More two cents.....lol

I love the book of Ephesians. Did you know that in chapter one that verses three through fourteen in the Greek language is one sentence? In the English it's more than one sentence; but not in the Greek. I bet you didn't know that did you? I know I didn't...lol.

The cool thing about this sentence in Ephesians is that it is a perfect sentence to see the work of the trinity.

Here is the breakdown:

Ephesians 1:3-6 talks about how God the Father planned our salvation and it ends with the words, “to the praise of His glory” (Referring to God the Father).

Ephesians 1:7-12 talks about how God the Son paid for our salvation and it ends with the words, “to the praise of His glory” (Referring to God the Son).

Ephesians 1:13-14 talks about how God the Spirit sealed our salvation and it ends with the words, “to the praise of His glory" (Referring to God the Spirit).

Did you notice how in this sentence the whole work of salvation is His work, look at how many times the word, His, Him, He is in that verse?

Just some thoughts to ponder in hopes to stir you up a bit.

How did they die?

How did they die?

Most people say that the Bible is made up; that the 12 Apostles created a fairy tale that we Christians cling to. But what the critics forget is that all 12 of the apostles were murdered (With the exception of John who they tried to kill and finally left him to rot on an island) for what they claimed in regards to the Bible. Now I don’t know about you, but I sure would not choose to die of Dr. Seuss or any other fairy tale, but if the claims of the Bible are true, then that is something worth dying for.

When given the opportunity to deny God’s word written in the Bible or to die all 12 Apostle chose death. This is how they died:

Andrew – Crucified, Achaia AD 70.
Barnabas – Burned to death, Cyprus AD 64
James (the Less) – Clubbed to death, Jerusalem AD 63
John – Was burn alive in boiling oil and lived; then abandoned on the Island of Patmos AD63
Luke – Hanged, Greece AD 93
Mark – Dragged to death, Alexandria AD 64
Matthew – Beheaded, Ethiopia AD 70
Paul – Beheaded in Rome AD 69
Peter – watched his wife die via crucifixion and then was crucified upside down in Rome AD 69
Phillip – Stoned to death, Phrygia AD 54
Thomas – Speared to death, Calamino AD 70

All of these guys were given a choice, deny what you claim or die. And everyone of them chose to die for what they claimed. Think about this; reason with me, use logic; who in their right mind would die for a fairy tale? I wouldn’t and these guys would not either. They chose to deny the fairytales of their day and they paid the price for it; death.

So when someone tells you that this the bible is a made up fairy tale, ask them if that is so, then why did these and millions of others throughout the centuries choose to die rather than deny the claims found in Gods word.

Again, just my two cents for today.

Thoughts to ponder

The phrase, "The just shall live by faith", is quoted three times in the New Testament.

Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, & in Hebrews 10:38. One of the many reasons people believe that Paul wrote the book of Hebrews is because of this quote. Paul most likely writes all three of these books, but he takes two words from this verse, (The just shall live by faith) in Habakkuk 2:4, he builds his whole teaching on this verse. It takes Paul three entire books to explain this one verse and this is the break down.

The book of Romans teaches us how we can be justified. The book of Galatians teaches us how we ought to live. And the Book of Hebrews teaches us that what faith is. So this is the break down of all three books combined:

Roman = The Just
Galatians = Shall Live
Hebrews = By Faith

Three entire books explaining six little words. Pretty cool isn't it?

Journal 4/13/06

Why do I run in circles in my Christian life? Why do I fall for the same temptations over and over again and never realize that everything is empty and futile unless it’s filled with the presence of God? I am tired of falling. The only falling that I desire to do is to fall on my knees so I can walk on my feet again. I am tired of going for the love that comes and goes instead of going to the One who loves me forever. I am tired of placing my trust in man or in this world or if I am true to the real issue at hand; I am tired of giving into the deception and wickedness of my heart. I am tired of listening to the vile nature of my heart of hearts.

Father, I have struggled walking with you this last month. As a matter of fact, I haven’t walked with you at all. I have not spent time with you; I have not sought after you. I have just done my own thing and for that I apologize and ask for your forgiveness. I repent yet again my Lord. I did get to read your word today and I was blessed as I studied Romans this morning. It was refreshing to hear from your word and to reaffirm that you love me. It was nice to hear that your grace is there for me and without your grace I am a man of desperation. Without your grace I am to be pitied as the poorest of all souls. Yet with your grace, I can lift my head high and I can soar in the heavens as your grace picks me up and makes me fly. Thank you for grace Jesus.

And its not even your grace I seek. I do not seek the grace of God as much as I seek the God of Grace. And you love me and have showered your grace upon me, I am thankful and I worship you for your mercy and love towards a man like me. I praise your name most Holy Father and I pray that from here on out I would seek you for the rest of my life.

Enoch has been in my mind Lord; and because he lived in the pre-flooded world and because the world was different then than it is today, he lived a long time. But what I read in Genesis 5 is that Enoch walked with God for three hundred years. What? Three hundred years? I struggle walking with you for a month and he did it for three hundred years? How? I am sure it was based upon your Grace. Please help me to walk with you for all the days of my life. I need you now more than ever. On the merits of Jesus alone is the basis that I come to you and petition you my Holy Father. On his finished work I place my trust in and because of it; you have given a man like me access into your throne room so that I may bring these petitions to you. So here I am….please hear my cry.

Bill

Pictures

So here are some pictures of me over the course of my life so far....pretty interesting eh? the last picture is the most recent.

Poem - Author unknown

I was shocked, confused, bewildered
as I entered Heaven's door,
Not by the beauty of it all,
Nor the lights, nor its decor.

But it was the folks in Heaven
who made me sputter and gasp--
the thieves, the liars, the sinners,
the alcoholics, and the trash...

There stood that kid from seventh grade
Who swiped my lunch money twice.
Next to him was my old neighbor
Who never said anything nice.

Herb, who I always thought,
would be rotting away in hell,
was sitting pretty on cloud nine,
Looking incredibly well.

I nudged Jesus, "What's the deal?
I'd love to hear Your take.
How'd all these sinners get up here?"
God must've made a mistake.

"And why's everyone so quiet,
so somber? Please, give me a clue."
"Hush, child," said He, "they're all in shock;
No one thought they'd be seeing you."

Judge NOT.

Author Unknown