Nooma Warning

No not the Numa Numa song. This is Rob Bell. Are these Nooma videos just a teen fad? I don't get it. The way he talks. The way he dresses. I don't get it. Why are so many young people following him?

Brothers and Sisters,
All of his teachings are sprinkled with Bible verses. That is a ploy. What does it mean when he throws Bible verses around, we can't know what they mean? What is he doing here? There's a certain deception in that, I think. Recently I watched a video called 'Love Wins' where he talked about how the gospel of Jesus was not unique. He talks as if everything is a question and we are not sure what he means. He just basically comes out of the closet in his new video by introducing the idea that it's all just universally the same and Jesus is not unique. Hey? What? Isn't that Universalism?

Please, little ones, Don't be swept away by any wind of doctrine.

A Christian View of Depression

Inspired by Mike Abendroth

Sin is the reason for depression. Let's just get to the forefront of it. The issue is how do we deal with depression and how do we look at it from a Christian perspective?

Symptoms of depression are usually: wanting to be left alone, no ambition to go to work or school, and short-temperedness. These are all signs of a guilty conscience. If you are depressed, there is probably a sin that you either haven't killed or haven't been able to kill. When we sin we often don't forgive ourselves. We know that our Father in heaven has forgiven us and forgotten about the sin long ago, but we tend to hold onto it. It's hard for us to forget what we have done wrong and we sometimes never really appreciate what God has done for us already. I'm not saying this in order for you to feel guilty but I want to sympathise with you about this issue.

Does God Speak Today?

Edited on Saturday, August 27th 2011

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
Hebrews 1:1-4

Decisions, Decisions: Is God Audible?

Just Ask God
When you have made a big decision like going to college or getting married, has anyone asked you, 'Did you get an answer from God? Did you ask God about it?' Or I've been told, 'Pray to God about it and wait for what He has to say.' I've been asked this question a few times when I made some big decisions in my life and I've always been caught back by it every time and asked 'What do you mean by that?' or 'I'm not sure what that means'. I have asked this because I have never read it in scripture that God says He will give me an answer. Are they expecting God to whisper in my ear or visit me in a dream and tell me the answer? I think that many Christians have caught onto this idea that God will give you a straight answer. I know they are sincere and not thinking that God is like some genie and will grant you all your wishes, but it seems like so many Christians are taking some things out of context.

Your Value

Looking at Beauty
Inspired by Greg Koukl
Physical appearance isn't what matters in God's eyes or ours. Objective physical looks are not what makes a human being valuable. Regardless if one thinks that they are objectively or not, they are objectively and intrinsically valuable. This is why vanity is a vice. Being proud of the fact that you're beautiful isn't being proud of anything in the long run. We only have value because we have been made in the image of God.

Worthiness - 1 Samuel 2

I Samuel 2:12

You are worthless if you are not one of God’s children. If you are not born again you will not receive God’s rewards, protection, nor forgiveness and comfort. No answers to prayer. No gift of eternal life in peace and happiness. Though God still loves the lost, it is a different love—only a temporal love.

I Samuel 2:25

God chooses who He saves and who He condemns. In the past covenant we know what purpose God had for choosing who He condemned and saved—He used them as examples and also tools for His plan just as He chooses today for His plan.

We are only worthy because of His Son.

God's Unlimited Love

God's love is limited to a degree to the unbeliever. These are John MacArthur's words, not mine. To the world, God's love is only temporarily available in time. To those whom He has chosen He loves with an unlimited and everlasting love (Psalm 103:17).
Those who refuse Jesus Christ, that love turns to hate. When men refuse what God offers, that loves turns to hate (John 7:7, Luke 6:22). Our Lord loves His own in an unbreakable love that cannot turn to anything but to more love.
When we become sons and daughters of God we yearn for more of Him. We love His words (the commandments) and strive to live according to His will.

I Can't Handle This! - GTY Blog

G. Gabriel Powell

Web Programmer, GTY.org/Blog

Tuesday, March 08, 2011

Maybe you’ve been reading the series “How to Slay Sin.” But while you know the Scripture lays out clear principles, all you can think is, It’s just too hard. Or maybe you’re not struggling with sin at all but rather a very painful circumstance—an illness, death, financial crisis, or conflict—that feels like it’s too much for you to handle. Whatever situation you’re in, God has a message for you.

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

This passage has five hope-giving truths you must embrace in the midst of your storm.

Ravi Zacharias - The Church Today

Arguing is Good - Greg Koukl

Jesus said, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength" (Mark 12:30). Loving God with the mind is not a passive process. It's not just having thoughts about God. Rather, it's coming to conclusions about God and His world based on revelation, observation, and careful thinking.

Both a process and a skill are involved. There is a way that thinking works. It’s a tool that needs to be employed properly. What is the tool we use in our observations of the world that help us separate fact from fiction? That tool is reason, the ability to use our minds well to sort through observations and draw accurate conclusions about what is true. Rationality is the tool God has given us to acquire knowledge.

Generally, this is not a solitary enterprise. It's best done in the company of others who can challenge our claims and offer competing ideas, forcing us to think deeply and thoroughly. In short, we argue. Sometimes we are silent partners, listening, not talking, but the process is going on in our minds just the same.

The ability to argue well is the essence of all clear thinking. That's why arguments are good things--arguing is a virtue because it helps us discover what's true.

This is not rationalism, a kind of idolatry of the mind that places man's thinking at the center of the universe. Rather, it's the proper use of the faculties God has given us to understand Him and the world He's made.

And that’s why arguing when properly understood and practiced is a good thing, not a bad thing.


Resource: str.org