Reblogging Today...

One of my new favorite blogs to read is the blog of Dr. Georgia Purdom, who writes for Answers in Genesis.  Her blog post from today is a great example of some of the excellent points she makes. I hope you'll check it out. 

Another Biblical Minute!

Here it is, almost 3 weeks since its arrival, and I'm just now reminding you of the next issue of The Biblical Minute! Be sure to check it out - this one has a TON of great information and helpful study tools.
Here's a teaser from the Table of Contents:

• Page 4: The "REST" of the Story -- learning to REST and not fear!
• Page 8: Switching Off the Bullying Gene -- quick tips for children AND church members! (Designed to be printed and posted!) 
• Page 10: Growing Your Witness -- family tips for sharing Christ!
• Page 12: I am NOT a Mormon -- do we stigmatize Mormonism unfairly?
• Page 14: Who's Coming to Dinner -- reconsider what you think you know about The Lord's Table!
• Page 18: Ring Out the New! -- "Christ makes all things new, but not all "new things" are of Christ!" 

See! I told you it was jam-packed! And these are just the main articles! There are also pages of helpful hints, valuable resources, and (for those of you who follow the Steels' travels) updates on where the ministry is headed.  You don't want to miss it!

Check it out now! The Biblical Minute.

Our Position in Christ

I was reading this verse this morning:
"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)

And then I thought of this song. So I decided to share it with you! :-)

The little commentary under that verse (in my Bible) says, "Thus the believer's rule of life is Christ and not the law.  It is not a matter of striving, but of trusting.  He lives a holy life, not out of fear of punishment, but out of love to the Son of God, who loved him, and gave Himself for him..."  Spend some time today thinking about that verse.  Not only did Christ give himself for us, He LIVES in us, and we are positionally IN Him!   We are not only saved from the penalty of sin in death, but also from its power over us in life!

Deathly Hallows, Indeed (or..."I need to stop looking at my blog reader")

Every time I refresh my blog reader I am more shocked. Maybe I shouldn't be shocked. Maybe this is a sign of the times, as they say.  Maybe the "Christian" world has just finally gone about as topsy-turvy as it can possibly go. 

But just in case you don't feel fulfilled in your walk with Christ...just in case you are looking for one more substitute for actual study of the Word of God...you can now include (wait for it) the Harry Potter Bible Study to assist you in your "study" of spiritual things.  Subtitle: "Enjoying God Through the Final Four Harry Potter Movies." 

I am not joking. I really wish I was.

I will be honest - I have not read this book (although I have seen the HP movies).  But it is $2.99 in the iTunes store, so I'm really tempted to...even though I'm pretty sure I know what  it's going to say.  

For now I just want to get this news out. I have more to say - but you'll just have to wait. Or say something yourself! ;-)

Why am I not surprised?

I keep trying to think of something to say about this...but it really just speaks for itself.

And yes, that IS Joel Osteen's voice you hear welcoming Oprah over the roar of 40,000 church-goers. 
According to the Houston Chronicle, one person sitting near Oprah at church tweeted, "I'm freaking out!! I can't breathe! It smells like money and amazingness!!" 
Smells like something, all right, but it isn't "amazingness!"
Hmm! Looks like I had something to say about it after all!

It's here!

The brand-spanking-new quarterly e-magazine, Biblical Minute has officially been published and is available for viewing!

From Biblical Intensives: "Biblical Minute is filled with articles that condense important biblical truths into a reader friendly format...In our effort to immerse men and women in the Word of God our articles are graded.  Some material is elementary, some intermediate, and some is more advanced. In this way, we hope to grow folks by 'nudging' them into more advanced topics." 

 And having been part of the editing process for this issue of Biblical Minute, I can tell you that description is spot-on!  Any time you spend with this little magazine will be time well-spent.  

So head on over and have a look-see. Then share it with everyone and anyone! 

Time Away...

It's been over a year since I last posted! Can you believe it? I've been praying about starting up the blog again, so don't delete me from your reader just yet. :-) 

Have You Done Your Job Lately?

We know that our primary responsibility is to spread the Gospel, but one of the most powerful tools we have to do this job is to pray for those who we witness to who haven't yet trusted Christ.  Hey ladies - we've got a job to do! One of our own has been witnessing to a friend (is it you?!). Would you stop and pray right now that this person would be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit and trust Christ for salvation?

School's In Session! Do Your Homework!

I caught this in the SacBee on September 10, 2010: "Sacramento Interfaith Leaders Plan 9/11 'Blessing of Peace' on Quran."   I'm going to post the whole article at the end of this post, just in case it gets taken off the SacBee website, but I do want you to read it.   

After you've read the article, here's your homework: The article mentions that in addition to reading from the Quran, several passages from the Old and New Testaments will be read (or were read, since this happened yesterday).  From the NT a verse from Matthew 5, and from the OT a verse from Isaiah 2.  Come on - do I even need to TELL you what I want you to do?  Okay - I haven't blogged for a while, so you have forgotten how this works. :-)  Look up those passages (and their contexts), and tell me what's wrong with using them for this purpose (other than the obvious "blessing the Quran" thing!).  

Here, I'll make it easier for you: Matthew 5:9 and Isaiah 2:4. 

Here's the article:

More than 50 members of Sacramento's interfaith community - including Christians, Jews, Sikhs, Quakers, Muslims and Druids - will meet at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament on Saturday, the ninth anniversary of 9/11, for a "blessing of peace on the Quran."

The 7 p.m. event, on the steps of the cathedral at 11th and K streets, is designed to blunt the threats of Florida Pastor Terry Jones to burn the Quran.

Jones' associates said today that no Qurans will be burned, but organizers of Saturday's event "wanted to send an alternative vision from America - placing roses on the Quran as a symbol of peace and tolerance. The World Peace Garden in Capitol Park has agreed to supply us with three dozen roses," said the Rev. David Thompson, president of the Interfaith Service Bureau.

"Afterwards the roses will be given to Muslim families," Thompson said. "Whether or not the Florida pastor goes through with his scheme to burn copies of the Quran, we in Sacramento are hopeful of bringing cooperation and peace here as we try to undo the damage already done, to protect our troops and to affirm our Muslim brothers and sisters here in America and around the world."

Non-Muslims will give seven readings from the Quran.

"The passages are chosen to show there are peaceful, wonderful passages from the Quran," Thompson said.

Each reader will then place a rose on the Quran.

There will also be reading from Hebrew and Christian scriptures - "correctives from the faiths Terry Jones is supposed to be representing," Thompson said.

Father Michael Kiernan of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament will read from Matthew 5: "Blessed are the peacemakers. They shall be called sons and daughters of God."

The Hebrew scripture, from the second chapter of the prophet Isaiah, declares, "God will wield authority over the nations and adjudicate between many people; these will hammer their swords into ploughshares, their spears into sickles. Nation will not lift sword against nation, there will be no more training for war."

The seven blessings from the Quran each carry the message, "Let there be peace on Earth and let it begin with me," Thompson said. "Everyone in Sacramento who cares about this issue and wants peace and to show kindness to Muslims is encouraged to bring the gift of a rose and place it on the Quran. Let there be peace on Earth and let it begin with us."

Don't let your brains get rusty, ladies..."Renew your mind..."

I await your comments. :-)

Rudderless Faith!

This is short and sweet, ladies!

I recently read an excerpt of a sermon by the late Pastor Dan Rodgers entitled "Noah's Ark Had No Rudder." Think about the implications: Noah's Ark - that big honkin' ark - had NO rudder. No steering mechanism!? Talk about faith! Of course, the Ark didn't NEED a rudder - it was guided by the Lord. Noah had faith that the Lord would take that Ark wherever He wanted it to go.  And here's the part that really gets me: not only was its DIRECTION guided by the Lord...its SPEED was also guided by Him.

Are you struggling with the Lord's timing right now?  Next time you start to wonder about the "speed" with which things are (or are not) happening in your life, remember Noah's Rudderless Ark and have faith in the One Who is guiding your direction AND your speed. :-)

Quit trying to steer the boat (excuse me -- ship)!