1Peter 3:15, but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready always to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason of the hope in you, with meekness and fear;
This weekend the family and I spent some time in a local bookstore and I picked up a copy of John Piper's book "Don't waste your life". Since then we have all been fighting over who's going to read it first... Nick won (He's better with the light saber). In this book there was a powerful message from Dr. Piper where he submits this thought for us to consider; "Is the reason that the world does not ask us this question today because they don't see this hope within us?" "Do they look at us and see someone fighting for the same things they are?"
How are we different? Are we living in such a way that the world would look at us and say; "How can you be so joyful in this situation?" "Why are you taking that kind of risk, do you ever plan to retire, what about your kids, don't you want them to go to college, what's wrong with you?" This question has come up often as we have been on this adoption journey. We have never been more helpless in any situation during our 20 year marriage, nearly everything has gone wrong that could have, war, extortion, corruption, delay, incompetence, etc... but all of this has been intermingled with occasional bright strands of hope. He has developed in us a maturity of faith that could be gained no other way, which brings me to another question. What is our goal anyway... His glory or our satisfaction? If it is His Glory then shouldn't we leave the process and the results entirely up to Him?
What's your situation? Would people ask you what's the reason for the hope within you? Are they seeing your radical brightness in the face of unrelenting circumstances? Are you living for the same things the world is?
Regardless of the outcome I would have chosen no other path! Read the attached ( http://www.aimint.org/usa/heritage.html ) story of Peter Cameron Scott, the founder of "Africa Inland Mission". Called to the mission field at a young age, soon after getting there he was flattened by malaria and sent home. When he got well he went back and this time he took his younger brother. His brother died soon after his arrival. He dug a hole and buried him and how does God respond? He flattens him with malaria again. He goes back to England and visits the grave of Dr. Livingstone and reads the words written there, the last of which were, "Other Sheep I have which are not of this fold, them also I must bring and they shall hear my voice (John 10:16)" He went back, and today untold thousands call Him saviour as a result of this dying seed.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
Are You Watching?
"Sinners are not, as a general rule, punished here. Their sentence is reserved until the dy of judgment. Some people regard every accident as a judgment, but we do not agree with them at all, else should we have frequently to condemn the innocent. This is not the time of judgment. Judgment is yet to come." Charles Spurgeon
Matthew 24:37-39 - But as the days of Noah, so also will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as they were in the days before the flood: eating. and drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah went into the ark - and they did not know until the flood came and took all away - so also will the coming of the Son of man."
"They were sensual and worldy; they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage. It is not said, They were killing and stealing, and whoring and swearing (these were indeed the horrid crimes of some of the worst of them; the earth was full of violence); but they were all of them, except Noah, over head and ears in the world, and regardless of the word of God, and this ruined them. Note, Universal neglect of religion (True Religion) is a more dangerous symptom to any people than particular instances here and there of daring irreligion. Eating and drinking are necessary to the preservation of man's life; marrying and giving in marriage are necessary to the preservation of mankind; but These lawful things undo us, unlawfully managed. - They were eating and drinking when they should have been repenting and praying; when God, by the ministry of Noah, called to weeping and mourning, then joy and gladness. This was to them, as it was to Israel afterwards, the unpardonable sin, especially because it was in defiance of those warnings by which they should have been awakened. "Let us Eat and Drink, for tomorrow we die, if it must be a short life, let it be a merry one." The apostle James speaks of this as the general practice of the wealthy Jews before the destruction of Jerusalem; when they should have been weeping for the miseries that were coming upon them, they were living in pleasure, and nourishing their heart as in a day of slaughter, Jam. 5:1,5. - Note, What we know of the things that belong to our everlasting peace, if we do not mix faith with it, and improve it, is all one as if we did not know it at all. Their not knowing is joined with their eating and drinking, and marrying. Note, the reason why people are so eager in the pursuit, and so entangled in the pleasures of this world, is, because they do not know, and believe, and consider, the eternity which they are upon the brink of. - They were so taken up with things seen and present, that they had neither time nor heart to mind the things not seen as yet, which they were warned of. - Those who will not know by Faith, shall be made to know by feeling, the wrath of God revealed from heaven against their ungodliness and unrighteousness. Judgments are most terrible and amazing to the secure, and those that have made a jest of them." Matthew Henry
Matthew 24:37-39 - But as the days of Noah, so also will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as they were in the days before the flood: eating. and drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah went into the ark - and they did not know until the flood came and took all away - so also will the coming of the Son of man."
"They were sensual and worldy; they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage. It is not said, They were killing and stealing, and whoring and swearing (these were indeed the horrid crimes of some of the worst of them; the earth was full of violence); but they were all of them, except Noah, over head and ears in the world, and regardless of the word of God, and this ruined them. Note, Universal neglect of religion (True Religion) is a more dangerous symptom to any people than particular instances here and there of daring irreligion. Eating and drinking are necessary to the preservation of man's life; marrying and giving in marriage are necessary to the preservation of mankind; but These lawful things undo us, unlawfully managed. - They were eating and drinking when they should have been repenting and praying; when God, by the ministry of Noah, called to weeping and mourning, then joy and gladness. This was to them, as it was to Israel afterwards, the unpardonable sin, especially because it was in defiance of those warnings by which they should have been awakened. "Let us Eat and Drink, for tomorrow we die, if it must be a short life, let it be a merry one." The apostle James speaks of this as the general practice of the wealthy Jews before the destruction of Jerusalem; when they should have been weeping for the miseries that were coming upon them, they were living in pleasure, and nourishing their heart as in a day of slaughter, Jam. 5:1,5. - Note, What we know of the things that belong to our everlasting peace, if we do not mix faith with it, and improve it, is all one as if we did not know it at all. Their not knowing is joined with their eating and drinking, and marrying. Note, the reason why people are so eager in the pursuit, and so entangled in the pleasures of this world, is, because they do not know, and believe, and consider, the eternity which they are upon the brink of. - They were so taken up with things seen and present, that they had neither time nor heart to mind the things not seen as yet, which they were warned of. - Those who will not know by Faith, shall be made to know by feeling, the wrath of God revealed from heaven against their ungodliness and unrighteousness. Judgments are most terrible and amazing to the secure, and those that have made a jest of them." Matthew Henry
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Live Feed 03/23/2009
All,
Praise God for a great study last night! I think we finally worked through the bugs. The Picture quality was much better and the sound gets much better about halfway through. Hopefully, we will start next week with all of these issues resolved. We are still missing a few people due to sickness and other happenings. Please keep Tim's daughter in your prayers and Pastor Dave and his wife as they will be traveling this week. I am looking forward to next week and hope to see everyone there.
David
Praise God for a great study last night! I think we finally worked through the bugs. The Picture quality was much better and the sound gets much better about halfway through. Hopefully, we will start next week with all of these issues resolved. We are still missing a few people due to sickness and other happenings. Please keep Tim's daughter in your prayers and Pastor Dave and his wife as they will be traveling this week. I am looking forward to next week and hope to see everyone there.
David
Thursday, March 19, 2009
YOUR CROSS
Matthew 16:24-26 - "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"
Christian, consider the words of Christ above. If you are a Child of God and are following after Christ, you will have a Cross to bear. We each have our own Cross if we belong to Christ. Some of us may struggle under a sickness. Others a debt. Some are persecuted most violently for the faith. Others may suffer under the load of a partner that fights against your sanctification. Be of good cheer and do not murmer. God has divinely placed these things in our lives to conform us to the image of Christ. If that is our goal and we seek above all else Christ and his Kingdom then look apon your cross and see the Loving Hand of God himself. Oh, how the Martyrs embraced the Crosses, Stakes and Fagots.
Consider the words from this old Hymn: "Must I be carried to the skiesOn flowery beds of ease,While others fought to win the prize,And sailed through bloody seas."
Verses from II Corinthians: 1:5,6,7- "For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. And whether we be afflicted, it is for you consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation." 4:8-10 "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but no forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body."
This is no easy road we are on and we will one day look back on these minor trials and praise God for the Grace we received from them. May he be glorified in our lives! Keep your chins up and eyes on Christ and be of good Cheer lest others see and think we serve a hard master.
Christian, consider the words of Christ above. If you are a Child of God and are following after Christ, you will have a Cross to bear. We each have our own Cross if we belong to Christ. Some of us may struggle under a sickness. Others a debt. Some are persecuted most violently for the faith. Others may suffer under the load of a partner that fights against your sanctification. Be of good cheer and do not murmer. God has divinely placed these things in our lives to conform us to the image of Christ. If that is our goal and we seek above all else Christ and his Kingdom then look apon your cross and see the Loving Hand of God himself. Oh, how the Martyrs embraced the Crosses, Stakes and Fagots.
Consider the words from this old Hymn: "Must I be carried to the skiesOn flowery beds of ease,While others fought to win the prize,And sailed through bloody seas."
Verses from II Corinthians: 1:5,6,7- "For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. And whether we be afflicted, it is for you consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation." 4:8-10 "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but no forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body."
This is no easy road we are on and we will one day look back on these minor trials and praise God for the Grace we received from them. May he be glorified in our lives! Keep your chins up and eyes on Christ and be of good Cheer lest others see and think we serve a hard master.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Monday, March 16,2009 Live Feed
All,
I am very sorry to inform everyone that this weeks study will be canceled. Many of our members have come down with the bug that is going around. We are however, planning on meeting sometime this week to discuss or goals and purposes for the live feed. We will be back next Monday to pick up where we left off, Lord willing.
Hebrews 13:13 - Therefore, let us go to him outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For we do not have here a continuing city, but we seek a city coming.
I am very sorry to inform everyone that this weeks study will be canceled. Many of our members have come down with the bug that is going around. We are however, planning on meeting sometime this week to discuss or goals and purposes for the live feed. We will be back next Monday to pick up where we left off, Lord willing.
Hebrews 13:13 - Therefore, let us go to him outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For we do not have here a continuing city, but we seek a city coming.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Broadcast Feedback
Praise God for the valuable feedback I have received today from many of yesterday's viewers. I would like to discuss some of my thoughts as well as those provided to me from our Internet viewers.
However, and above all, I hope you are gaining Biblical knowledge and growing closer to the Lord during these studies. This marginal talent of our live broadcast can easily be glorified by worldly standards, but if your spirit is not bearing witness to the Holy Word of God and gaining fruit through this study, it is vanity. Remember the fig tree in Mark 11:
13 And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.
- Video quality. Due to some technical difficulties and bandwidth limitations, we had to reduce the video quality significantly. Some have mentioned that it looked as though we were all part of the witness protection program (lol). David and I should have this issue resolved by the next broadcast. In the meantime, know that we are not trying to conceal identity and rest assured none of the study members have been featured on America's Most Wanted.
- Audio quality. I have received varying reports regarding the audio. After reviewing the video, I was able to discern most of what was said as long as I had headphones on and volume (both on the video player and on my computer) turned way up. There is a noticeable degradation in audio quality when many people are talking simultaneously, and/or when speaking down toward the ground. I have two solutions in mind which I intend to implement over the next couple studies. First, if I can get Ustream to recognize the Mini DV camera, the problem should self correct. Otherwise, we may need to stage a mic somewhere near the center of the group. I am hesitant to proceed with the second solution as I do not wish to distract from the group with something as obtrusive as a microphone.
- Pop-up Advertisements. I am sorry for the small ad banners that pop-up from the bottom of the video screen during broadcast. Please remember this is a free service (Ustream) which is requires a significant amount of technological hardware, software, and programming on the back-end. In order to maintain this free service, Ustream must generate ad revenue. We may be able to get rid of the ads in the future, if the Lord decides to bless and continue this approach. In the meantime, you can minimize ad distraction by clicking the full screen button located to the far left of the video player.
- Notes. Some had a hard time following the study because they did not have our notes. I would like to suggest posting the notes here - on the blog - a couple days prior to study. This can be done as just a regular blog post titled "Notes for February 9th 2009" etc. We can then link back to those notes from the Ustream page as well as from the chat room during the study.
- Chat Activity. I understand some would have liked more activity from me in the chat room. I intend to be more active once I am no longer using the built-in web cam on my Mac. It was a bit difficult to type without facing the computer so as not to distract viewers. A technical difficulty to hopefully be worked out by next week.
- Purpose. I received a question regarding our purpose in offering the live broadcast. Is it to allow others to listen and learn or to listen, interact and learn? I find much more value in the later as long as there is a small group of viewers. However, this is something we will need to discuss in person. Our current objective is to trial this concept for four weeks (three weeks remaining) and reevaluate. If God is blessing the live broadcast, we will continue and step out further. Otherwise, we will likely discontinue broadcasting and revert to the groups original method. If we are led to continue this venture, we will need to more clearly define our objectives.
However, and above all, I hope you are gaining Biblical knowledge and growing closer to the Lord during these studies. This marginal talent of our live broadcast can easily be glorified by worldly standards, but if your spirit is not bearing witness to the Holy Word of God and gaining fruit through this study, it is vanity. Remember the fig tree in Mark 11:
13 And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.
14 And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.
...
20 And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.
21 And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.
22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
Notice the fig tree had leaves and appeared healthy by all worldly standards, yet it bore no fruit. The fig tree's faith was nothing more than a bluff, a facade, a goat who called itself a sheep, a mock Christian, a false ministry. As we evaluate the broadcast aspect of this study, I pray God will show us fruit, not just leaves. If he reveals leaves, let us remove it completely.
Likewise, if you are watching the broadcast, I would much rather you hear and believe then concentrate on the quality of the broadcast. I appreciate your feedback and it will definitely help us reach others, but it is so much more important that you simply listen and grow in Christ.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Afterwards
All,
I would like to thank everyone who visited the site and watched the first live feed. Wow! Sorry for all the technical issues, bad picture and poor sound quality. Everything kinda fell apart in the last 10 minutes. Our internet is up and running, NOW, and next week, Lord willing, the picture quality and sound should be much better. May God search our hearts and may his will be done as we proceed.
Sincerely,
dbbickley
I would like to thank everyone who visited the site and watched the first live feed. Wow! Sorry for all the technical issues, bad picture and poor sound quality. Everything kinda fell apart in the last 10 minutes. Our internet is up and running, NOW, and next week, Lord willing, the picture quality and sound should be much better. May God search our hearts and may his will be done as we proceed.
Sincerely,
dbbickley
LIVE FEED TODAY AT 5:45
Hebrews 13:13-14 "Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come"
All,
If you are a part of our Bible Study or joining us for the first time, I would like to welcome you. Please take a few minutes to look around the site. In addition to the blog, we have some great sermons to the right, music, movie clips and then we have study helps at the bottom of the site. We would also like to know who is out there with us and the best way is to sign up to be a follower of the blog. In addition, please feel free to post comments to our blogs and if you have any prayer request, please shoot them to us in the form of a comment.
We will be attempting to Live Feed the Bible study for the first time this evening. It is our plan to begin at 5:45 and finish up at 7:00. However, because this is our first run, we may have some difficulties so please bear with us. Keep in mind, that we are about 20 Chapters into our study of the Great Doctrines of the Bible. If you would like to join the study, you can order the book (we have provided a link to the right) from Amazon or most Christian Book Stores. It would be very helpful to read the Chapters that you have missed to understand the foundation for what we are speaking about. If you miss the study tonight or Mondays do not work for you, we will have archived studies at Ustream.com which is linked to this site as well.
Our Bible study is very diverse in age and Church affiliation. We will not always agree and are working through a lot of doctrinal error in an attempt to know this God we serve in a deeper way. We sincerely hope that you will join us on this journey to know our God in a way that glorifies him.
All,
If you are a part of our Bible Study or joining us for the first time, I would like to welcome you. Please take a few minutes to look around the site. In addition to the blog, we have some great sermons to the right, music, movie clips and then we have study helps at the bottom of the site. We would also like to know who is out there with us and the best way is to sign up to be a follower of the blog. In addition, please feel free to post comments to our blogs and if you have any prayer request, please shoot them to us in the form of a comment.
We will be attempting to Live Feed the Bible study for the first time this evening. It is our plan to begin at 5:45 and finish up at 7:00. However, because this is our first run, we may have some difficulties so please bear with us. Keep in mind, that we are about 20 Chapters into our study of the Great Doctrines of the Bible. If you would like to join the study, you can order the book (we have provided a link to the right) from Amazon or most Christian Book Stores. It would be very helpful to read the Chapters that you have missed to understand the foundation for what we are speaking about. If you miss the study tonight or Mondays do not work for you, we will have archived studies at Ustream.com which is linked to this site as well.
Our Bible study is very diverse in age and Church affiliation. We will not always agree and are working through a lot of doctrinal error in an attempt to know this God we serve in a deeper way. We sincerely hope that you will join us on this journey to know our God in a way that glorifies him.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing
This Hymn has been one of my favorites, if not my anthem for some time. I did not notice it until tonight on the site... thank you David. The reality of what God is doing, I believe/hope/trust, in each of us is richly described in these verses penned in 1758. (The melody is by Asahel Nettleton 1813). Tonight as I was worshipping and listening to this hymn I discovered the most glorious satisfaction in Him in this process of sanctification. And, until tonight when the word sanctification came to mind, pain closely followed in it's footsteps. But... tonight that was not the case. Look at this second verse, "Sorrowing I shall be in spirit, Till released from flesh and sin, yet for what I do inherit, Here Thy praises I'll begin;" In my sorrow I was comforted, and in my comfort praises rose to my King! He has sealed my heart, and His goodness has become like a fetter, binding my wandering heart.
Like Asahel Nettleton I think I'm beginning to discover that this process of sanctification is one of the greatest blessings we can experience while here on earth. Let us hold fast to the encouragement from Tuesday night and jealously guard one another's holiness.
The whole Hymn is below;
Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,
Mount of Thy redeeming love.
Sorrowing I shall be in spirit,
Till released from flesh and sin,
Yet from what I do inherit,
Here Thy praises I’ll begin;
Here I raise my Ebenezer;
Here by Thy great help I’ve come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood;
How His kindness yet pursues me
Mortal tongue can never tell,
Clothed in flesh, till death shall loose me
I cannot proclaim it well.
O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.
O that day when freed from sinning,
I shall see Thy lovely face;
Clothed then in blood washed linen
How I’ll sing Thy sovereign grace;
Come, my Lord, no longer tarry,
Take my ransomed soul away;
Send thine angels now to carry
Me to realms of endless day.
Like Asahel Nettleton I think I'm beginning to discover that this process of sanctification is one of the greatest blessings we can experience while here on earth. Let us hold fast to the encouragement from Tuesday night and jealously guard one another's holiness.
The whole Hymn is below;
Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,
Mount of Thy redeeming love.
Sorrowing I shall be in spirit,
Till released from flesh and sin,
Yet from what I do inherit,
Here Thy praises I’ll begin;
Here I raise my Ebenezer;
Here by Thy great help I’ve come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood;
How His kindness yet pursues me
Mortal tongue can never tell,
Clothed in flesh, till death shall loose me
I cannot proclaim it well.
O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.
O that day when freed from sinning,
I shall see Thy lovely face;
Clothed then in blood washed linen
How I’ll sing Thy sovereign grace;
Come, my Lord, no longer tarry,
Take my ransomed soul away;
Send thine angels now to carry
Me to realms of endless day.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
NEXT WEEKS LIVE FEED
All,
It was a great meeting tonight, but not neccasarily and easy one. We are all apprehensive about exposing ourselves to whomever may watch. I know I speak for everyone when I say that it is our desire to honor God in all that we do. If for any reason you change your mind before next week, please let me know and we can put it on hold or cancel all together. I earnestly hope that each one of you will pray fervently that God will be honored and that if it pleases him, he would use our group and each member for his purpose and glory. We must keep in mind that God does not need anyone of us or this little website. However, he may be pleased to use us and or it. Martin and I will try and get the details and positioning worked out this week. I guess that myself, Pat, Tim and Pastor Dave should take the seats in front of the Fire Place and Doug should sit at the end of the couch closest to the fire place. If you have another idea, please let me know because it would be helpful to have this established before we get here on Monday. We will start recording at 5:45 and open with prayer and Martin will turn the camera off after we close in prayer. We agreed to try it out for four weeks and then reevaluate. If there is anything that needs to be addressed in regards to next Monday please let us know. Thanks again for every one's input and I am looking forward to seeing everyone next week. Oh, I added a link to the side so people can find and purchase the book easily on Amazon.com May God bless each one of you.
It was a great meeting tonight, but not neccasarily and easy one. We are all apprehensive about exposing ourselves to whomever may watch. I know I speak for everyone when I say that it is our desire to honor God in all that we do. If for any reason you change your mind before next week, please let me know and we can put it on hold or cancel all together. I earnestly hope that each one of you will pray fervently that God will be honored and that if it pleases him, he would use our group and each member for his purpose and glory. We must keep in mind that God does not need anyone of us or this little website. However, he may be pleased to use us and or it. Martin and I will try and get the details and positioning worked out this week. I guess that myself, Pat, Tim and Pastor Dave should take the seats in front of the Fire Place and Doug should sit at the end of the couch closest to the fire place. If you have another idea, please let me know because it would be helpful to have this established before we get here on Monday. We will start recording at 5:45 and open with prayer and Martin will turn the camera off after we close in prayer. We agreed to try it out for four weeks and then reevaluate. If there is anything that needs to be addressed in regards to next Monday please let us know. Thanks again for every one's input and I am looking forward to seeing everyone next week. Oh, I added a link to the side so people can find and purchase the book easily on Amazon.com May God bless each one of you.
Worship
Amos 5:23 and 24 - "Take the noise of your songs away from Me; and I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream."
I wanted to take just a quick second and add to what we spoke about the other day in regards to Worship. It is of the utmost importance to note that God decides how he is to be worshipped. It is not us who decide how we will approach him. We can may be very excited about our music and it may be upbeat and the people may feel it and earnestly try to worship and it can be rejected. We may feel the presence of what we perceive to be the Holy Spirit and yet our worship may stink in the nostrils of God. We may totally reject modern worship songs and sing to God Hymns and psalms that rightly point to the Glory of God and be totally rejected of Him. Our Worship serves no purpose and only angers God if we are not Worshipping him in truth and with our Life. May we be a people separated unto God. Let us be Just with one another and jealous for each other's Holiness. Let us hold each other accountable for the Glory of God. Let us strive for righteousness and holiness by praying that God would conform us to the image of his Son. Let our life be offered up to God in true and pleasing Worship.
I wanted to take just a quick second and add to what we spoke about the other day in regards to Worship. It is of the utmost importance to note that God decides how he is to be worshipped. It is not us who decide how we will approach him. We can may be very excited about our music and it may be upbeat and the people may feel it and earnestly try to worship and it can be rejected. We may feel the presence of what we perceive to be the Holy Spirit and yet our worship may stink in the nostrils of God. We may totally reject modern worship songs and sing to God Hymns and psalms that rightly point to the Glory of God and be totally rejected of Him. Our Worship serves no purpose and only angers God if we are not Worshipping him in truth and with our Life. May we be a people separated unto God. Let us be Just with one another and jealous for each other's Holiness. Let us hold each other accountable for the Glory of God. Let us strive for righteousness and holiness by praying that God would conform us to the image of his Son. Let our life be offered up to God in true and pleasing Worship.
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