Wouldn’t it be ironic…..
Wouldn’t it be ironic if Western Christians were more excited about what God did through William Wilberforce to fight slavery in 1807 than about what God wants to do through us to fight slavery in 2007?
Epilepsy and spiritual warfare
I was taking a look at my referrers the other day. Someone did a yahoo search on epilepsy and spiritual warfare and my site happened to be the first to come up, which I find kind of funny, considering that attempting to use “spiritual warfare” to win the battle against epilepsy in my daughter almost made me lose me mind.
We all know that Christians can take the spiritual warfare and “name it and claim it” type of thing too far with illnesses, but try battling a disease that Jesus specifically casts out as a demon in the New Testament. You might as well hang it up. It must be unconfessed sin, or a demon, or a negative spiritual influence, or drugs, or sexual abuse or past use of a ouiji board. Go ahead. Do a search on epilepsy and spiritual warfare or demons. There is no shortage of information out there. I had never considered what it must be like to have a disease like deafness or epilepsy that Jesus uses demonized language to heal. Until recently.
One Christian website actually says that demonic manifestation of a believer can take the form of:
Physiological imbalance & physical inability, such as blindness, deafness, dumbness, epilepsy, faintness, foaming at the mouth, change of voice & character, etc.
OH. REALLY?????? COULD it be that the person is actually blind or deaf or dumb or has epilepsy?
Perhaps if we quit seeing God as a gumball machine that just responds to our every whim and wimper, perhaps if we realize that, as painful as our suffering is, there are others that suffer more, we will stop acting as if every illness, every financial difficulty, every job loss is a personal attack from an enemy that we must battle. Perhaps we will realize, that as Job says in chapter 42,
2″I know that you can do all things,
and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
3′Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’
Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
4′Hear, and I will speak;
I will question you, and you make it known to me.’
5I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,
but now my eye sees you;
6therefore I despise myself,
and repent in dust and ashes.”
Internet Evangelism Day
According to the website, Internet Evangelism Day has a two fold purpose:
What do you think of this? Perhaps I’m just being cynical, but it strikes me as just another method of reducing the Gospel to information to be consumed. How likely is it that someone is going to come to Jesus through a website? IED is encouraging those who are participating to implement evangelistic websites and outreach blogs, among other techniques. Shouldn’t we be encouraging people to get out of their house, office, and churches and build relationship?
Thoughts?
Try answering these questions from your NIV.
Ok, all I can say is if these people spent the same amount of time and money helping people in Africa, maybe they would have something.
Try answering these questions from your NIV.
Try Answering These From Your NIV
By Rex L. Cobb
INSTRUCTIONS:
Using the New International Version Bible, answer the following questions to this NIV quiz.
Do not rely on your memory. As the Bible is the final authority, you must take the answer from the Bible verse (not from footnotes but from the text).
1. Fill in the missing words in Matthew 5:44. “Love your enemies,__________ them that curse you, ______________ to them that hate you, and pray for them that __________ and persecute you.”
2. According to Matthew 17:21, what two things are required to cast out this type of demon?
3. According to Matthew 18:11, why did Jesus come to earth?
4. According to Matthew 27:2, what was Pilate’s first name?
5. In Matthew 27:35, when the wicked soldiers parted His garments, they were fulfilling the words of the prophet. Copy what the prophet said in Matthew 27:35 from the NIV.
6. In Mark 3:15, Jesus gave the apostles power to cast out demons and to: ____________
7. According to Mark 7:16, what does a man need to be able to hear?
8. According to Luke 7:28, what was John? (teacher, prophet, carpenter, etc.). What is his title or last name?
9. In Luke 9:55, what did the disciples not know?
10. In Luke 9:56, what did the Son of man not come to do? According to this verse, what did He come to do?
11. In Luke 22:14, how many apostles were with Jesus?
12. According to Luke 23:38, in what three languages was the superscription written?
13. In Luke 24:42, what did they give Jesus to eat with His fish?
14. John 3:13 is a very important verse, proving the deity of Christ. According to this verse (as Jesus spoke), where is the Son of man?
15. What happened each year as told in John 5:4?
16. In John 7:50, what time of day did Nicodemus come to Jesus?
17. In Acts 8:37, what is the one requirement for baptism?
18. What did Saul ask Jesus in Acts 9:6?
19. Write the name of the man mentioned in Acts 15:34.
20. Study Acts 24:6-8. What would the Jew have done with Paul? What was the chief captain’s name? What did the chief captain command?
21. Copy Romans 16:24 word for word from the NIV.
22. First Timothy 3:16 is perhaps the greatest verse in the New Testament concerning the deity of Christ. In this verse, who was manifested in the flesh?
23. In the second part of First Peter 4:14, how do [they] speak of Christ? And, what do we Christians do?
24. Who are the three Persons of the Trinity in First John 5:7?
25. Revelation 1:11 is another very important verse that proves the deity of Christ. In the first part of this verse Jesus said, “I am the A______________ and O___________, the _________ and the _______:”
Conclusion: Little space is provided for your answers, but it’s much more than needed. If you followed the instructions above, you not only failed the test, you receive a big goose egg.
(Ed. These are all missing in the NIV.) So now what do you think of your “accurate, easy to understand, up to date Bible”?
If you would like to improve your score, and in fact score 100%, you can take this test using the Authorized (King James) Bible.
In or Out. Again
Last night a dear friend’s husband passed away. I am also very good friends with my friend’s daughter….so we have the loss of a husband, father and grandfather.
The question that has been thrown around is about where this man stood with God. He never professed belief in Jesus, that I know of. He didn’t attend church. So….when death comes…the question remains. This seems a very poignant situation considering the session I attended at the Isn’t She Beautiful conference. Rob Bell addressed these very issues in a session entitled;
“A few thoughts on God, Jesus, salvation, judgment, heaven, hell, who’s in, who’s out, and the end of the world as we know it”
I tremble at the thought of answering these questions. Who’s in? Who’s out? I’m not God, so I refuse to pretend that I am. These are difficult questions to answer and my vision of God is clouded on this earth.
Now we see things imperfectly as in a poor mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God knows me now. 1 Cor 13:12
What I do know is that God is merciful. More merciful than we are. I take hope in the following story outlined in Mark 2:2-5.
The friends had the faith to bring the paralized man before Jesus. The man was unable to do it for himself. When Jesus saw the faith of the friends, he said “Son, your sins are forgiven”. Wow. How dare we start to declare who is “in” and who is “out”. In the book “Mere Christianity”, C.S. Lewis says,
The world does not consist of 100 percent Christians and 100 percent non-Christians. There are people who are slowly ceasing to be Christians but who still call themselves by that name…There are other people who are slowly becoming Christians though they do not yet call themselves so. There are people who do not accept the full Christian doctrine about Christ but who are so strongly attracted by Him that they are His in a much deeper sense than they themselves understand.
I choose to believe in grace. I choose to believe in God’s mercy. Grace trumps the hard and fast rules of theology every time.
Results of the Christian Blogger Survey
The results of Rick Warren’s Ministry Toolbox “Christian Blogger” survey are out.
Participants in the survey are below. Check some of the blogs out!
ministrypastor.blogspot.com
http://ministrypastor.blogspot.com
Simplyjosh.com
http://Simplyjosh.com
churchonomics.com
http://churchonomics.com
marcpitman.com
http://marcpitman.com
ifjesushadawebsite.net
http://www.ifjesushadawebsite.net
ngpfocus.wordpress.com
http://ngpfocus.wordpress.com
danieldecker.net
http://www.danieldecker.net
ericbryant.org/blog
http://www.ericbryant.org/blog
thefissiongroup.com/blog
http://www.thefissiongroup.com/blog
livelikejesus.com/blog
http://livelikejesus.com/blog
emergingwomen.blogspot.com
http://emergingwomen.blogspot.com
julieclawson.blogspot.com
http://julieclawson.blogspot.com
post-methodist.blogspot.com
www.post-methodist.blogspot.com
edbuford.blogs.com
http://edbuford.blogs.com
jeffsmithspeaks.blogspot.com/index.html
http://jeffsmithspeaks.blogspot.com/index.html
churchcommunicationspro.com
http://www.churchcommunicationspro.com
friesville.net/blog
ministrymarketingcoach.com
http://ministrymarketingcoach.com
johnsmulo.com
douglast.com/thoughts
thebellsite.com
ghostofmediocrity.blogspot.com
http://www.ghostofmediocrity.blogspot.com
morethanstone.blogsome.com
http://morethanstone.blogsome.com
davedavis.typepad.com
theflippingsweetblog.blogspot.com
http://theflippingsweetblog.blogspot.com
blog.aspiringindie.com
spirittalks.blogspot.com
http://www.spirittalks.blogspot.com
chiselrod.com
microexplosion.com
levite.wordpress.com
learning2beastoryteller.blogspot.com
http://www.learning2beastoryteller.blogspot.com
billspondering.blogspot.com
http://billspondering.blogspot.com
dhfriss.typepad.com
imageforth.com
despuesdeldomingo.com
http://www.despuesdeldomingo.com
mattandnancy.org
mondaymorninginsight.com
http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com
valuetheprocess.wordpress.com
http://www.valuetheprocess.wordpress.com
themerge.blogspot.com
semilladeamorgt.blogspot.com
http://semilladeamorgt.blogspot.com
mattsingley.com
timsweatman.blogspot.com
http://timsweatman.blogspot.com
jenniclayville.com
anotherstorm.com
elblogdecristianosh.blogspot.com
http://elblogdecristianosh.blogspot.com
kelly94942.blogspot.com
http://kelly94942.blogspot.com
melindalgroth.blogspot.com
http://www.melindalgroth.blogspot.com
churchrelevance.com
http://www.churchrelevance.com
lapalabra.ws/blogs
twelvewitnesses.com
http://www.twelvewitnesses.com
thoughtsofacountrypreacher.blogspot.com
http://thoughtsofacountrypreacher.blogspot.com
knhamann.blogspot.com
lizziesotola.com
jdblundell.blogspot.com
http://jdblundell.blogspot.com
jason.voxtropolis.com
rwbooth.com
decloaked.blogspot.com
http://www.decloaked.blogspot.com
davetilma.com
debbie-thoughtsof.blogspot.com
http://debbie-thoughtsof.blogspot.com
theclayvilles.typepad.com/brian
http://www.theclayvilles.typepad.com/brian
estudios-biblicos.blogspot.com
http://estudios-biblicos.blogspot.com
elcalvario.us/quicuj
arator.wordpress.com
xanga.com/rtsguy
la-guarida-del-perro.blogspot.com
http://la-guarida-del-perro.blogspot.com
forgodssakeshutup.blogspot.com
http://forgodssakeshutup.blogspot.com
determinacionhoy.net
http://www.determinacionhoy.net
discipleshipmeanderings.wordpress.com
http://discipleshipmeanderings.wordpress.com
challies.com
allensonthe.net
nanolog.blogspot.com
donniejohnson.blogspot.com
http://donniejohnson.blogspot.com
missionsconnexion.com/cs
http://missionsconnexion.com/cs
tonydye.typepad.com
brianeberly.com
curtbradford.typepad.com
http://www.curtbradford.typepad.com
gavin.inthebackyard.com
http://www.gavin.inthebackyard.com
communionreflections.blogspot.com
http://communionreflections.blogspot.com
victorychristianfellowship.net
http://www.victorychristianfellowship.net/index.php?page=blog
timothymyson.blogspot.com
http://www.timothymyson.blogspot.com
rbcgrace.com/deanblog/index.html
http://www.rbcgrace.com/deanblog/index.html
youthguy68.blogspot.com
http://www.youthguy68.blogspot.com
digitalchurch.com.au
http://www.digitalchurch.com.au
djs-book-rants.blogspot.com
http://djs-book-rants.blogspot.com
robertpooley.org
wideworldof.blogspot.com
http://wideworldof.blogspot.com
revunplugged.blogs.com
http://www.revunplugged.blogs.com
xanga.com/welcometotheedge
http://www.xanga.com/welcometotheedge
collinwimberly.blogspot.com
http://www.collinwimberly.blogspot.com
thecrossers.com/blog
http://www.thecrossers.com/blog
atravelersjourney.blogspot.com
http://atravelersjourney.blogspot.com
kairosofthisworld.blogspot.com
http://kairosofthisworld.blogspot.com
revnorman.blogspot.com
soomah.de
leadingsmart.com
pontiacbible.org/brian
http://www.pontiacbible.org/brian
tianke.multiply.com
mountain-top-musings.blogspot.com
http://mountain-top-musings.blogspot.com
discipletim.blogspot.com
http://discipletim.blogspot.com
macmike.typepad.com
http://www.macmike.typepad.com
mcfaddencircle.blogspot.com
http://mcfaddencircle.blogspot.com
getanchored.blogspot.com
http://getanchored.blogspot.com
bucketsfromgoldie.blogspot.com
http://bucketsfromgoldie.blogspot.com
leslieherron.typepad.com
http://www.leslieherron.typepad.com
adoracionyartes.blogspot.com
http://www.adoracionyartes.blogspot.com
johnnyleckie.blogspot.com
http://johnnyleckie.blogspot.com
ridleybarron.blogspot.com
http://www.ridleybarron.blogspot.com
davebowmanonline.com
http://www.davebowmanonline.com
kevinpurcell.org
evtales.com
checkyourcompass.blogspot.com
http://checkyourcompass.blogspot.com
theoskaris.blogspot.com
http://theoskaris.blogspot.com
samshaw.wordpress.com
http://www.samshaw.wordpress.com
zayasbazan.blogspot.com
http://zayasbazan.blogspot.com
explorechrist.blogspot.com
http://www.explorechrist.blogspot.com
gracepages-mbc.blogspot.com
http://gracepages-mbc.blogspot.com
morganchurchdevotional.blogspot.com
http://www.morganchurchdevotional.blogspot.com
2timothy22.blogspot.com
http://2timothy22.blogspot.com
mixmastersean.blogspot.com
http://www.mixmastersean.blogspot.com
freedombc.org
velocityhsm.blogspot.com
http://velocityhsm.blogspot.com
josue.townhall.com
echalelena.blogspot.com
http://www.echalelena.blogspot.com
myspace.com/ncm.pcc.syl
http://www.myspace.com/ncm.pcc.syl
anopendoerr.com
rockc3.com
youthministryhilarity.blogspot.com
http://www.youthministryhilarity.blogspot.com
otbthinking.blogspot.com
http://otbthinking.blogspot.com
cowboycountrychurch.com
http://www.cowboycountrychurch.com
xanga.com/apolizzi
newlifebrisbane.blogspot.com
http://www.newlifebrisbane.blogspot.com
straightfrompastor.blogspot.com
http://straightfrompastor.blogspot.com
lifeofchrisrandomthoughts.blogspot.com
http://lifeofchrisrandomthoughts.blogspot.com
arktrav.blgspot.com
jurgenvandenherik.nl
http://www.jurgenvandenherik.nl
johannesrueschel.de
http://www.johannesrueschel.de
hufi.blogspot.com
completinggodsmission.com
http://www.completinggodsmission.com
cobbsinger.blogspot.com
http://cobbsinger.blogspot.com
fellowshipdayz.blogspot.com
http://fellowshipdayz.blogspot.com
bridgecommunity-mike.blogspot.com
http://bridgecommunity-mike.blogspot.com
jonathaneverette.blogspot.com
http://www.jonathaneverette.blogspot.com
thegatheringplacehome.blogspot.com
http://thegatheringplacehome.blogspot.com
seabourn.org
gupdate.blogger.com
http://www.gupdate.blogger.com
jonathaneverette.blogspot.com
http://www.jonathaneverette.blogspot.com
myspace.com/morelikeyou
http://www.myspace.com/morelikeyou
preacherjoe.blog
theworldfrommywindow.blogspot.com
http://theworldfrommywindow.blogspot.com
attemptedphilosophyblog.blogspot.com
http://www.attemptedphilosophyblog.blogspot.com
amandaowen3.blogspot.com
http://www.amandaowen3.blogspot.com
pastorsview.blogspot.com
http://www.pastorsview.blogspot.com
severnrun.wordpress.com
http://severnrun.wordpress.com
waitingforsunday.com
lynda.pongracz.blogspot.com
http://www.lynda.pongracz.blogspot.com
reverandd.bravejournal.com
http://reverandd.bravejournal.com
oncoffee.blogspot.com
otherstudentministry.com/blog.cfm
http://www.otherstudentministry.com/blog.cfm
jayhardwick.com
stonecreekchurch.com
http://www.stonecreekchurch.com
unfoldingneurons.com
http://www.unfoldingneurons.com
the-beat-goes-on.blogspot.com
http://the-beat-goes-on.blogspot.com
fbcsulphur.org
evenyou.blogspot.com
now-lets-see.blogspot.com
http://now-lets-see.blogspot.com
becoming.voxtropolis.com
http://becoming.voxtropolis.com
emilioetaty.multiply.com
http://emilioetaty.multiply.com
hblogcpj.blogspot.com
marshilltop.blogspot.com
http://marshilltop.blogspot.com
jeffreycrawford.blogspot.com
http://jeffreycrawford.blogspot.com
thewhatisup.blogspot.com
http://www.thewhatisup.blogspot.com
trevorscott.vox.com
http://www.trevorscott.vox.com
gmchurch.org/blog
blog.myspace.com/servingtheking
http://blog.myspace.com/servingtheking
chipsanders.blogspot.com
http://chipsanders.blogspot.com
tommyham/typepad.com
highercallingchurch.blogspot.com
http://www.highercallingchurch.blogspot.com
livingwatermuscatine.com
http://www.livingwatermuscatine.com
thislamp.com
blog.myspace.com/nathanhyde
http://blog.myspace.com/nathanhyde
bibleblog.typepad.com
http://www.bibleblog.typepad.com
peanutsizzler.blogspot.com
http://www.peanutsizzler.blogspot.com
danmoore.livejournal.com
http://danmoore.livejournal.com
cmol.org
mikebellanti.voxtropolis.com
http://mikebellanti.voxtropolis.com
lenscleanse.blogspot.com
http://lenscleanse.blogspot.com
darinsrealtruth.blogspot.com
http://www.darinsrealtruth.blogspot.com
graceforme.org
jeffsmithspeaks.blogspot.com
http://jeffsmithspeaks.blogspot.com
simplyhsp.multiply.com
http://www.simplyhsp.multiply.com
untilsunday.blogspot.com
http://untilsunday.blogspot.com
umbl0g.blogspot.com
http://www.umbl0g.blogspot.com
lorenhicks.typepad.com
http://www.lorenhicks.typepad.com
caldjr.blogspot.com
thewallah.blogspot.com
http://www.thewallah.blogspot.com
louicanchola.typepad.com
http://www.louicanchola.typepad.com
tommyhargrove.blogspot.com
http://www.tommyhargrove.blogspot.com
leehodges.blog.com
growingtogether.net
http://www.growingtogether.net
nathanrice.org
sdmkp.blogspot.com
360.yahoo.com/genblessings
http://www.360.yahoo.com/genblessings
donbillie/myspace.com
http://www.donbillie/myspace.com
pastorjohnccc.blogspot.com
http://www.pastorjohnccc.blogspot.com
ministrycenter.blogspot.com
http://www.ministrycenter.blogspot.com
brassworld.blogspot.com
http://www.brassworld.blogspot.com
pastoringonpurpose.com
http://www.pastoringonpurpose.com
kimzweygardt.com
tonymorganlive.com
andrewcairns.com
paulpeterson.wordpress.com
http://www.paulpeterson.wordpress.com
freshfaithworship.blogspot.com
http://freshfaithworship.blogspot.com
newhopeaubrey.com/consume/consume.htm
http://www.newhopeaubrey.com/consume/consume.htm
markbatterson.com
runwithgod.com
sequimur.com/banditsnomore
http://www.sequimur.com/banditsnomore
kemmeyer.com
danieldecker.net
adventurefaith.blogspot.com
http://www.adventurefaith.blogspot.com
michaeldeutsch.blogspot.com
http://michaeldeutsch.blogspot.com
xanga.com/timsmithxa
http://www.xanga.com/timsmithxa
tonystewardblog.com
p-robspot.blogspot.com
johnnylaird.blogspot.com
http://www.johnnylaird.blogspot.com
chadkmiller.blogspot.com
http://chadkmiller.blogspot.com
anchorite.org/blog
e-devotion.blogspot.com
http://www.e-devotion.blogspot.com
chriswhitehead.blogspot.com
http://chriswhitehead.blogspot.com
nathandiehl.com
girlrev-cindy.blogspot.com
http://girlrev-cindy.blogspot.com
revsonic.org
jameslaws.typepad.com
elhammond.vox.com
georgejromano.blogspot.com
http://www.georgejromano.blogspot.com
faithengineer.com
edbuford.blogs.com
stevansheets.com
baileythoughts.wordpress.com
http://baileythoughts.wordpress.com
barryclarke.blogspot.com
http://barryclarke.blogspot.com
lizardsmommy.blogspot.com
http://lizardsmommy.blogspot.com
wonderingthoughtsbyjoe.blogspot.com
http://wonderingthoughtsbyjoe.blogspot.com
achristianchronicle.blogspot.com
http://achristianchronicle.blogspot.com
blurty.com
theviewfromosprey.blogspot.com
http://theviewfromosprey.blogspot.com
trydyingtolive.blogspot.com
http://trydyingtolive.blogspot.com
genejennings.com
ericmesselt.blogspot.com
http://ericmesselt.blogspot.com
InsightsfromRick.com
http://www.InsightsfromRick.com
chuckmusselwhite.com
stanchfieldbaptist.com
http://www.stanchfieldbaptist.com
pastorjohn58.blogspot.com
http://pastorjohn58.blogspot.com
rpc-foundation.blogspot.com
http://rpc-foundation.blogspot.com
discoverychurchjason.blogspot.com
http://www.discoverychurchjason.blogspot.com
simplystudents.blogspot.com
http://www.simplystudents.blogspot.com
wdmbarker.blogspot.com
http://www.wdmbarker.blogspot.com
timschmoyer.com
serialyouthpastor.blogspot.com
http://www.serialyouthpastor.blogspot.com
gondimenespanol.blogspot.com
http://gondimenespanol.blogspot.com
pastorbrad.org
ridgethoughts.blogspot.com
http://www.ridgethoughts.blogspot.com
xanga.com/revshortridge
http://www.xanga.com/revshortridge
jonsampson.blogspot.com
http://jonsampson.blogspot.com
juniorhigh.blogs.com/joshuamichael
http://juniorhigh.blogs.com/joshuamichael
wideopensecrets.blogspot.com
http://www.wideopensecrets.blogspot.com
studying-by-grace.blogspot.com
http://studying-by-grace.blogspot.com
undertheeagleswing.blogspot.com
http://undertheeagleswing.blogspot.com
myspace.com/blogpastor_charlie
http://www.myspace.com/blogpastor_charlie
mattandmeganmckee.blogspot.com
http://mattandmeganmckee.blogspot.com
flowerdust.net
revitalizeyourchurch.blogspot.com
http://www.revitalizeyourchurch.blogspot.com
xanga.com/samwisegmge
http://www.xanga.com/samwisegmge
pcnotas.com.br
supermom56.blogspot.com
http://www.supermom56.blogspot.com
lastsermon.blogspot.com
http://www.lastsermon.blogspot.com
djchuang.com
tallskinnykiwi.typepad.com
http://tallskinnykiwi.typepad.com
pastormikeinantigua.blogspot.com
http://pastormikeinantigua.blogspot.com
myspace.com/stevepatient
http://www.myspace.com/stevepatient
268pastor.blogspot.com
growthstarts.org
horizonscommunitychurch.blogspot.com
http://www.horizonscommunitychurch.blogspot.com
paulneel.blogspot.com
cyword.com/jesusheaven
http://www.cyword.com/jesusheaven
jasondeuman.com
talawas.com
chrisburke.ca
joshcrain.com
jaycurlee.blogspot.com
themerge.blogspot.com
weskenney.net
churchtechmatters.com
daves-doodles.blogspot.com
http://daves-doodles.blogspot.com
blog.myspace.com/ricolsen
http://blog.myspace.com/ricolsen
doug-hart.net
chetswearingen.wordpress.com
http://www.chetswearingen.wordpress.com
armyrenewal.blogspot.com
http://armyrenewal.blogspot.com
bittersweetblue.blogspot.com
http://bittersweetblue.blogspot.com
randompokes.org
calvaryaustin.org/blogs/allen
http://www.calvaryaustin.org/blogs/allen
debbie-thoughtsof.blogspot.com
http://debbie-thoughtsof.blogspot.com
gjblog.com
wallsandgates.squarespace.com
http://wallsandgates.squarespace.com
nomad4god.blogspot.com
vidaplus.blogspot.com
smconger.blogspot.com
mynameiselisabeth.blogspot.com
http://mynameiselisabeth.blogspot.com
timliu.org
praisegodbarebones.blogspot.com
http://praisegodbarebones.blogspot.com
assembling.blogspot.com
http://assembling.blogspot.com
gomotion.blogspot.com
pollections.blogspot.com
http://pollections.blogspot.com
downshoredrift.com
talesfrommiddleearth.blogspot.com
http://www.talesfrommiddleearth.blogspot.com
davesamples.blogspot.com
http://www.davesamples.blogspot.com
davidpete.blogspot.com
worldoffaith.wordpress.com
http://worldoffaith.wordpress.com
mightyfowl.blogspot.com
http://www.mightyfowl.blogspot.com
blog.jasonkearney.net
kevinbussey.wordpress.com
http://kevinbussey.wordpress.com
pathwaycc.blogspot.com
robwitham.com
matt-knight.blogspot.com
http://matt-knight.blogspot.com
themiracleofmercy.blogspot.com
http://www.themiracleofmercy.blogspot.com
texasinafrica.blogspot.com
http://texasinafrica.blogspot.com
reformedchicksblabbing.blogspot.com
http://reformedchicksblabbing.blogspot.com
blogministry.com
glenwoods.blogspot.com
http://www.glenwoods.blogspot.com
journals.aol.com/marqduncan/the-bishop-blog
http://journals.aol.com/marqduncan/the-bishop-blog
suzy.theshipmans.co.uk/blog
http://suzy.theshipmans.co.uk/blog
CriesOfTheHeart.com
http://www.CriesOfTheHeart.com
pcnotas.com.br
dancort.gospelmais.com.br
http://dancort.gospelmais.com.br
marriagevictory.com
http://www.marriagevictory.com
videoadoracao.blogspot.com
http://www.videoadoracao.blogspot.com
blindbeggar.org
paulmayers.blogs.com
missiodeiscandia.wordpress.com
http://missiodeiscandia.wordpress.com
thiagocarvalhodesign.blogger.com.br
http://www.thiagocarvalhodesign.blogger.com.br
iwerth.blogspot.com
thewearypilgrim.typepad.com
http://thewearypilgrim.typepad.com
coisasdemim.blogspot.com
http://coisasdemim.blogspot.com
davethepastor.vox.com
davethepastor.livejournal.com
http://davethepastor.livejournal.com
newhopevalp.org/blogger.html
http://www.newhopevalp.org/blogger.html
itslikeherdingcats.blogspot.com
http://itslikeherdingcats.blogspot.com
prayershake.blogspot.com
http://www.prayershake.blogspot.com
missionalchallenge.blogspot.com
http://missionalchallenge.blogspot.com
igneousquill.blogspot.com
http://igneousquill.blogspot.com
chuckwarnockblog.wordpress.com
http://chuckwarnockblog.wordpress.com
amicusdei.com
dennyburk.com
stevebishop.blogspot.com
http://stevebishop.blogspot.com
ngpfocus.wordpress.com
cantodojo.blogspot.com
gotgrace2.blogspot.com
littlepastor.blogspot.com
http://littlepastor.blogspot.com
julieclawson.blogspot.com
http://julieclawson.blogspot.com
larzmarshall.blogspot.com
http://www.larzmarshall.blogspot.com
e-devotion.blogspot.com
http://e-devotion.blogspot.com
faithfulweb.wordpress.com
http://faithfulweb.wordpress.com
oddideas.com
pastor-jons-blog
http://hopebaptistsingles.squarespace.com/pastor-jons-blog
alliancefriendschurch.org
http://www.alliancefriendschurch.org
veldugo01.blogspot.com
countercultureblog.com
markkelly.wordpress.com
http://markkelly.wordpress.com
We, like Sodomites, have gone astray.
Abot 5:10 There are four sorts of people. ` He who says, “What’s mine is mine and what’s yours is yours” —this is the average sort. `And some say, “This is the sort of Sodom.” ` “What’s mine is yours and what’s yours is mine”—this is a boor. ` “What’s mine is yours and what’s yours is yours”—this is a truly pious man. ` “What’s mine is mine and what’s yours is mine”—this is a truly wicked man.
The ancient Jewish sages, in the above quote from the Mishna, state that the run of the mill individual has the mindset of “what’s mine is mine and what’s yours is yours.” They also liken this attitude to the Sodomites.
There are two words in the OT that are frequently translated righteous or righteousness. One is ‘tzedek’, the other, ‘yashar”. The word translated righteous in the above verse is tzedek. Tzedek (Hebrew: צדקה) in Judaism, is the Hebrew term most commonly translated as “charity”, though it is based on a root meaning “justice”. The word charity in Hebrew, ‘tzedakah’ comes from the root word ‘tzedek’ or justice.
Allow me to take a moment to compare the definitions of just/justice to righteous/righteousness in English before comparing the words tzedek and yashar in Hebrew.
Righteous:
1. Morally upright; without guilt or sin: a righteous parishioner.
2. In accordance with virtue or morality: a righteous judgment.
3. Morally justifiable: righteous anger. See Synonyms at moral.
Just:
1. guided by truth, reason, justice, and fairness: We hope to be just in our understanding of such difficult situations.
2. done or made according to principle; equitable; proper: a just reply.
3. based on right; rightful; lawful: a just claim.
4. in keeping with truth or fact; true; correct: a just analysis.
Yashar
1. upright
2. straight
3. right
4. upright behavior
Tzedek
1. justice
2. equity, balance
3. to have a just cause
So often, when Christians throw around the term righteousness, we are referring to being morally upright, when often, scripture is talking about justice and fairness to others. ‘Tzedek’ is more than legal justice. Perhaps ‘tzedek’ is the practical attempt to return things to a better balance in which power is restored to those who do not have any because of the imbalances that human activity inevitably produces. Perhaps righteousness includes just and proper social order to the helpless, the poor, the oppressed, the widow, the orphan, the resident alien, in legal procedures, in worship, all effected by God’s “Tzedek-Tzedekah” (justice and charity).
my just dealing was like a robe and a turban;
Job 29:15 I was eyes for the blind
and feet for the lame;
Job 29:16 I was a father to the needy,
and I investigated the case of the person I did not know;
Job 29:17 I broke the fangs of the wicked,
and made him drop his prey from his teeth.
LORD, who may be a guest in your home?
Who may live on your holy hill?
Psa 15:2 Whoever lives a blameless life,
does what is tzedek,
and speaks honestly.
Psa 15:3 He does not slander,
or do harm to others,
or insult his neighbor.
Psa 15:4 He despises a reprobate,
but honors the LORD’s loyal followers.
He makes firm commitments and does not renege on his promise.
Psa 15:5 He does not charge interest when he lends his money.
He does not take bribes to testify against the innocent.
The one who lives like this will never be upended.
Deu 24:13 You must by all means return to him at sunset the item he gave you as security so that he may sleep in his outer garment and bless you for it; it will be considered a tzedekah by the LORD your God.
Lord, may we pursue tzedek, and not be led astray. Amen.
Remember the Madagascar…
That sav’d a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears reliev’d;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believ’d!
Thro’ many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promis’d good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.
Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who call’d me here below,
Will be forever mine.
>
