I had an assignment in a neighborhood, where there is a great little park. Greenbriar Park is what it is, off on Rosehill road. Go if you live in the area and place a little. You will be sure to enjoy yourself.

CNN reports that a Lufthansa plane damaged its wing after bumping into a parked Continental plane at Newark International Airport. Nearly 300 passengers were on-board, but none was hurt. Lufthansa subsequently canceled the flight. No word yet on what caused the scrape.

By Mark Larson
www.cvillechurch.com

“And then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved” (2 Thess. 2:9-10, NASB). God, in His word, warns us of the danger of being deceived by “the son of destruction (or perdition)” and falling away from the true faith of God (i.e., apostasy) (2 Thess. 2:3). Whatever the “the son of destruction” stands for, it is certain that those who do not have a love for the truth are in special danger of perishing eternally by its wicked and deceptive influences (e.g., false teachers, false religion, antichrist forces – 1 John 2:18, idolatry, etc.).

The Truth Is God’s Word: The truth that must be loved, lest we perish, is the word of God: “Sanctify them in the truth; Thy word is truth” (John 17:17). The truth also stands for the gospel of Jesus Christ: “In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation…” (Eph. 1:13). Only the gospel, the truth, or God’s word has the power to save our souls (Rom. 1:16; 1 Pet. 1:22-23). In contrast, lies, falsehood, or false doctrine brings eternal death to those who follow it instead of the truth (James 5:19-20). Many people today reject the truth and prefer to believe in a lie. As a result, they refuse their salvation (2 Thess. 2:10-12).

What Does It Mean to “Receive the Love of the Truth”?

To be saved, we need to “receive the love of the truth” (2 Thess. 2:10). Many persons claim to love the truth, yet merely claiming so does not mean this is the case. For confidence in our salvation, we must demonstrate to God, by the standard of His word, that we indeed love the truth.

To Receive the Truth into Our Hearts: To “receive the love of the truth” is to welcome it wholeheartedly: “Receive” (Greek: dechomai) – “To receive favorably, give hear to, embrace, make one's own, approve, not to reject: Luke 8:13” (Thayer's Greek Lexicon). There is a big difference between the person who learns the truth merely to acquire knowledge and the person who takes the truth to heart! Those who truly love the truth will receive it with an open and honest heart and hold it fast (Luke 8:15). Those who love the truth receive it with “all readiness of mind” and “search the Scriptures daily” (Acts 17:11) because they really want to know: What must I do to be saved? (e.g., Acts 2:36-38).

To Believe in the Truth: To “receive the love of the truth” also means to believe in the truth. A person will not receive the truth into his or her heart, unless that person unites the truth they hear with faith (Heb. 4:2). No one can expect the truth to have a positive impact in their lives, nor expect it to lead to their salvation, unless they believe in the message: “And for this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received from us the word of God's message, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe” (1 Thess. 2:13).

To Obey the Truth: If we “receive the love of the truth,” then we will obey it. Those who say that they know the truth, and yet do not obey the truth, will not benefit spiritually from it (Rom. 1:18ff.). Those who claim to believe in the truth, yet do not practice it, are not genuine believers of Christ or of His word (i.e., the truth). True believers do more than just believe. They obey! “Jesus therefore was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free’” (John 8:31-32). These Jews that Jesus spoke to “had believed Him,” yet that was not enough to be His followers. To be true disciples of Jesus, they had to act on their faith. Only if we “abide in” (i.e., continue in, keep, obey) Jesus’ word (which includes the apostles’ teaching 2 Cor. 5:20; Gal. 1:11-12), can we belong to Him. We cannot know the truth only by studying it. We must also render obedience to it. “… ‘If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free’” (John 8:31-32). “The truth shall make us free” or give us freedom from our sins (John 8:33-36) when we abide in or obey the word of Christ and not by faith in Christ alone (James 2:24).

To Continually Desire the Truth: Those who love the truth will never stop in their quest for deeper knowledge and understanding of God’s word. A genuine love and desire for the truth will continue long after their baptism into Christ: “And I shall delight in Thy commandments, Which I love. And I shall lift up my hands to Thy commandments, Which I love” (Ps. 119:47-48). Bible study has great meaning and spiritual significance for the lover of truth: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15, KJV). Never does the person who loves the truth say to himself: “I have arrived!” and cease studying the Scriptures. Instead, he continually feeds his soul with the spiritual manna that he needs to stay strong in the Lord: “… ‘It is written, 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God’” (Mat. 4:4, NASB). Love for the truth will lead to a concentrated effort toward our spiritual growth and maturity in the Lord: “Like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation” (1 Pet. 2:2).

Those Who Love the Truth, Love the Lord.

The number one reason why a person should have love for the truth is because of his or her love for the Lord: “He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him” (John 14:21).

The Lord Jesus asked Simon Peter: “Do you love Me?” and He asks us that same question today: “Do you love Me?” Our love for the Lord is demonstrated to Him when we love the truth and obey it (John 21:15-17). Do you love the truth?

Preparing for the Democratic takeover, Mr. Vice President?

See Dick Shred. Shred Dick, shred!

By Mark Larson
www.cvillechurch.com

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom. 12:2, NASB). To be “conformed” is to be made similar or like someone or something in form or character and in behavior and opinion. Therefore, the word of God is instructing us not to allow the world to shape us into its own image or likeness.

There is a great temptation to be like the world. When most people of the world considers a certain behavior morally or socially acceptable (e.g., “drinking parties” – 1 Pet. 4:3) or popular (e.g., wearing immodest clothing – 1 Tim. 2:9), there is a strong desire to behave in the same way in order to fit in. However, just because a belief or practice is popular or accepted by society doesn’t make it right! In fact, following the popular path may instead lead to eternal destruction: “Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it” (Mat. 7:13-14).

The world makes every effort it can to get us to conform to its ways. Through the news media, television shows, advertisements, movies, magazines, books, Internet, etc. the world can have a profound affect on our way of thinking and behavior. Without even realizing it, many people have conformed to the world and have allowed the world to determine their standard of morality and lifestyle.

In religion, many churches have allowed themselves to be conformed to this world. Churches often make changes in order to keep in step with the world, instead of influencing the world to make changes for God according to the Scriptures. Rather than succumb to this temptation and fail to be distinct as a church of Christ, we must “… prove [ourselves] to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom [we] appear as lights in the world” (Phil. 2:15). Any change that a local church makes should be done because God’s word prescribes it, not because the world demands it: “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father” (Col. 3:17).

Conformity in religion that is in agreement with the world is not the religion of the Lord!
“Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15). Every Christian and every local church must determine not to allow the world to define for them what to believe, teach, or practice. God’s instructions concerning marriage, divorce, and remarriage (Mat. 19:4-6, 9), homosexual behavior (Rom. 1:26-27), or abortion (Ps. 139 / Rom. 13:9), for example, should not be discarded to appease the world. The New Testament pattern for the work and worship of the church should not be compromised in order to attract people of the world to Christ (Phil. 4:15; Eph. 4:16 / Acts 20:32; Acts 11:29-30 / 1 Tim. 5:16; Acts 2:42; 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1-2; Eph. 5:16; etc.).

Christians must be resolved that they will not be conformed to this world, but instead be “transformed by the renewing of [their] mind” (Rom. 12:2). As we study from the Scriptures (2 Tim. 2:15), fill ourselves with the “knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding” (Col. 1:9), and apply the word of God to our lives (James 1:25), we will renew our way of thinking for the better. Instead of being captivated by worldly advice (Col. 2:8), we will know exactly what the will of God is, “that which is good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom. 12:2).

In due time, our lives will be “transformed” (from metamorphosis) or changed for God so that we may serve Him acceptably. We will be able “to present [our] body a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is [our] spiritual service of worship” (Rom. 12:1). As God’s children, let us continue to be his special and distinct people of holiness (1 Pet. 1:14-16; 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1) and be not conformed, but transformed!

By Mark Larson
www.cvillechurch.com

“Everyone therefore who shall confess Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever shall deny Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven” (Mat. 10:32-33, NASB). Confessing one’s faith in Christ is a requirement a person must meet before a person can be baptized into Christ (e.g., Acts 8:37; 1 Tim. 6:12).

Confessing Jesus as Lord is essential to our salvation (Rom. 10:9-10). However, confessing Christ was never met to be a one time event, restricted to one moment of time before baptism! Confessing Christ is something that every Christian should continue to practice throughout his or her life. For in so doing, it not only demonstrates our faith in Jesus, but it also displays our courage as we speak out for Christ in an anti-Christ world (See entire context - Mat. 10:26-33).

What Does it Mean to Confess Christ?

Confessing Christ is not to be muttered to self, nor should it be limited to the privacy of one’s own home, or only spoken in the company of other Christians! Such circumstances do not require much courage nor any self-sacrifice.

To “confess” Christ means to acknowledge Him publicly, to declare our allegiance to Him openly, and to speak out freely of our faith in Jesus (Mat. 10:32). A true confession of Christ will be done so men may hear, so that the world may know that we are indeed disciples of Jesus Christ! Confessing Christ, just like preaching the gospel, should be shouted from the rooftops! “What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops” (Mat. 10:27). Rather than feel any shame, there is an earnest desire for all to know about Jesus!

Furthermore, confessing Christ is not to be equated with mere belief in Him. There must be the courage to vocally and publicly confess our faith in Christ. Faith only is clearly not enough to be one of Jesus’ disciples: “Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God” (John 12:42-43).

Are You Confessing Christ in Your Life?

At work, at school, in your neighborhood, and community, with your friends, family, relatives, and others, are you confessing Christ? Is the confession of Christ a way of life for you? Confessing Christ is not limited to when we are questioned by persecutors, but should be done freely, openly, and regularly as a result of our faith in Christ: “But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, " I believed, therefore I spoke, "we also believe, therefore also we speak; knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you” (2 Cor. 4:13-14). Confessing Christ is something every Christian should want to do as a result of having faith in Jesus Christ. Christians who are not inclined to evangelize or share the gospel with others often are lacking faith or are ashamed or both! (Rom. 1:16).

Don’t Let the Fear of Rejection Prevent You from Confessing Christ.

The parents of the blind man whom Jesus healed were afraid to confess Jesus to be the Christ, lest they should be put out of the synagogue (John 9:22). Lest we think we are above such fears, we would do well to ask ourselves a few questions: Do we keep silent at our workplace for fear of losing our job or valuable employees? Do we refrain from confessing Christ at school for fear of losing our friends or being treated as an outcast? Do we allow fear to hold us back to confess Christ at anyplace, anytime, or with anyone? We must always remember that we are blessed by God when we are excluded or rejected by men for confessing Jesus Christ. Such an experience may not feel like a blessing, but it is! “Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and cast insults at you, and spurn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. Be glad in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets” (Luke 6:22-23).

Confessing Christ Is a Proof That We Are Faithful Disciples of Christ!

If we confess Christ before men, Jesus will give us recognition before God that we are true disciples of Christ. More than merely confessing our names, Jesus confessing us before the Father is an official recognition or acknowledgment that we are His disciples! “Everyone therefore who shall confess Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven” (Mat. 10:32). We have demonstrated ourselves to be Christians, in part, by our confessing Christ. True disciples of Christ confess Christ and thus enjoy fellowship with God: “Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also… Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God” (1 John 2:23; 4:15). There is indeed great importance to our confessing Christ. Our fellowship with God depends on it!

Confessing Christ involves more than a mere verbal declaration of our faith, but will also be demonstrated by our obedience to His word. We cannot hypocritically confess Christ and claim to know God and then turn around and disobey Him! “And why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46). “They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient, and worthless for any good deed” (Titus 1:16). Genuine disciples of Christ will not only confess His name, but will also walk with Him in holiness (Rev. 3:4-5).

Denying Christ Is an Indication That We Are “Anti-Christ!”

To deny Christ (which is the absence of confessing Him) is to be “anti-Christ!” “By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; and this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world” (1 John 4:2-3).

Denying Christ also involves denying the teaching of Christ which is also anti-Christ: “For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch yourselves, that you might not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward. Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting” (2 John 7-10). A person is anti-Christ when he does not “abide in” or keep the teaching of Christ, which would include the teachings of the apostles who preached His word (Gal. 1:10; Eph. 3:3-5).

Our Salvation Depends on Whether We Confess Christ or Deny Him.

If we deny Christ, meaning fail to acknowledge Him publicly and do not openly speak of our faith in Christ and His gospel, we will be denied before God and thus lose our salvation: “But whoever shall deny Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven” (Mat. 10:33).

If we confess Christ, we can be confident that Christ will also confess us on Judgment day: “Everyone therefore who shall confess Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven” (Mat. 10:32).

May every Christian maintain their confession of Christ throughout life so that each one will be acknowledged by Christ as one of His disciples on that last day!

By Mark Larson
www.cvillechurch.com

Four out of five Americans believe in life after death, according to a General Social Survey by the National Opinion Research Center that has tracked such convictions in the United States for nearly 25 years. 81% of the U.S. population is convinced there is a Heaven or Hell, or something awaiting them on the other side. Are you one of them?

Do you believe in an afterlife in which all who die will enter an eternal realm? Inevitably, questions about Eternity also lead people to questions about life and an examination of the meaning of life. That is why understanding the truth, as revealed in Scripture, is so very important. Knowing the truth about Eternity can make a big difference in the way a person views life and the way he or she chooses to spend it.

Our Understanding of Eternity Comes from God

Though man is bound by time, we have the capacity to image Eternity beyond this present world: “He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set Eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end” (Eccl. 3:11, NASB). We cannot fathom or comprehend all that God has accomplished from beginning to end in all that He has made. However, everyone one of us has the ability to understand Eternity! Though it may seem difficult to imagine Eternity, it is not impossible for us to do so.

God’s eternal power is seen in the Creation (Rom. 1:20). We are privileged to be able to recognize the eternal God that is behind this temporary, present world. The Universe exhibits great power. Only power that has existed from all Eternity could have caused it. God is that great eternal power! It is in this sense that God will set Eternity in our hearts as we come to see His eternal power in this world that He has made.

By looking to the Eternity of God, God’s eternal nature, we can understand what Eternity is. Eternity is an important attribute of God. God is the “I AM,” the Eternal One (Exod. 3:14). God “lives in Eternity” or “lives forever” (Isa. 57:15). He is “the everlasting Father” (Isa. 9:6). God has always existed. He is without beginning and will never end: "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty” (Rev 1:8). Since God represents Eternity, we can learn much about what Eternity means by looking unto God who is eternal as revealed in the Scriptures.

Imagine Eternity!

Like God, Our Existence in Eternity Will Last Forever and Ever. The duration of God’s existence stretches backward in time without limit and stretches forward in time without limit: “Lord, Thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were born, Or Thou didst give birth to the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God” (Ps. 90:1-2). The Lord is eternal or forever God. Likewise, all who enter Eternity will stay in Eternity forever and ever. Some will “go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal” (Mat. 25:46).

Just As the Years of God Have No End, the Years of Eternity Will Have No End. On average, our life on earth, at best, lasts a mere 70 or 80 years (Ps. 90:10), a very short moment of time in comparison to Eternity! Just as the years of God’s existence have no end, neither will the years of our existence have no end in Eternity. "But Thou art the same, And Thy years will not come to an end” (Ps. 102:27). Our life span on earth is as brief as a vapor that quickly vanishes away (James 4:14). “Our days on earth are as a shadow” (Job 8:9). While on earth, a lifetime may seem like a long time, yet from the standpoint of Eternity, it is a very short or brief period of time.

In Eternity, the years are countless or without number, far beyond all comparison to any amount of time we have ever known or have measured in earthly history. Consider this example by way of comparison: In Astronomy, the distance light travels in a year is called a “light year.” A “light year” is six trillion miles, the yardstick astronomers use for measuring large distances. Since many stars and galaxies are so far away, it takes lots and lots of time for photos of them to arrive to us. So as we look out into the Universe, we are, by necessity, looking back in time. If, for example, the Sun exploded, we wouldn’t know it for 8.3 minutes, because that’s how long it takes light to get to us from the Sun. The planet Pluto is 5 light hours away, and the next nearest visible star, Alpha Centauri, is 4.4 light years away. So then, how many “light years” shall we measure Eternity? How far of a distance would Eternity reach and extend in time? Not even the distant stars seen by the most powerful telescopes some 13.7 billion light years away can measure the infinite, unlimited time or years in Eternity!

Time Will Be Insignificant in Eternity. “For a thousand years in Thy sight Are like yesterday when it passes by, Or as a watch in the night” (Ps. 90:4). To God, time is insignificant in Eternity, no matter how long or how short that length of time is. The longest length of time a man has ever lived on the earth was in the case of Methuselah who lived 969 years! (Gen. 5:27). As impressive or amazing as that may be, in comparison to Eternity, it was to God like one single day! (2 Pet. 3:8).

When we enter into Eternity, time will be irrelevant. Time will be a non-issue having no bearing on Eternity itself. The favorite hymn “Amazing Grace” written by John Newton, expresses this truth very well in the verse which says: “When we’ve been here ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun; We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise then when we’ve first begun.” When God’s people are with Him in Heaven for all Eternity, it will not matter whether ten thousand years (as we count them) pass by or ten zillion years pass by, there will be no less days to sing praises unto God!

Are You Preparing for Eternity?

What we “sow” in this life will have a direct impact on what we shall “reap” in the life to come in Eternity (Gal. 6:7-8; See also 1 Tim. 6:17-19). That is why we must sow carefully. How we spend our lives on earth will determine our eternal future!

The Egyptians believed in Eternity or at least an “after life.” When a Pharaoh died, he was buried in a tomb called a pyramid designed to protect his body forever. They believed that if a Pharaoh’s body was destroyed, his “Ka” (i.e., soul) would have no where to go and would die. If his “Ka” died, he would not be able to be united with the Sun. This in turn would cause the gods to become angry and they would no longer protect the land or the people of the Pharaoh. Therefore, they put forth much effort to preserve the body of Pharaoh. On average, it took forty years and about 100,000 workers to build just one pyramid!

Why did the Egyptians go through so much effort and spend so much time to build their pyramids? They understood that the afterlife or “Eternity” would last a lot longer than their lives on earth and that the afterlife was a whole lot more important than life on earth. Despite their false concept of God, the Egyptians worked hard to prepare for Eternity as they understood it. How much time and effort are you putting forth to prepare for Eternity?

“For a little reward men make a long journey; for eternal life many will scare lift a foot once from the ground.” – Thomas a Kempis. As the saying of Kempis well illustrates, many people scarcely “lift a foot”, let alone obey the gospel to prepare for Eternity (2 Thes. 1:8). Yet, these same people will make great sacrifices to gain earthly rewards that do not last (Mat. 6:19). Such people do not truly believe in Eternity nor understand that Eternity lasts forever. They may claim to believe in Eternity, but their lives spent on themselves instead of God says otherwise (Luke 12:15-21).

If we want to ready for the Judgment Day and be ready to enter into Eternity, we must prepare by taking heed to the words of Jesus Christ (John 12:48; e.g., Mark 16:16; Rev. 2:10) as also revealed to His apostles (Gal. 1:10; e.g., Gal. 5:16-24; Heb. 10:24-25; 1 Cor. 15:58). How we “build in life” or whether or not our lives are founded “upon the rock” (i.e., Christ and His word) will determine where we will spend an Eternity (Mat. 7:24-27). When “the storm of the Lord” arrives (Jer. 23:19-20), will you be ready to enter Eternity?

Artemis Fowl: The Lost Colony by Eoin Colfer

I was so excited to get my hands on the latest Artemis Fowl adventure! In The Lost Colony, Artemis, Holly, and Foaly team up to rescue a colony of demons who are in danger of extinction because of the top-secret research of Minerva, a new character - and child genius just like Artemis. At age fourteen, girls are starting to complicate Artemis' life, and in this book, he seemed so much more moral to me. I have to say that part was a bit disappointing - where are the art heists, the kidnappings, the plots to take over the world? Bt apart from that, this was a super exciting adventure and a great addition to the series. Have you read this book? Let me know what you think by adding a comment!

Watch your children, Mary is on the prowl:

Ryan and I managed to eat like King and Queen last night, and it was pretty easy, too. We ate Steak Diane (p. 662), Sweet or Savory Winter Squash Puree (p. 424-5), and Hot Apple Slaw (p. 223 - still working on those apples!) which has bacon in it and is delish! Tonight, for dinner: Halloween Candy.

By Mark Larson
www.cvillechurch.com

Many critics of Christianity point to what they believe to be a fundamental flaw - the belief that God is three persons, yet one God (i.e., the doctrine of the Trinity). To the Jews and Muslims, this Christian doctrine appears to be a contradiction and a blasphemy against the one, true God. Christians have even been accused of believing in polytheism or three separate gods!

If the doctrine of the Trinity is true, then we could expect to find this teaching in the Scriptures. If the doctrine of the Trinity is false, then the Scriptures would only speak of God in such a way as to indicate that God is only one person. What do we find when we examine the Scriptures?

Is God Absolutely Alone or Only One Person? There are nine different Hebrew words in the Scriptures that can be translated as “one” (See the Englishman’s Concordance). Sometimes words such as man or woman are translated “one,” but such words are never applied to God in the Bible. This is understandable since God is not a man or a woman (Num. 23:19).

Now if God is only one person, as Jews and Muslims claim, which word for oneness could they apply to God? Only one of the nine Hebrews words that can be translated as “one” can refer to “complete solitary” or being absolutely alone. That word is YACHIYD (e.g., Ps. 68:6; Gen. 22:2; Judg. 11:34). If this word was applied to God anywhere in the Scriptures, it would be devastating to the doctrine of the Trinity. However, no where in Scripture can this word be found ever applying to God! That is because God is not absolutely alone as only one person.

God Has a Unified Oneness About Him: We learn much about God by studying the Hebrew word ECHAD. Sometimes the word is used with reference to the number one or quantity of one (e.g., Gen. 2:21), but when it does it is never in reference to God. Frequently, the word ECHAD is translated “one” to denote a unified or compound oneness: “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh” (Gen. 2:24). Many other examples could be given (e.g., Gen. 3:22; 11:6; 34:16; 2 Chron. 30:12; Ezra 2:64; Jer. 32:39). Jews and Muslims would not want to find this Hebrew word applying to God, lest they lose their argument that God is only one person.

The word ECHAD does in fact apply to God! “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one [ECHAD] LORD” (Deut. 6:4; Compare to Mark 12:29). God is “one” in the sense of a unified or compound oneness. All three persons united -- God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, constitute or comprise the one true God.

God Is Referred to in the Singular As Well As in the Plural: Those who deny the doctrine of the Trinity will never refer to God in the plural or quote God speaking in the plural (e.g., “They,” “Them,” “Theirs,” “We,” “Us,” “Ours”), but only in the singular (e.g., “I,” “Myself,” “Me,” “”My,” He,” “Him,” “His”). We may use singular nouns and verbs to refer to God because God is described in this way in Scripture. This is often done to emphasize that the Lord is the one and only God: “See now that I, I am He, And there is no god besides Me; It is I who put to death and give life. I have wounded, and it is I who heal; And there is no one who can deliver from My hand” (Deut 32:39, NASB).

However, we may also use plural nouns and verbs to refer to God because God is also described in this way in Scripture! The Bible commonly uses plural words for God, the most common one being the Hebrew word ELOHIYM (i.e., a plural form of deity or god): “In the beginning God [ELOHIYM] created the Heaven and the earth” (Gen. 1:1). It may surprise some to know that ELOHIYM is translated more than 400 times in the Bible as “gods” – plural! For example, “And the people answered and said, "Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods (Josh. 24:16, NASB; See also Gen. 31:30; Exod. 12:12). God spoke in the first person plural when creating us! “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…” (Gen. 1:26a). Some have suggested that the “us” or “our” in this verse refers to angels, yet man was not created in both the image of God and the angels! Other examples of plural pronouns for God can be found in Scripture (e.g., Gen. 3:22; 11:7-8; Isa. 6:8). Further evidence that God comprises of more than one person can be seen in the Scriptures where two divine persons are both called God in the very same passage (See Ps. 45:6-7; Heb. 1:8-9; Isa. 48:12-17; Hos. 1:6-7; Gen. 19:24).

God Being Three Persons, Yet One God Is Due to His Unified Nature: God is One, yet composed of three persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. All three persons are referred to as God in the Scriptures because each one is God by nature or the divine essence (John 6:27; Col. 2:8-9; Acts 5:3-4). God would not be God to exclude any one of the three persons that make up the divine nature. For example, Jesus, even while on earth, was God in the flesh or the “I AM” (John 8:24, 58). Yet, Jesus always was accompanied by both the Father and the Holy Spirit (e.g., John 10:37-38; Luke 4:1).

Equality Among All Three Persons: Jesus, the Son of God and the Holy Spirit are just as much God as the Father is! “I and my Father are one” (John 10:30). Jesus “thought it not robbery to be equal with God” (Phil. 2:6). The equality of the Father and Son is seen in the salutations of most New Testament epistles (e.g., Rom. 1:7; Gal. 1:3; 2 John 3).Each person of the triune God is emphasized equally in prayer in 2 Corinthians 13:14.

Equal, Yet of Different Rank by the Divine Order: Jesus submitted to the Father’s will and obeyed His commands (John 4:34; 5:30; 6:38; 8:29; 14:31). How then could they be equal? Both are equally God, yet according to the divine order, each has a different rank or position in the hierarchy of God: “But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God” (1 Cor. 11:3). Just as man and woman are equal (Gal. 3:28), so are the Father and the Son (John 10:30). The different rank a woman has does not make her any less of a Christian (or human for that matter). Neither does the different rank of Christ make Him any less Deity. The different rank that each person holds simply means that there are different roles and responsibilities that each one fulfills (e.g., Eph. 5:22-33; Phil. 2:8).

All three persons (the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) represent Deity, though each person of the Godhead is distinguishable from the other. Each person of God is distinct in the sense that each one has a different role that each one fulfills (e.g., Heb. 12:9; Eph. 5:23; John 16:13).

The Unified Work of the Trinity: All three persons of God are one also in the sense of functioning together as a team to accomplish the work of God. The work of Creation: “[God] in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world” (Heb. 1:2, NASB, See also Gen. 1:2, 26-27). "The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life” (Job 33:4). The work of salvation: “’Come near to Me [Christ - ML], listen to this: From the first I have not spoken in secret, From the time it took place, I was there. And now the Lord GOD has sent Me, and His Spirit.’ Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; ‘I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, Who leads you in the way you should go’” (Isa 48:16-17, NASB; See also Eph. 1:2-14). Even the miraculous spiritual gifts experienced by Christians in the first century was given by the unified work of the Trinity (1 Cor. 12:4-6).

The Trinity Provides Our Salvation: Fellowship with God is achieved through the Trinity (Eph. 2:17-19). Salvation has been made possible by the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. To become a child of God and receive the spiritual and eternal blessings that the Trinity provides, each person must be baptized in the name (i.e., authority) of the Triune God: “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. ‘Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age’” (Mat. 28:18-20, NASB; Acts 2:38; 1 Pet. 3:21). Once we are baptized in Their name, we must continue to abide in God’s word for the Triune God to continue to abide in us (e.g., 1 John 4:12-16; 2 John 9; Gal. 3:2 / Rom. 10:17; Gal. 5:16).

By Mark Larson
www.cvillechurch.com

Jesus Christ is “the King of kings and Lord of lords” (1 Tim. 6:15). When we confess Jesus as Lord (Rom. 10:9), we confess that He is supreme in authority and power. More than that, we submit to His control as our Master, the One who rules over us. We do our best to abstain from sin so we will be “useful to the Master, prepared for every good work” (2 Tim. 2:21). In life, Jesus is the “one Lord” (Eph. 4:5) Christians give their allegiance to: “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him” (Col. 2:6, NASB).

As much as we may recognize these truths, sometimes, if we are not careful, we may unwittingly allow others to become our lord and master in life. Certain people, if we do not beware, will have the same or similar degree of influence over us. When that happens, we cease to be true disciples or followers of the Lord!

Even the Apostles Did not Behave As “Lords.” The apostles were blessed to have spent over three years with Jesus and learn much from His example and teaching. After Jesus’ resurrection and ascension into Heaven, the apostles, in a special sense, became His representatives (2 Cor. 5:20). They spoke the will of Christ to the people as inspired by the Holy Spirit (John 14:26; 16:13; Acts 2:1-4; Eph. 3:3-5). They, through their teaching, became part of the foundation of the church (Eph. 2:20). Yet, as important as they were to the establishment of the church, they understood that Jesus Christ is the only master and Lord over Christians. The apostle Paul declared: “Not that we lord it over your faith, but are workers with you for your joy; for in your faith you are standing firm” (2 Cor. 1:24). The apostles were not masters or lords that exercised dominion or lordship over other Christians. Instead, they were fellow workers who labored along side other Christians as equals in Christ (Gal. 3:28).

Elders (or Pastors) Are not to Behave as “Lords.” In the organization of the local church, the New Testament gives us a pattern to follow. Included in the pattern are overseers (bishops), deacons, evangelists, and teachers (Phil. 1:1; Eph. 4:11). Overseers are otherwise called elders or pastors (See Acts 20:17, 28; Eph. 4:11; 1 Pet. 5:2). Elders have the great responsibility to shepherd or care for the local church of which they belong (1 Pet. 5:1-4). They are to also provide spiritual leadership (Heb. 13:7, 17). In addition, they must guard the church against false teachers and their evil influence (Acts 20:28-31). Yet, as important as their role is in the local church, they must not ever exercise dominion or control over members, as if they were lords or masters. Like the apostles, elders must understand that Jesus Christ is our only Lord and Master: “Shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock” (1 Pet. 5:2-3). Though elders are shepherds over the church of God, they, like the apostles, are our equals in the Lord (Gal. 3:28). No elder has the right to rule in a domineering way in which he browbeats or strong-arms members to obey. No elder has the authority to arbitrarily make rules for members to follow. No one, save Jesus Christ, has the right to “lord it over us” and rule over our lives.

No One (Save Christ) Should Be Regarded as “Lord” nor Followed as “Lord.” Though we may readily confess Jesus as our only Lord and Master, we still need to guard ourselves from putting any man or woman on a pedestal. This occurs, for example, when men elevate themselves through titles of honor or prestige that they hold for themselves. Jesus addressed this problem in His rebuke of the scribes and Pharisees: “And they love the place of honor at banquets, and the chief seats in the synagogues, and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called by men, Rabbi. "But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. "And do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. "And do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ” (Mat. 23:6-10). Similarly, in modern times, titles such as reverend, pastor, minister, or “discipler” have been given to men to elevate them over others. Whenever such an honoring of men occurs, whether titles are used or not, there is great risk of such men becoming proud and “lording it over” others. This results in the negative effect of disciples of Christ becoming disciples of men over time.

How Do We Keep Christ as Our Only Master and Lord in Life?

#1 The will of Jesus is always put above the will of man (Mat. 10:37; 15:7-9; Col. 2:8). Sometimes people will tell us to do things that go against the will of Christ. Family wishes, traditions, and the advice of men may seem wise and beneficial, but if it goes against God’s word and we follow it, we are not respecting Christ as our Lord: “And why do you call me Lord, Lord, and do not do the things I say?” Jesus asks (Luke 6:46). A true disciple of the Lord will seek to know His will as revealed in the Scriptures (Eph. 5:17) and do everything by His authority (Col. 3:17). He will “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord” (Col. 1:10).

#2 Our primary motive for obedience is to please the Lord, not men. Sometimes, in the busyness of obedience, we may, if we are not careful, take our focus off of Christ and put it on to men. If we think more about gaining the approval of men instead of Christ, something is seriously wrong at heart (John 12:42-43). To be a true servant of Christ, we must always maintain that number one goal to please Him, above and beyond our desire to please men: “For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ” (Gal. 1:10).

#3 Let no one tell you that God’s grace in Christ is a license to sin. To believe such a lie is a sure way to deny the Lord and become a slave of sin all over again (See Jude 4; Rom. 16:18). Instead of making sin your master, deny every form of ungodliness and worldly desire in your response to the grace of God (See Titus 2:11-12).

#4 When looking to the example of others, only follow Christ-like qualities. As much as we may admire certain brethren or value a friendship or leader, we must never allow ourselves to go to the extreme in our loyalty or devotion toward others. The imitation of others is noble only when such characteristics we imitate are Christ-like in quality. “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1; See also 1 Cor. 4:16-17).

I just got back from George and Susan Allen’s event at the Omni downtown.

There was an amazing incident at the end, as George was leaving the room to talk to the press. Some guy, obviously a Webb staffer, started shouting questions at George about his divorce. George ignored him, so the Webb guy got belligerent, trying to push his way towards George. I guess he didn’t like when people pushed back, because as he went through the door into the hallway, I saw him throw a mis-aimed punch into the crowd.

I didn’t see what happened next, but by the time I made it out into the hallway, he was being escorted out by George’s supporters. TV crews got a pretty good chunk of footage.

It’ll be interesting to see what makes the news. I can personally report that the Webb guy seemed to be intentionally starting an incident, and that he decided to get violent in doing it. Simply, he threw the first punch. In my view, that makes him a thug.

No doubt, the Webb machine will try to spin this as George’s fault. The reality is different.

If Jim Webb has even a shred of Honor left, he’ll fire this thug, after making him apologise in public. Somehow, I doubt that’s going to happen.

UPDATE: Waldo writes to say that the thug is UVa law student and blogger, Mike Stark, not a staffer. Frankly, the whole thing smelled — and still smells — like a setup, and until I see clear evidence that there wasn’t coordination with the Webb campaign, I’m still going with “staffer”.

Waldo’s also going with the story that “Channel 29 got the whole thing on tape”. Stark threw his punches on the way out of the ballroom, out of view of their cameras. I saw what I saw.

UPDATE 2: According to The Hook, Dan Allen reports that he was “slammed… against the door” by Stark as he was leaving the ballroom. That’s the same place that I reported Stark throwing a punch. Looks like Stark was even more aggressive at that point than I thought.

By Mark Larson
www.cvillechurch.com

“These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:14-15, NKJV). The church (God’s people - Acts 2:47; Heb. 12:23) is “the house of God” where “the living God” dwells. Characteristic of God’s church are people who are “of the truth.”

In seeking a local church with whom to work and worship, a person should desire only a church that is “of the truth,” meaning committed to following the word of God (John 17:17). It is important to compare what they believe and practice with what is taught in God’s word. This requires a willingness on our part to search the Scriptures diligently (Acts 17:11). There are many different local churches to choose from today. Yet, no one should settle for anything less than a church that stands for the truth.

The local church has the duty to be the “ground of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15) or the firm, steadfast support of it. The church must be unyielding, uncompromising, and unwavering in her commitment to the truth. The church must remain strong and steady in the truth so that when the “storms” of false teaching blow against it, it will not be shaken nor collapse, but continue to be a church of God. Many churches have forsaken this duty and as a result have been overtaken by worldliness. The opinions of men, man-made traditions or philosophies, social or secular agendas, and the low standards of morality in the world have captivated many local churches leading them into apostasy (Col. 2:8). Such churches are not of the truth and should be rejected.

The local church also has the duty to be “the pillar of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15). Pillars are for holding up the roof of a building, but they also serve the purpose of keeping it up high. This, in effect, makes it visible for all to see, even from far away. Thus, the church has the duty to hold the truth up high, so that the world may see and hear it. This requires members of the church to not only preach the truth to others (1 Thess. 1:8), but also obey the truth themselves so that they may be a good example for the world to see, “like a city set on a hill” (Mat. 5:14). Every church should take this God given duty very seriously. When seeking a local church that you can join yourself to (e.g., Acts 9:26), devotion to the truth by her members should be of the utmost importance.

It is absolutely essential for every church to be a “pillar and ground of the truth,” for the truth is the very foundation of the church! “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit” (Eph 2:19-22). Notice that the church is built upon “the foundation of the apostles and prophets.” The foundation they laid was the truth or the word of God they preached (Eph. 3:3-5). The spiritual health and life of a church depends on its foundation. If truth is not the foundation, it is not a church of God.

Just as the truth is the foundation of the church, so also is Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 3:11), who represents the truth (John 1:14; Rev. 19:13) and bears witness to the truth (John 18:37). Jesus is in fact, the most important aspect to the foundation. He is “the chief cornerstone” (Eph. 2:20) because the whole building or church rests upon Him. A local church that is truly a church of Christ will be built upon “the Rock,” on Jesus and the words that He taught (Mat. 7:24-27).

In your search for a local church, don’t just look for something “new” and “different.” Instead, look for a church that conducts herself as “the pillar and ground of the truth.”

By Mark Larson
www.cvillechurch.com

Most everyone claims to be extremely busy today. Matters in which we consider "urgent" and "important" consume a lot of our time in life. Yet, regrettably, our obedience to God is oftentimes viewed as important, but not urgent. As a result, other matters in life are given more importance than they deserve, even above our spiritual needs and duties. To determine what is most important in life, we must go to God's word. Once we learn to put that which is most important first, we will learn to also regard spiritual matters as urgent.

Consider the many demands in life that we consider both urgent and important: Daily meals - Everyday, we must eat food to sustain our strength and health. Hunger comes everyday and therefore preparing meals is a continual, urgent matter, a pressing necessity that cannot be delayed for too long. Medical emergencies - When sickness strikes either ourselves or our family members, we have to take action fairly quickly to nurse ourselves back to health (especially small children). When there is a major illness or injury, it is an urgent matter to seek medical attention immediately. Duties related to work and school - Pressure is placed upon us by our employer to be on time and get the job done. We are compelled to work in order to provide for our families. Young people must attend school and come on time. Homework, tests, and deadlines are given which must be met to succeed. A mechanical failure at work or at home that must be fixed promptly - If machinery breaks down or the computer crashes, repair is often an urgent matter in order to fulfill the day's work agenda. If at home we have trouble with our plumbing, electrical system, heating and cooling, stove refrigerator, etc. it must be taken care of quickly. Such demands often act on us in such a way to motivate us to action. Not only are they important, but they are very urgent, therefore we are called to action to fulfill these needs and duties in life.

As Christians, we readily recognize the importance of fulfilling God's commands, yet we often do not treat our obedience as an urgent matter. We understand we must do the good God has told us to do, yet we too often "forget" to do it, treating it not as urgent. "But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased" (Heb 13:16, NKJ). We know that no sin must continue in life, lest we fall away from God. Yet, we do not see sin as an urgent and daily danger to avoid. "Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called 'Today,' lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." (Heb. 3:12-13, NKJ). Do brethren today truly recognize that our fight against sin and our duty to do good is an urgent matter of pressing importance? We neglect our salvation when we do not treat our obedience as an urgent matter (Heb. 2:1-3).

We often assume we have plenty of time to obey God and therefore lack a sense of urgency in our readiness for the Judgment day. Like the five virgins who did not bring oil in readiness for the bridegroom (Mat. 25:1-13), we act like fools when we believe we can wait until the last minute to prepare for the Judgment! God's word declares that when we live life without a sense of urgency in our obedience to God that we are spiritually "asleep" and need to "wake up"! "And this do (obey the law of God vs. 8-10 - ML), knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. The night is almost gone, and the day is at hand. Let us therefore lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts" (Rom. 13:11-14, NASB).

Let us remember that the commands of God will not stir us to action without personal faith in God's word. Unlike hunger, medical needs, job or school responsibilities, etc., the commands of God do not seem to immediately press upon us. At least not by external forces. We can procrastinate in fulfilling God's will and most of the time there are no immediate consequences that we suffer. Unfortunately, for many people, there is the rationalization that we can delay obedience and that we have plenty of time to change our ways and make improvements for God. The commandments of God do not motivate some to action because they do not take God's word seriously. Only by receiving God's word with genuine faith will it stir us to obedience. Hebrews 4:1-2 says "Therefore, let us fear lest, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you should seem to have come short of it. For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard" (NASB). When we truly believe in what God says, our hearts will be convicted and we will be firmly persuaded to urgently obey the will of God. Though obedience may not seem urgent, it is in actuality a very urgent matter! (2 Peter 3:10-13).

Let us beware of the fact that many times we allow others to define for us what is important and urgent. Unwittingly, we may allow the world to set our priorities for us and a love for worldly things develops (1 John 2:15-16). The news media, entertainment, sports, and recreation are viewed of greater importance than they actually are and may control us as a result becoming our "master" (1 Cor. 6:12). Non-Christians may negatively influence our lives more than we realize to the point that we do not place priority on prayer, Bible study, good works and holiness as we once did (1 Cor. 15:33).

Frequently, we waste too much time in areas that are neither important nor urgent (sometimes even sinful!) such as TV or movie watching, reading newspapers and magazines, playing video games, surfing the Internet, engaging in gossip, shopping and buying things just for the fun of it, involving ourselves in hobbies or the collection of things that become almost an obsession, etc. Sin, such as gossip or covetousness, must of course cease. Yet, even those activities that appear morally neutral can become wrong or sinful when they are treated as more important and urgent than doing the will of God. In daily living, we must strive to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness (Mat. 6:33). This requires that we put God and His will above all other "urgent" matters as defined by the world (John 6:26-29) and redeem or make the most of our time each day in the service of the Lord (Eph. 5:15-17).

Putting that which is most important in life first is essential to spiritual fulfillment. No child of God should have regrets at the end of life and say "I wish I would have put first things first" (e.g. Bible study, prayer, serving, giving, marriage, parenting, evangelism, spiritual growth, victory over sin, etc.). God's will must be given priority now! Give your best to God right now. Treat prayer and Bible study as important and urgent, for they are preventive measures against committing sin (Mat. 26:41; 1 Pet. 2:2; Eph. 6:17). Remember the importance and urgency of long range planning of spiritual goals and good deeds that you want to accomplish in your service to God (2 Pet. 1:4-11; 1 Thes. 4:1). Take the time to encourage others and talk honestly and openly with family members, brethren in Christ, and others. This should be regarded as important as well as urgent (1 Thes. 5:11; Heb. 3:12-14; 10:24-25; Eph. 4:25). Your diligent commitment to the work and worship of the Lord should always be considered both important and urgent. "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Cor. 15:58, NKJ). Our obedience to God is an important and urgent matter to attend to so we will always be ready for the Judgment day when our Lord and Savior returns.

By Mark Larson
www.cvillechurch.com

“And they came to Capernaum; and when He [Jesus] was in the house, He began to question them, ‘What were you discussing on the way?’ But they kept silent, for on the way they had discussed with one another which of them was the greatest. And sitting down, He called the twelve and said to them, ‘If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all’” (Mark 9:33-35, NASB).

The discussion that the twelve disciples had on the way to Capernaum is not an uncommon one today, even among disciples of Christ (though usually an unspoken one). Sadly, there are members of the Lord’s church that ask this same question today: “Which one of us is the greatest?” Though brethren may not think exactly in those terms, the spirit of competitiveness nevertheless exists in many local churches across the land.

The twelve disciples were supposed to be acting as a team, as brothers in God’s family, as fellow servants of the Lord. Instead, they were more concerned about their rank, status, or position in the kingdom: Who is “first”!?! The disciples had the benefit of spending time with Jesus who demonstrated humility and service. They received first hand instruction from the Lord on how to walk righteously. Yet, they disputed among themselves who is the greatest! The disciples’ behavior appears very childish and ridiculous. Their conduct was very shallow, beneath of how true disciples of Jesus should conduct themselves.

Lest we judge the twelve too harshly or hypocritically, we must examine ourselves by the same standard of judgment with absolute honesty (Mat. 7:1-5). What about own attitudes and behavior in the local church? Are we, in any way, shape, or form, being competitive in the Lord’s church? Are we overly concerned about who is “the greatest”?

Many of us cheer for our favorite sports teams, enjoy the competitiveness of the sports arena, and argue for which team is the greatest. Most sport activities can be beneficial in teaching the importance of leadership, teamwork, and sportsmanship (i.e., fairness in following the rules of the game). We can recognize that leadership, teamwork, and “following the rules” (the law of Christ) is also important in the local church (Heb. 13:7, 17; Eph. 4:16; Col. 3:17). Yet, should there be also be a competition among brethren? Not according to the Scriptures.

“Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen” (Eph. 3:20-21). Every local church should aim to give God the glory for everything they do (1 Cor. 10:31). This is expressed not only by the songs we sing or the prayers we pray, but also by our attitudes, behavior, and how we treat one another. When the goal is to glorify God or magnify His greatness, the issue of who is “the greatest” (in a competitive sense) becomes irrelevant.

We must learn to view our accomplishments in God’s service in the proper way. Whenever we achieve spiritual goals, improve in our character toward godliness, lead a person to Christ, or gain a victory over sin, etc. we need to remember to always give God the glory or “boast in the Lord” only (1 Cor. 1:31; See also 1 Cor. 3:6-7; 15:56-57). We need to always remember that we are merely God’s instruments who uses us to accomplish His purposes. Paul’s attitude is a good one for us to imitate: “Therefore in Christ Jesus I have found reason for boasting in things pertaining to God. For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed” (Rom 15:17-18). When observing the abilities and accomplishments of others, instead of being jealous, we should rejoice for them and pray that their talents and achievements may abound even more to the glory of God (1 Cor. 12:26; Phil. 1:9-11). In whatever role or part we fulfill in the Lord’s church, we must, in all things, give the glory to God: “Whoever speaks, let him speak, as it were, the utterances of God; whoever serves, let him do so as by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen” (1 Pet. 4:11).

Let us not behave like Diotrophes, who loved to be “first” among brethren (3 John 9-11) and act as if we are in competition with one another. Too many local churches have been torn apart because of a lust for power and “greatness” by certain brethren. Far too many gospel preachers have, out of jealousy or envy, worked against each other instead of worked together to accomplish the work of God (e.g., Phil. 1:15-17). Even some pastors or elders have developed a competitive spirit among themselves in which the eldership turns into a “popularity contest.” The desire to be “first” is given greater concern than the work of the church and the shepherding or caring of the flock of God (1 Pet. 5:1-3).

If we truly want to be great in the sight of God, let us not go about it in a competitive manner nor look to the world’s definition of greatness (Mark 10:35-42). Instead, let us remember what Jesus said on what it means to be first or great: “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all” (Mark 9:35). A Christian who want to be great must humble himself and become the servant of others (Mat. 23:11-12). God sees greatness in us when we act selflessly and put others before ourselves, just as Christ did (Phil. 2:3-5ff.). Rather than expect to be served, crave the limelight, or desire the glory given by men, let us imitate our Savior who demonstrated true greatness: “And calling them to Himself, Jesus said to them, ‘You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. But it is not so among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many’” (Mark 10:42-45).

I've put together a little wiki on national policy. The idea is to explore the issues, the options, what may happen, and act rationally based on American values. Crazy stuff, I know. It's an idea I've had for a long time, that conservatives use think tanks extremely well because the top-down elitist nature of think tanks works well with conservative thought. Web 2.0 goodies like blogs and wikis are more appropriate to liberal thought. So here's a first stab. Have at it! The password is "usa".

Check out the latest fundie bullshit regarding Halloween:

Bruce Watters used to simply hand out candy on Halloween, just like his neighbors in St. Petersburg, Fla., until he decided the holiday's ghoulishness really didn't jibe with his Christian beliefs.

But rather than skip the neighborhood ritual, he's put a Christian stamp on it. For the third year in a row, kids will leave his porch with a piece of candy, plus a religious tract - a concise, colorful handout telling how to attain salvation through Jesus Christ.

It is your solemn humanistic duty, Dear Reader, to TP the house of anyone abusing your children like this. Alternatively, print some copies of the Humanist Manifesto and hand them back to your fundie neighbors!

The federal government's "no sex without marriage" message isn't just for kids anymore:

Now the government is targeting unmarried adults up to age 29 as part of its abstinence-only programs, which include millions of dollars in federal money that will be available to the states under revised federal grant guidelines for 2007.

The government says the change is a clarification. But critics say it's a clear signal of a more directed policy targeting the sexual behavior of adults.

"They've stepped over the line of common sense," said James Wagoner, president of Advocates for Youth, a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit that supports sex education. "To be preaching abstinence when 90% of people are having sex is in essence to lose touch with reality. It's an ideological campaign. It has nothing to do with public health."

Abstinence education programs, which have focused on preteens and teens, teach that abstaining from sex is the only effective or acceptable method to prevent pregnancy or disease. They give no instruction on birth control or safe sex.

We were doomed, I tell you, doomed!

Well, maybe it wasn't quite that bad, but here's the thing. The Food Geek Compound does not have gas for cooking or for heating, and the time to replace the icky old oven had come. I was tired of pots going wibble-wobble (or perhaps wobble-wobble...yes, wobble-wobble) on the uneven burners, so I managed to convince Melanie that the glass top range was the way to go. Sadly, I couldn't convince her that convection and maybe even double-oven were also the way to go, but glass tops were cool.

Sadly, when we got the thing installed and read the instructions, we find out that we can't use cast iron on the range top, as it will damage the ceramic top. Gaaah! So my beautiful skillet and dutch oven were relegated to standby duty only, which made me sad. On the plus side, I had every reason to desperately need a new dutch oven, one that was covered in ceramic. Still, as we learned with the dual-oven with convection, my powers of persuasion have their limits, and Le Cruset was not going to happen. Heavy sigh.

So we shopped, and we shopped, but could never quite find the right bit of pottery-covered cast iron. We briefly considered Lodge's ceramic offerings, but could only find them once, for some reason. Finally, we went to a Crate and Barrel looking for some furniture, which we found none of. Well, that's not true. We found plenty of furniture, but none that had the winning combination of being good for us and in our price range.

There in the kitchen section, shining on a pedestal (or sitting on a shelf) was a lovely, red, ceramic-clad cast iron dutch oven. Wow, that's a lot of adjectives. Anyways. There was no price on the thing, so we had to send a helpful assistant to check for us while we examined it. I can't recall for sure if she had to carry the 80-pound cookware with her, but that seems like it would make a better story, so let's say that she did. And she, herself, was only 80-pounds, so you can imagine that it was terribly troublesome for her to do so.

After all that pain we were putting the poor girl through, we were getting very nervous that this was going to cost us something equivalent to the $300 that an equivalent Le Cruset would, and we didn't want to have to make that decision racked with guilt (though by this point, she had managed to fasten some wheels to the dutch oven and, using a wooden spoon as a paddle, propelled herself through the store). As the minutes stretched into hours we worried more, but finally she returned, and told us that the dutch oven was $100. "Really?" we asked, and a pained look crossed her face as she contemplated verifying the price, but we said we'd take it for that.

So, for 1/3 the cost of a Le Cruset, we have a lovely dutch oven, which revels in its ceramic-covered ways. And, unlike the stupid Rachel Ray cookware, it's not ovular, so it can actually fit on a burner properly. Seriously, why did she do that?

Mario Batali 6 Quart Italian Enamel on Cast Iron Essentials Pot, Persimmon asin: B000AAYDJO

It is 1030 pm and I am just finishing eating dinner. The life of a Darden student. The classes this quarter are much more numbers oriented, which is already taking its toll on myself and most of my classmates. Apparently this is the hardest part of the year and if we can get through this then it is all downhill from here.

Tonight I met with my learning team for 3 hours to discuss...

I've got this particular trait that used to drive my mom nuts when I lived at home. When I've had something really good for dinner, I must dream about it, because when I wake up, I have to have it for breakfast. I generally did this with Chinese take-out, but lots of other things too. My mom can't believe the stuff I can stomach in the morning! Ryan made Mediterranean White Bean Soup (p. 104) on Friday, and we had it for dinner. You know where this is going-- I had it yesterday morning for breakfast, too. Then I had it for lunch. And another bowl at dinner. There is one more bowl left, and I'm thinking of it for breakfast this morning. You'll understand why I'm eating this soup compulsively if you make it. Simple, warm and homey. I think if we make it again, I'll cut the olive oil in half-- it's not a ton of oil when it is shared with several people, but when one person eats the whole damn pot, it might be good hold back a little.

I am revisiting the photos from when I walked across Nicaragua during the summer of 2005. This is me, taken by Justin. There were three of us on the journey across the country and in the coming weeks, you will see some images from the trip.

I am hoping to put them all together in a book, which we have been thinking about since day one of planning the trip.

As I unfold the story of the three of us, I would love to hear feedback as to how you think things look.

 

This photo is from Santo Tomas, where we stayed two nights. This was the morning we were getting ready to head to Juigalpa (a regional capital where I would knock the power out from the whole city). While we were sitting there getting ready, we heard what we thought we gun shots, which sent fear and excitement through our bodies. We waited a little while and it stopped, but only briefly. When it started up again, Kyle said, " I'm not going to sit here when there is a war going on outside... this could be big news and we are right here for it, with our cameras!"

I wasn't going to let him die alone, so I went with him to see what the deal was... It turned out to be a parade for some baseball teams as they walked into town. Not nearly as exciting as a gun fight, but much safer to write home about. 

This article details the increasingly cozy relationship between gourmet chefs and legacy carriers. Competing for business travelers with refined palates, international airlines such as Singapore and New Zealand, as well as domestic carriers such as American and Delta, have hired the help of chefs from some of the world’s finest restaurants. In most cases, the airline sends its chefs to the restaurant to learn from the celeb chef; but in certain instances, the celeb chefs actually supervise the preparation of the food before it takes flight. Because the food must be re-heated on-board, certain things are off-limits: no butter in sauces and definitely no souffles!

Now we have two! www.hiltonmckeeverlaw.com and www.centralvalawyer.com if you notice they are both the same, but if you forget Holly and Jennifer’s names then you can search under central va lawyer! Check it out! If you know any resources not listed, we are always looking to add more, especially those resources that continually update information.

I headed to the mall yesterday in hopes of finding inspiration for a Halloween costume to wear at our party tonight (procrastination strikes again!) Let me say that I’ve never been a huge mall fan-they depress me for many reasons. Yesterday the malls earned a huge strike against them when I saw Christmas decorations in the stores. Christmas in October. Gross.

I’ve heard people talk about the consumerism of Christmas for a long time, but it seems to be getting worse every year. If Christmas is more than just another holiday, what do you to combat this?

Meet Valerie. She is a senior at Western Albemarle High School.

a la Heidi:

Green Drinks is finally coming to Charlottesville November 14th. We’ll meet the second Tuesday of every month at 7pm at the Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar. Green Drinks is a casual meeting of folks from all sorts of different environmental fields. It’s going to be a great time—bring friends!

Thanks to Heidi for organizing this.

I have so many blogs now, I’m starting to lose track of where I’m posting. Here’s a few:

• emerging leadership network
• transformation journal
• IMPACT - I used blogger beta to create a website for this non-profit
• Discipleship Matters Conference - I also used blogger beta to create a website for this conference at my church

Sitting Up
Just over four months old and almost sitting up on her own.