Things Are Great

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I haven't blogged here in a while, and there hasn't been a ton going on. I launched another blog for political musings, rants, observations, and commentary, which draws a lot of my posting away from here.

Additionally, my laptop sort of just stopped working, so I'm in the process of getting that fixed, which means I have less access to the internet to do said blogging. But I should soon have a whole new face for my blogs and everything else, so just be patient.

But things in my life are great. Heidi is wonderful - I love married life. School is crazy, but good, and going well, and the semester is almost finish, then 3 more classes to graduation. Church is awesome, and amazing things are happening, and I'm growing and developing so much in my walk with Jesus. I still do the Bible study at my apartment (I promise; updated notes are coming), I'm helping with Senior Bible Quizzing, and I'm getting more involved with the music in the YA group (sorry folks; that means more of me singing). Actually, I'm going to be learning guitar!! We've got a piano player and a bassist; if I can learn guitar and become decent enough to play, then we will almost have an entire Praise band. Maybe we can score a drummer, and have really cool praise services in YA group. That could just be a dream....

But life is just good. Heidi and I spent last Saturday evening with my brother and his wife, eating dinner and playing games. They came over at 6 pm and didn't leave until 2 am - eight hours of games!! It was so much fun. This weekend, some other friends are coming over for chili boats and more games. I love this kind of stuff - its what married life is supposed to be.

I love my life. I love what is happening. I love where we are going. And I'm just happy.

They Keep Asking...

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The people at work have labeled me. My wife stopped by the branch the other day, and she was dressed in a peculiar way. They'd asked me before at the branch what religion I was, and I told them, unashamedly - I'm Apostolic. But when they saw my wife, they knew - I'm a Pentecostal.

See, I don't care that they know. I'm glad that they know. But most of all, I'm glad that they could take one look at my beautiful wife, and immediately know who she was.

I could have argued a doctrinal treatise for hours, and they wouldn't have known so clearly who I am. I could have defended the Oneness of God clearly, lovingly, and succinctly, and they would have only taken away from it that I study the Bible a lot. But when they saw Heidi, they knew - I was different.

So, now they keep asking me. Why do you dress that way? What do you really believe? Do you actually speak in tongues? A girl at work pulled me aside - "Will you pray for my daughter?"

Now I'm labeled. I'm a Pentecostal. I'm part of that group of skirt people. I speak in tongues. And when they have a need, they'll ask Brad. And I'm challenged, "Don't take this in vain." When I talk, will it be in a way that I want them to think of Pentecostals? When I respond under pressure, does it reflect the Holy Ghost working in my life? Their interactions with me will forever shape their sense of Pentecost.

I'm encouraged, because so far, they keep asking.

Bible Study - Salvation

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Salvation

Questions:

“When does salvation occur?”
- “Can you lose your salvation?”
- “Is the Holy Ghost and tongues experience absolutely necessary to salvation? What about all those well-meaning people who believe in Jesus but haven’t received the Holy Ghost?”

Salvation

Definitions

The OT Concept of Salvation

Implies that a person or nation is in great distress

Danger from enemies

Suffering caused by disaster

Sufferers cannot help themselves

Involves or requires a deliverer or savior

Portrays movement: from distress to safety

The NT Concept of Salvation

Concepts are carried over from OT

In the NT, it is God in the form of Jesus who acts as a deliverer to save believers from both physical danger and eternal damnation

Yeshua – Yahweh Saves

Salvation has many components

saved by grace

Rom. 3:23,24

Titus 2:11

Eph 2:5,8

saved by faith

Acts 16:31

Eph. 2:8

I Peter 1:9

saved by confession

Rom. 10:10

I John 1:9

James 5:16

saved by repentance

Luke 13:3

II Cor. 7:10

II Peter 3:9

saved by baptism

Mark 16:16

John 3:5

I Peter 3:21

saved by the Holy Ghost

John 3:5

Rom. 8:9

Eph. 1:13,14

saved by endurance

II Tim. 2:10

James 1:12

Heb. 3:6

Salvation is a process:

we have been saved

According to his mercy he saved us" (Titus 3:5),

"{God} has saved us and called us to a holy life" (2 Tim 1:9)

we are being saved

"For by grace are ye saved" (Eph 2:8)

"Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" (Phi 2:12)

we shall be saved

"much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life" (Rom 5:10)

"Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee." (I Tim 4:16).

God only gives this final salvation if we continue in him (Rom 11:22; Col 1:23; I John 2:24,25). Ralph Reynolds gives this illustration:

“When were the children of Israel saved? At the night of the Passover after the blood was applied, while the death angel passed over, they were saved. Yet they were not yet saved. They were saved when they crossed the Red Sea and the armies of Pharaoh were destroyed. Yet they were not yet saved. They were saved when they were led by the cloud in the wilderness. Yet they were not yet saved. Many were never saved for they never entered the Promised Land.”

Final salvation occurs after we have been transformed, translated from corruptible into incorruptible, and have passed through the judgment. Then, we will be complete and perfected.

God intends to see us through:

Matt. 28:20

Philippians 1:6

Heb. 13:5

I Peter 1:5

Can you lose your salvation?

Salvation is a process

Compare to the human birth/life

Hearing the word è Conception

Baptism è “water breaking”

Being filled with the Spirit (“Born Again”) è being born as a human baby

Just as the human baby isn’t complete or finished in her life once she is born, so a new believer isn’t finished in her spiritual growth just because she’s received the Spirit.

Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23

Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
Therefore hear the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. Now he who received the seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. But he who received the seed on good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

Unpacking the parable

In only ¼ of the instances where the seed was sown did the hearer reject the word.

In only ¼ of the instances where the seed was sown did the hearer bear fruit.

What happened for the other ½?

Salvation began, but wasn’t finished.

It is possible to receive the word, even gladly, be excited about it, and start to grow, but not finish.

When you start to bear fruit, are you forever saved?

Mark 11:12-14 – “Now the next day, when they had come from Bethany, He was hungry. And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. In response Jesus said to it, "Let no one eat fruit from you ever again."”

2 Timothy 4:2 – “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season.”

We are to always be ready to bear fruit, no matter what the season. If you’re not bearing fruit, you’re not saved. It is possible to at one time bear fruit, and to stop bearing fruit.

Is the Pentecostal experience of the Holy Ghost really a part of salvation?

Romans 8:9 – “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.”

This argument presumes agreement that we can reasonably agree that tongues are always associated with the infilling of the Spirit

Acts 2

Acts 10

Acts 19

Tongues are not the Holy Ghost. Tongues are the initial outward manifestation of the indwelling of the Holy Ghost

Matthew 12:34 – “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”

When the Spirit of God comes into your heart, you WILL speak in a heavenly language, out of the abundance of your heart.

Therefore, agreeing that tongues are associated with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, if one has not experienced the Pentecostal demonstration of the Spirit, then we can agree with Paul that they are none of His (Christ’s).

This isn’t a mean-spirited, exclusionary sort of thing. What good is it, to teach a doctrine of universal salvation, or a “Billy Graham” style of conversion, when it isn’t Biblical? It leads people to believe a lie, to place false hope in a conversion and security that has never taken place. That isn’t loving.

The Holy Ghost and Tongues

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The Holy Ghost and Tongues

What is the Holy Ghost?

A Comforter

John 14:16

John 14:26

John 16:7

John 15:26

The Spirit of Truth

John 14:17

Power

Luke 24:49

Acts 1:8

Spirit of Christ

Galatians 4:6

What is the Role of the Holy Ghost?

Provides peace and comfort

Romans 14:17 – “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”

Philippians 4:7 – “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Discerning of spirits

1 John 4:1 – “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”

Revelation

1 Corinthians 12:3 – “No man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.”

Necessary for adoption

Galatians 4:4-7 – “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”

Tongues and the Holy Ghost

Tongues as initial evidence

Acts 2:1-4

1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord* in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 10: 44-46

44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.

Acts 19:1-7

1 And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples 2 he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" So they said to him, "We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit." 3 And he said to them, "Into what then were you baptized?" So they said, "Into John's baptism." 4 Then Paul said, "John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus." 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. 7 Now the men were about twelve in all.

The common doctrine of salvation is that believing and accepting the Gospel is the only prerequisite of salvation. Consider Acts 8:5-19:

5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them.6 And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. 8 And there was great joy in that city. 9 But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, 10 to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, "This man is the great power of God." 11 And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time. 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. 13 Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done. 14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 19 saying, "Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit."

It’s clear that the Samaritans received the Word (vs. 14), were baptized in Jesus’ name (vs. 16), and were filled with joy (vs. 8), but had not yet been filled with the Spirit (vs. 15-16). When Peter and John came and laid hands on the Samaritans, Simon the sorcerer saw a visible sign – given the context of the book of Acts, what do you suppose that sign was? Even nonPentecostal scholars agree that tongues were the initial outward sign that Simon saw the Samaritans exhibit. He KNEW that they had been filled with the Spirit.

Types of Tongues

Earthly languages

Acts 2:5-12

5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs--we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God." 12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "Whatever could this mean?"

In this instance, it is clear that the tongues were spoken to glorify God to unbelievers

Tongues for interpretation

1 Corinthians 14:27

If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret

Tongues as private prayer language

Romans 8:26-28

26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Understanding 1 Corinthians 12 and 14 – Criticisms of Tongues

1 Corinthians 12:27-31

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

This isn’t Paul saying that not all believers speak in tongues – remember, he was speaking to people that had already been saved. He was speaking of the gift of tongues, as in the gifts of the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 13:8-12

But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

I’ve heard some people argue that this passage is arguing that tongues will one day cease (and I agree), and that this day has come, since we’ve received the entire canon of scripture. This is reading FAR removed from the intent of the author. There’s nothing that says that tongues would cease with the completion of canon. There is too much that tongues accomplishes in the believer’s life! When we see Jesus face to face, and no longer limited by our humanity or flesh, then and only then, will tongues cease.

1 Corinthians 14:1-40

People of other theological views use these passages to argue that not everyone will speak in tongues, but this isn’t the proper context or understanding

We’ve seen from other passages of scripture that tongues occur consistently as the initial evidence of the Holy Ghost. Additionally, we’ve seen the use of tongues as a private prayer language, a tool that is incredibly powerful for the believer. So what is being said in this passage of 1 Corinthians?

The Corinthian church was abusing the gift of tongues – they would walk to the front of the church, speak in tongues for awhile, then step down. The next person would step up, speak in tongues, and then step down. They did this to demonstrate how spiritual they were, to show off to the rest of the congregation. Paul wrote to correct this abuse of the gift of tongues, not to restrict the individual believer’s speaking in tongues (in proper order).

Paul’s point in chapter 14:

Tongues edify the individual, not the church – vs. 4

While we’re in a church meeting, we should seek to edify the entire body, not just ourselves – vs. 12, 13

It is better to speak five words that can edify than to speak for hours in tongues while in the church!! – vs. 19

God is a God of order, and all things should be done appropriately and in order – vs. 33, 40

Bible Study - Godhead and Baptism

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The Godhead and Baptism


Question – Do the differences between the Oneness and Trinitarian camps create unnecessary division? Does our definition of God matter, so long as we just agree to disagree? Is baptism necessary? Does the mode of baptism really matter?

 

What does the Bible say about the importance of understanding the nature of God?

Deuteronomy 6:4-9 – "4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."

 

John 4:4-26 – Story of the Samaritan woman. Verses 21-24 – "21 Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

 

You can't worship God without understanding who He is.

 

What does the Bible say about the nature of the Godhead?

Old Testament

Mosaic texts

Exodus 20:2-6 – "2 "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 You shall have no other gods before Me. 4 You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments."

Deuteronomy 6:4 – "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!"

Deuteronomy 32:39 – "Now see that I, even I, am He, And there is no God besides Me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; Nor is there any who can deliver from My hand."

Prophets

Isaiah 37:16 – "O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou hast made heaven and earth"

Isaiah 43:10-11 – "10 You are My witnesses, says the Lord, And My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me, And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after Me. 11 I, even I, am the Lord, And besides Me there is no savior."

Isaiah 44:6-8 – "6 "Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: 'I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God.7 And who can proclaim as I do? Then let him declare it and set it in order for Me, Since I appointed the ancient people. And the things that are coming and shall come, Let them show these to them. 8 Do not fear, nor be afraid; Have I not told you from that time, and declared it? You are My witnesses. Is there a God besides Me? Indeed there is no other Rock; I know not one.' "

Isaiah 44:24 – "I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself"

Isaiah 45:6 – "There is none beside me. I am the LORD and there is none else"

Isaiah 45:21-22 – "There is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else"

Isaiah 46:9 – "Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me"

Isaiah 48:11 – "I will not give my glory unto another" (see also Isaiah 42:8).

Malachi 2:10 – "There is only one God, who is the Creator and Father of mankind."

Zechariah 14:4-9 – "4 And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, Which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, From east to west, Making a very large valley; Half of the mountain shall move toward the north And half of it toward the south. 5 Then you shall flee through My mountain valley, For the mountain valley shall reach to Azal. Yes, you shall flee As you fled from the earthquake In the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Thus the Lord my God will come, And all the saints with You. 6 It shall come to pass in that day That there will be no light; The lights will diminish. 7 It shall be one day Which is known to the Lord-- Neither day nor night. But at evening time it shall happen That it will be light. 8 And in that day it shall be That living waters shall flow from Jerusalem, Half of them toward the eastern sea And half of them toward the western sea; In both summer and winter it shall occur. 9 And the Lord shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be-- "The Lord is one," And His name one."

New Testament

Jesus

John 10:30 – "I and my Father are one." (emphatic use can be translated "one and the same.")

John 14:9 – "Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?" (literally, "you have seen the very Father.")

John 14:11 – "I am in the Father, and the Father in me." (Light bulb – the light is in the bulb yet the light is beyond it)

Paul

Acts 20:28 – "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood."

1 Corinthians 8:4 – "Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one."

1 Corinthians 12:3 – "Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit."

Ephesians 4:4-6 – "4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."

Colossians 1:13-20 – "13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

Colossians 2:9 – "For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;"

1 Timothy 3:16 – "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory."

Titus 2:13 – "Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,"

Other witnesses

John 1:1,14 – "1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." (became flesh – literally, the Word was tabernacled or dwelt in the flesh.)

James 2:19 – "You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe--and tremble!."

Revelation 4:2 – "Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne."

 

The scripture is clear – the Old Testament view of God is strictly, strongly, unwaveringly monotheistic and Oneness. The Jews deny any tri-unity in the person of God, which is a problem that many have with "orthodox" Christianity. The New Testament affirms the traditional Old Testament view – Jesus is God, and God is One.

 

Is baptism necessary?

Baptism is necessary for remission of sins and salvation

Matthew 28:19 – "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,"

Mark 16:16 – "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned."

John 3:5 – "Jesus answered, Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God."

Acts 2:38 – "Then Peter said to them, Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

Acts 22:16 – "And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord."

1 Peter 3:21 – "The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:"

Baptism associates us with Christ

Romans 6:3-4 – "3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."

Galatians 3:27 – "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ."

Colossians 2:11-12 – "11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead."

 

You cannot be associated with Christ if you haven't been buried with Him in baptism, obeying His commands, as well as the example of scripture.

 

Does mode really matter?

Baptism, biblically, only occurs in Jesus' name

Acts 2:38 - "Then Peter said to them, Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

Acts 8:14-16 – "14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus."

Acts 10:48 – "And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord."

Acts 19:5 – "When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus."

In an instance where baptism did NOT occur according to the Acts 2:38 formula, Paul rebaptized.

Acts 19:1-5 – "1 And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples 2 he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" So they said to him, "We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit." 3 And he said to them, "Into what then were you baptized?" So they said, "Into John's baptism." 4 Then Paul said, "John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus." 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus."

 

To baptize comes from the Greek word baptizo, meaning "to dip or to plunge." The literal connotation has to do with dipping a garment in a dye.

 

A Problem with the Coeternal, Coequal members of the alleged "Trinity"

Philippians 2:5-11 – "5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

vs. 6 – "who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,"

form = morphe, or image. Just as Adam was made in the image of God, so Jesus was made in the image of God. This has nothing to do with Jesus being divine.

vs. 7 – "but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men."

Jesus lowered Himself by taking the role of a servant (i.e., washing the disciples' feet.)

Christ could not point to Himself and bring glory to Himself as a man.

He did not grasp at power, but "grasped" or took the form of a servant.

Adam in the Garden was tempted to eat, to grasp at knowledge in disobedience to God.

Hosea 6:7, "But they like men (literally "adam" or Adam) have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me."

Jesus had to pick up where Adam left off. At His baptism He is covenanting to fulfill His role as perfect man.

Ps. 22 and Is. 46 point to the Messianic King who will rule through suffering.

In the wilderness the Devil tempts Jesus to take a shortcut: rule without suffering. But this would break covenant like Adam!

vs. 8 – "And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

Parallelism:

Became a man…

    Humbled Himself…

        Obedient to death…

            Even the death of the cross…

He was obedient in His role as a suffering servant

vs. 9 – "9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,"

Vs. 9 – "given Him (Christ) a name which is above every name"

According to the trinitarian model:

Prior to Incarnation: 

God the Father         God the Son         God the Holy Spirit

At the Incarnation: 

God the Father                                         God the Holy Spirit

God the Son

After the Incarnation: 

God the Son

God the Father                                         God the Holy Spirit

Does Jesus have a name that is higher than the Father? This doesn't seem coequal.

vs. 10,11 – "10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Is the Father in heaven? Is the Holy Spirit in heaven? Will they be bowing to the second person, Jesus? This still isn't a coeternal, coequal triune Godhead.

Bible Study - The Historical Development of the Trinity

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Historical Doctrine of the Godhead
The Development of the Trinity

Jewish Monotheism (see Deut. 6:4, etc.) did not hold a tri-theistic view of God. The Jews are the original monotheists; the strictness and exclusivity of YHWH to all other deities was a distinguishing factor of the Judaism from other religious views.

The rise of Christianity led to certain dilemma for the early church – what was Jesus’ relationship to the Father? Jesus spoke of the Father as separate from Him, language that in this day was unique – no one spoke of God is such intimate terms (Abba means the equivalent of “daddy”) – but in our modern view, the Father seems very distant from the Son.

Over the years, several different views arose – The Post-Apostolic Age (AD 90-140), Greek Apologists (AD 130-180), Old Catholic Age (AD 170-325), The Council of Nicea (325 AD), and The Council of Constantinople (381 AD).

· The Post-Apostolic Age

o The Post-Apostolic Father maintained that there was one God, and that Jesus Christ was God.

o Similar to NT language, distinguishing between the Father and Son.

o HS spoken of in passing; viewed as God’s Spirit/Spirit of God and revealed through Jesus Christ. Spirit and Son used interchangeably.

· The Greek Apologists

o Writers were Greek teachers/philosophers who wrote defenses of the Gospel for pagans.

§ During this period, the doctrine of the Logos, already popular in Hellenistic culture and philosophy, was propagated and developed.

§ A precursor, of sorts, to orthodox trinitarianism. Explaining Jesus/Logos in philosophical terms rather than scriptural terms led to a false understanding of Christ and His relationship to the Father.

· Son seen as divine reason, existing in the mind of God without personal existence, until He emanated from God as the first creation of the Father for the specific purpose of Creation.

§ Spoke of a Jesus Who was subordinate to the Father

§ Father and Son are not coeternal, consubstantial, or coequal.

§ Not much attention given to Holy Spirit.

§ Godhead viewed, at best, as triad, not trinity.

o Justin Martyr

§ First writer to clearly teach a plurality within the Godhead:

· “We reasonably worship [Jesus Christ], having learned that He is the Son of the true God Himself, and holding Him in the second place, and the prophetic Spirit in the third. There is … another God and Lord subject to the Maker of all things; who is also called an Angel, because He announces to men whatsoever the Maker of all things-above whom there is no other God-wishes to announce to them. … He who is said to have appeared to Abraham, and to Jacob, and to Moses, and who is called God, is distinct from Him who made all things-numerically, I mean, not (distinct) in will.”

§ Justin’s theology made the Logos the second person to the Father, and was subordinate to the Father. His doctrine was probably a precursor of Arianism.

o Tatian

§ Disciple of Justin Martyr

§ Logos was not equal to the Father, but was His first creation.

· "God was in the beginning; but the beginning…is the power of the Logos. … With Him, by Logos-power, the Logos Himself also, who was in Him, subsists. And by His simple will the Logos springs forth; and the Logos, not coming forth in vain, becomes the first-begotten work of the Father. … The Logos, begotten in the beginning, begat in turn our world."

o Athenagoras

§ Taught of God in some sort of a triad.

· "[Christians desire] this one thing alone, that they know God and His Logos, what is the oneness of the Son with the Father, what is the communion of the Father with the Son, what is the Spirit, what is the unity of these three, the Spirit, the Son, Father, and their distinction in unity.”

· Old Catholic Age

o Period of greatest theological growth

§ Writers include Irenaeus, Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria, Origen, and Cyprian

o Iranaeus

§ Affirmed a pre-existent Son

· The faith of the church was “in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven, and earth, … and in one Christ Jesus, the Son of God, who became incarnate for our salvation; and in the Holy Spirit…." (Against Heresies 182-188)

§ Taught that Logos coexisted with the Father and was eternal

§ Holy Spirit equated with the Father, or God’s wisdom spoken of in OT

§ Father, Son, and HS are seen as having three separate activities, or aspects to accomplishing a common goal, each role being carried out by a different member of the triune God: “the Father planning everything well and giving His commands, the Son carrying these into execution and performing the work of creating, and the Spirit nourishing and increasing (what is made).”

o Tertullian

§ First of speak of God as a trinity and as three persons in one substance

§ Ranks the persons according to order:

· “…how comes it to pass that God should be thought to suffer division and severance in the Son and in the Holy Ghost, who have the second and the third places assigned to them, and who are so closely joined with the Father in His substance….”

§ Speaks of three Persons as parts of the whole Godhead:

· “The Father is the entire substance, but the Son is a derivation and portion of the whole. … The Father is…greater than the Son." The Son of God is "a portion of the whole Godhead.”

§ Admits that most “common” people would reject these teachings

· The Road to Nicea

o In AD 318, Arius and the bishop of Alexandria, Alexander, about the nature of the Logos. Arius and his followers were excommunicated by Alexander and his friends, so a schism rose within the church.

o Constantine, who had just become sole emperor of Rome, had looked to the Church as a way to stabilize the empire. When he received word of this schism, he called the council of Nicea to agree on a common doctrine.

o Arianism was rejected, and the council sought to define the common accepted faith of the church. They needed a statement of faith. The derived statement of faith was:

§ “We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, begotten of the Father, the only begotten; that is, of the essence of the Father, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance [homoousios] with the Father; by whom all things were made both in heaven and on earth; who for us men, and for our salvation, came down and was incarnate and was made man; he suffered, and the third day he rose again, ascended into heaven; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. And in the Holy Ghost. But those who say: "There was a time when he was not"; and "He was not before he was made"; and "He was made out of nothing," or "He is of another substance" or "essence," or "The Son of God is created," or "changeable," or "alterable"-they are condemned by the holy catholic and apostolic church.”

o NOTE: No discussion of the HOLY GHOST!!!!!

· The Road to Constantinople and the Cappadocian Fathers

o After Nicea, not much changed in the way the doctrine was being taught.

§ Arianism rose again and became the dominant view in the East.

· Constantine and his son, Constantius II, adopted the Arian doctrine.

· Between 328 and 379, many bishops signed Arian Creeds of confession.

o The Cappadocian Fathers – Basil of Caesarea, Gregory of Nyssa, and Gregory of Nazianzus – reworked the Nicene Creed and Athanasius’ teachings to make them more acceptable. Their work is reflected in the synthesis of modern trinitarian doctrine.

§ “The one God-head subsists in three coequal, coeternal, coessential persons, and this truth is an incomprehensible mystery. There is communion of substance but distinction of personhood. This trinity is a perfect, inseparable, indivisible union, and the persons work together in all things. The unique distinguishing characteristics of the persons are as follows: the Father is unbegotten, the Son is begotten (generated), and the Holy Spirit is proceeding (spirated). The generation of the Son and the procession of the Holy Spirit are mysteries, however. While the persons are coequal and coeternal, the Father is in some sense the head and the origin.”

· The Council of Constantinople

o In AD 379, Theodosis I became ruler of the Roman Empire, and was a staunch Nicene supporter. Called a second ecumenical council in 381 at Constantinople to reaffirm and solidify the creed of the church. The result:

§ “We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit He became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father [and the Son]. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.”

· Conclusion

o The Creed of Constantinople was the first real notion of the trinity as defined today.

§ Does this mean that there were 300+ years of heresy?

§ Were the Old Testament prophets, priests, teachers, leaders, and patriarchs wrong?

§ Was Paul wrong?

The Wedding/Honeymoon Blog

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Relax, it's all very "G" rated.

We are married, the wedding was wonderful, and the honeymoon was terrific. It was relaxing, and fun, and nice to get to spend the time, just her and I, getting used to being married. We journaled every day, so I will be typing the days' entries into blogs with their respective names.

I love being married - I love having my best friend around all the time, and having someone to talk to at night and first thing in the morning without having to listen to a phone ringing or playing phone tag. It's great to be able to stand together at church and worship together, or to have friends over to OUR home for dinner or games or Bible study.

We received a couple's devotional book as a wedding gift from one of my groomsmen, and we've been reading it together every night. We both love it, and as we discussed the talking points at the end of each selection, many nights we've each had tears in our eyes. On Tuesdays, we have started a Bible study with a new couple from church, and after talking tonight, they are going to be bringing some friends and family with them as we go through the basics of biblical doctrine. I'm so excited about my life with my wife, my helper, and my best friend. I thank God for sending her into my life.

Update

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Nine days until the wedding ....

And the wedding stuff is going well. I finished designing the program this morning, so I'll be sending it off to the printer here soon. I have a couple other projects to finish - a video slideshow to music (yeah, I'll put it on YouTube), artificially lengthening the songs in the wedding so the wedding party can file in, and building little platforms for some columns, because the guys in my wedding are too tall. But, all-in-all, it is coming together beautifully, and I'm excited about it.

I've totally moved into my apartment now. It was a little weird at first; I couldn't believe how quiet it was. I was kinda freaked out by the silence, but now I enjoy it. I've had a few friends over, and I've cooked three meals. First, was chicken with red potatoes and salad, second was homemade chicken parmesan with Italian green beans and tortellini. The only thing in that recipe that wasn't from scratch was the tortellini. I made my own bread crumbs, sauce, and green beans, and it was delicious. I actually surprised myself with how good it was. Then, I made a pot roast with potatoes and carrots. While it was delicious, I did manage to cause the crock of the crock pot to explode. Note: Ceramic + Stove = Exploding Ceramic.

The job situation seems to be coming together. I have a second interview Friday with National City Bank as a part time teller, which would be perfect for my schedule with school. I really have been praying for a job opportunity that would allow me to have my evenings and weekends free, because I want to spend them with Heidi. If this position works out, with the help of the Lord (please, God, PLEASE!!!!), I won't have any evenings, and only Saturdays until noon. I can handle that.

Anyway, I have thank-you cards to write and rebates to send in, so while I have another blog ruminating, it will have to wait for another day.

Update

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I found a couple of great websites for preaching: www.faithbuilder.us and www.goodpreaching.com. Both have Apostolic preaching for free. Also, I have RealPlayer on my computer, and the new version has a plug-in that enables me to download the sermon that I'm listening to, so I can add it to my iTunes directory and put it on my iPod to listen to when I am driving. faithbuilder.us has preaching by Jeff Arnold, and it's the only place online that I've found free Jeff Arnold sermons.

I still haven't found permanent work, but I do have a good temporary solution - substitute teaching. Classes start August 11, so it won't interfere with the honeymoon and stuff. I can make a minimum of $65.00 per day, up to almost $100.00 per day. It would solve a lot of problems, offer the flexibility I need, and not interfere with evenings or weekends, so I could study, spend time with Heidi, and learn how to be married and whatnot. I'm not trying to force anything on God, and I want to make sure it's right for me and for what He has for me ... but this would be a great opportunity.

I get married in 22 days. I move into my own apartment, living on my own for the first time ever in my entire life, tomorrow. My room is a mess right now, as I get ready to go ... and it scares me a little bit. It all seems a little surreal, but I told a friend of mine who is in a relationship that is moving towards serious that when you meet someone who makes you better, don't let her go. When you reach a point that you can't remember life without her, that's when you know that it's right. That's how I feel. Heidi makes me better in every way - spiritually, academically, physically, emotionally ... she makes me want to be better. And while we haven't even been dating long, I don't remember my life without her, and I can't imagine my future without her by my side.

I preached at the jail two weeks in a row, and I was talking to a preacher friend about one of my sermons, and he said something profound - "Don't study the Bible looking for a sermon. When you preach, it should be a reflection of your relationship with God." It made me think of a quote by Seneca: "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." To apply it to this circumstance, "Ministry is what happens when the relationship meets the need." How can we pour out God's spirit and love on someone else if we haven't been spending time in God's spirit, filling up on God's spirit, and learning how to love like God?

It challenged me to learn to love God, to draw close to God, and to build my relationship with God, so that my ministering isn't studying the Bible for something cute or witty or academically fun; rather, I want my ministering to be a reflection of my relationship with Him.

Reflections

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I get married in 37 days. I move into my first apartment in 16 days. I am still a student, and Heidi and I planned our budget, and I only need to have enough money to basically cover rent and groceries. It's not much, only between an grand and $1200 bring home a month, but I'm in a tough financial situation.

I quit a great job at AT&T because I had a "dream" job with a guy from my church. I thought it was going to be everything I wanted, so I ignored some misgivings in my gut. I wanted to make the switch so desperately, that I completely avoided talking to my pastor about making the change. The job situation with the guy from church didn't work out, so now I'm recently engaged and unemployed. I got a job at my favorite restaurant, where I am friends with the manager, and he tells me that he wants me to be a sort of supervisor for the hosts/hostesses, running and managing the guest list and making sure the guests are sat as quickly as possible. He assures me that, in this position, I won't have any problem making the money I need to make, but so far, I've not made much more than about $50.00/week. I asked him several times if I could start training as a server, where I'm sure to make more money, but he keeps telling me that I have to "earn" it, and that I have to wait my turn. Meanwhile, he has hired 7 new servers.

I don't blame my boss, though I am a bit frustrated with him. But I really blame myself. I screwed up; I had misgivings about the job with the guy from church, but I didn't follow my gut (which, honestly, is never wrong. Seriously, it's scary how accurate it is). I was so desperate to do what I wanted to do, that I totally ignored the check of the Holy Spirit in telling me what is the right thing to do. I'm so totally overwhelmed by my current situation, and I really need a miracle to make something happen.

Sunday night at church, Pastor preached a sermon titled "Yet." His main text was Job 13:15 - "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him." He preached that we give God the 'though's - all the problems we have, all the situations that haven't been worked out, all the reasons why we can't and our lives are total disasters, and then we should always say, "Yet." Yet, God can make a way. Yet, God can provide a need. Yet, God can restore a destroyed life.

"Though problem, yet God."

I have the 'though.' I believe God can and will provide my 'yet,' but I'm really starting to get scared. I can't even get a bad job - I'm just getting no job. And I need God to give me my 'yet.'

Identity

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Tonight, a friend of mine left a comment on my MySpace page. I had to go check her profile to find out who it was, because her moniker identifies her only as "______'s Mommy" and her avatar is of her baby.

It falls into something that I've been thinking about ... she identifies herself by her daughter. Her identity is wrapped up in who her children are. Countless times growing up, my parents would remind me before I'd head out for a sleepover or to spend time at a friend's house, "Don't forget who's child you are." People will develop an opinion of my friend based on her daughter; my parents cautioned me to behave, because they knew that my behavior would be a reflection on them.

God refers to Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (Exodus 3:15) He willingly identifies Himself by His relationship with mankind. After Daniel was delivered out of the lions' den, the king admonished the people to serve the God of Daniel. (Daniel 6:26) Again, God was identified by his relationship with mankind.

We've all heard the commandment, "Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain," and we all know that it's inappropriate for us to use the name of Jesus as an exclamation, or to use an variation on Jesus, God, or Christ lightly in our speech. We've been taught that since we were children. But I think the meaning of the text is deeper than that. When we're baptized, we put on Christ. (Galatians 3:27) The Bible also speaks of being baptized into adoption. We literally take the name of Christ in baptism, and have it applied to our lives, and it's as though we have been formally adopted, and our names changed. We're no longer our own, strangers and foreigners - we're Christ's, fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God. (Ephesians 2:19)

Considering this, when we take the name of the LORD upon us in baptism, and then go into the world and live as though there were no consequence, we're taking the LORD's name upon our lives in vain. We call ourselves Christians, and then don't live as though we were transformed or changed in any way at all. We embarrass God, and put Him to an open shame. When the world sees us, what do they learn about God?

What have I taught the world about God today?

Content

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Heidi spent the weekend up in Indy; she lives in Bloomington, and her schedule has gotten quite busy this summer, so I usually only get to see her on weekends. She came up Friday night for a game night with my Young Adult group, and spent the night; Saturday was spent reading and relaxing before I went to work, then I came back and we spent the evening together at dinner with my family before they left for the Bahamas. Sunday, we went to church, to dinner with friends, and then did some errands to get ready for the wedding, before going to church that evening. After church, she and I went out to dinner, just the two of us.

When we sat down at the table, I realized that I had left my cell phone in my car, so I went to get it. I stood up, leaned over and gave her a kiss, and told her, "I'm very ..." and I paused. I was going to say that I was happy, but somehow that didn't seem quite right. So I smiled, kissed her cheek again, and told her, "I'm very content right now."

Happiness is an emotion, a temporary state or condition. But content reaches deeper; it's more lasting. Paul said, "Whatever state I'm in, I've learned to be content." It's a satisfaction that isn't dependent upon circumstances or situations or anything like that; it's a deep, condition-of-the-heart sort of thing. And in my life, I am content. At church, with Heidi, and the direction I'm going, I am content.

Random, non-rant update

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I know, I know - my rants, they're fun. But, this is not a rant. I just had an experience that makes me want to rant, but I'm not ranting about it. Instead, just a little update.

My fiance is a dietitian, and my brother is a gym rat. Between the two of them, they've determined that I should lose weight. So, Heidi has helped me to plan wise, healthy, low-fat, low-cholesterol, and low-sodium choices. The sodium thing ... I'm not into that. I loves me some salt.

And little brother has me working out. I'm at the gym five days a week. Here's my routine:

Mondays:
5 minutes on treadmill
Weights - legs and abs
20 minutes on stationary bike, maintaining heart rate at 130 bpm

Tuesdays:
2 hours of full-court basketball
Weights - upper body

Wednesdays:
5 minutes on treadmill
Weights - legs and abs
20 minutes on stationary bike, maintaining heart rate at 130 bpm

Thursdays:
5 minutes on treadmill
Weights - upper body
20 minutes on stationary bike, maintaining heart rate at 130 bpm

Fridays:
2 hours of full-court basketball

In three weeks, I've lost about 13 pounds, and that includes the third week when I gained two pounds because I went camping and ate horribly. But I'm back on the wagon and I am really enjoying working out.

That's all. Wish me luck. I want to lose another 40 or so by the wedding, which is in 63 days, and then continue weight loss further until I reach my goal, which essentially 1.5 average sized women. I have a lot to lose, but I am feeling good about the progress I've made.

If

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If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!
Rudyard Kipling

Love Made Me Cry

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I'm not much of a crier.

In fact, one of my father’s greatest laments about me for a large portion of my life has been my lack of emotion. I long lamented to those with whom I sought counsel that I was emotionally autistic, if there is such a thing.

“Emote!” my dad would challenge me. But, I never did. I was a stalwart, stoic in the face of tragedy, or loss, or sorrow. I was the one people leaned on at funerals, even my own grandfather’s, because I didn’t cry. I was strong and stable … but eventually I became cold and reclusive.

But falling in love has made me cry. I'm experiencing an entirely new array of emotions, from true, deep laughter to simple happiness. I have satisfaction in the moment in a way that I never have before. I can see myself responding with more compassion towards people in general than ever before. I provide better customer service at work, because I’m genuinely happier.

Lately, when I’m with her, I want to do a jig, because there is so much happiness and joy bubbling up inside of me. I can’t help myself. I connect emotionally with characters in movies and books and television shows, and cry when something tragic or exceptionally wonderful happens to them. And when I see the face of a child, or the smile of an infant and the laughter and wonder of that youth, I can’t imagine how anyone could ever not love them. I find myself eager to start a family, but I don’t know how I could possibly have any more love for my own children than I do for my almost-nephew.

I sound sappy, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. I’m experiencing life in a way that I never have before.

Relationship

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Luke 17

11 And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: 13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. 14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. 17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? 18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. 19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

They were all cleansed from sin; only one was made whole.

Repentance cleanses sin; relationship restores life.