dW 10.30.08

 

scripture

 

Galatians 5:22-26

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

 

En Espanol

What is not of the Spirit? English and Espanol

 

story

 

"We had a thing at church the other night and Dr. Norman Wright posed this question for each of us to ask ourselves at the end of each day: How was it living with (working with, being around) me today?  He said if we get really brave we can actually ask our spouses this out loud! People laughed.  So the next morning as we're waking up Kenny says to me, "So, how is it living with me?"  I responded, "So far so good, but the day is still young!"  Anyway, it's a nice barometer of how we're treating others and the vibes we're giving out and if we've been interacting with each other in a Godly way."

- Email from a friend

dW 10.28.08

 

scripture

 

Job 1:20-21

At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised."

 

En Espanol

 

quote

 

The essence of optimism is that it takes no account of the present, but it is a source of inspiration, of vitality and hope where others have resigned; it enables a man to hold his head high, to claim the future for himself and not to abandon it to his enemy.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer

dW 10.27.08

 

scripture

 

Psalm 39:4-7

Show me, O LORD, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man's life is but a breath. Selah Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro: He bustles about, but only in vain; he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will get it. But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.

 

En Espanol

 

quote

 

For weeks after my last operation [for cancer]- frail and without energy, sleeping ten hours- I looked in my house at all the books I had not read and wept for my inability to read them.  Or I looked at great books I had read too quickly in my avidity- telling myself I would return to them later.  There is never a later, but for most of my life I have believed in later.

Donald Hall 

dW 10.24.08

 

Going Green

 

It seems the "three R's" of old (reading, 'riting, and 'rithmetic) have been replaced by three new "R's": reuse, repurpose, recycle.

 

When it comes to recycling, we have the best of all possible examples . . . Jesus. He's the ultimate Recycler. Think about it: he reuses worn out, used up, broken people and makes them into brand-new creations. He's amazingly efficient, too, never wasting any experience or situation. As Romans 8:28 reminds us, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God" (En Espanol)

 

On our end, it's not just used paper or plastic that can be turned into something more useful. Perhaps you have an attitude that could benefit from recycling? Maybe it's time to repurpose a habit of worrying or complaining into the practice of gratitude for the gifts God has given. Think of the energy that would save!

 

Thanks to my mama for sending this in. <3 I needed it.

dW 10.22.08

 

scripture

 

Proverbs 4:1

Listen, my sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and gain understanding…

 

En Espanol

 

quote

 

Let France have good mothers, and she will have good sons.

Napoleon Bonaparte

dW 10.20.08

 

scripture

 

Romans 5:20-21

God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

En Espanol

 

quote

 

Our path is His business not ours. Our business is to trust Him with all our hearts and refuse to rely on our own understanding. Certainly, we must plan and prepare. But we must hold our schemes, and plans, and dreams loosely, giving God the right to revise them or replace them without our approval or knowledge, permitting Him to advise us, correct us, inspire us, and prompt us, knowing that His compelling hand is directly on everything we do.

John Trent

dW 10.13.08

 

scripture

 

1 Peter 1:18-21

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

 

En Espanol

 

lyrics

The Father sent His Son down
The light of men
The cross He bore was crippling
Rejected in His own town
They couldn’t see the sun shining
He knelt in the garden and prayed
Father, let this cup pass from me
It’s not Your will for me to stay
Your will for me is the opposite way

And it seemed like He was locked in a cage
And He couldn’t find away of escape
But through the cross He conquered the grave
My Jesus ran the opposite way

Oh, and through the cross He conquered the grave
Oh, He ran the opposite way
Yeah, through the cross He conquered the grave
So you could run the opposite way

 

-Leeland, Opposite Way

dW 10.10.08

 

scripture

 

2 Corinthians 13:12-14

Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints send their greetings.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

 

En Espanol

 

thought

 

A recipient yesterday made a valid point that in other cultures outside of western society male friends hold hands as do female friends hold hands in western society. Could it be that this person did not intend for their comment to be taken as I understood it? Another question which this recipient raised was, why isn’t it just as revolting to see violence? Why do we crave seeing fights in sports or in our movies?

 

funny

 

While on a trip in the Middle East I was walking with my wife, an American, and an Arab. As we walked I felt a hand slide into mine and turned, knowing that it wasn’t my wife, and saw my Arab friend next to me. I was initially puzzled and turned to my American friend who had seen what happened and was laughing at us. My wife too joined in the laughter while my Arab friend, still holding my hand, asked what the funny was. Then he realized what it was about and said, “Oh, you don’t hold hands in America but we’re not in America and you are my friend”. All the way to our destination we walked and talked while holding hands.

 

dW 10.09.08 clarification

 

The thought was meant to stir the emotions of the readers and force them to reflect and ask questions.

 

The way the paper read to me was “war/violence is bad” but “homosexuality is fine”. The hand written part below it saw nothing wrong with either scenario.  I am not pacifist yet I do think that violence should be avoided and that peace should be pursued. I agree with Augustine of Hippo that we should hate the sin but love the sinner. I understand through Scripture that the homosexual lifestyle is contrary to God’s will. As Christians we should lament when we see that which is contrary to God’s will. In seeking Truth we must challenge all truth claims by holding it up the Bible, which is God’s standard.

dW 10.09.08

 

scripture

 

Romans 12:2

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

 

En Espanol

 

thought

 

On campus we have a Wittenberg door on which people can post articles or papers which address issues of the day. Today I walked by and noticed a paper on which was an image and a quote. The image was of two soldiers with machine guns. The quote read, “Why is it that as Christians we are more comfortable seeing two men holding guns then seeing two men holding hands?". Beneath that was hand written – “If either of those were sins then you’d have a point”. Wow. Often lately I have been grieved with the condition of the church. Where are we getting our truth? Is it from the Word of God or is it from the world?