Those Sudden Reminders

Posted on 16 August, 2012 by Jon Gleason

James 4:13-15

13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.

So quickly our lives can change.  Last night, when I put my head on the pillow, I had no idea that within fifteen minutes we’d be out of bed and desperately trying to bring down our young daughter’s temperature, the highest temperature I’ve ever seen (when you’ve had six kids, that’s saying something).  I had not the least hint that I wouldn’t be home and in bed until around 3 a.m.

(Does anyone else think it isn’t fair that after these things the kids crash and sleep and get better quickly, while the parents have to function the next morning, and will be exhausted for days :)?)

We never know what is going to happen.  We need the Lord.  We need Him all the time.  That’s true whether we remember it or not.  Sometimes, we get those sudden reminders of how much we need Him, but whether the reminders come or not, we need Him.

It’s a very good thing to be in fellowship with Him.  That’s true whether we’re in the crisis or not, but I’d hate to face the crises of life without Him.

Stick close to the Lord.  You’ll never regret it.

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The Sufficiency of Scripture — All We Need

Posted on 13 August, 2012 by Jon Gleason

“That Book in Your Hand”

I’d like to close this study of Scripture’s sufficiency with a passage we’ve seen repeatedly in the study of Bibliology, this time to look at how it relates to the doctrine of Scriptural sufficiency.  Then, I’d like to discuss a few important applications of the doctrine.  Continue reading →

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A Chocolate Bar

Posted on 4 August, 2012 by Jon Gleason

From the BBC Olympics coverage (scroll down to 2326):

Heard the one about how a chocolate bar cost someone a gold medal? Head over to the weightlifting where Poland’s Adrian Edward Zielinski emerged triumphant by virtue of just 130 grams in bodyweight in the men’s 85kg.

Zielinski and Russia’s Apti Aukhadov both lifted 385kg so gold was decided by the pre-event weigh-in, with Zielinski marginally lighter on the scales (84.62kg to 84.75kg).

Gold medal winner Zielinski replied: “I ate a whole breakfast, boiled eggs and a little bit of porridge, and then for lunch I just had a small portion of chicken.”

Replying to the same question, Aukhadov answered: “I started my morning with muesli, nuts – that was my breakfast. For lunch I ate a hot chicken broth, then I ate a small piece of fish and I had my tea with a chocolate bar, that’s it.”

My post last week about Little Things came to mind when I read this.  Little things build or destroy trust.  Little things build or tear down character traits which will carry you through the crises of life.  Little things can make all the difference between success and failure.

We must “take every thought captive.”  That includes the little thoughts.  Scripture tells us to do “all to the glory of God.”  That “all” includes the little things we do.  “In everything give thanks” — that includes little things, too.

The little things matter more than we usually think they do.  Sometimes, we get a reminder.  Maybe Auchadov needed the energy, but replace that chocolate bar with something with a little less sugar, and who wins?

Watch out for those spiritual “chocolate bars” that don’t help you win the prize.  If they aren’t helping, they are hindering.

Hebrews 12:1-2

1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

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A Creative Con, a Clear Conscience

Posted on 2 August, 2012 by Jon Gleason

Yesterday, I got hit with a computer virus.  I’m not sure how it breached security, but it wasn’t very hard to deal with it.

Continue reading →

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The Sufficiency of Scripture (part three) — a Finished Work

Posted on 30 July, 2012 by Jon Gleason

“That Book in Your Hand”

In continuing our study of Bibliology, what the Bible teaches us about itself, we have come to the doctrine of the sufficiency of Scripture — that they give us all we need to know God, follow Him, and please Him.  In this post, we’ll look at the fact that the Bible is a finished work.  Continue reading →

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The Sufficiency of Scripture (part two) — Sufficient for Purity

Posted on 28 July, 2012 by Jon Gleason

“That Book in Your Hand”

There are many moral “authorities” in the world today.  Whether it be that “I feel” that something is right or wrong, or “I think” it is moral, or “a minister said” something is ok, or even (amazing anyone would say this) “the government made it legal so it must be ok,” there are many standards of morality.

Of course, a standard of morality is pointless unless you actually set out to follow it, so a moral standard is only useful as a tool for purity. In this area, as well, there are many ‘authorities’ — self-improvement books, websites, programs, etc.  Everyone wants to help you be a better person (and gain your money, your praise, or both in return).

As we look at the sufficiency of Scripture, we see that it is sufficient as more than merely a moral standard, but also an active agent in helping us to follow that standard.  It is both our guide to purity, and a powerful tool in conforming us to that perfect standard of purity.

Continue reading →

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Trust — Little Things

Posted on 27 July, 2012 by Jon Gleason

It can take less than a pound to kill a ton of trust.

Continue reading →

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