So Solomon built the temple and completed it. 1 Kings 6:14
The temple of ancient Israel was one of the most glorious pieces of Hebrew history. It was ordained by God in its development, and God gave specific instructions as to how it was to be constructed, and what was to be used and placed within it. Solomons temple, and later Zerubbabels temple, were based on the basic design of the tabernacle that God has told Moses to construct as they wandered in the wilderness. The tabernacle was mobile, the temple permanent. But both had the idea of a…
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After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, Why couldnt we drive it [a demon] out? He replied, This kind can come out only by prayer. Mark 9:28-29
The cultivation of the soul is the most significant work we can do because it is on that soil that we meet God.
That is a pretty big statement I guess, but the more I think on it, the more true it becomes to me. Regardless of the task, or ministry, or job..............the most significant thing about us is our ability to know God - and that comes through a cultivation of soul.…
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But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned. Matthew 12:36-37
You better watch what you say young man/lady. That line has probably either been inflicted upon you, or has been used by you toward a son/daughter, etc. There is certainly truth to it.....we should not let our obsessively forked tongue do too much damage. But the reality of that statement is not as it appears on the face of it -…
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In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit. Ephesians 2:21-22
The idea of spiritual formation has for too long been a very individual idea. Spiritual formation is, without a doubt, an individual endeavor......it is, however, not strictly an individual endeavor. There is a measure of spiritual formation that can happen privately, or individually. We pray. We read Gods Word. We listen meditatively to…
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For I am not ashamed of the gospel.... Romans 1:16
I realized very quickly upon my arrival in Bolivia that I have a lot yet to learn. The point of the trip was to train pastors in Bolivia and Paraguay with some practical tools on leadership, team development, and Biblical training. I think it wasa great success in the eyes of the national pastors and hosts, but it was also a lesson of sorts for me.
Our hosts were missionaries from an organization that works globally in the movement of Jesus Christ. They are trained and gifted, yet they are so…
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I lift up my eyes to you, to you whose throne is in heaven. As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he shows us his mercy. Psalm 123:1-2
Easter Sunday at the community of faith where I am a part was absolutely overwhelming. I think it is the greatest Easter weekend of my life as far as seeing the activity of God in peoples lives. I was a mess all day, and now I have a spiritual hangover.
Im relatively glad I have that hangover…
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Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves (Genesis 3:7, NIV)
I was flying back to Buffalo some months ago when I ran into a guy in an airport in another city (I think Cincinnati, but Im not totally sure). He was from our church, but we had never really met. We had a great conversation, and the crux of the conversation had to do with his desire to serve and be used by God. The problem, however, had to do with the fact that he couldnt do alot…
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Genesis. Plain and simple, it means a beginning. And today is a genesis of sorts for me.
The world of technology opens the door on a new world of opportunities. Though opportunities have their hurdles and tensions, they still remain opportunities. The question is how we leverage those opportunities and for what purpose. My purpose with this website and blog is to leverage the opportunity to share insight and resourcesfor personal spiritual formation. Spiritual formation, in the way that I will define it, is becoming more like Jesus.
There are…
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