Poetry Preach & Prose

This passage addresses a common misunderstanding of God's law, clarifying that it is not meant to restrict but to liberate. It argues that the "perfect law of liberty" actually expands human freedom and happiness by providing a framework for healthy relationships built on faithfulness and trust. The author uses rhetorical questions and biblical references to illustrate how adhering to this law leads to greater fulfillment and a larger capacity for experiencing joy, contrasting it with the constricting consequences of dishonesty, infidelity, and ill will. Ultimately, the text aims to redefine law not as a set of arbitrary rules, but as a pathway to maximum freedom and pleasure through right relationships.

This text explores the fundamental idea that God's law, specifically the Ten Commandments, is an expression of love in action. It posits that a society where these commands are followed would be ideal, characterized by relational integrity both with God and with fellow humans. The author argues that because God's very nature is love, His law reflects this character and is therefore unchanging and eternal, a concept supported by various scriptural references. Ultimately, the purpose of the text is to demonstrate that living in accordance with God's law is synonymous with living a life of love.

This audio excerpt delves into the multifaceted background of the Apostle Paul to understand the influences that shaped his identity and message. It begins by examining a second-century physical description of Paul from the Acts of Paul and Thecla, noting its likely fictitious nature rooted in ancient physiognomics, the practice of judging character from appearance. The speaker contrasts this with Paul's own self-description in 2 Corinthians, highlighting his opponents' view of him as physically unimpressive yet powerful in writing, a description Paul surprisingly doesn't entirely refute. The lecture then explores various facets of Paul's background, including his likely introverted nature, his Pharisaic training under the liberal school of Hillel, his Roman citizenship, his fluency in multiple languages (Greek, Hebrew, possibly Latin and Aramaic), and his remarkable ability to adapt his message to different audiences, evident in his letters. Furthermore, it discusses his deeply Jewish education, emphasizing his reliance on the pre-70 CE understanding of Judaism which valued stories alongside law, and his mastery of the Septuagint. Finally, the speaker examines Greco-Roman philosophical influences like Stoicism and Cynicism that Paul likely absorbed in Tarsus, his birthplace, and how the city's anti-Semitic atmosphere might have shaped his message of liberation for the marginalized. Ultimately, the lecture aims to paint a comprehensive picture of the diverse factors that contributed to Paul's unique perspective and powerful impact.

This audio lecture delves into the complex and enduring significance of the Apostle Paul within early Christianity. It highlights Paul's controversial nature from the outset, as acknowledged even in the New Testament itself. The lecture emphasizes the early recognition of Paul's writings as scripture, alongside the acknowledgment of their challenging content and the subsequent heresies that arose from their interpretation. Furthermore, it underscores Paul's crucial chronological priority as the first New Testament author, his sociological impact as the apostle to the Gentiles, and his theological contribution in centering the Christian message on the cross. The discussion then shifts to the task of biblical exegesis, particularly in relation to Paul's letters, outlining the goals of reconstructing the original setting and discerning the author's intention, while also addressing inherent obstacles such as the lack of independent confirmation and the occasional nature of his writings. Finally, the lecture touches upon critical scholarly debates surrounding the relationship between Paul's letters and the Book of Acts, and identifies various sources that influenced Paul's thought and writing, including the Old Testament, Jesus' teachings, early Christian traditions, and Hellenistic rhetorical conventions.

The provided texts explore the transformative power of Christ's love as articulated in 2 Corinthians 5:14-19, emphasizing its role in reconciling individuals to God and to others. This reconciliation involves a shift from self-centered living to living for Christ, a new way of seeing people beyond superficial judgments, and the creation of a new identity in Christ. Furthermore, the passages highlight God's initiative in this reconciliation, not counting humanity's sins against them, and the subsequent ministry of reconciliation entrusted to believers. The analysis includes a breakdown of the biblical passage, its implications for personal experience, and teaching outlines with Greek word origins.

She left her water jar. Her vessel was overflowing.

Introduction

Snippits from a message by Eric Hansen. A poem based on that message by Dave Fairchild. For the full message: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJAZP_FeBaE

The occasional sermon by pastor Fred by request of a friend. This is the story of a transitional time for King David. From slaying giants to defeating his tens of thousands. He is now being hunted and Nabal is the last straw. 

Preached in Harper one Sabbath. 

First Sermon in Wichita

Journey yo reconciliation

By Jenna Gibson

This is the introduction to the sermon I will be preaching this Sabbath.

My son is studying about Hellen Keller this week. She says another soul touched the darkness of her mind. You don’t have to have a physical impediment to relate to that. Listen below as we talk about the crusade against darkness.

What do you get when you combine Convocation and Valentines day?

Sometimes adversity has more to say to us than inconvenience. God may be opening a door for you or someone to walk through. 

Pastor Mike is preaching this Sabbath from Exodus 36:1-7 and the title of the message is “What could God accomplish through us if every member were debt free?” So I began to imagine. To owe no one, avoid no one, fear no one, what a feeling! In this episode, I explore the concept of a phrase I  call “debt to self.” It is a condition that makes debt collectors blush and can only be remedied in Christ, “death to self.”

Birthday wishes 

I love cutting edge apps and innovative software. Right now I am memorizing Ephesians 3:16 through the best app I’ve seen within this category. It’s called Verses. For the class I teach at Midland I enjoy using classtools.net, Kahoots, Prezi’s, Pollseverywhere, Expalineverything. For podcasting I joined the beta tester group for a new software called Descript. You record your audio and it transcribes automatically and associates the text with the audio clip. That means that if I delete a word in the document, it deletes the audio in the clip. I find myself giving credence to upcoming entrepreneurial ingenuity by subscribing to 7 day trials and cancelling before I get charged. In this story I am found standing near the bananas at Walmart when something goes wrong and I ended up accidentally making a financial blunder that would have costed me dinner that night. Here is the rest of the story. What I learned was that if I did not have a back up plan, I would have had to leave my grocery cart behind. I also learned that small decisions can have large implications. I am excited for the journey to financial peace so that my wife and I can continue to learn pay off debt, budget, save money, and give generously.