Theological term of the day

Existentialism

Existentialism is a philosophical viewpoint based on Soren Kierkegaard's philosophical work and emphasizes human freedom and abilities. Subjectivity and individual choice are elevated often above conceptual and moral absolutes, because truth is found within personal experience. Existentialism would deny objective moral truths.

-carm.org
 

Oswald Chambers

The institutional church’s idea of a servant of God is not at all like Jesus Christ’s idea. His idea is that we serve Him by being the servants of others. Jesus Christ actually “out-socialized” the socialists. He said that in His kingdom the greatest one would be the servant of all (see Matthew 23:11). 

The real test of a saint is not one’s willingness to preach the gospel, but one’s willingness to do something like washing the disciples’ feet— that is, being willing to do those things that seem unimportant in human estimation but count as everything to God. It was Paul’s delight to spend his life for God’s interests in other people, and he did not care what it cost. 

But before we will serve, we stop to ponder our personal and financial concerns— “What if God wants me to go over there? And what about my salary? What is the climate like there? Who will take care of me? A person must consider all these things.” All that is an indication that we have reservations about serving God. But the apostle Paul had no conditions or reservations. 

Paul focused his life on Jesus Christ’s idea of a New Testament saint; that is, not one who merely proclaims the gospel, but one who becomes broken bread and poured-out wine in the hands of Jesus Christ for the sake of others.


        - This is today's devotional from "My Utmost for His Highest," by Chambers.

Tiffany and Grandma

Tiffany and Grandma are spent the day at Disney Studios yesterday!

Church Member

Anyone guess who this Beneva Christian Church Member is?

He is breaking into the food pantry!

Theological Term of the Day

Expiation

Expiation is the cancellation of sin. Expiation and propitiation are similar but expiation does not carry the implication of dealing with wrath, of appeasing it through a sacrifice. Generally speaking, propitiation cancels sin and deals with God's wrath. Expiation is simply the cancellation of sin. Jesus was our propitiation (1 John 2:2;4:10 -- "atoning sacrifice" in the NIV).

Websters 1828 dictionary, "expiation, "the acto of atoning for a crime; the act of making satisfaction for an offense, by which the guilt is done away, and the obligation of the offended person to punish the crime is canceled."

    

                                                                                                                                   - carm.org

A Few Vacation Pics

Tristan and Tegan with the Incredible Hulk, made from Lego's!

The family eating at Planet Hollywood.

Eating at the "Raglan Road" Irish Pub at Downtown Disney.

Peanut Butter Jelly Time!

I am not sure where Tristan learned this, but I am glad he taught Tegan...for now.

Fisherman's Village

Mom, Dad, Tiffany and I went to Harpoon Harry's at the Fisherman's Village in Punta Gorda to have dinner with Uncle Keith and his wife Linda. A little cold and rainy, but lots of fun and good food!

Keith, Linda, and Mom

Linda, Tiffany and Mom (Tiffany won every game!)

To my big bang theory friends, I found the board game.

Prayer of Rest

Dear God,

Please help us to rest.
Please help us remember that You are All There Is.
I place my list of things to do in your hands.
Just for a moment, I let it go.

I place any thoughts about how things should be different in your hands.
Just for a moment, I let them go.

I place any thoughts about how someone else should be different in your hands.
Just for a moment, I let them go.

I place any thoughts about how I should be different in your hands.
Just for a moment, I let them go.

Right now, just for a moment,
I allow things to be exactly as they are,
I allow myself to be exactly as I am,
And so I rest.

You promise us the peace that passes understanding; 
a peace that we can touch whatever our circumstances.

Dear God, I ask to touch that peace now.
I make space for it now.

Please come into my heart and let me know your peace.
I allow myself to be held in this place of Peace.
I relax in the arms of your Love.

Amen

Visit with Mom and Dad

So, with my parents visiting, I took some vacation time.

Here are some pics!

Dad, having a doughnut and bacon for breakfast at the Der Dutchman...

At Nokomis Beach for the Drum Circle....

Dad at the C'ad Zan (House of John), which is the mansion built by John and Mable Ringling. 

Theological Term of the Day

Exegesis

Exegesis is when a person interprets a text based solely on what it says. That is, he extracts out of the text what is there as opposed to reading into it what is not there (Compare with Eisegesis). There are rules to proper exegesis: read the immediate context, related themes, word definitions, etc., that all play a part in properly understanding what something says and does not say.

-carm.org

Work and Rest

“Work is a blessing. God has so arranged the world that work is necessary, 

and He gives us hands and strength to do it. The enjoyment of leisure 

would be nothing if we had only leisure. It is the joy of work well done 

that enables us to enjoy rest, just as it is the experiences of hunger and 

thirst that make food and drink such pleasures.” 


― Elisabeth Elliot, Discipline: The Glad Surrender

Quote of the Day

Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee.” 

― Augustine of Hippo, The Confessions of Saint Augustine

Quote of the Day

“Judging others makes us blind, whereas love is illuminating. By judging others we blind ourselves to our own evil and to the grace which others are just as entitled to as we are.”

― Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

Beneva Christian Update

Many of my friends and family who connect with me through my blog are not from Beneva Christian (or even Florida!).  I thought I would give an update, or cliff notes, of some things happening at the church. 

      - Bible Studies are growing and flourishing as we seek the Lord through His                 Word.
      - More than 35 people have taken the Spiritual Gifts Inventory.
      - I have discovered 7 people who are willing to pray intercessory prayer and 
         spiritual warfare prayer over the worship, ministry and people of Beneva
         Christian. 
      - We have 5 "retired" ministers attending worship, all of which are an amazing
         support to me. 
      - There are fewer and fewer empty seats in the sanctuary on Sunday mornings!
      - We have several people in the past 6 months confess Christ as Lord and Savior
         or re-commit to following Jesus as His disciple.
      - More than 15 people have donated time and resources to help work on the
        physical facilities.

GOD IS SO GOOD!!! KEEP PRAYING!

Psalm 50

Theological Term of the Day

Excommunication

Excommunication is the act of discipline where the Church breaks fellowship with a member who has refused to repent of sins. Matt. 18:15-18 is generally used as the model of procedures leading up to excommunication. Those excommunicated are not to partake in the Lord’s supper.
In the Bible, serious offenders of God’s law, who were supposed to be Christian, were "delivered over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh," (1 Cor. 5:5; 1 Tim. 1:20). However, upon repentance, the person is welcomed back into fellowship within the body of Christ.

                                                                  
- carm.org
 

God is...

God is infinite, all-powerful, above our understanding, righteous, just, amazing and indescribable.

I am the opposite.

Have a great day,

Pastor Ronn

Thank You!

OK! The blog is more valuable than I thought. :-)

I appreciate the responses to the previous post about Church, and look forward to continuing the blog. 

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Thought for the day:

If you want someone to listen to you, start the conversation with "I shouldn't be telling you this..."