"God takes nothing by halves. He gives nothing by halves." - E.M. Bounds
When God demands something, He asks for all of it.
When God promises something, He gives all of it.
Friday, May 31, 2019
Thursday, May 30, 2019
day no. 14,829:the problem with preachers today
"The problem with preachers today is that no one wants to kill them anymore!" —Steven Lawson
If preaching does not at some point in some way produce push back from someone, it is no longer preaching. It is merely public speaking.
John 15:18-19
If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
If preaching does not at some point in some way produce push back from someone, it is no longer preaching. It is merely public speaking.
John 15:18-19
If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
Wednesday, May 29, 2019
day no. 14,828: introducing danger
“Since it is so likely that children will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage. Otherwise you are making their destiny not brighter but darker.” ―
Teach your little ones that the children of God do not need to be afraid of giants; giants need to be afraid of God's children. Dragons should not scare us, dragons should be scared of us. We should not be afraid of the dark; the darkness should be afraid of us.
Tuesday, May 28, 2019
day no. 14,827: spread thick
Isaiah 54:2-3
Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes. 3 For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left, and your offspring will possess the nations and will people the desolate cities.
The Christian faith is one of world conquest. God has promised the meek no less than the entire earth. The method by which this inheritance is secured is by God's children being fruitful and multiplying to the left and the right until they cover the surface of the world. God will dispossess the world and their vestiges will be increasingly inhabited by His chosen people.
Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes. 3 For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left, and your offspring will possess the nations and will people the desolate cities.
The Christian faith is one of world conquest. God has promised the meek no less than the entire earth. The method by which this inheritance is secured is by God's children being fruitful and multiplying to the left and the right until they cover the surface of the world. God will dispossess the world and their vestiges will be increasingly inhabited by His chosen people.
Monday, May 27, 2019
day no. 14,826: blood on three
On Saturday, May 18, I listened to the following podcast while running on the treadmill that afternoon.
When the World is Rated R (GA 2019) by N.D.Wilson from Christ Church in Podcasts.
https://podcasts.
or video below:
In this talk N.D. Wilson made the comment in passing that the family's rally cry ought to be something equivalent to, "blood on three!"
This sentiment resonated deeply within me and I immediately began thinking of ways to apply and implement this orienting principle.
I introduced my kids to the idea during dinner conversation walking them through the big idea and making comments like, "We are out for blood. We huddle up so that we can throw down."
The throwing down I had in mind and articulate to my family was of that kind and quality Paul explains in 2 Corinthians 10:4-6...
For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.
Van Voorsts are Christians and we were made to inflict as much damage upon the darkness as possible. We are called to make those lofty, high-minded ivory towers into rubble.
Later that evening, by happenstance, I was listening to some AC/DC with my family to watch Callista dance. After a few tunes, I thought of Paige's favorite, "If You Want Blood" since it is in the movie Empire Records.
As we were listening, I realized that this song complemented our newly implemented rally cry.
The following morning on Tim Bayly's Twitter he posted this verse.
Jeremiah 48:10
Cursed is he who does the work of the LORD with slackness,
and cursed is he who keeps back his sword from bloodshed.
Now having recently listened to Voddie Baucham on Christian decision making and finding the will of God, I knew enough not to make the leap that these tea leaves were God's hidden will for me and my family manifesting itself, but I do think it was a "buy a red Taurus, begin seeing red Tauruses everywhere" kinda deal. Not that these run ins with "blood" were trying to tell me something, but my recently adoption of "blood on three" was producing ample opportunity to implement and reinforce it in my family.
We don't want to be of those who keep their swords back from blood.
It's all new and will likely develop some nuance as it becomes more part of our mantra, but it's a fun and I'm excited to see where it all goes.
One immediate application in language vision leaking into mission was later that night Laurelai mentioned to me before bed that she was scared of the dark. I replied, "Laurelai, you have no reason to be afraid of the dark. The dark is afraid of you."
When the World is Rated R (GA 2019) by N.D.Wilson from Christ Church in Podcasts.
https://podcasts.
or video below:
In this talk N.D. Wilson made the comment in passing that the family's rally cry ought to be something equivalent to, "blood on three!"
This sentiment resonated deeply within me and I immediately began thinking of ways to apply and implement this orienting principle.
I introduced my kids to the idea during dinner conversation walking them through the big idea and making comments like, "We are out for blood. We huddle up so that we can throw down."
The throwing down I had in mind and articulate to my family was of that kind and quality Paul explains in 2 Corinthians 10:4-6...
For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.
Van Voorsts are Christians and we were made to inflict as much damage upon the darkness as possible. We are called to make those lofty, high-minded ivory towers into rubble.
Later that evening, by happenstance, I was listening to some AC/DC with my family to watch Callista dance. After a few tunes, I thought of Paige's favorite, "If You Want Blood" since it is in the movie Empire Records.
As we were listening, I realized that this song complemented our newly implemented rally cry.
The following morning on Tim Bayly's Twitter he posted this verse.
Jeremiah 48:10
Cursed is he who does the work of the LORD with slackness,
and cursed is he who keeps back his sword from bloodshed.
Now having recently listened to Voddie Baucham on Christian decision making and finding the will of God, I knew enough not to make the leap that these tea leaves were God's hidden will for me and my family manifesting itself, but I do think it was a "buy a red Taurus, begin seeing red Tauruses everywhere" kinda deal. Not that these run ins with "blood" were trying to tell me something, but my recently adoption of "blood on three" was producing ample opportunity to implement and reinforce it in my family.
We don't want to be of those who keep their swords back from blood.
It's all new and will likely develop some nuance as it becomes more part of our mantra, but it's a fun and I'm excited to see where it all goes.
One immediate application in language vision leaking into mission was later that night Laurelai mentioned to me before bed that she was scared of the dark. I replied, "Laurelai, you have no reason to be afraid of the dark. The dark is afraid of you."
Sunday, May 26, 2019
day no. 14,825: someone else's fire
Hebrews 12:29
Our God is a consuming fire.
It is easy to get caught up worrying about and spending your resources trying to put out someone else's fire. After all, we care about things and when other people are blaspheming, abusing or abandoning the things we love, we feel the need to rush in and insert ourselves into their situations, seeing the fires they are starting and worrying that if we don't put theirs out, they will eventually consume our worlds. We see the fires next door as threats to our coziness.
But one can easily spend their entirely life attempting to snuff out someone else's fire only to die in due time, exhausted and spent and yet fires still blaze on the distant horizon.
That being the case, it is high time to be someone else's fire. Why spend so much time worried about what others are doing and start spending more time doing what you believe ought to be done. Do it so vigorously that others begin to worry about your consuming their worlds. Do it so valiantly that others begin to send squads to your door attempting to snuff out your flame.
All that to say, you can spend your life trying to put out someone else's fire or you can be someone else's fire. You can spend your energy on being a wet blanket or you can pour gasoline on what you're doing while watching others wear themselves wasting their water on your flame. When you become someone else's fire, you have the benefit of freeing yourself to focus on your priorities (Q2) and keep someone else from focusing on theirs (Q3). Instead of wasting your time chasing their crazy around (Q3), you flex your first things and become someone else's fire (Q3). That's called two birds, one stone friends.
You can worry about other people's problems or you can be someone else's problem. The Christian is not called to be a firefighter consumed by putting out someone else's fire.
The Christian is called to follow the all-consuming Fire. There are no fires that can consume His Kingdom. His fire will consume all other fires. His fire isn't concerned or worried about other people's fires. His all-consuming fire will not be withstood when it arrives. It is indomitable. It is inexhaustible.
Our God is a consuming fire.
It is easy to get caught up worrying about and spending your resources trying to put out someone else's fire. After all, we care about things and when other people are blaspheming, abusing or abandoning the things we love, we feel the need to rush in and insert ourselves into their situations, seeing the fires they are starting and worrying that if we don't put theirs out, they will eventually consume our worlds. We see the fires next door as threats to our coziness.
But one can easily spend their entirely life attempting to snuff out someone else's fire only to die in due time, exhausted and spent and yet fires still blaze on the distant horizon.
That being the case, it is high time to be someone else's fire. Why spend so much time worried about what others are doing and start spending more time doing what you believe ought to be done. Do it so vigorously that others begin to worry about your consuming their worlds. Do it so valiantly that others begin to send squads to your door attempting to snuff out your flame.
All that to say, you can spend your life trying to put out someone else's fire or you can be someone else's fire. You can spend your energy on being a wet blanket or you can pour gasoline on what you're doing while watching others wear themselves wasting their water on your flame. When you become someone else's fire, you have the benefit of freeing yourself to focus on your priorities (Q2) and keep someone else from focusing on theirs (Q3). Instead of wasting your time chasing their crazy around (Q3), you flex your first things and become someone else's fire (Q3). That's called two birds, one stone friends.
You can worry about other people's problems or you can be someone else's problem. The Christian is not called to be a firefighter consumed by putting out someone else's fire.
The Christian is called to follow the all-consuming Fire. There are no fires that can consume His Kingdom. His fire will consume all other fires. His fire isn't concerned or worried about other people's fires. His all-consuming fire will not be withstood when it arrives. It is indomitable. It is inexhaustible.
Saturday, May 25, 2019
day no. 14,824: the spirit of the age is antithetical to the Spirit of God
"The Bible says, 'Your greatest problem is on the inside of you and your solution is on the outside of you.' But psychology says, 'Your greatest problems are on the outside of you and the solution is on the inside of you.' The complete, exact OPPOSITE." - Voddie Baucham
My friend, Josiah, overheard me mention Voddie Baucham the other day while spending our lunch hours together. He looked him up and landed upon this sermon. He then sent me a text saying how good it was and thanking me for pointing him in Voddie's direction.
My friend, Josiah, overheard me mention Voddie Baucham the other day while spending our lunch hours together. He looked him up and landed upon this sermon. He then sent me a text saying how good it was and thanking me for pointing him in Voddie's direction.
Friday, May 24, 2019
day no. 14,823: lightning, fire and electricity
Different preachers are going to preach differently. Some may try to catch lightning in a bottle so that awe can be understood. Others try to channel the energy into the form of a campfire so that warmth and light can be felt. Still others try to move the energy into the form of electricity so that it can do something which can be seen.
The one with the bottled lightning wants to aim at the head, the campfire the heart, and the electricity the will.
Lightning in a bottle is an amazing, awe-inspiring opportunity to study and gaze and take in the majesty of the material. The sermon is a moment of divine inspection providing the listener the opportunity to have something as powerful as lightning captured in a bottle which can be turned over, admired and meditated upon.
Campfires provide warmth and naturally lend themselves to relational dynamics. Campfires attract gatherings. They lead to late nights and long talks and clothes that smell like smoke and fire for days afterwards. The sermon is a moment to connect with people, to huddle up, to share stories, to touch others hearts and share your own, and make an impression through a memorable experience many will appreciate.
Electricity animates other things. The sermon in this scenario is an opportunity to employ the energy already reserved in batteries and motivate dead batteries back to life through the call to do something. Electricity is an agent of change, making dark rooms bright and cold engines turn over.
The prophet preaches to catch lightning in a bottle.
The priest preaches to produce a campfire.
The king preaches to flip the switch on.
The prophet wants to change your mind.
The priest wants to mend your heart.
The king wants to employ your hands.
Prophets preach to teach the mind
Priests preach to reach the heart.
Kings preach to move the hands.
The one with the bottled lightning wants to aim at the head, the campfire the heart, and the electricity the will.
Lightning in a bottle is an amazing, awe-inspiring opportunity to study and gaze and take in the majesty of the material. The sermon is a moment of divine inspection providing the listener the opportunity to have something as powerful as lightning captured in a bottle which can be turned over, admired and meditated upon.
Campfires provide warmth and naturally lend themselves to relational dynamics. Campfires attract gatherings. They lead to late nights and long talks and clothes that smell like smoke and fire for days afterwards. The sermon is a moment to connect with people, to huddle up, to share stories, to touch others hearts and share your own, and make an impression through a memorable experience many will appreciate.
Electricity animates other things. The sermon in this scenario is an opportunity to employ the energy already reserved in batteries and motivate dead batteries back to life through the call to do something. Electricity is an agent of change, making dark rooms bright and cold engines turn over.
The prophet preaches to catch lightning in a bottle.
The priest preaches to produce a campfire.
The king preaches to flip the switch on.
The prophet wants to change your mind.
The priest wants to mend your heart.
The king wants to employ your hands.
Prophets preach to teach the mind
Priests preach to reach the heart.
Kings preach to move the hands.
Thursday, May 23, 2019
day no. 14,822: killing me softly
Proverbs 7:26-27
For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.
Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.
Strong muscle is no defense against strong desire. Allure is the most efficient way to the heart -- bypassing the chain-mail, muscle and bone that attempt to protect the chest.
To win this kind of war, a different kind of tactic must be employed.
For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.
Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.
Strong muscle is no defense against strong desire. Allure is the most efficient way to the heart -- bypassing the chain-mail, muscle and bone that attempt to protect the chest.
To win this kind of war, a different kind of tactic must be employed.
Wednesday, May 22, 2019
day no. 14,821: to dare and to die!
FROM MEMORIES OF CHILDHOOD AND OTHER POEMS, 1895
By John M. Morse
From the zenith afar, with its vertical ray—
Shines the sun in its splendor, the glory of day.
Tho’ dark clouds should arise to bedim its clear light,
They are scattered away by its power and might.
In the noontide of life there is strength for the hour;
It is then that man reaches his zenith of power.
With an arm for the conflict, a brain that can plan—
All his trials but make him a manlier man.
Like the oak on the hillside, majestic in form:
Like the ship on the ocean, prepared for the storm;
When that storm would engulf, or would dash to the ground,
They come forth from the conflict with victory crowned.
What a power for good is a man in his prime,
Who will stand for the right with a firmness sublime;
Who will stand in his place with truth’s banner unfurled,
Who will let his light shine for the good of the world.
When an enemy threatens the life of the State,
When all own, with sad hearts, that the peril is great;
When devouring flames shoot up higher and higher,
And destruction stalks forth as a fiend in the fire—
When by famine or sword, or by pestilence dread,
Many thousands are called to lie down with the dead.
When gross evils abound, and the wicked increase,
And we sigh for the joys and the triumphs of peace—
In such perilous times man’s true manhood appears:
It has grown with his growth and has strengthened with years.
When his country needs help—when the danger is nigh—
He is ready, if need be, to dare and to die!
When the fiend in the fire has his victims at bay,
Or when famine and sword by the thousands would slay;
Or when pestilence—swift—for its victims would fly—
Then true manhood shines forth, brightest star in the sky.
By John M. Morse
From the zenith afar, with its vertical ray—
Shines the sun in its splendor, the glory of day.
Tho’ dark clouds should arise to bedim its clear light,
They are scattered away by its power and might.
In the noontide of life there is strength for the hour;
It is then that man reaches his zenith of power.
With an arm for the conflict, a brain that can plan—
All his trials but make him a manlier man.
Like the oak on the hillside, majestic in form:
Like the ship on the ocean, prepared for the storm;
When that storm would engulf, or would dash to the ground,
They come forth from the conflict with victory crowned.
What a power for good is a man in his prime,
Who will stand for the right with a firmness sublime;
Who will stand in his place with truth’s banner unfurled,
Who will let his light shine for the good of the world.
When an enemy threatens the life of the State,
When all own, with sad hearts, that the peril is great;
When devouring flames shoot up higher and higher,
And destruction stalks forth as a fiend in the fire—
When by famine or sword, or by pestilence dread,
Many thousands are called to lie down with the dead.
When gross evils abound, and the wicked increase,
And we sigh for the joys and the triumphs of peace—
In such perilous times man’s true manhood appears:
It has grown with his growth and has strengthened with years.
When his country needs help—when the danger is nigh—
He is ready, if need be, to dare and to die!
When the fiend in the fire has his victims at bay,
Or when famine and sword by the thousands would slay;
Or when pestilence—swift—for its victims would fly—
Then true manhood shines forth, brightest star in the sky.
Tuesday, May 21, 2019
day no. 14,820: a proclivity for flattery
Proverbs 6:24-26
To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.
Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids. For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adultress will hunt for the precious life.
The direction of instruction is itself instructive. We must be instructed NOT to believe flattery and instructed TO believe wisdom.
We are sinners by nature and by choice. The natural bent of sin is to want to believe the words of the strange woman because of her looks. There is an inborn "want to" when ti comes to sin and destruction. Therefore, proverbs are needed in order to keep one from wandering after meretriciousness.
Conversely, we are not naturally bent to believe the words of wisdom. We have to be instructed to want her and to believe her. We do possess an inherent "want to" when it comes to wisdom. We do not want what is wise by nature.
Instead, we rather prefer flattery. We would rather hear nice things that we know to be untrue than to hear hard things we suspect are true.
Our bent is to give our hearts to what is hunting us while resisting the efforts of that which is setting us free.
To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.
Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids. For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adultress will hunt for the precious life.
The direction of instruction is itself instructive. We must be instructed NOT to believe flattery and instructed TO believe wisdom.
We are sinners by nature and by choice. The natural bent of sin is to want to believe the words of the strange woman because of her looks. There is an inborn "want to" when ti comes to sin and destruction. Therefore, proverbs are needed in order to keep one from wandering after meretriciousness.
Conversely, we are not naturally bent to believe the words of wisdom. We have to be instructed to want her and to believe her. We do possess an inherent "want to" when it comes to wisdom. We do not want what is wise by nature.
Instead, we rather prefer flattery. We would rather hear nice things that we know to be untrue than to hear hard things we suspect are true.
Our bent is to give our hearts to what is hunting us while resisting the efforts of that which is setting us free.
Monday, May 20, 2019
day no. 14,819: led, kept and conversed
Proverbs 6:20-23
My son, keep thy father's commandment,
and forsake not the law of thy mother:
Bind them continually upon thine heart,
and tie them about thy neck.
When thou goest, it shall lead thee;
when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee;
and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.
For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light;
and reproofs of instruction are the way of life
Whether you're coming or going, asleep or awake, wisdom is necessary.
Everyone is going somewhere and sooner or later they're going to get there.
Let wisdom be your guide.
Everyone is resting somewhere. Let wisdom be your overseer.
Everyone is listening to someone or something. Let wisdom be your interlocutor.
My son, keep thy father's commandment,
and forsake not the law of thy mother:
Bind them continually upon thine heart,
and tie them about thy neck.
When thou goest, it shall lead thee;
when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee;
and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.
For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light;
and reproofs of instruction are the way of life
Whether you're coming or going, asleep or awake, wisdom is necessary.
Everyone is going somewhere and sooner or later they're going to get there.
Let wisdom be your guide.
Everyone is resting somewhere. Let wisdom be your overseer.
Everyone is listening to someone or something. Let wisdom be your interlocutor.
Sunday, May 19, 2019
day no. 14,818: undercurrency
Proverbs 6:14-15
Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.
Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.
Those who sow discord will reap calamity.
You will be dealt with in the cards you deal.
You will be paid in the coin you spend.
And the wages of sin is death.
Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.
Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.
Those who sow discord will reap calamity.
You will be dealt with in the cards you deal.
You will be paid in the coin you spend.
And the wages of sin is death.
Saturday, May 18, 2019
day no. 14,817: like caught caught
Proverbs 5:21
For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings.
Even if you "get away" with it, you're caught. No one gets away with anything. Whatever we do is always before God. Even where men can't see, God can. Do not make mischief more attractive by assuming amends are required only of those who are so foolish as to get caught.
The foolish are those who try to get away with anything.
For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings.
Even if you "get away" with it, you're caught. No one gets away with anything. Whatever we do is always before God. Even where men can't see, God can. Do not make mischief more attractive by assuming amends are required only of those who are so foolish as to get caught.
The foolish are those who try to get away with anything.
Friday, May 17, 2019
day no. 14,816: what your getting has got to get
Proverbs 4:7-8
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom:
and with all thy getting get understanding.
Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour,
when thou dost embrace her.
Getting in inescapable. Everyone is attempting to get something. Wisdom is the best thing to get. In all the time you spend trying to get things, make sure, above all, that you are getting wisdom.
Pursue wisdom as you would pursue a beautiful, godly girl. Court wisdom. Look after her, desire her, chase her. Passionately love wisdom. Do not play with her as a side project, but pursue her for marriage, for a lifelong love affair.
Do not count the costs of getting her as an infringement upon your bachelorhood. Whatever you do, do everything to get and keep and live with wisdom.
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom:
and with all thy getting get understanding.
Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour,
when thou dost embrace her.
Getting in inescapable. Everyone is attempting to get something. Wisdom is the best thing to get. In all the time you spend trying to get things, make sure, above all, that you are getting wisdom.
Pursue wisdom as you would pursue a beautiful, godly girl. Court wisdom. Look after her, desire her, chase her. Passionately love wisdom. Do not play with her as a side project, but pursue her for marriage, for a lifelong love affair.
Do not count the costs of getting her as an infringement upon your bachelorhood. Whatever you do, do everything to get and keep and live with wisdom.
Thursday, May 16, 2019
day no, 14,815: cities are made up of households
Psalm 101:2, 7-8
2 I will ponder the way that is blameless.
Oh when will you come to me?
I will walk with integrity of heart
within my house
7 No one who practices deceit
shall dwell in my house;
no one who utters lies
shall continue before my eyes.
8 Morning by morning I will destroy
all the wicked in the land,
cutting off all the evildoers
from the city of the Lord.
As goes the home, so goes the city. If we want to see our cities conquered for Jesus' Name, we must live in our homes by Jesus' Name. If we want to march in the Lord's army, we must walk in our homes. The grandiose enterprise of world conquest is accomplished by the pedestrian enterprise of domestic concern.
Our homes are our front lines. As we win them, we move the circumference of light outward and the gates of hell will not prevail against us.
The battle begins at home with men who take responsibility at the local level. The war is won one home at a time.
Joshua 24:14-15
Now therefore fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
When men begin to take responsibility for the worship that takes place in their homes, cities will be won, nations overrun and the world over which Jesus cries, "Mine!" will in glad agreement bow before Him.
“There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, Mine!” ― Abraham Kuyper
2 I will ponder the way that is blameless.
Oh when will you come to me?
I will walk with integrity of heart
within my house
7 No one who practices deceit
shall dwell in my house;
no one who utters lies
shall continue before my eyes.
8 Morning by morning I will destroy
all the wicked in the land,
cutting off all the evildoers
from the city of the Lord.
As goes the home, so goes the city. If we want to see our cities conquered for Jesus' Name, we must live in our homes by Jesus' Name. If we want to march in the Lord's army, we must walk in our homes. The grandiose enterprise of world conquest is accomplished by the pedestrian enterprise of domestic concern.
Our homes are our front lines. As we win them, we move the circumference of light outward and the gates of hell will not prevail against us.
The battle begins at home with men who take responsibility at the local level. The war is won one home at a time.
Joshua 24:14-15
Now therefore fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
When men begin to take responsibility for the worship that takes place in their homes, cities will be won, nations overrun and the world over which Jesus cries, "Mine!" will in glad agreement bow before Him.
“There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, Mine!” ― Abraham Kuyper
Wednesday, May 15, 2019
day no. 14,814: reaping and sowing in relational fruitfulness
Galatians 6:7
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
2 Corinthians 9:6
Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
Luke 6:38
Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you
The following excerpt is taken from Stephen Covey's "7 Habits of Highly Effective People"
The Farm is a natural system. The price must be paid and the process followed. You always reap what you sow; there is no shortcut.
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
2 Corinthians 9:6
Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
Luke 6:38
Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you
The following excerpt is taken from Stephen Covey's "7 Habits of Highly Effective People"
The Farm is a natural system. The price must be paid and the process followed. You always reap what you sow; there is no shortcut.
This principle is also true, ultimately, in human behavior,
in human relationships. They, too, are natural systems based on the law of the harvest.
In the short run, in an artificial social system such as school, you may be able
to get by if you learn how to manipulate the man-made rules, to "play the
game." In most one-shot or short-lived human interactions, you can use the
Personality Ethic to get by and to make favorable impressions through charm and
skill and pretending to be interested in other people's hobbies. You can pick
up quick, easy techniques that may work in short-term situations. But secondary
traits alone have no permanent worth in long-term relationships. Eventually, if
there isn't deep integrity in the fundamental character strength, the
challenges of life will cause true motives to surface and human relationship
failure will replace short-term success.
Many people with secondary greatness---that is, social
recognition for their talents---lack primary greatness or goodness in their
character. Sooner or later, you'll see this in every long-term relationship
they have, whether is is with a business associate, a spouse, a friend, or a
teenage child going through an identity crisis. It is character that
communicates most eloquently. As Emerson once put it, "What you are shouts
so loudly in my ears I cannot hear what you say."
Tuesday, May 14, 2019
day no. 14,813: idling
2 Thessalonians 3:11
For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies.
Paul had heard that some walked in idleness. They were busy, but idle; walking without going anywhere; running at a red light.
I see this kind of thing often. I work in a two-story corporate office and yet I often see grown, able-bodied men riding the elevator. They are going upstairs without doing any of the going.
Many men are fine being moved as long as they are not required to do the moving. They are agreeable to being acted upon as long as they don't have to act.
For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies.
Paul had heard that some walked in idleness. They were busy, but idle; walking without going anywhere; running at a red light.
I see this kind of thing often. I work in a two-story corporate office and yet I often see grown, able-bodied men riding the elevator. They are going upstairs without doing any of the going.
Many men are fine being moved as long as they are not required to do the moving. They are agreeable to being acted upon as long as they don't have to act.
Monday, May 13, 2019
day no. 14,812: peeling the onion
It was recently pointed out to me that while onions may be complex in that they are full of layers, they are really quite simple... it's just more onion down there.
Some things seem deep, but aren't. Some problems seem complex and layered, but they boil down to one simple thing.
You can wear yourself out digging deeper into some things only to discover that it is only more of what it was when you first began.
Some things seem deep, but aren't. Some problems seem complex and layered, but they boil down to one simple thing.
You can wear yourself out digging deeper into some things only to discover that it is only more of what it was when you first began.
Sunday, May 12, 2019
day no. 14,811: Mother's Day
1 Corinthians 11:11-12
In the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman; 12 for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God.
I would not be here without my God or my mother.
Thank you, God for giving me life by giving me a mother.
In the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman; 12 for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God.
I would not be here without my God or my mother.
Thank you, God for giving me life by giving me a mother.
Saturday, May 11, 2019
day no. 14,810: Christless crosses and crossless Christs
A Christless cross no refuge is for me;
A Crossless Christ my Savior may not be;
But, O Christ crucified! I rest in thee.”
- B B Warfield
A cross without the Christ offers no rest.
A Christ without the cross offers no hope.
A Crossless Christ my Savior may not be;
But, O Christ crucified! I rest in thee.”
- B B Warfield
A cross without the Christ offers no rest.
A Christ without the cross offers no hope.
Friday, May 10, 2019
day no. 14,809: definitions are daggers
“Definitions are very dreadful things: they do the two things that most men, especially comfortable men, cannot endure. They fight, and they fight fair.” - G.K. Chesterton
Definitions are daggers and they cut without apology. They are beautifully, faithfully, dreadfully relentless in their dependability and divisiveness. Definitions divide the thing down to the division of joint and marrow as far as "joint" and "marrow" are defined. Definitions leave no room for confusion by cutting a clear path between the halves.
Definitions fight and do not flinch. They do not offer an apology, for they have the fingers of fairness brandishing their hilt. As long as they stay true, they will always run through those who resist them. Because they come to a point, they pierce whatever protests them.
"All good things come to a point, swords for instance." - G.K. Chesterton
***came across this gem the other day while reading THIS
Definitions are daggers and they cut without apology. They are beautifully, faithfully, dreadfully relentless in their dependability and divisiveness. Definitions divide the thing down to the division of joint and marrow as far as "joint" and "marrow" are defined. Definitions leave no room for confusion by cutting a clear path between the halves.
Definitions fight and do not flinch. They do not offer an apology, for they have the fingers of fairness brandishing their hilt. As long as they stay true, they will always run through those who resist them. Because they come to a point, they pierce whatever protests them.
"All good things come to a point, swords for instance." - G.K. Chesterton
***came across this gem the other day while reading THIS
Thursday, May 9, 2019
day no. 14,808: inescapable glory or shame
Proverbs 3:35
The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.
The wise work hard and receive a raise.
The foolish play and receive a raze.
The wise are promoted to a place of glory.
The fool are promoted to a place of shame.
The wise inherit glory.
The foolish inherit shame.
The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.
The wise work hard and receive a raise.
The foolish play and receive a raze.
The wise are promoted to a place of glory.
The fool are promoted to a place of shame.
The wise inherit glory.
The foolish inherit shame.
Wednesday, May 8, 2019
day no. 14,807: the firm
Isaiah 7:9b
If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all
Outside of faith, there is no firmness. Anything in faith remains. It stands, firm and resolute. Anything unfaithful is fading. If it does not stand by faith, it is sliding away. If it's not drilled down in faith, it is adrift. Faith alone is firm.
Robert Conquest's Second Law of Politics
Any organization not explicitly right-wing sooner or later becomes left-wing.
Whatever is not committed to orthodoxy is becoming by degree or by day's end: orthodonky.
If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all
Outside of faith, there is no firmness. Anything in faith remains. It stands, firm and resolute. Anything unfaithful is fading. If it does not stand by faith, it is sliding away. If it's not drilled down in faith, it is adrift. Faith alone is firm.
Robert Conquest's Second Law of Politics
Any organization not explicitly right-wing sooner or later becomes left-wing.
Whatever is not committed to orthodoxy is becoming by degree or by day's end: orthodonky.
Tuesday, May 7, 2019
day no. 14,806: if one must strive, one must strive to win
Proverbs 3:30-31
Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.
Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.
The man of God is to be a peacemaker. He is to be a warrior only when war is required. He isn't to create wars, he is to end them. He isn't to create trouble, he is to address it.
When there is cause, by all means strive. And if one must strive, then one must strive to win.
It is easy to observe others stirring up trouble, striving with others without cause and getting what they want in the end by their bullying and manipulation. In other words, it is easy to see why this kind of thing works. But the man of God must resist this temptation in whole and in part. None of these maneuvers are to be imitated.
They get what they want by behaving in this manner, but this is not all that they will get. They will also get what they got coming to them.
The man of God does not overcome evil with evil. He overcomes evil with good -- which includes resisting the temptation to obtain good ends by evil means.
Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.
Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.
The man of God is to be a peacemaker. He is to be a warrior only when war is required. He isn't to create wars, he is to end them. He isn't to create trouble, he is to address it.
When there is cause, by all means strive. And if one must strive, then one must strive to win.
It is easy to observe others stirring up trouble, striving with others without cause and getting what they want in the end by their bullying and manipulation. In other words, it is easy to see why this kind of thing works. But the man of God must resist this temptation in whole and in part. None of these maneuvers are to be imitated.
They get what they want by behaving in this manner, but this is not all that they will get. They will also get what they got coming to them.
The man of God does not overcome evil with evil. He overcomes evil with good -- which includes resisting the temptation to obtain good ends by evil means.
Monday, May 6, 2019
day no. 14,805: forefathers and forecasts
Proverbs 3:1-2
My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
Those who make it a priority to remember what God has said and a regular practice of obeying His commands will live a long, happy life with peace generously drizzled all over it.
Honoring our forefathers improves the forecast.
This promise was not merely for a people living long ago in a land far away. It's import is echoed by Paul hundreds of years later in his epistle to the church at Ephesus.
Ephesians 6:1-3
Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
Children of both the Old and New testament can bank on the fact that honoring our ancestors' greatest achievements of glorifying God and enjoying Him in their own towns is the best way to secure glorifying God and enjoying Him in our own.
"People who take no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote descendants." - Thomas B. Macaulay
"People will not look forward to posterity, who never look backward to their ancestors." - Edmund Burke
My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
Those who make it a priority to remember what God has said and a regular practice of obeying His commands will live a long, happy life with peace generously drizzled all over it.
Honoring our forefathers improves the forecast.
This promise was not merely for a people living long ago in a land far away. It's import is echoed by Paul hundreds of years later in his epistle to the church at Ephesus.
Ephesians 6:1-3
Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
Children of both the Old and New testament can bank on the fact that honoring our ancestors' greatest achievements of glorifying God and enjoying Him in their own towns is the best way to secure glorifying God and enjoying Him in our own.
"People who take no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote descendants." - Thomas B. Macaulay
"People will not look forward to posterity, who never look backward to their ancestors." - Edmund Burke
Sunday, May 5, 2019
day no. 14,804: doctrine, deeds and discipleship
Ezra 7:10
For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.
Ezra was committed to studying and understanding what God had said.
Ezra was committed to doing what he understood God to have said.
Ezra was committed to teaching others to study and understand what God had said and to do what they understood God to be saying.
Ezra was committed to teaching others WHAT God had said and HOW to do what He had said.
In other words...
Read your Bible. Do what it says. Teach others to do the same.
For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.
Ezra was committed to studying and understanding what God had said.
Ezra was committed to doing what he understood God to have said.
Ezra was committed to teaching others to study and understand what God had said and to do what they understood God to be saying.
Ezra was committed to teaching others WHAT God had said and HOW to do what He had said.
In other words...
Read your Bible. Do what it says. Teach others to do the same.
Saturday, May 4, 2019
day no. 14,803: a few good men
Proverbs 2:20 KJV
That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.
That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.
I want to walk in the way of good men.
I want to be numbered among the good men by following the paths of those who have gone before me. I want to be that good man in whose ways others may walk.
I want to follow good men who are good at being men.
I want to be a good man who is good at being a man.
Friday, May 3, 2019
day no. 14,802: wisdom of all sorts for being completely out of sorts
Proverbs 1:1-7 KJV
The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;
To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;
To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;
To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
I want to know wisdom.
I want to know instruction.
I want to be intimately familiar with what is wise and what to do. I want to know what to think and how to think, what to do and how to do it.
It is easy to feel simple, overwhelmed and out of sorts on a daily basis. When you regularly deal in the coin of spirituality, it is a regular experience to feel penniless.
But God's Word, and Proverbs in particular, promises to pay back for time invested in it. It promises to increase learning, understanding and sturdiness.
Not only does it promise to help you see what's really going on, but it promises to help you help others understand what's going on with them and in the world around all of us.
Wisdom is an eye to see and an ear to hear. To see what is really happening and to hear what is really being said.
This begins with the beginning of all things, in the awe of the one, true, omniscient and benevolent Lord.
Wisdom is a backstage pass to the theater of life and you'd be a straight up fool to turn down this invitation.
The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;
To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;
To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;
To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
I want to know wisdom.
I want to know instruction.
I want to be intimately familiar with what is wise and what to do. I want to know what to think and how to think, what to do and how to do it.
It is easy to feel simple, overwhelmed and out of sorts on a daily basis. When you regularly deal in the coin of spirituality, it is a regular experience to feel penniless.
But God's Word, and Proverbs in particular, promises to pay back for time invested in it. It promises to increase learning, understanding and sturdiness.
Not only does it promise to help you see what's really going on, but it promises to help you help others understand what's going on with them and in the world around all of us.
Wisdom is an eye to see and an ear to hear. To see what is really happening and to hear what is really being said.
This begins with the beginning of all things, in the awe of the one, true, omniscient and benevolent Lord.
Wisdom is a backstage pass to the theater of life and you'd be a straight up fool to turn down this invitation.
Thursday, May 2, 2019
day no. 14,801: a enneagram for your thoughts
Christians are nothing if not trendy. The Enneagram of Personality is no exception. I'm not sure who first shared the memo on this thing, but apparently when they did they cc'd (Christian Copied) the entire evangelical world. Since then, the trend in Christians circles, especially up the younger, mover-and-shaker types has been upward.
Now, I personally like personality tests. I find them interesting. What I don't find them is authoritative. They do not get to tell me who I am. They do not have that kind of pull.
That would be like a hammer claiming to have the authority to hold up a house when in reality it possesses only the authority to drive the nails. The hammer does not hold the house up, physics, blueprints, architecture, etc... hold the house up.
So I think there is some value in using the Enneagram as a tool. In that sense, it can be helpful and useful. But as a centering philosophy of self, it fails miserably.
The carpenter has authority to drive the nails, but not the authority to make the building stand up. He doesn't possess in himself the kind of pull that gravity does. He doesn't have physics at his fingertips.
But God does.
He has the authority to tell you who you are. He has the ability to hold you together. He can tell you who you are and why you do things and more importantly why you should stop doing certain things, repent and be forgiven for having done them.
The Enneagram is never going to ask anyone to repent of anything. There are no wrong answers on a personality exam. You can't fail a personality test. Because ultimately, it's not trying to hold you together, it's only attempting to explain why you're falling apart.
Psalm 127:1
Unless the Lord builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain.
Now, I personally like personality tests. I find them interesting. What I don't find them is authoritative. They do not get to tell me who I am. They do not have that kind of pull.
That would be like a hammer claiming to have the authority to hold up a house when in reality it possesses only the authority to drive the nails. The hammer does not hold the house up, physics, blueprints, architecture, etc... hold the house up.
So I think there is some value in using the Enneagram as a tool. In that sense, it can be helpful and useful. But as a centering philosophy of self, it fails miserably.
The carpenter has authority to drive the nails, but not the authority to make the building stand up. He doesn't possess in himself the kind of pull that gravity does. He doesn't have physics at his fingertips.
But God does.
He has the authority to tell you who you are. He has the ability to hold you together. He can tell you who you are and why you do things and more importantly why you should stop doing certain things, repent and be forgiven for having done them.
The Enneagram is never going to ask anyone to repent of anything. There are no wrong answers on a personality exam. You can't fail a personality test. Because ultimately, it's not trying to hold you together, it's only attempting to explain why you're falling apart.
Psalm 127:1
Unless the Lord builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)