Romans 7:14-8:2
14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. 15 I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
Life in the Spirit
8 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 . Standard Bible Society: Wheaton
I had a conversation with a friend yesterday over lunch. I am not sure of his thoughts on God. He is old high school friend and I have just recently began to reconnect with him. He is open to discussion about lots of topics so I asked him about his thoughts on religion and Jesus. He said that he wants to do what is right, but sometimes he fails. That got me to thinking about the scripture that is above.
In recent days I had been thinking about this passage, because of personal reasons. I am struggling with surrednering my selfishness and being consumed with God. But I fail and snap back into pleasing myself. I have been given courage by this hero Paul and his continual struggle with the enemy that is within him called the flesh.
There is not a solution that I have come up with for this deal, no neat ending for me to post here on this blog. There is only courage to be taken that all wrestle with the war of the flesh and the spirit. Paul, me, my friend from high school and you. No matter where you are in your relationship with God, you will fight this fight.
Whatever!
Keller Quote
I quoted Tim keller yesterday to wrap up the message. It came as the passage I used ended with "you cannot serve both God and money." The whole of the passage is having an eternal focus and what you allow to attract you and it uses the eye of the mind metaphor.
It seems to be a good idea to put that quote here:: "Of all the masters, Jesus is the only one who fulfills and if you fail Him, He dies for you."
Freedom is such a misunderstood thing. We are in a time where freedom is paramount and religion is shunned because it takes away our freedom. But none of us our truly free. We are all slaves to something. Jesus is the only master that will never change or leave you in want or abandon you when you fail.
It seems to be a good idea to put that quote here:: "Of all the masters, Jesus is the only one who fulfills and if you fail Him, He dies for you."
Freedom is such a misunderstood thing. We are in a time where freedom is paramount and religion is shunned because it takes away our freedom. But none of us our truly free. We are all slaves to something. Jesus is the only master that will never change or leave you in want or abandon you when you fail.
Ticks me off
For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I with them.
If my people who are called my name would humble themselves and pray, then will I hear from heaven and I will heal their land.
These two verses are quoted all the time and completely out of context. I heard the first one yesterday in a prayer twice. I even heard it from a high ranking person in the Missouri Baptist Convention at the annual meeting. It made me think poorly of this person, it even caused me to stumble. And we know all about abstinence from things that cause people to stumble.
We say, "God you have promised that whereve two or three are gathered you will be with us, so God we ask you to be here with us." It is like when I am alone and want to pray or hang out with God I can't. Do I need to go and find a friend? If I am with three other people do I need to tell one of them go home so that we can have two or three?
Ridiculous! The context is Matthew 18 and conflict resolution and bringing two people to try to bring a friend out of sin. It has nothing to do with prayer or a worship service.
The "heal their land verse" is quoted alot when american churches climb up on the patriotism mountain. It happens alot over the fourth of July and Veterans Day holidays and during election times. It is is also ridiculous and out of context. The statement is made by God and he talking to Jews in Israel. He is not talking to the USA.
This one is not as bad, because from a conceptual standpoint it is a good idea to humble yourself and pray to God. But, this is not a promise by God to the USA. In fact, there are no promises by God to the USA in all of scripture. Gasp!
So stop praying these things. Please.
If my people who are called my name would humble themselves and pray, then will I hear from heaven and I will heal their land.
These two verses are quoted all the time and completely out of context. I heard the first one yesterday in a prayer twice. I even heard it from a high ranking person in the Missouri Baptist Convention at the annual meeting. It made me think poorly of this person, it even caused me to stumble. And we know all about abstinence from things that cause people to stumble.
We say, "God you have promised that whereve two or three are gathered you will be with us, so God we ask you to be here with us." It is like when I am alone and want to pray or hang out with God I can't. Do I need to go and find a friend? If I am with three other people do I need to tell one of them go home so that we can have two or three?
Ridiculous! The context is Matthew 18 and conflict resolution and bringing two people to try to bring a friend out of sin. It has nothing to do with prayer or a worship service.
The "heal their land verse" is quoted alot when american churches climb up on the patriotism mountain. It happens alot over the fourth of July and Veterans Day holidays and during election times. It is is also ridiculous and out of context. The statement is made by God and he talking to Jews in Israel. He is not talking to the USA.
This one is not as bad, because from a conceptual standpoint it is a good idea to humble yourself and pray to God. But, this is not a promise by God to the USA. In fact, there are no promises by God to the USA in all of scripture. Gasp!
So stop praying these things. Please.
Hello Friends. Since Rik does not have a secretary and he is a bit on the unorganized side, we are going to do a sign up here to avoid hundreds of emails back and forth. These are the items that we will need to sign up for. Turkey and Gravy will be provided. Please feel free to sign up for more than one. Also remember, when signing up - there are several single men out there that we may ALL like to bring paper products if you know what I mean! We need food for about 45-50 people.
Dressing - Tonya
Dressing - Kuntz
Mashed Potatoes - Wagners of the Travis & Megan type
Mashed Potatoes
Sweet Potatoes - Rachel Wright
Corn - Steph
Green Beans - Kuntz
Cranberry Sauce - Tonya
Dinner Rolls - Brian Howdeshell
Dinner Rolls - Walton
Butter - Mama Sue
Pumpkin Pie/Cool Whip - Megan
Peach Cobbler - Rachel Wright
Dessert - Apple Pie - Wagners of the Ryan & Jamie type
Dessert - Walton
Heavy Duty Plastic Plates
Utencils
Plastic Cups
Ice
Napkins - Mama Sue
Iced Tea - Papa Baker
Iced Tea - Papa Baker
Lemonade - Mama Sue
Lemonade - Mama Sue
Never mind the diet coke - it is TEA that Charlie needs - my bad.
Dressing - Tonya
Dressing - Kuntz
Mashed Potatoes - Wagners of the Travis & Megan type
Mashed Potatoes
Sweet Potatoes - Rachel Wright
Corn - Steph
Green Beans - Kuntz
Cranberry Sauce - Tonya
Dinner Rolls - Brian Howdeshell
Dinner Rolls - Walton
Butter - Mama Sue
Pumpkin Pie/Cool Whip - Megan
Peach Cobbler - Rachel Wright
Dessert - Apple Pie - Wagners of the Ryan & Jamie type
Dessert - Walton
Heavy Duty Plastic Plates
Utencils
Plastic Cups
Ice
Napkins - Mama Sue
Iced Tea - Papa Baker
Iced Tea - Papa Baker
Lemonade - Mama Sue
Lemonade - Mama Sue
Never mind the diet coke - it is TEA that Charlie needs - my bad.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
I got a book from the library Called the Cost of Moral Leadership, the Spirituality of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, all quotes come from this book. In the first chapter I found these gems from his last days before his execution in the Nazi extermination camp called Flossenburg, that have captured my thoughts since I read them:
On his execution day Bonhoeffer was asked to conduct a prayer service. "On April 8, 1945, Bonhoeffer, pastor to the end, meditated briefly on two...texts for the day, Isaiah 53:5 ("By His wounds we are healed") and I Peter 1:3 ("Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead")
A person in the room that day would later recall this "Bonhoeffer reached the hearts of all, finding just the right words to express the spirit of our imprisonment, and the thoughts and resolutions which it had brought. The calm that ensued was interupted by the arrival of two evil looking Gestapo agents take Bonhoeffer away to his court martial and execution."
"The only account of Bonhoeffer's death was given by the prison doctor, who wrote that, after the sentences had been read out to the condemned men, he saw 'Pasor Bonhoeffer, before taking off his prison garb, kneeling on the floor praying fervently to his God. I was most deeply moved by the way this lovable man prayed, so devout and so certain that God heard his prayer.' he added, 'at the place of execution he again said a short prayer and then climbed the steps to the gallows, brave and composed...in the almost fifty years that I worked as a doctor, I have hardly ever seen a man so entirely submissive to the will of God.'"
Thirteen years prior to Bonhoeffer's execution he offered this in a sermon, "we must not be surprised if once again times return for our Church when the blood of martyrs will be required. But even if we have the courage and faith to spill it, this blood will not be as innocent or as clear of that of the first martyrs."
On his execution day Bonhoeffer was asked to conduct a prayer service. "On April 8, 1945, Bonhoeffer, pastor to the end, meditated briefly on two...texts for the day, Isaiah 53:5 ("By His wounds we are healed") and I Peter 1:3 ("Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead")
A person in the room that day would later recall this "Bonhoeffer reached the hearts of all, finding just the right words to express the spirit of our imprisonment, and the thoughts and resolutions which it had brought. The calm that ensued was interupted by the arrival of two evil looking Gestapo agents take Bonhoeffer away to his court martial and execution."
"The only account of Bonhoeffer's death was given by the prison doctor, who wrote that, after the sentences had been read out to the condemned men, he saw 'Pasor Bonhoeffer, before taking off his prison garb, kneeling on the floor praying fervently to his God. I was most deeply moved by the way this lovable man prayed, so devout and so certain that God heard his prayer.' he added, 'at the place of execution he again said a short prayer and then climbed the steps to the gallows, brave and composed...in the almost fifty years that I worked as a doctor, I have hardly ever seen a man so entirely submissive to the will of God.'"
Thirteen years prior to Bonhoeffer's execution he offered this in a sermon, "we must not be surprised if once again times return for our Church when the blood of martyrs will be required. But even if we have the courage and faith to spill it, this blood will not be as innocent or as clear of that of the first martyrs."
North Church Has a New Home
This is a big time in the life of our church. We have secured a new home that we expect to be our home for a while.
We have entered into an agreement with Florissant Valley Baptist Church to use their building on Sunday evenings at 6:00 with the possibility to transition into Sunday Mornings. Florissant Valley Baptist Church is located at 1025 North Hwy 67 at the entrance to St. Ferdinand Park.
We will be meeting there this Sunday morning to share with their church body about who we are and our vision to reach North County and participate in a prayer service with them. The following week (November 18) we will begin in our new home.
There are some plusses and some minuses about meeting on Sunday evenings. We would like to invite you come and give North Church and Sunday evenings a look.
We have entered into an agreement with Florissant Valley Baptist Church to use their building on Sunday evenings at 6:00 with the possibility to transition into Sunday Mornings. Florissant Valley Baptist Church is located at 1025 North Hwy 67 at the entrance to St. Ferdinand Park.
We will be meeting there this Sunday morning to share with their church body about who we are and our vision to reach North County and participate in a prayer service with them. The following week (November 18) we will begin in our new home.
There are some plusses and some minuses about meeting on Sunday evenings. We would like to invite you come and give North Church and Sunday evenings a look.
Some thoughts
I am away at a conference this week. It has so far proven beneficial for me to be alone for a time and just sit with God. Here are a few bullets that I have come up with during a bit of that time:
• May we live out the mission that God has called us to in the place where He has called to live it and allow for everyone else to do that same, all the while understanding that there are people who will screw up and there are people who will never get it and there will be people that differ from us that do get it. God is more important that our way of thinking. The gospel is more important than our way of thinking.
God would you turn us into a group of people who are continually looking for the next thing to repent of? Expose my sin and expose our sin and as you do remind us of your adoption of us and your love for us.
• “God is a sender, He sent you to where you are. How are you doing with your mission?” Stetzer
• God may I be consumed with you and may I be convicted by you and may I be loving of all, not just those who agree with me. God I want to learn about you. Will you cause me to be only happy with the things of you? I read in this book that “the primary mark of a spirit filled believer is a kind and loving spirit. The primary mark of a carnal believer is a critical, angry attitude. A sure sign of carnality is a loud pushy attitude that demands its own way.”
• You have got things under control Oh God. This world has been doing fine dating back before February 6, 1971 (my birthday). I am unneeded by you. I rest in what you are doing and so now I wait on what you would have me do and ask you for courage and wisdom and strength to run after that hard hard hard. I love you oh Lord and worship you. You are glory and you are power and you are in control. Rest in that now. Whatever happens God is in control. What ever happens he is and he was and is to come.
• Psalm 29:1-2
1 Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.
Here is a quote from an article written by Tim Keller called "All of Life Is Repentance". It has to do with what I am talking about and sort of supports it::
"But in the gospel the purpose of repentance is to repeatedly tap into the joy of our union with Jesus Christ in order to weaken our need to anything contrary to God's heart."
• May we live out the mission that God has called us to in the place where He has called to live it and allow for everyone else to do that same, all the while understanding that there are people who will screw up and there are people who will never get it and there will be people that differ from us that do get it. God is more important that our way of thinking. The gospel is more important than our way of thinking.
God would you turn us into a group of people who are continually looking for the next thing to repent of? Expose my sin and expose our sin and as you do remind us of your adoption of us and your love for us.
• “God is a sender, He sent you to where you are. How are you doing with your mission?” Stetzer
• God may I be consumed with you and may I be convicted by you and may I be loving of all, not just those who agree with me. God I want to learn about you. Will you cause me to be only happy with the things of you? I read in this book that “the primary mark of a spirit filled believer is a kind and loving spirit. The primary mark of a carnal believer is a critical, angry attitude. A sure sign of carnality is a loud pushy attitude that demands its own way.”
• You have got things under control Oh God. This world has been doing fine dating back before February 6, 1971 (my birthday). I am unneeded by you. I rest in what you are doing and so now I wait on what you would have me do and ask you for courage and wisdom and strength to run after that hard hard hard. I love you oh Lord and worship you. You are glory and you are power and you are in control. Rest in that now. Whatever happens God is in control. What ever happens he is and he was and is to come.
• Psalm 29:1-2
1 Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.
Here is a quote from an article written by Tim Keller called "All of Life Is Repentance". It has to do with what I am talking about and sort of supports it::
"But in the gospel the purpose of repentance is to repeatedly tap into the joy of our union with Jesus Christ in order to weaken our need to anything contrary to God's heart."
