasps the rope boldly and pulls continually with all his might.' </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 18px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 18px;">That is the best kind of bell ringing--ringing the bells of heaven--making a sensation in the world celestial and pulling the power down upon the world terrestrial. Reader, do you know how to handle the bell rope, to pull it vigorously and constantly? We know some that do. Hell trembles when they seize the rope."</span>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">E.M. Bounds</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://austinsnelson.blogspot.com/2010/11/ring-bells-of-heaven.html" style="line-height: 18px;">Repost</a><span style="line-height: 18px;"> from November 24th, 2010.</span></span>Austin Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11230528018742728223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506224294423036310.post-25331373926162575162012-02-11T20:01:00.000-06:002012-02-11T20:01:23.915-06:00Tweets of the Week Part 2<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">I have never regretted the pain of humbling myself. I have regretted the stubbornness of hardening myself. Scotty Smith</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Prosperity theology wrongly exalts God's gifts (things we receive from God) above God's glory (the treasure we have in God). David Platt</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Obedience is faith made visible. Disobedience is unbelief made visible. Dane Ortlund</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We will not have a counter-culture church until we have counter-culture male leadership in the home and in the church. Harry W. Schaumburg</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Spirit, shackle me hand and foot to Jesus, so I will be free from the bondage of every stupid thing I have chased after. Jared Wilson</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">God shows you His love by His unwillingness to allow you satisfaction in anything but Him. Juli Slattery</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>Austin Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11230528018742728223noreply@blogger.com0