RonParrs.com: Notes from My Desk...

Prayer 101: Being Honest

Remember what your mom always told you, "Honesty is the best policy?"

When we're young and impressionable, we are honest. Children are honest with their thoughts, words and actions. Children are emotionally and intellectually honest about their feelings and observations; sometimes to the point of embarrassment to their parents!

Honesty requires humility. Humility in itself can be self-embarrassing in that we have to show ourselves as we are. Humility requires a certain "nakedness" of thought and being. Children, in their innocence, are more humble and honest. Jesus calls attention to this fact when He says, "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the Kingdom of God. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven." Matthew 18:3-4.

Anxiety, Depression & Restoration, Part 2

According to the television commercial, "depression hurts". And so it does.

One of the beauties of God is that He wants His children to not only be happy, but whole. He wants our relationships to be whole; not only with Him but also with one another. In Philippians 4:2, we read of two ladies in the Philippian church, Euodia and Synteche, whose relationship was not whole. Heck, it was broken. And the apostle Paul in writing to the church, pleaded with these women and the entire church to reconcile and restore the relationship.

And in this admonition, Paul is given a teaching moment: how to not only restore broken relationships, but also how to deal with anxiety and depression. In Part 1, we looked at the downward spiral of anxiety and depression. We used the acronym SADDDR: Strife or Situation, Anxiety, Depression, Disruption in human relationships, Disruption in our relationship with God, and Restoration.

Anxiety, Depression & Restoration, Part 1

One of the most beloved passages of Scripture found in the New Testament is Philippians 4:6-7.

"Do not be anxious for anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

It's kind of a "how to" when it comes to dealing with everyday problems or issues. And that's fine, but I think there's a larger issue here. Let's take a closer and longer look at not only these two verses, but also what comes before and after them. Let's get the context in order. A couple of thoughts may be conjecture, but we're going to be very close, if not on the mark.

The Doctrine of Hell

 

 

The Doctrine of Hell is one subject that, unfortunately, too many pastors, Sunday school teachers (including myself), and lay people just don't talk about. And we all have way too many excuses and reasons why we don't.

We Christians should talk about hell. It is a real place. Remember that Jesus Himself spoke of hell on more than one occasion.

Hell is a place of eternal torment and punishment for those who would not have God in their lives. Whether we like it or not, hell is just punishment for the unbeliever. God is eternally Holy and Pure. Man is not, nor will he (or she) ever be, unless we take and put on the free gift of salvation offered by God through the finished work of Jesus Christ on the Cross.

The good news, as Pastor David Platt discusses in this podcast, is that hell is completely avoidable. And as Christians, we must speak about it.

A short (about 13 minutes) audio podcast. Worth listening to again and again. Click on the link below.

David Platt is the author of the book "Radical: Taking back your Faith from the American dream". An excellent read for anyone who is sick and tired of "doing church" and desires to make a difference in God's Kingdom. An absolutely thought provoking, life-changing and outstanding book.

The Doctrine of Hell, Theology Refresh: Podcast for Pastors with David Mathis, February 17, 2012 | by David Platt | Topic: Heaven & Hell

via www.desiringgod.org

Prayer 101: God's Word Motivates

God's Word Motivates.

What does that mean, "God's Word Motivates"? I'm having a difficult time putting together a single sentence answer. Even before Daniel was thrown into the lion's den, he was motivated to pray. But as we look at his prayer in Daniel 9, we see that God's Word did indeed motivate Daniel to pray.

As we've already noted, Daniel looking back and through God's Word - the Jeremiah scrolls and other piece of Scripture that he had - Daniel understood God. Daniel understood His Ways. Daniel knew that whatever God had set out to do, was actually coming to fruition in his sight and experience. God was also the center of Daniel's life; not only was God the center of his prayers, but his very being. Daniel, I believe, was in a constant (almost) state of "being" with God. His life itself was prayer.

And that's where God wants all of us to be. After all, we are "human beings", designed and created to be with, and commune with, and enjoy God; both now in this temporal life and in the future  "eternity".

As I've thought through this process - and it is a process - there seems to be 2 parts to "motivates".

Islam’s Public Enemy #1: Coptic Priest ‘Hates Islam,’ Converts Muslims to Christianity

Islam’s Public Enemy #1: Coptic Priest ‘Hates Islam,’ Converts Muslims to Christianity | TheBlaze.com

 

All Christians need to be as bold as this Egyptian Christian priest in proclaiming the liberating Word of God. From TheBlaze.com.

"The Coptic priest who for years was the bane of Islam’s existence, appears to be back in action after an unexplained year-long hiatus.

"The charismatic Father Zakaria Botros used to appear weekly on Arabic satellite television from 2005-2010 where he, citing directly from the Quran, allegedly exposed multiple theological flaws with Islam while simultaneously evangelizing from the Bible. And he was successful.

"During his time on television, Fr. Zakaria reportedly garnered nearly 60 million viewers, mostly Muslims, and inspired mass conversions to Christianity."

To continue reading this article click on the link below, courtesy of The Blaze.

via www.theblaze.com

10 Reasons to Believe in a Historical Adam

By Kevin DeYoung , Christian Post Guest Contributor

In recent years, several self-proclaimed evangelicals, or those associated with evangelical institutions, have called into question the historicity of Adam and Eve. It is said that because of genomic research we can no longer believe in a first man called Adam from whom the entire human race has descended.

I'll point to some books at the end which deal with the science end of the question, but the most important question is what does the Bible teach. Without detailing a complete answer to that question, let me suggest ten reasons why we should believe that Adam was a true historical person and the first human being.

1. The Bible does not put an artificial wedge between history and theology. Of course, Genesis is not a history textbook or a science textbook, but that is far from saying we ought to separate the theological wheat from the historical chaff. Such a division owes to the Enlightenment more than the Bible.

Continue reading this article here at the Christian Post.

 

via www.christianpost.com

Prayer 101: God Centered Prayer

This should be a "no-brainer".

In order for our prayer life to be vibrant, in order for it to be God-glorifying, in order for it to provide us with ultimate joy, Prayer must be God Centered.

I know this sounds rhetorical but, if God isn't the center of the prayer, what's the point?

Not so fast! If we believe that our prayers are God centered just because we use His name - God, Lord, LORD, Holy Spirit, Jesus, etc - and say "in Jesus' Name. Amen", our prayers are not necessarily God centered.

Last week, we looked at the fact that we can't have a good and vibrant prayer life unless we came to an understanding of Who God is and What His Word says. The Bible, every single jot and tittle from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21, tells us something about Who God, What His Nature is, What His Plan is, who we are and how we - as God's creation - fit into His Divine Plan. The Bible is history or more exactly the Bible is His story.