Monday, July 23, 2012

The Centrality of Christ



Colossians 1:13-23 says:

13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,
14  in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
15  He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,
20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
21  And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds,
22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,
23  if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.


-Taken from the ESV

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Same Sex Marriage, Abortion, and America


Same sex marriage: Through following a distorted meaning of “love,” some in the present day
have condoned homosexual practice, without realizing that biblical love excludes
homosexuality because of its sinfulness. Christians can best share the gospel with
homosexuals by calling their lifestyle what the Bible calls it—sin. Genesis 1–2,
Matthew 19, and Ephesians 5 describe clearly the way that God has instituted
marriage as a monogamous, heterosexual relationship. Genesis 19, Jude 7, and 2
Peter 2 illustrate how the Fall almost immediately eroded the purity of human
sexuality, including a devastation of the divine institution of marriage. Leviticus 18
and 20 and Romans 1 lay out very plainly God’s instructions about how repulsive
homosexuality is in God’s sight. Yet Isaiah 56 and 1 Corinthians 6 make plain God’s
plan for homosexuals to find freedom and forgiveness through a life-changing faith
in Jesus Christ. The door is wide open for homosexuals and lesbians to accept God’s
invitation. - John MacArthur

Abortion: Abortion is murder. That many people who have had abortions call themselves Christians does not change that fact that abortion is the the taking of one's life. The statement that "Christians" have had abortions does not mean that it is OK to kill a baby in the womb, whom God has created... I, too believe in equality and education, but God's Word has to come first. If we do not put God first as a country, we fail. Am I judging? OK, sure.It is OK to judge, as long as we judge lovingly. I don't hate those who are gay or who have had abortions. But I haven't forgotten that I too am a sinner and am not excluded from God's law. I have failed as well, but supporting abortion and gay marriage is going against the Word of God...and that is wrong.

Monday, July 2, 2012

Disturbed Prayer



Disturbed Prayer
O Christ Jesus,
when all is darkness
and we feel our weakness and helplessness,
give us the sense of Your presence,
Your love, and Your strength.
Help us to have perfect trust
in Your protecting love
and strengthening power,
so that nothing may frighten or worry us,
for, living close to You,
we shall see Your hand,
Your purpose, Your will through all things.

St. Ignatius of Loyola
                                                         ~~~~~~

Disturbed Prayer