Friday, July 25, 2008
How will you respond when they ask?
Recently, someone asked me why Jesus, if He was God, did not just spiritually transport Himself through the sepulcher, instead of removing the stone. I simply explained to him that human beings cannot do that, and since Jesus was a human being when He died, he would have to be resurrected as a human being. His facial appearance indicated an understanding of and an appreciation for the response. The brief encounter made me wonder, however, if I am prepared to answer the harder questions. Why does God allow suffering? Doesn’t God want me to be happy? Why didn’t God answer my prayer? Even more compelling, how do I explain my faith? How do I argue that which I have never seen? Are you prepared to answer these and other questions? Your faith is not for you alone. Freely you have received, and you are to freely give your faith to others.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
They won't think!
This post is a diversion from more recent posts, but one that I believe is important to the issue of a renewed mind. In 1921, Thomas Edison wrote a piece entitled "They Won't Think." By historical accounts, Edision himself was an atheist. However, he was married to Mina Miller, a devout Methodist. It is interesting to read his persective on the importance of thinking, and realize that while he found great value in exercising the mind, he would neither acknowledge nor give honor to the God that gave him his mind. Here is the piece in its entirety:
THEY WON'T THINK.....dated 1921 by Thomas Edison
EVERY MAN has some forte, something he can do better than he can do anything else. Many men, however, never find the job they are best suited for. And often this is because they do not think enough. Too many men drift lazily into any job, suited or unsuited for them; and when they don't get along well they blame everybody and everything but themselves.
Grouches are nearly always pinheads, small men who have never made any effort to improve their mental capacity.
The brain can be developed just the same as the muscles can be developed, if one will only take the pains to train the mind to think.
Why do so many men never amount to anything? Because they don't think.
I am going to have a sign put up all over my plant, reading "There is no expedient to which a man will not resort to avoid the real labor of thinking."
That is true. There is hardly a day that I do not discover how painfully true it is.
What progress individuals could make, and what progress the world would make, if thinking were given proper consideration! It seems to me that not one man in a thousand appreciates what can be accomplished by training the mind to think.
It is because they do not use their thinking powers that so many people have never developed a creditable mentality. The brain that isn't used rusts. The brain that is used responds. The brain is exactly like any other part of the body: it can be strengthened by proper exercise, by proper use. Put your arm in a sling and keep it there for a considerable length of time, and, when you take it out, you find that you can't use it. In the same way, the brain that isn't used suffers atrophy.
By developing your thinking powers you expand the capacity of your brain and attain new abilities. For example, the average person's brain does not observe a thousandth part of what the eye observes. The average brain simply fails to register the things which come before the eye. It is almost incredible how poor our powers of observation--genuine observation--are.
Let me give an illustration: When we first started the incandescent lighting system we had a lamp factory at the bottom of a hill, at Menlo Park. It was a very busy time for us all. Seventy-five of us worked twenty hours every day and slept only four hours--and thrived on it.
I fed them all, and I had a man play an organ all the time we were at work. One midnight, while at lunch, a matter came up which caused me to refer to a cherry tree beside the hill leading from the main works to the lamp factory. Nobody seemed to know anything about the location of the cherry tree. This made me conduct a little investigation, and I found that although twenty-seven of these men had used this path every day for six months not one of them had ever noticed the tree.
The eye sees a great many things, but the average brain records very few of them. Indeed, nobody has the slightest conception of how little the brain 'sees' unless it has been highly trained. I remember dropping in to see a man whose duty was to watch the working of a hundred machines on a table. I asked him if everything was all right.
Yes, everything is all right, he said.
But, I had already noticed that two of the machines had stopped. I drew his attention to them, and he was mortified. He confessed that, although his sole duty was to watch and see that every machine was working, he had not noticed that these two had stopped. I could hide myself off and keep busy at thinking forever. I don't need anybody to amuse me. It is the same way with my friends John Burroughs, the naturalist, and Henry Ford, who is a natural-born mechanic. We can derive the most satisfying kind of joy from thinking and thinking and thinking.
The man who doesn't make up his mind to cultivate the habit of thinking misses the greatest pleasure in life. He not only misses the greatest pleasure, but he cannot make the most of himself. All progress, all success, springs from thinking.
Of course, even the most concentrated thinking cannot solve every new problem that the brain can conceive. It usually takes me from five to seven years to perfect a thing. Some things I have been working on for twenty-five years--and some of them are still unsolved. My average would be about seven years. The incandescent light was the hardest one of all; it took many years not only of concentrated thought but also of world-wide research. The storage battery took eight years. It took even longer to perfect the phonograph.
Which do I consider my greatest invention? Well, my reply to that would be that I like the phonograph best. Doubtless this is because I love music. And then it has brought so much joy into millions of homes all over the country, and, indeed, all over the world. Music is so helpful to the human mind that it is naturally a source of satisfaction to me that I have helped in some way to make the very finest music available to millions who could not afford to pay the price and time necessary to hear the greatest artists sing and play.
Many inventions are not suitable for the people at large because of their carelessness. Before a thing can be marketed to the masses, it must be made practically fool-proof. Its operation must be made extremely simple. That is one reason, I think, why the phonograph has been so universally adopted. Even a child can operate it.
Another reason, is that people are far more willing to pay for being amused than for anything else.
One great trouble with the world to-day is that people wander from place to place, and are never satisfied with anything. They are shiftless and thoughtless. They revolt at buckling down and doing hard work and hard thinking. They refuse to take the time and the trouble to lay solid foundations. They are too superficial, too flighty, too easily bored. They fail to adopt the right spirit toward their life work, and consequently fail to enjoy the satisfaction and the happiness which comes from doing a job, no matter what it is, absolutely in the best way within their power. Failing to find the joy which they should find in accomplishing something, they turn to every imaginable variety of amusement. Instead of learning to drink in joy through their minds, they try to find it, without effort, through their eyes and their ears--and sometimes their stomachs.
It is all because they won't think, won't think!
THEY WON'T THINK.....dated 1921 by Thomas Edison
EVERY MAN has some forte, something he can do better than he can do anything else. Many men, however, never find the job they are best suited for. And often this is because they do not think enough. Too many men drift lazily into any job, suited or unsuited for them; and when they don't get along well they blame everybody and everything but themselves.
Grouches are nearly always pinheads, small men who have never made any effort to improve their mental capacity.
The brain can be developed just the same as the muscles can be developed, if one will only take the pains to train the mind to think.
Why do so many men never amount to anything? Because they don't think.
I am going to have a sign put up all over my plant, reading "There is no expedient to which a man will not resort to avoid the real labor of thinking."
That is true. There is hardly a day that I do not discover how painfully true it is.
What progress individuals could make, and what progress the world would make, if thinking were given proper consideration! It seems to me that not one man in a thousand appreciates what can be accomplished by training the mind to think.
It is because they do not use their thinking powers that so many people have never developed a creditable mentality. The brain that isn't used rusts. The brain that is used responds. The brain is exactly like any other part of the body: it can be strengthened by proper exercise, by proper use. Put your arm in a sling and keep it there for a considerable length of time, and, when you take it out, you find that you can't use it. In the same way, the brain that isn't used suffers atrophy.
By developing your thinking powers you expand the capacity of your brain and attain new abilities. For example, the average person's brain does not observe a thousandth part of what the eye observes. The average brain simply fails to register the things which come before the eye. It is almost incredible how poor our powers of observation--genuine observation--are.
Let me give an illustration: When we first started the incandescent lighting system we had a lamp factory at the bottom of a hill, at Menlo Park. It was a very busy time for us all. Seventy-five of us worked twenty hours every day and slept only four hours--and thrived on it.
I fed them all, and I had a man play an organ all the time we were at work. One midnight, while at lunch, a matter came up which caused me to refer to a cherry tree beside the hill leading from the main works to the lamp factory. Nobody seemed to know anything about the location of the cherry tree. This made me conduct a little investigation, and I found that although twenty-seven of these men had used this path every day for six months not one of them had ever noticed the tree.
The eye sees a great many things, but the average brain records very few of them. Indeed, nobody has the slightest conception of how little the brain 'sees' unless it has been highly trained. I remember dropping in to see a man whose duty was to watch the working of a hundred machines on a table. I asked him if everything was all right.
Yes, everything is all right, he said.
But, I had already noticed that two of the machines had stopped. I drew his attention to them, and he was mortified. He confessed that, although his sole duty was to watch and see that every machine was working, he had not noticed that these two had stopped. I could hide myself off and keep busy at thinking forever. I don't need anybody to amuse me. It is the same way with my friends John Burroughs, the naturalist, and Henry Ford, who is a natural-born mechanic. We can derive the most satisfying kind of joy from thinking and thinking and thinking.
The man who doesn't make up his mind to cultivate the habit of thinking misses the greatest pleasure in life. He not only misses the greatest pleasure, but he cannot make the most of himself. All progress, all success, springs from thinking.
Of course, even the most concentrated thinking cannot solve every new problem that the brain can conceive. It usually takes me from five to seven years to perfect a thing. Some things I have been working on for twenty-five years--and some of them are still unsolved. My average would be about seven years. The incandescent light was the hardest one of all; it took many years not only of concentrated thought but also of world-wide research. The storage battery took eight years. It took even longer to perfect the phonograph.
Which do I consider my greatest invention? Well, my reply to that would be that I like the phonograph best. Doubtless this is because I love music. And then it has brought so much joy into millions of homes all over the country, and, indeed, all over the world. Music is so helpful to the human mind that it is naturally a source of satisfaction to me that I have helped in some way to make the very finest music available to millions who could not afford to pay the price and time necessary to hear the greatest artists sing and play.
Many inventions are not suitable for the people at large because of their carelessness. Before a thing can be marketed to the masses, it must be made practically fool-proof. Its operation must be made extremely simple. That is one reason, I think, why the phonograph has been so universally adopted. Even a child can operate it.
Another reason, is that people are far more willing to pay for being amused than for anything else.
One great trouble with the world to-day is that people wander from place to place, and are never satisfied with anything. They are shiftless and thoughtless. They revolt at buckling down and doing hard work and hard thinking. They refuse to take the time and the trouble to lay solid foundations. They are too superficial, too flighty, too easily bored. They fail to adopt the right spirit toward their life work, and consequently fail to enjoy the satisfaction and the happiness which comes from doing a job, no matter what it is, absolutely in the best way within their power. Failing to find the joy which they should find in accomplishing something, they turn to every imaginable variety of amusement. Instead of learning to drink in joy through their minds, they try to find it, without effort, through their eyes and their ears--and sometimes their stomachs.
It is all because they won't think, won't think!
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Exercise Your Mind
Gal. 3:1 (KJV) - O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
There are two important words in this Scripture that the renewed mind of the Christian must comprehend and understand. The first is the word foolish. The Greek word is anoetos, which translated means not exercising the mind. The second word is bewitched. The Greek word is baskaino, which means to malign or fascinate by false representation. Paul was lamenting that the Galatians, who had received the truth, were willing to easily accept the false teaching that was being presented to them, rather than challenging and defending the truth that had been freely given to them prior. This is the challenge that is set before every Christian. Is the Christian so persuaded by the presentation of a message that he or she fails to test it against the Word of truth? Is that Christian quick to defend the messenger before measuring the accuracy of the message? The result of not exercising the mind is being persuaded by anything that appeals to the senses. It sounds good to me; therefore, it must be true. The enemy will use that lack of knowledge to destroy the very foundation of that believer’s faith. The Lord has given us the ability to renew our minds; it is our responsibility to do it on a constant basis.
There are two important words in this Scripture that the renewed mind of the Christian must comprehend and understand. The first is the word foolish. The Greek word is anoetos, which translated means not exercising the mind. The second word is bewitched. The Greek word is baskaino, which means to malign or fascinate by false representation. Paul was lamenting that the Galatians, who had received the truth, were willing to easily accept the false teaching that was being presented to them, rather than challenging and defending the truth that had been freely given to them prior. This is the challenge that is set before every Christian. Is the Christian so persuaded by the presentation of a message that he or she fails to test it against the Word of truth? Is that Christian quick to defend the messenger before measuring the accuracy of the message? The result of not exercising the mind is being persuaded by anything that appeals to the senses. It sounds good to me; therefore, it must be true. The enemy will use that lack of knowledge to destroy the very foundation of that believer’s faith. The Lord has given us the ability to renew our minds; it is our responsibility to do it on a constant basis.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Renewing Your Mind
Eph. 4:23 (KJV) - And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
The Greek word for renewed in this Scripture is ananeoo, which means to renovate. The definition of renovate is to restore to good condition; make new or as if new again; repair. Hence, I am to restore to good condition the spirit of my mind. The Lord Himself is letting me know that the condition of my mind was depraved when I came to him, and that I must work to restore it to good condition. This renewing is not a single action. The prefix ana in the word implies repetitiveness; therefore, I must restore or repair my mind repeatedly. Renewing my mind must become a habit. Just as I ensure that I provide my body the nourishment that it needs to perform, I must intentionally devote time to renewing my mind. 1 Cor. 15:31 – “I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.” If I, like Paul, am to die daily, then each day I am resurrected and live anew. If I live anew, then my mind must be renewed each day. We are creatures of habit. Let your habit become one of renewing your mind daily.
The Greek word for renewed in this Scripture is ananeoo, which means to renovate. The definition of renovate is to restore to good condition; make new or as if new again; repair. Hence, I am to restore to good condition the spirit of my mind. The Lord Himself is letting me know that the condition of my mind was depraved when I came to him, and that I must work to restore it to good condition. This renewing is not a single action. The prefix ana in the word implies repetitiveness; therefore, I must restore or repair my mind repeatedly. Renewing my mind must become a habit. Just as I ensure that I provide my body the nourishment that it needs to perform, I must intentionally devote time to renewing my mind. 1 Cor. 15:31 – “I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.” If I, like Paul, am to die daily, then each day I am resurrected and live anew. If I live anew, then my mind must be renewed each day. We are creatures of habit. Let your habit become one of renewing your mind daily.
Monday, July 21, 2008
A Renewed Mind
This issue of a renewed mind is one that I have been meditating on for some time, and over the next few days I will be posting thoughts here about a renewed mind. I look forward to hearing your thoughts about this issue as well, so let me know what the Lord has spoken to you on this matter.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Stepping out of the boat!
Well, this Friday will be a special day for me. It will be my last day at my company. My focus needs to be on the kingdom of God. I know by the world's standard this seems foolish; however, I am reminded that the foolishness of God is greater than man's wisdom. One of the areas of my life that was sacrificed was the daily devotionals that I used to write. I was disturbed that I allowed the cares of this world to precede the work of the kingdom. It is very easy to justify making money to have the lifestyle I want; however, the words of Jesus bring a stinging rebuke to that justification - you cannot serve God and mammon. Lately, I have been speaking about how we have allowed too much of the world to influence the church, when it should be the other way around. For example, we have no problem bringing the world's politics into the church, but what have we done to put the church into the world's politics? This is one of the many issues I will be addressing in the days and months to come.
Monday, January 21, 2008
I am deeply disturbed...
I have been deeply disturbed by some writings that I came across recently. Now, before I go further, I think it is important to understand that I don't read many books. I am not one that is very much into the latest religious bestseller, nor do I purchase a book because it was written by some well-known name in the Christian community. I look for books that will bring life, even if those books were written long ago. Such is the case with The Cost of Discipleship, written in 1937 by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Dietrich was a German pastor who opposed the Nazi regime, and was involved in an attempt to overthrow Hitler. The plan failed, and Bonhoeffer was arrested and eventually executed. Yet, in his book, which I have not completed, he made two profound statements which rattled my core. In his discussion of cheap grace, Bonhoeffer wrote that "my only duty as a Christian is to leave the world for an hour or so on a Sunday morning and go to church to be assured that my sins are all forgiven." Why does this comment disturb me so? Because it still rings true today, maybe even more than when it was written. I go to church to fulfill my weekly obligation, and then I go and live life the way I desire the other six days of the week. I so easily forget the words of Jesus as He prayed in the garden of Gethsemane: "Nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will." I had to look at myself and admit that there were areas of my life where I have accepted the cheap grace that Bonhoeffer describes.
The next statement is actually a question that Bonhoeffer poses, and that is this: "How can we live the Christian life in the modern world?" While the answer sounds simple, its execution is not. The simple answer is obedience to Christ. But how do I do that unless I know what I am to obey? Here again is the result of cheap grace. It is not necessary for me to study the Bible; that is the job of the pastor. And because he is a pastor, he is held to a higher standard than I am. When will I get to the point where I begin to see that I am the problem, and the only way to become a part of the solution is to accept the grace that will cost me something, and that is my life? It is easy for me to read the words of Paul when he says that it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. Yet, is that what I do? Has the Gospel of Christ affected me personally?
The next statement is actually a question that Bonhoeffer poses, and that is this: "How can we live the Christian life in the modern world?" While the answer sounds simple, its execution is not. The simple answer is obedience to Christ. But how do I do that unless I know what I am to obey? Here again is the result of cheap grace. It is not necessary for me to study the Bible; that is the job of the pastor. And because he is a pastor, he is held to a higher standard than I am. When will I get to the point where I begin to see that I am the problem, and the only way to become a part of the solution is to accept the grace that will cost me something, and that is my life? It is easy for me to read the words of Paul when he says that it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. Yet, is that what I do? Has the Gospel of Christ affected me personally?
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Another year already!
WOW! Time truly seems to go so quickly. It is already 2008! So much has happened in the past year, but the most significant event is the fact that I began a local fellowship, called the Family of God of Cincinnati. We are currently meeting our local YMCA. This was clearly a case where the spirit was willing, but the flesh was weak! However, the Lord makes provision when we endeavor to accomplish His will and not ours. Our focus right now is laying the proper foundation, which we are doing by focusing on developing our character. There is a Scripture that the Lord has given me, which I will share in another post, that has brought life to those which I have spoken to. I pray that it will do the same to those who choose to read this blog. May God bless you today!
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Down by 1!
At my last weigh-in, I lost one pound! I am now down to 197. I continue to think about 1 Cor. 9:27. My body is a little sore from lifting weights last night, but overall I feel good right now.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Still the same
Well, it has been a few days because of travel, but I am still at 198. I was able to accomplish 40 minutes of cardio today, in addition to all the shoveling I did today! There was about 2" of snowfall, although when shoveling, it seemed like a lot more! My next goal is to put in about an hour of cardio. I will get a good night's rest tonight and do it again tomorrow, Lord willing.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Wrong Way!
Well, something went awry! When I stepped on the scale, it indicated I was 200 pounds. Of course, not working out today probably did not help, either. Today is behind me, I must look at the present, and forward to the future. I will be unable to weigh myself tomorrow, so my next day for weighing in will be Wednesday. Thursday and Friday will be travel days, so the next post may be as late as Saturday after that. Getting back to 1 Cor. 9:27, my spiritual mind must treat my carnal body as a slave. It is not for my body to do what it wants; that is what creates the enmity between the two.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Day 1
Well, this is my first full day. Again, I completed about 40 minutes of cardio today. My weight remained at 198, but the Lord has shown me some important principles that I will be sharing as well. Today, I received a greater understanding of 1 Corinthians 9:27. My renewed mind must be a slavemaster to my carnal body. It is interesting that Paul did not say that the body must submit. The truth is, our bodies will not submit. More often than not, our bodies get what they desire (at least mine did!). Now, I see this Scripture in a different light. Even in the simplest of situations, I must be wary of the temptation to walk after the flesh. I will post a little early tomorrow due to travel. Hopefully, I will lose about 1/2 to 1 pound!
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Weight Watching!
One of the great things about blogs is that you can also use them for record-keeping purposes! I have a goal of losing about 30 pounds, but not using any supplements or special diets. I want to keep it simple: better eating and exercise. So, I will be using this blog to track my progress. While my attempt will be to measure my progress daily, I know that I will miss some days because of travel. However, if anyone else is interested in improving their health, you are more than welcome to join me! The purpose for this tracking is really accountability. I will also summarize what exercises I did daily as well. So, if you would like, feel free to join me!
Jesus told us that one of the two greatest commandments was to love your neighbor as you love yourself. Well, if I do not love myself, there is no way I can love my neighbor. So, I begin by loving myself properly.
Today, I completed 40 minutes on the cross trainer, and I weigh 198 pounds. More tomorrow!
Jesus told us that one of the two greatest commandments was to love your neighbor as you love yourself. Well, if I do not love myself, there is no way I can love my neighbor. So, I begin by loving myself properly.
Today, I completed 40 minutes on the cross trainer, and I weigh 198 pounds. More tomorrow!
Sunday, January 07, 2007
First Post of the New Year!
I hope all of you had a wonderful holiday! I would like to make this first post in honor of the person who chose to remain anonymous and post on my blog.
First, that person is correct; I am that same Ron Mosby. My full time position is that of Senior Manager of Public Affairs for Wal-Mart. I am not at all ashamed of the work I do, because, to be quite frank, the Scriptures tell us that if a man does not work, he will not eat. I do nothing illegal, immoral, or unethical, and the company has very strict policies on that type of behavior.
Having said that, let me ask this question - why would a person choose to remain anonymous in writing such a post? What are your thoughts?
First, that person is correct; I am that same Ron Mosby. My full time position is that of Senior Manager of Public Affairs for Wal-Mart. I am not at all ashamed of the work I do, because, to be quite frank, the Scriptures tell us that if a man does not work, he will not eat. I do nothing illegal, immoral, or unethical, and the company has very strict policies on that type of behavior.
Having said that, let me ask this question - why would a person choose to remain anonymous in writing such a post? What are your thoughts?
Friday, December 22, 2006
Merry Christmas and Thank You!
Thank you to everyone who has visited this blog over the past year. I appreciate the comments, and I pray that we can continue in 2007. Have a blessed Christmas!
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Megachurch issues part 2
This will be my last post on this issue, but I needed to talk about this last point. "Megachurches," as they are called here in the United States, have become the trend in Christianity lately. I see pastors who desire to have these types of churches. Never mind God's will anymore; keeping up with the spiritual Joneses has taken priority.
How have we come to this place? We have deviated so far from the original commission that we have convinced ourselves that God's priority is to make us comfortable and happy. I do agree with the statement that "Jesus came to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comforted," but we as a country are by no means afflicted.
Let's face it - we are allowing the materialistic objectives of the world to creep into the church. The focus has become more about being trendy than about preaching the uncompromised Word of God. Come to church, get a free car wash! Come to church, relax, and have a cup of coffee! It seems totally opposite of what we as one church are called to do - go out into the world and preach. This type of marketing is what is becoming the priority in many of our congregations today.
A very good friend of mine told me a profound statement that I will never forget. He said "if you get them with a gimmick, you have to keep them with a gimmick." So, if you are lured into a church because of free coffee, soon that will not be enough. Sooner or later, you will become tired of that and want more - maybe free breakfast! We have only one thing to lure people with, and that is Jesus Christ. The moment we deviate from Christ, we lose focus. It is time for us to regain our focus.
How have we come to this place? We have deviated so far from the original commission that we have convinced ourselves that God's priority is to make us comfortable and happy. I do agree with the statement that "Jesus came to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comforted," but we as a country are by no means afflicted.
Let's face it - we are allowing the materialistic objectives of the world to creep into the church. The focus has become more about being trendy than about preaching the uncompromised Word of God. Come to church, get a free car wash! Come to church, relax, and have a cup of coffee! It seems totally opposite of what we as one church are called to do - go out into the world and preach. This type of marketing is what is becoming the priority in many of our congregations today.
A very good friend of mine told me a profound statement that I will never forget. He said "if you get them with a gimmick, you have to keep them with a gimmick." So, if you are lured into a church because of free coffee, soon that will not be enough. Sooner or later, you will become tired of that and want more - maybe free breakfast! We have only one thing to lure people with, and that is Jesus Christ. The moment we deviate from Christ, we lose focus. It is time for us to regain our focus.
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Megachurch issues part 1
I am still reading articles about the impact of Ted Haggard's admission of sexual immorality, and had to make a few comments about it. So, rather than make this one long post, I will address it in segments. In this segment, I want to address the issue of the members. Yahoo! has an article out right now that asks what happens to the members of the fellowship once a pastor falls from grace? Well, if the members are following man rather than God, they will leave. My concern is whether the members of any congregation understand that they do not go to church, they are the church. Unfortunately, we have divided ourselves into so many different groups that we have forgotten that there is only one church, and Christ Jesus is the head of that church. Since Jesus built the church, God can set us as members wherever He feels that we will be best fitted. Yet so many of us decide that we will attend a fellowship because we like the music, the pastor, or any other reason besides submitting to God and being set in a fellowship that He feels is best for us. This is why the true church struggles. We have thousands of people attending megachurches that do not even belong there, so God's will cannot be accomplished because people are not in their right place. We must understand that as one body, we have created this situation. How do we begin to correct it? Go to the Lord, and find out where He desires for us to be set, and begin carrying out our assignment at that fellowship.
Friday, November 03, 2006
Do I really have a testimony?
Today, I wrote a devotional that really hit me hard. I have posted it below. By the way, if you are interested in receiving any of these devotionals, please contact me at rofremos@yahoo.com, and I will add you to the list.
Rev. 1:9 (KJV) I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
The word “testimony” in Greek is marturia, which comes from the root word martus, or, translated into English, is martyr. What is a martyr? One definition is “a person who willingly suffers death rather than renounce his or her religion.” Another is “a person who is put to death or endures great suffering on behalf of any belief, principle or cause.” A testimony, then, is not what the Lord has done for me; rather, a testimony is what have I suffered for the Lord. If I have not suffered, I have no testimony. “For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.” Have I learned to suffer gracefully for Jesus? Once I have learned to endure suffering for the cause of Christ, I have a testimony.
Rev. 1:9 (KJV) I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
The word “testimony” in Greek is marturia, which comes from the root word martus, or, translated into English, is martyr. What is a martyr? One definition is “a person who willingly suffers death rather than renounce his or her religion.” Another is “a person who is put to death or endures great suffering on behalf of any belief, principle or cause.” A testimony, then, is not what the Lord has done for me; rather, a testimony is what have I suffered for the Lord. If I have not suffered, I have no testimony. “For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.” Have I learned to suffer gracefully for Jesus? Once I have learned to endure suffering for the cause of Christ, I have a testimony.
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Fuming about marriage
Now, I know that this post will probably not be read by many, but I must say this. I am tired of our society trying to redefine words to conform to certain agendas. I refuse to call a union of two people of the same gender marriage. Why? For starters, let us look at the definition of marriage. According to one definition at dictionary.com, marriage is:
"the social institution under which a man and woman establish their decision to live as husband and wife by legal commitments, religious ceremonies, etc." So, by definition, a marriage must have a male and a female.
But Ron, can't two people of the same gender live together and love each other as in a traditional marriage?" Well, let's look at another definition of marriage at the same site:
"a relationship in which two people have pledged themselves to each other in the manner of a husband and wife, without legal sanction: trial marriage; homosexual marriage." That should settle it, right? Well, not quite. Look at the operative words in this definition - "in the manner of a husband and a wife." So, by the very definition, there must be a male and a female role.
But, let's get away from the human aspect of marriage for a moment, and look at a more general definition of marriage.
"a blending or matching of different elements or components." So, what is the point? A marriage can only occur when you are combining different elements. So, a male and a female can marry, but a male and a male cannot.
Why am I writing all of this? Because I cannot control what two males or two females desire to do. However, I cannot just idly sit by and watch how our governments are trying to destroy a Godly institution by changing its very definition. A marriage is a type and shadow of our relationship to Christ. It is the first institution seen in the Bible. It is the way of replenishing the earth. If you agree with me, please let me know. Marriage should not be a political tool subject to the whims of the masses of people or the desires of a few in legislature.
"the social institution under which a man and woman establish their decision to live as husband and wife by legal commitments, religious ceremonies, etc." So, by definition, a marriage must have a male and a female.
But Ron, can't two people of the same gender live together and love each other as in a traditional marriage?" Well, let's look at another definition of marriage at the same site:
"a relationship in which two people have pledged themselves to each other in the manner of a husband and wife, without legal sanction: trial marriage; homosexual marriage." That should settle it, right? Well, not quite. Look at the operative words in this definition - "in the manner of a husband and a wife." So, by the very definition, there must be a male and a female role.
But, let's get away from the human aspect of marriage for a moment, and look at a more general definition of marriage.
"a blending or matching of different elements or components." So, what is the point? A marriage can only occur when you are combining different elements. So, a male and a female can marry, but a male and a male cannot.
Why am I writing all of this? Because I cannot control what two males or two females desire to do. However, I cannot just idly sit by and watch how our governments are trying to destroy a Godly institution by changing its very definition. A marriage is a type and shadow of our relationship to Christ. It is the first institution seen in the Bible. It is the way of replenishing the earth. If you agree with me, please let me know. Marriage should not be a political tool subject to the whims of the masses of people or the desires of a few in legislature.
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Tempus Fugit!
Wow! I just do not realize how quickly time seems to fly by! I have prayed about the devotionals that I write daily, and the Lord has confirmed that those need to be a priority for me. I am also working through what should be posted here as well. I have been posting previous devotionals here; maybe I should continue doing that? I would be interested in knowing your thoughts. I do know that whatever it is, it should be edifying, to build up, certainly not to tear down. I look forward to your comments!
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