praising and pleading go together and I, for one, am glad

Psalm 119:153-160

he who commands and sees and saves, help me now,
who am persecuted yet obedient

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The institutional church has gotten off track by forgetting who we are and who he is.

The uncomfortable conclusion is that many organizations, quite certain they are churches, are something altogether different; they are religious organizations, but they are not churches.

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Read more: Identity of Church: by divine definition or human decision?

The purpose of the whole church in time

• What is the church to do in the world?
• What is central?
• What is relative?
• By what means are we to discern what is central?

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Good news: this blog is written my a woman

Ran Laura’s Writings through the Gender Analyzer and am happy to report that it is written by a woman (though a rather gender neutral one).
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ht: TSK
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The Deliverer is here. What's stopping you?

God is life.
We chose death.
We cannot make ourselves alive.
God is willing to rescue us.

Are you willing to be rescued?

John 3:36

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Sermon Discussion: The Truths We Stand Upon
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Writing, but not blogging—what’s up?

Lately, I’ve been recording my thoughts as I take my morning power walk and then transcribing them after. I’ve written many words and blogged few.

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Mental Transformation--round one complete

Back on February 14, 2007, I started listening through the Bible (ten times through each book). This afternoon I finished the project. I am changed.

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What you think about when reading Isaiah and Viola the same morning:

We are engulfed by our own ways of being and in our culture's ways of being. We have forgotten who we are. That must change.

Fodder:
Isaiah 24-25
Reimagining Church

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Review, yes, but do we evaluate?

Every year or so, we review our purpose, mission, vision, values, and beliefs. But I wonder, do we evaluate our programs, budget, teaching, and practices?

Related links
Values
Vision

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Chili and Ginger

• Muffins: oat and green lentil cooked in beef stock, seasoned with fresh ginger and topped with candied ginger
• Salad: romaine with roasted cauliflower, hass avocado dressing, and topped with pink salmon
• Stew: bison chili with sautéed garlic, white onion, and poblano, seasoned with chili powder, smoked Spanish paprika, chipotle powder, and ground cumin; red lentils and diced tomatoes

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Delight is a learned behavior...

Psalm 119:137-144

lawgiver, giving forever-lawful laws,
and I, small, harassed, remember them, and love

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Book Bag Text Box Added to Sidebar

What are you reading?

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My Answer to Elvin Fang's Survey on God's Ultimate Purpose

God’s ultimate intention is his own glory, reflected in his creation and embodied in the new humanity, with whom he has eternal, loving partnership.

Participate

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The Dark Side of Tradition

Tradition is that thing to which we cling so as to avoid the very hard work of innovation and the very real risk of failure.

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The Fairness of Final Justice

Isaiah 24-27

Those in relationship* with God rejoice at his final justice;
those not in relationship are destroyed by it.

* relationship: trusting and loving sovereign God


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Questioning REVEAL--individualism's taint?

Just wondering: If it is true that “My development of personal spiritual practices is essential for my spiritual growth,” what does communal discipleship look like?


Related links
Matt 28:16-20
Matt 22:24-40
TFB Motto
TFB Purpose
TFB Mission

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Menu for the Week--Spicing it up a bit

• Breakfast muffins: steel cut oatmeal (ground), green lentils (ground), roasted red jalapeno, cocoa powder, cumin (ground), smoked Spanish paprika, chili powder, egg white, farmer cheese
  
• Salad: steamed broccoli, yellow grape tomatoes, red bell pepper, sardines, romaine
• Stew: broccoli, roasted sweet potato, vegetable stock, whey, Serrano chili and onion (sauteed)
• Greens: red kale with salmon
  

Analysis: fat 23.8%; protein 33.4%, carbohydrate 40.3%

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Truth beyond words, desired beyond life

Psalm 119:129-136

wonderful truth, wrapped in words, give light and help.
I, panting for truth, oppose evil with tears.

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The Local Church is...

…a community “of professing believers in Jesus Christ who have been baptized, practice the Lord’s Supper, and organize to do God’s will.”
- Horrell, p64


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INSIGHT FROM ISAIAH--God of love, God of judgment

Isaiah 1-23

• "in that day" – blessing, judgment; soon, then, in Messiah
• God of nations, chosen, not-chosen; blessing-and-punishing by will
• Why write? To terrify, warn, comfort

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HEALTH PROJECT text box added

I've added a text box two screens or so down the side bar where I'll be posting some info on my ongoing health project.

GOD'S SENIOR STAFF: being his resident representatives

New role + new measure <-- new message <-- new preoccupation

• Therefore, represent well
• Therefore, know well

His message and his person: central and foundational.

BACK FROM VACATION and COOKING WHAT'S ON HAND

• Collards boiled in salt-water
• Broccoli and artichoke with soy sauce
• Romaine with red bell pepper and steamed celery
• Celery sticks
• EVOO-baked salmon with white pepper

ONLY GRACE IN COMMUNITY SUFFICES

There is a wicked brokenness that too easily contaminates. We tell this fact in story after story, knowing its truth, yet helpless to fix ourselves.

RUNNING TO THE ONLY RESCUER

Psalm 119:121-128

only rescuer with promise by hesed,
to you i boldly obey and boldly ask.

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MY PRIMARY GOAL FOR 2009--be church!

1 Corinthians 12:12-27

Here, I think, is Paul’s point about the body:
Diversity without division.
Unity without uniformity.

This is who we are.

Reposted excerpt.