my burg

"For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.   For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men... So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future--all are yours, and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's."   (1 Corinthians 1:21-25; 3:21-23 ESV) "You are either glorying in men, or else you are glorying in the Lord Jesus Christ. Glory in men and you will continue a slave and the slavery will increase!   Glory in the Lord Jesus Christ and he will set you free, and make you willing ...

And [Simeon] came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,  "Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples , a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel."  (Luke 2:27-32 ESV)   To see Jesus is to see the salvation God has prepared for all peoples.  Earlier the angel who spoke to the shepherds said, "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior , who is Christ the Lord."  (Luke 2:11)  But Simeon, holding and gazing upon the baby Jesus, prays, "my eyes have seen your salvation ."   The Savior is the Salvation.  Salvation is a Person.  Jesus did not come just to show a way, or the best way, but to be The Way.  And this Perso...

Hear Eric Metaxis' story here .

Here's a little poem by Abraham Ebel on relativism.  It's been around awhile, but this is a clever way of putting it... It all depends on where you are  and it all depends on who you are. It all depends on what you feel,  and it all depends on how you feel. It all depends on how you’re raised,  and it all depends on what is praised. What’s right today is wrong tomorrow.  Joy in France and England’s sorrow. It all depends on point of view,  Australia or Timbuktu. In Rome do as the Romans do. If tastes just happen to agree, then you have morality. But where there are conflicting trends it all depends; it all depends.

Quotes taken from interview of Gene Getz by Howard Hendricks (from DTS class on Leadership)... “As the biblical story unfolds in the New Testament, it becomes increasingly clear that each local church was to be managed and shepherded by a unified team of godly men... "As they [the disciples] left the upper room and headed towards the Kidron Valley and they were following along, still not understanding everything that’s going on here, Jesus lifted His eyes and He prayed and He said, 'Father' –part of that prayer, 'Father, I pray for them, these men. But not just for them, but for all those who will believe on Me through them,' which is us, by the way, 'that they’ll be one as We are one. I in You, You in Me' –for what reason? '–so the world will believe that You have sent Me.' Inherent in the unity in that leadership team is a reflection of the Trinity...  "All the way through the Scriptures, that concept of oneness is there. Now, that oneness...

"Spirit Of The Living God", by Audrey Assad O Spirit of the living God, thou Light and Fire Divine Descend upon Thy Church once more and make it truly Thine Fill it with love and joy and power, with righteousness and peace Till Christ shall dwell in human hearts, and sin and sorrow cease. Blow, wind of God, with wisdom blow until our minds are free from mists of error, clouds of doubt, which blind our eyes to Thee Burn, winged fire, inspire our lips with flaming love and zeal To preach to all Thy great good news, God's glorious commonweal. So shall we know the power of Christ, who came this world to save So shall we rise with Him to life which soars beyond the grave And earth shall win true holiness which makes Thy children whole Till, perfected by Thee, we reach creation's glorious goal. Listen to it here .