going to go this is a test okay that's good that's

And I go okay this is a, test done showing how you can talk into your phone and it actually does all the typing for you

No unbeliever cares if the church changes the culture.

Does God?

Ministry?

What you do isn't your "ministry". Who you are! That's your "MINISTRY"!

"It doesn't matter what you do, do it as unto the Lord"

Don't try to sharpen someones axe. Introduce them to the one who sharpens your axe.

Prognosticators of current events and their veracity?

April 25th 2022.

As I surveyed the the digital realm to get a sense of current events, I found the multiplicity of opinion from unaccounted perspectives, distracted and occupied my time as I tried to understand what I should being doing and how I should make sense of my situation... Then the word "eschatology" came to mind. So I Googled it.

Second Guessing?

What's up with that? Second guessing decisions I'm trying to make, I mean when wanting to obey God's guidance. I seem to do it all the time.

Imagine. The Bible says "God told Abram to go to a land I will show you and then gave him a promise that He would make him a great nation".

Okay. I always wonder how God did that exactly. Did Abram know who God was before God told him to go to a land that He would show him? Was it a vision, was it a face-to-face conversation, was it with thundering and lightnings and earthquakes that God made his Will known to Abram?

No one knows.

But Abram obeyed! It seems he thought, that's a good idea. He packed up and left. That's all we know. Second guessing... Not so much.

Fast forward...

Abraham. The Bible tells us God told him to go and sacrifice his son, his only son with Sarah. The miracle child of their old age. On Mount Moriah, 3 days travel.

Was it a vision, was it a face-to-face conversation, was it with thundering and lightnings and earthquakes that God made his Will known to Abraham?

No one knows.

So Abraham set out. He had 3 days to think about what God had told him to do. Second guessing? I don't know. 

What do you think?

Reliance!

The state of depending on or trusting in something or someone.

You Are, so Be, and you'll Do

 BEcoming who God created you to be, you will do what pleases Him.

New Angle on Community

What is the foundation of community?

Your presuppositions with respect to what is community, might include, ie. a community of friends, an interest group, a small group, a life group, a home group, a Ministry group, a "circle the wagons with those of like mind" group. I hope you get my point as I ask the question...

What is the foundation of any community? I mean after all of the other issues have been dealt with. And we seek out fellowship within a designated, available and amiable group.

My Premise: All of us want to be... Recognized, Identified, and Known.

Here's a fun side note as you think about "What is the foundation of Community?". 

"Cheers" was a sitcom (late 80's early 90's) that had a Theme song

What was the first community in the Bible?

What was the first "Community"?

It's a trick question. Here's a hint. The word "First" connotates a beginning. As an example, many churches in COMMunities across America have "The First" in front of their name. Separating themselves from other, Baptist, Church of Christ, Church of God, Pentecostal, etc. The idea? They were there first.

Okay. Now that I've got you thinking. I'll just give you the correct answer.

What was the first community in the Bible? That didn't have a beginning? Here it is!

GOD!

As revealed in the two "Testimonials" that He has provided & maintained for all of us. The one true God, Triune, Trinity? 3 in One! A Unity in the diversity of "Father, Son and Holy Spirit"!

Whatever COMM-UNITY we participate in, as a Bible believing, born again believer, it should reflect the UNITY that Jesus prays for in John 17.

Please look John 17 up. It was the last prayer that Jesus felt the need to pray, before he was taken up.

"Father let them be as one as We are One, you in me and me in you, and they in us" RBV

(Click the link)

Crap! How is that even possible?

Fully Actualized Kingdom Saint?: Distraction and Excellence. Connecting to Reality.

2011...  Click the link - Distraction and Excellence. Connecting to Reality.

Distraction.

Most of the times I'm being distracted I become a distraction.

another feed back loop.

Greg Laurie

-Turn worry into worship

All things work for good to those who...

- Fear into Faith

- Panic into Prayer.

Trust the Lord with all your heart. Lean not on your own understanding. Recognize God and all your ways. And he will direct your paths.

Thinking about your thoughts, the feedback loop of the Holy Spirit

Rom 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

• Take every thought captive to the lordship of Christ
• Pray without ceasing
• Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind
• Let this mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus
• I don't do anything except what I see my father doing
• Peter 1:4 NIV  Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
• All the promises find their yes in Christ

Partakers of the Divine Nature

2 Peter 1:3  His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His owna glory and excellence. 4Through these He has given us His precious and magnificent promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, now that you have escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities and continue to grow in them, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But whoever lacks these traits is nearsighted to the point of blindness, having forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

10Therefore, brothers, strive to make your calling and election sure. For if you practice these things you will never stumble, 11and you will receive a lavish reception into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

A strategic truth of God's strategic will.

1 Cor. 14:1 Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.

Our Salvation? Access! Hints to His Lordship. Our transformation.

Ephesians 3:11-12 NIV

11 according to His eternal purpose that He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

Know what you believe and why you believe it!

What's the point of this Hymn...

My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

Refrain:

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;

All other ground is sinking sand,

All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness veils His lovely face,

I rest on His unchanging grace;

In every high and stormy gale,

My anchor holds within the veil.

His oath, His covenant, His blood

Support me in the whelming flood;

When all around my soul gives way,

He then is all my hope and stay.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,

Oh, may I then in Him be found;

Dressed in His righteousness alone,

Faultless to stand before the throne.

The God of Hope

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Perception and the inertial frame that is me?

Embodied perception refers to a conglomerate of theoretical claims postulating that the body, its movements, and the interaction with the environment fundamentally shape people's perception of the world.

• Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
• There is no accounting for taste.

Diversity of the Body of Christ?

Revelation 7:9 (ESV) After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,

Unity in the Body of Christ?

1 Corinthians 12:12 Living Bible (TLB) Our bodies have many parts, but the many parts make up only one body when they are all put together. So it is with the “body” of Christ.
Colossians 3:14 (NIV) And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
5. Ephesians 4:11-13 (MSG) He handed out gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist and pastor-teacher to train Christ’s followers in skilled servant work, working within Christ’s body, the church, until we’re all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God’s Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ.
Acts 4:32 (NLT) All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had.
John 17:23 (NLT) I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.
Ephesians 4:3-6 (NIV) Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Philippians 1:27,28 (MSG) Stand united, singular in vision, contending for people’s trust in the Message, the good news, not flinching or dodging in the slightest before the opposition. Your courage and unity will show them what they’re up against: defeat for them, victory for you—and both because of God.

The Standard of Unity in the Body of Christ?

1 Corinthians 2:16 (ESV) “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

In 1 Corinthians 2:16, Paul quotes Isaiah 40:13 and then makes a statement concerning all believers: “We have the mind of Christ.” Having the mind of Christ means sharing the plan, purpose, and perspective of Christ, and it is something that all believers possess.

Having the mind of Christ means we understand God’s (“Strategic”) plan in the world—to bring glory to Himself, restore creation to its original splendor, and provide salvation/Redemption for sinners. It means we identify with Christ’s purpose “to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:10). It means we share Jesus’ perspective of humility and obedience (Philippians 2:5-8), compassion (Matthew 9:36), and prayerful dependence on God (Luke 5:16).

In the verses leading up to 1 Corinthians 2:16, we note some truths concerning the mind of Christ:
1) The mind of Christ stands in sharp contrast to the wisdom of man (verses 5-6).
2) The mind of Christ involves wisdom from God, once hidden but now revealed (verse 7).
3) The mind of Christ is given to believers through the Spirit of God (verses 10-12).
4) The mind of Christ cannot be understood by those without the Spirit (verse 14).
5) The mind of Christ gives believers discernment in spiritual matters (verse 15).
In order to have the mind of Christ, one must first have saving faith in Christ (John 1:12; 1 John 5:12). After salvation, the believer lives a life under God’s influence. The Holy Spirit indwells and enlightens the believer, infusing him with wisdom—the mind of Christ. The believer bears a responsibility to yield to the Spirit’s leading (Ephesians 4:30) and to allow the Spirit to transform and renew his mind (Romans 12:1-2).                                                                                          Gotquestions.com

Warning against Rejecting God’s Grace...

He is shaking all that can be shaken so that what remains is that which cannot be shaken

Hebrews 12:26 His voice shook the earth at that time, but now he has promised, Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens. 27 This expression, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what is not shaken might remain. 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful. By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe.