I am in courses at NBC.  Since, I do not live on campus, I take courses via the internet.  Everything is set up with email.  The entire course is on a discussion board.  Now, for those who know me, know that I graduated from Shawnee State University with a degree in History and minored in Political Science.  (Exciting, right?)  Well, I love history and anytime someone discusses it, I like to chime in. (My two cents worth)  Any rate, the other day in my course at NBC, we were discussion the “history of Christianity.”  Immediately, I thought…cool…something that I should know a lot about…(Obviously, I needed humbled and I got just what I deserved)

A topic of discussion was slavery.  Someone had added to the discussion that it is well-known that the slaves were very passionate worshippers.  So what did I do?  I made the comment that I thought that a slave had written “Amazing Grace.”  I was so wrong…and my classmates were quick to point that out…It was a man named John Newton instead…I was totally humbled and embarrassed.

This morning I was reading Proverbs 30 and I was reminded of this experience.  I was wrong. (Just don’t tell my wife)  I was reminded how God’s Word is never wrong.  It does not matter what the situation/topic is His Word is always right.  Proverbs 30:5:

 ”Every word of God is flawless;  he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.”

This is encouraging because I can put my foot in my mouth a million times, but God has never done this one time.  He has never been wrong and He will never be.  So trust God.  Know that He is flawless take refuge in Him.  (Don’t answer questions that you don’t know the answers to)

Here it is again…Stuff that I’ve read and liked this week…

Pete Wilson discusses how we try to control people’s impression of us…Ouch…

Mark Batterson discusses who we should try and impress…

Broken and Poured Out…Kendra Golden writes from the heart here…

Steven Furtick…where much is given…

Mark Batterson…Are we lepars?   This is  powerful… 

Steven Furtick…Just like Jesus said…some good stuff here…trust…

Jim discusses doubt…does anyone ever do this?

Life isn’t fair…just ask Bill…

Maybe it was just me, but I drastically changed how I behaved towards my parents.  When I was little I was a good kid.  (That’s what they tell me at least)  But then things changed when I turned 16.  Then I became the opposite of a good kid.  I did things that most teenagers did, but the one thing that I had gotten really good at was not being afraid of my parents.  When I was a child, I knew that if I got in trouble I was going to get spanked, so I did whatever I could so that this would not happen.  But once I got a little older, I did not fear this any more.  I can remember thinking this does not hurt, so why be afraid?  My heart became hardened towards them, I did not care what they thought.  I pretty much did whatever I wanted.

For the past two months I have read one chapter in Proverbs each day along with my daily readings.  I had felt that I needed more wisdom and discernment.  Anyways, today I read Proverbs 28.   The thing that literally jumped off the pages was Proverbs 28:14:

 Blessed are those who always tremble before God, 
    but those who harden their hearts fall into trouble

This verse totally reminded me of my childhood and teenage years.  (Hence, writing about it above)  When we “tremble,” we will be obedient, but when we lose that feeling, we become “hardened” and things begin to spiral.  When we become “hardened” to God’s commands, we WILL find things more difficult.  We absolutely need that child/father relationship with Him.

Ask yourself this:  Is there any part of my life that has become “hardened” to my Father?  If so, hit your knees and begin to seek to restore that relationship.  On a side note, my relationship with my parents is stronger than ever.  (It just took several years of me being an idiot, but they still loved me…kind of like God does)

Today’s reading was Jeremiah 20-21, and something definitely stood out.  All throughout the book of Jeremiah, he is going around proclaiming the Word of God to Jerusalem. 

Jeremiah eventually went to the temple and started proclaiming the Word of God there.  A priest there by the name of Pashur heard him and got mad. (People don’t typically like to hear when they have messed up)  He had Jeremiah beaten and put in stocks.  JUST FOR SHARING THE TRUTH! 

This is what Jeremiah said to Pashur when he was released the next day.  “The LORD’s name for you is not Pashhur, but Terror on Every Side.  For this is what the LORD says: ‘I will make you a terror to yourself and to all your friends;”  In other words, because you have been so stubborn, ignorant, and prideful by thinking that you are above the Lord you will be punished. (Oh snap!   Sorry, totally reliving my teenage years here)

My question is this:  Is there anything in our lives that need purging and cleansing?  We have to obey all of Scripture, not just the parts that we like.  This does not necessarily only pertain just leaders, this applies to everyone.  I urge all of us to consider EVERYTHING that we do and ask ourselves this questions:  Am I bringing glory to God…or am I contradicting what He tells us?

My son is probably the coolest kid ever!  (I know, I sound like any other dad)  This morning we were doing our normal routine, by watching some cartoons while waiting to leave.  He looks at me and says, “Hey, did you know that caterpillars change into butterflies.  They go away in the dark and when it turns light they change.”

Now, his science may have been a little off, but he was on to something.  I was immediately reminded of one of my favorite verses:

Ephesians 5:8 “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light“

When we live in the light, we are transformed from an ugly caterpillar to a butterfly.  Do any of you need transformed?  Decide to walk in the light.  Allow God to work in your life.  Allow him to turn you into a butterfly.

This is on the serious side and there is going to be a few tough questions. (Just giving fair warning)  This morning I read Jeremiah 16-17 and it reminded me of how God sees everything.

I think that many people have some sort of sin in their life that they are ashamed of and that they feel like they cannot escape.  I believe that  they feel that it is futile so they will essentially live a double life.  On the outside everything appears fine, but on the inside they are broken and feel trapped.  They are HIDING what’s going on from the world.

Here’s the thing:  We cannot hide anything from God.  Even if we think we are concealing things from everyone else, He sees and He knows.  That is kind of a scary thought.  Just think no matter what you do, God knows.

But I have some good news:  God tells us that  when we trust in Him we will flourish.  In other words if we come clean, we will be just fine. 

Jeremiah 17:7-8 says, ” ⁷ “But blessed are those who trust in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.  ⁸ They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.  It does not fear when heat comes;  its leaves are always green.  It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”

How many of you have something that you are hiding?  How many want to be set free?  How many want no worries in times of trouble?  Put your confidence in Jesus and you be set free and safe.

Today we have been busy cleaning up the house.  I looked over and I saw our broom sitting there and I was immediately  reminded of our lives.  We are in dire need of God’s cleansing.  We are filthy, unworthy creatures.  But the most amazing thing is that if we ask God to clean our house, He will.

He promises in Jeremiah 33:8 this:  I will cleanse them from all the sin they have committed against me and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against me.

So my questions are:  Do you need God to cleanse you.  I there something in your lives that is holding you back from a close, personal relationship with Him?  If so hit you knees immediately and ask God to bring His broom out and clean you up from the inside out.

Well here it is again…And I totally did not come up with this…

Here is something dealing with selfish Christians (Is there such thing?)

What would you do to spread the Gospel by Pastor Steven Furtick…Wow…

Pete Wilson shows how cool it is to be a dad…

How encouraging is this…challenge yourselves and your people…

Saw this on Pete Wilson’s blog…what is the one thing you want to happen by the end of the day?

Great message from Craig Groeschel on Margins…

The Count of Monte Cristo, Jacob, and revenge?  Bill (Cycleguy) ties them all together…

Craig Groeschel said, “If Satan can’t make us bad, he will make us busy.” Totally feeling convicted right now.

While reading Jeremiah 5-6 this morning I could not help but think to my self, “Wow! God is really angry.”  I know, I know, I am stating the obvious. These two chapters are essentially telling the people of Jerusalem that they are prostitutes, unfaithful, greedy, shameless, wretched, liars, and pagans. (Definately not descriptions that I would be proud of)

This is tough to read because it is so harsh, but throughout all of this I found a glimpse of hope: