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“If our faith is not true, it would be false even if the whole world believed it. If our faith is true, it would be true even if the whole world and the entire cosmos were against it."   (--Os Guinness, "Why Truth Matters", at Lausanne Cape Town 2010) Six reasons why truth matters supremely, and why those Christians who are careless about truth are as dangerous as the open skeptics of our day: First, only a high view of truth honors the God of Truth. Second, only a high view of truth reflects how we come to know and trust God. Third, only a high view of truth empowers our best human enterprises. Fourth, only a high view of truth can undergird our proclamation and defense of the faith. Fifth, only a high view of truth is sufficient for resisting evil and hypocrisy. Sixth, only a high view of truth will help our growth and transformation in Christ. The transcript of this message can be found here . ============   Here are a few a...

Chuck Swindoll was given a Lifetime Achievement Award at Catalyst 09, and spoke on "10 Things I Have Learned During Nearly 50 Years in Leadership": 1) It’s lonely to lead . Leadership involves tough decisions. The tougher the decision, the lonelier it is. 2) It’s dangerous to succeed . I’m most concerned for those who aren’t even 30 and are very gifted and successful. Sometimes God uses someone right out of youth, but usually he uses leaders who have been crushed. 3) It’s hardest at home . No one ever told me this in Seminary. 4) It’s essential to be real . If there’s one realm where phoniness is common, it’s among leaders. Stay real. 5) It’s painful to obey . The Lord will direct you to do some things that won’t be your choice. Invariably you will give up what you want to do for the cross. 6) Brokenness and failure are necessary .  7) Attitude is more important than actions . Your family may not have told you: some of you are hard to be around. A bad att...

Paraprosdokians have been cropping up in our leadership meetings, and even in a couple of recent sermons.  A paraprosdokian is a "figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected; frequently used in a humorous situation." More here and here . I started to collect the ones I heard or read, and enjoyed:    Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine. The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But it's still on my list. Where there's a will, there's relatives. Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak. The evening news is where they begin with 'Good Evening,' and then proceed to tell you why it isn't. Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience. If I agreed with you, we'd both be wrong. War does not determine who is right - only who is left. Knowledge is knowing a to...

1) Islam not in continuity with Judaism and Christianity .   2) Atheists don't own reason . 3) Fragments of Mark's gospel may date to first century . 4)  Evidences of the Holy Spirit, a tract by J. C. Ryle .  Here is a summary of the ten evidences listed by Ryle... 1. The Spirit awakens a person’s heart. 2. The Spirit teaches a person’s mind. 3. The Spirit leads to the Word. 4. The Spirit convinces of sin. 5. The Spirit draws to Christ. 6. The Spirit sanctifies. 7. The Spirit makes a person spiritually minded. 8. The Spirit produces inward conflict. 9. The Spirit makes a person love the brethren. 10. The Spirit teaches a person to pray.

Enjoyed this song at our conference...

"When Life Doesn't Make Sense" (Genesis 37-50) "You are between a rock (God's promise) and a hard place (this world)." "It's impossible to be fair to every person." "Life's not fair, but it is just -- and God will work it out in eternity." "The irony is that they sought to destroy the dream, but actually were instrumental in fulfilling it."   "When God's name is conspicuously absent, his providence is conspicuously present." "The power of influence is greater than the power of position."   "Honesty is not the same thing as integrity.  Honesty can be compartmentalized, but integrity involves wholeness." "You cannot hang on to bitterness and unforgiveness, and experience joyfulness in life."   "The grace of God is sufficient to see me through my earthly pilgrimage." "Forgiveness will cost you.  It will cost you the right to get even,...

Jesus calls us to love "as I have loved you..."   Some additional thoughts... Take a realistic view of the Christian life.  People may seriously betray you, and even close friends, exemplary Christians,  may cause you great disappointment and hurt.  D. A. Carson writes, "If Christians are to be kind and not to pay back evil for evil, and to  exercise this love and compassion first of all to Christians, what is presupposed is that some of the attacks and pain that  any Christian will experience will come from others in the church. As wonderful as Christian fellowship and Christian love  may be—and at their best they are beyond price, beyond words—both experience and Scripture tell us in frank terms that   sometimes Christians face the worst pain from others within the family of faith."  (From Love in Hard Places , p. 52) Acknowledge the hurt .  Don't deny the painfulness of betrayal-- Jesus didn't.  "Jesus was troubled in...

Chris Faith, in Sunday's sermon , gave eight principles in application to foot-washing, taken as a metaphor for serving.   1. John 13:1 “He loved them to the end.” We need to wash from a relationship of love and trust. To my shame I have corrected  others without this first step and done more harm that good. This is one of the reasons we need to get involved in Christian community, so please, get involved in a house group or a small group where you can know and be known. We must get close  enough for to be able to love in such practical ways.   2. Gal 6:1 Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. When God calls you to deal with another  person’s dirty feet, please, wash with gentleness and kindness. Rough foot washing can leave a brother crippled if you  aren't careful. And remember, we are no better than ...