HARMLESS THOUGHTS

I have been trying to think of some commentary to add to this clip, but I just don't think I can do better than the video's description from YouTube: "Don't try to fix it. I just need you to listen." Every man has heard these words. And they are the law of the land. No matter what. I will say that I am almost positive that I have had this exact conversation, except without the nail.   HT: 22 Words

Yesterday I read through the entire Gospel According to John.  I did this, and will hopefully do this several more times, as preparation for our upcoming study on this Gospel.  I also started blogging my way, verse by verse, through this book.  I am up to John 1:12 as of this morning.  To cap it off, I started reading some commentaries on John, to get a better feel for the book.  It has been very interesting and enlightening, after only a few days, but it has also had a negative effect on me: I am starting to feel overwhelmed by this task. I am starting to realize that this Gospel account, even though the simplest of people can read it and find encouragement and insight, it is also very, very deep. It's uniqueness was my first clue.  Now, I have known for quite a long time that John was different than the other three gospel accounts, but I didn't realize how unique it actually was. It omits so many things that [the other gospel accounts] include. ...

Right now the ebook versions of the Crucial Questions series by R.C. Sproul is free. The announcement on the Ligonier Ministries website reads: To further help Christians know what they believe, why they believe it, how to live it, and how to share it, from today the eBook editions of R.C. Sproul’s Crucial Questions series will be free forever. So, there is no rush to go grab these. (Although I went immediately and grabbed all of them.) They have epub format available, but they also have links to the Kindle version and the iTunes version. Check it out now and go get some questions answered. http://www.ligonier.org/blog/rc-sprouls-crucial-questions-ebooks-now-free/

William Lane Craig speaking on why actual infinities cannot exist, meaning that there is a beginning to the universe. I love this stuff.

After the last sermon I preached, someone that visited our church thought I was preaching a works-based salvation. Now, honestly, I don't believe in a works-based salvation.  But, after I thought about it, I have been accused of that before.  I'm telling you though, I believe that salvation comes by God's grace alone, and it is worked through God-gifted faith. (Eph. 2:8-9) I am not upset at all about the question, I am a school teacher... I love being questioned!  But I do want to mention this because there seems to be some confusion among many Christians that I know when it comes to the relationship between faith and works. Another example of this happened a few weeks ago.  There was a prominent Pastor in the area that did some teaching on the topic of eternal security. He taught that you cannot lose your salvation, so to speak, but that you can walk away from the faith. Now, I don't want to put words in the mouth of this Pastor, and I believe him to be a godly ma...

my mom is better than yours. gentle, sweet and kind, and prettier too.

Lord Jesus, I am blind, be thou my light,    ignorant, be thou my wisdom,    self-willed, be thou my mind. Open my ear to grasp quickly thy Spirit's voice,    and delightfully run after his beckoning hand; Melt my conscience that no hardness remain,    make it alive to evil's slightest touch; When Satan approaches may I flee to thy wounds,    and there cease to tremble at all alarms. Be my good shepherd to lead me into the green pastures of thy Word,    and cause me to lie down beside the rivers of its comforts. Fill me with peace, that no disquieting worldly gales    may ruffle the calm surface of my soul. Thy cross was upraised to be my refuge, Thy blood streamed forth to wash me clean, Thy death occurred to give me a surety, Thy name is my property to save me, By thee all heaven is poured into my heart,    but it is too narrow to comprehend thy love. I was a stranger, an outcast, a sla...

Sometimes when I read a blog or an article, it strikes a real chord in my heart.  The other day my wife pointed me to this post on the Desiring God blog that did just that.  I think it struck a chord in her heart on my behalf as well.  I believe that was because it put to words what I experience in my own life. The blog was about a discussion with John Piper reflecting his 33 years in ministry.  The sentences that caught my attention were: “It’s amazing how many introverts go into ministry,” Pastor John said of himself and others. But it’s true. For many pastors, hanging out with people is physically draining. “A lot of people would say that’s a bad thing; you should repent of that and turn around and either do something else, or start loving to hang out with people.”  Or, he said, introverted pastors can use their strengths to intentionally love people. Extroverted pastors and introverted pastors, if they’re born again, both love people, but there remain...

I think that  +Ashley Harmless  and myself could have this rap battle... specially since we share a mama... !