I found this in the July 2009 issue of Reader's Digest (one of my favorite magazines). I thought it was pretty hilarious!
A banker approaches the Pearly Gates sweating and struggling with a heavy suitcase. Saint Peter greets him and says, "Set the suitcase down and come in"
"No way!" barks the banker. "I have to bring it in."
"What could possibly be in there that's so important?" asks Peter.
The banker opens the suitcase to reveal 50 gold bricks. Peter's jaw drops: "You brought pavement?"
Yeah, I know it's kind of cheesy, but it's a really good lesson about what we value here on earth, while forgetting what is available in Heaven.
Lesson 6 was cald "Worship" and it was amazing and really tied the other five lessons together well. I was totally changed by this lesson and, although it's hard to get, it is worth the effort. I enjoyed it throughly.The sections were: Core truth - What activity defines the primary purpose of the church? The functions of the church have been variously defined as teaching, fellowship, outreach, and worship (see Acts 2:42-47). Of these important functions, honoring God through worship is the church's primary purpose, because it is our eternal vocation. Memory verse - Revelation 4:11 (in the context of Revelation 4) Bible study - Revelation 4-5 Reading: Handling the Trauma of Holiness
Again, I'll encourage you if you go to Pathway to join a Discipleship group in August (when they'll be available again) if you haven't already started!
Lesson 5 was called "Prayer". It was very interesting to me and one that I was able to get a lot out of. The sections were: Core truth - What is prayer, and how can a disciple pray effectively? Prayer is a transparent dialogue. It is a conversation with God in which we address him and in quiet are addressed by him. There are four types of prayer, which are summarized by the acronym ACTS. Adoration: Appreciating God for who he is apart from what he has done for us, Confession: acknowledging to God our specific sin and seeking his pardon, Thanksgiving: appreciating God for his benefit to us, and Supplication: interceding for ourselves or others accoring to God's will. Memory verse - Matthew 6:9-13 (in the context of Matthew 6) Bible study - Luke 11:5-13, 18:1-8 Reading - How Do We Pray?
If you go to Pathway and haven't joined a discipleship group yet, I encourage you to do so when it becomes available again in the Fall!
Lesson 4 was called "Bible Study". It was kind of dull in some ways, just a lot of information, but it was still good things that need to be known. It included how and why we should study the Bible. The sections were: Core truth - What place should the Bible have in a disciple's daily quiet time? Because the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the uniquely inspired revelation of God and the standard of truth in all matters of faith and practice, a portion of each day should be set aside to read, study, and meditate on God's Word. The Bible is to the spirit what food is to the body. Memory verse - 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (in the context of 2 Timothy 3) Bible study - Psalm 119:1-16 Reading - Inductive Bible Study
If you go to Pathway, I again encourage you to join a discipleship group. Just reading these gives you NOTHING in comparison to what you would get out of a group, studying together.
This is an awesome song!!! What would happen if everyone took a stand such as this against Satan?
"Satan, Bite the Dust" by Carman
"Satan, Bite the Dust" by Carman
Party's over, shut it down! I'm hunting for someone, y'all He's a lying, thieving rattlesnake And he's broken every law He's terrorized the lives of men And he's under arrest Because I've been sent with a warrant From the body of Christ
Demon: "Well, tell me what it says, then!"
Singer: "Satan, bite the dust!"
Every one of you unclean spirits I'm running you out of town! Depression, strife, disease, and fear Your posse's going down!
Demon: "Boy, last tenderfoot who talked that big We sent him home in a box!"
Singer: But I know who I am through Jesus Christ When I talk to you demons like dogs
Satan, you coward, you molester of souls I command you to appear! You're hiding from the presence of God But I can feel your fear from here
Satan: "You rattled my chain boy, long enough! You got something in your craw?"
Singer: A praying church wants you to know
Satan: "Know what?"
Singer: Your kingdom's gonna fall
'Cause I represent a whole new breed Of Christian of today And I'm authorized and deputized To blow you clean away! I've got a message to deliver From One who's true and just We'll spit in your eye, you father of lies! Satan, bite the dust!
Satan: "Boy, you gonna take me on and my unholy herd?"
Singer: Not only take you on, but take you out By the spirit and the Word! One by one, you'll drop like flies Underfoot and in the ground Because greater is He who is in me Than the snake I'm staring down
You demon of alcoholism You'll be the first to go There's deliverance from you through Jesus Christ, so Hit the road! You spirit of infirmity You ain't welcome here no more! We lay hands on the sick and they recover, so Out the door! You demon of false religion You've preyed on minds so simple I bind the spirit of your songs, so el kabong! Play that in your temple! Now Satan, you're next in line I'm gonna hit you where it hurts! Because I'm tired of you in my family! And I'm tired of you in my church! I'm not my own, I'm bought with a price I'm a Holy Ghost-filled man! And I'm tolling the bell of your eternal destruction Across the land
'Cause I represent a whole new breed Of Christian of today And I'm authorized and deputized To blow you clean away! I've got a weapon with two bullets That overcome all sin and crud One bullet is called the word of my testimony And the other one's called the blood! Satan, bite the dust! Bite the dust! Well, how do you feel about that, devil?
So, I threw a party today. I had a lot of fun and enjoyed myself. And I thought my guests were, too. We had fun talking and swimming around, but near the end, two (there were four guests) started talking and whispering a lot with each other. Then, after walking away for a while, announced when they came back that they were leaving in five mnutes. Not a big deal, the party hadn't had a specific end time, but the plan had been that they all stay for dinner. And their behavior is making me (because I'm ridiculous like this) think I made them bored, so they decided to change their plans and leave early (I'm not saying they did or that they would EVER act like that, but I think irrational things sometimes, especially ones that I can't verify or that might possibly, in the most extreme of times be true). And that sucks, because I had a perfectly fun and enjoyable day until then :( I'll get over it, I guess...but it sucks.
I read someone's comment to someone else on Facebook today. He had made a joke about being able to buy time and that got me thinking. What if we could buy time? How much would it cost? Would it be minimum wage? More expensive? Cheaper? Would we be able to use it whenever, or just when we bought it? Would we buy it from machines or as little ticket things? Who would produce it? Would there be a limit to how much you could use? Who would have the correct time? Why didn't God create us for it? What would be the downsides? Would some people be further ahead in time than others? Would some people try to steal time from others? Would anyone be able to plan anything?
This song gives me the chills whenever I hear it because it is so powerful and intense. I really love it.
"Set Me Free" by Casting Crowns
Set Me Free by Casting Crowns
It hasn't always been this way I remember brighter days Before the dark ones came and stole my mind Wrapped my soul in chains Now I live among the dead Fighting voices in my head Hoping someone hears me Crying in the night and carries me away
Set me free Of the chains holding me Is anybody out there hearing me? Set me free
Morning breaks another day Finds me crying in the rain All alone with my demons, I am Who is this Man that comes my way? The dark ones shriek, they scream His Name Is this the One they say will Set the captive free? Jesus, rescue me!
Set me free Of the chains holding me Is anybody out there hearing me? Set me free
And as the God-Man passes by He looks straight through my eyes And darkness cannot hide
Do you wanna be free? Lift your chains, I hold the key All power on heav'n and earth belong to me Do you wanna be free? Lift your chains, I hold the key All power on heav'n and earth belong to me You are free You are free You are free
So, it's been about a week since I have written a blog, so I figured I better write one...
"Voice of Truth" by Casting Crowns
Voice of Truth by Casting Crowns
Oh, what I would do to have The kind of faith it takes To climb out of this boat I'm in Onto the crashing waves To step out of my comfort zone Into the realm of the unknown Where Jesus is And He's holding out his hand But the waves are calling out my name And they laugh at me Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed The waves, they keep on telling me time and time again Boy, you'll never win, you'll never win
But the Voice of Truth Tells me a different story The Voice of Truth Says do not be afraid And the Voice of Truth Says this is for My Glory Out of all the voices calling out to me I will choose to listen and believe The Voice of Truth
Oh, what I would do to have The kind of strength it takes To stand before a giant With just a sling and a stone Surrounded by the sound of a thousand warriors Shaking in their armor Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand But the giant's calling out my name And he laughs at me Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed The giant keeps on telling me time and time again Boy, you'll never win, you'll never win
But the Voice of Truth Tells me a different story The Voice of Truth Says do not be afraid And the Voice of Truth Says this is for My Glory Out of all the voices calling out to me I will choose to listen and believe The Voice of Truth
But the stone was just the right size To put the giant on the ground And the waves, they don't seem so high From the top of them looking down I will soar on the wings of eagles When I stop and listen t the sound of Jesus Singing over me
The Voice of Truth Tells me a different story The Voice of Truth Says do not be afraid And the Voice of Truth Says this is for My Glory Out of all the voices calling out to me I will choose to listen and believe I will choose to listen and believe The Voice of Truth I will listen and believe I will listen and believe The Voice of Truth I will listen and believe 'Cause Jesus, You are the Voice of Truth And I will listen to You You are
Hi! I basically use blogs to say to a piece of paper what I can't say as easily to the people I know. I encourage them to read my blog but my guess is most don't. If you read about me here, you will probably know more about me than most people.
