tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741776280839519552.comments2023-03-27T08:07:11.443-04:00Deep RichesPastor Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02989416780490285219noreply@blogger.comBlogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741776280839519552.post-14477069099673381242014-09-03T21:12:13.574-04:002014-09-03T21:12:13.574-04:00I think this has many wonderful helps in it. I think this has many wonderful helps in it. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741776280839519552.post-41564641574161800252014-08-13T10:13:04.140-04:002014-08-13T10:13:04.140-04:00Fun, fellowship and food...did I mention food? Fun, fellowship and food...did I mention food? Charles Pagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11537842006080442860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741776280839519552.post-57402671284478306852014-07-31T11:51:32.888-04:002014-07-31T11:51:32.888-04:00Prayers are with you as you transition back to &qu...Prayers are with you as you transition back to "small church pastor"! All His best!RevTylhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06631741680496282945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741776280839519552.post-51910978402686148502014-06-02T21:29:38.252-04:002014-06-02T21:29:38.252-04:00I will miss you my friend...but we can still text....I will miss you my friend...but we can still text.Pastor Acehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00737818001647356937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741776280839519552.post-39943146306259404132013-01-11T14:19:23.819-05:002013-01-11T14:19:23.819-05:00Great article. There are some, within the church t...Great article. There are some, within the church today, who say they want to get "back" to the early church ways, basically house churches, but then claim that without modern music, you can't attract the younger people. My question has always been, when did the Word cease to be enough? I think some place too much emphasis on the style, order, etc., of the service while others complain its not biblical. My perspective is God is less concerned with the style or format and more concerned with whats in our heart. If we truly seek Him, we will find Him (Jer. 29:13). I think this is pretty much in agreement with your writing. Anyhoo, that's my 2 cents. God bless~Kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08805110005073489054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741776280839519552.post-87360015740030828592012-06-01T14:44:24.709-04:002012-06-01T14:44:24.709-04:00Dear Brother Jim,
Could not agree with you more.
...Dear Brother Jim, <br />Could not agree with you more.<br />Outstanding post.<br />C.J.C.J. Adkinshttp://cjablog.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741776280839519552.post-44052309901392246422012-05-07T13:10:22.534-04:002012-05-07T13:10:22.534-04:00Awesome illustration of the source of true joy in ...Awesome illustration of the source of true joy in the midst of struggles. Thanks JimJames Boydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05964220137192970365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741776280839519552.post-70785231507056461542012-01-11T11:27:52.722-05:002012-01-11T11:27:52.722-05:00I think the subject of dress and appearance lends ...I think the subject of dress and appearance lends itself more to questions than to authoritative answers. All too often, discussions devolve before anything valuable can be gained. The point is--does the way pastors and teachers dress convey more than just cultural relevance to the ones who sit under our teaching? <br /><br />A man in a $500 suit conveys a certain message to a room full of farmers in bib overalls--probably not a good one. But would it be effective or simply condescending for the speaker (who has never turned dirt in his life), to don a flannel shirt and ratty jeans? Maybe more appropriate would be for him to dress in a way that isn't fake, but is true to himself in a non-pretentious way. That would seem to open the door of communication. <br /><br />To sum it up I would say--dress with the listener in mind without artificially attempting to become the listener.Pastor Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02989416780490285219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741776280839519552.post-1818751870952789792012-01-10T17:37:11.663-05:002012-01-10T17:37:11.663-05:00Just as bankers and brokers dress to be heard, may...Just as bankers and brokers dress to be heard, maybe hip preachers dress that way thinking it will remove an obstacle to them being heard. The audiences expectations is what would dictate here. If we expect a professional to dress the part, we would not trust one who dresses "hipster." Yet I'm not sure I would trust a lifeguard dressed in anything other than a swimsuit. If my banker dresses in Armani, it is to convince me that he is good at handling money. How should a preacher dress to communicate to the listener that he is good at handling the Bible?James Boydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05964220137192970365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741776280839519552.post-62895812826329137712011-12-24T23:53:42.191-05:002011-12-24T23:53:42.191-05:00I like the distinction made between past church gr...I like the distinction made between past church growth focused on bringing versus church planting focused on making and sending disciples. Well said.James Boydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05964220137192970365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741776280839519552.post-26092357523224082292011-12-22T17:09:00.198-05:002011-12-22T17:09:00.198-05:00Good article.Good article.Kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08805110005073489054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741776280839519552.post-89255639202123264152011-12-10T11:11:11.581-05:002011-12-10T11:11:11.581-05:00Let me clarify the question, "Do sinful peopl...Let me clarify the question, "Do sinful people do evil things?". The evil actions of people are not simply a legalistic list of "thou shalts" and "thou shalt nots". <br /><br />Jesus boiled it down to its essence in Matthew 5:48. Anything less than the perfection of God is evil. Becuase of that, in-and-of-ourselves, "evil things" are all we can accomplish. Even our best attempts at righteousness are evil. <br /><br />Since we cannot accomplish righteousness on our own, it has to be accomplished on our behalf. Upon salvation, Christ not only takes our sin, He gives us His righteousness. Those who reject His righteousness and attempt to achieve their own righteousness will be judged according to their evil intents, thoughts and behaviors.Pastor Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02989416780490285219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741776280839519552.post-6922110218021761102011-12-10T10:53:07.529-05:002011-12-10T10:53:07.529-05:00I think the danger of most of our definitions of e...I think the danger of most of our definitions of evil comes when we either minimize or maximize its "realness". As opposed to the monist, evil is not an illusion--it is quite real. But, as opposed to the dualist, evil is not necessary--there will come a day when evil is completely destroyed.<br /><br />Our Western culture tends to assign an anthropomorphic quality to evil. Instead of evil being seen as an action or attribute, it is seen as a personality with its own will and character. Does evil happen? Or do sinful people do evil things? <br /><br />In Genesis 6:5, the wickedness God saw was "of man". The continual evil was "every intent of the thoughts" of man's heart. Man's intents were evil. Man's thoughts were evil. Man was behaving wickedly. Because of that, God brought the flood as judgment. <br /><br />We have a tendency to see the unimaginable suffering and destruction of the flood as being in-and-of-itself evil. The Bible doesn't portray it that way. Neither does the Bible dualistically pit a good, saving, loving New Testament God against an evil Old Testament God of judgment and destruction. <br /><br />The Bible's portrayal of evil is consistent. Evil is an action or behavior rather than a being. It is not self-existent. Neither is it caused or created by God. It has been judged by God. It has been atoned for by Christ on the cross. While God's wrath will eternally be poured out on those who have rejected His Son, evil actions and behavior will cease to exist after the events of Revelation 20.<br /><br />With this in mind, we would have to say that hell itself is not evil. Hell is a place of God's active wrath being poured out on those who have refused the atoning sacrifice of Christ for their evil actions and behavior.Pastor Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02989416780490285219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741776280839519552.post-2591020020727480362011-12-06T12:17:13.843-05:002011-12-06T12:17:13.843-05:00Can there be a mixture of the last two in which we...Can there be a mixture of the last two in which we both recognize the moral responsibility of humanity and qualify evil? Augustine held that evil was the privation of good. Evil is no mere shadow, but it has no absolute being as good does since evil does not exist in the being of God. Yet, where the good benefits of God are not present, the real result is evil. It is something, just not an absolute something. Romans 12:21 says "do not be overcome by evil,[as if evil were a "something" by which to be defeated] but overcome evil with good." This is no battle between equals. Good is because God is. Evil is where created beings choose other than what God would choose. Evil, as real as it is, will end. <br />Could it be that humans, created "posse non peccare [with the ability not to sin]" chose to sin and are therefore 100% culpable for sin, and that this fall has bent and twisted all subsequent humanity in that there are none who seek God or His goodness? And that in Christ, evil has no real (which should be read "permanent")power over believers? I do wonder how hell plays into this view of evil. Can hell be described as the place that God has "given over to its own, self-willed privation/denial of the good God?"James Boydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05964220137192970365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741776280839519552.post-2483402745577216372008-11-27T22:31:00.000-05:002008-11-27T22:31:00.000-05:00VOTM is an excellent organization. We've been ...VOTM is an excellent organization. We've been getting their magazine for years and it has greatly broadened my daughters' perspectives on what Christian life is about.<br><br>Good idea for Christmas!Doug P. Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10259297751420532238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741776280839519552.post-14604644847104252152008-12-09T18:29:00.000-05:002008-12-09T18:29:00.000-05:00Hark! The Herod Angels Sing!...and it ain't pr...Hark! The Herod Angels Sing!...and it ain't pretty! It's a death song and so many are lured by it's promise of "freedom of inconvenience". Wonder what God has in store for our nation as a whole...Eddie Eddingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864410680077755048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741776280839519552.post-77249336620334676182008-12-26T00:19:00.000-05:002008-12-26T00:19:00.000-05:00Love it!!!Love it!!!C.J. Adkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13395054641895235568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741776280839519552.post-57243953311462851682008-12-26T09:56:00.000-05:002008-12-26T09:56:00.000-05:00My youngest daughter is mortified!My youngest daughter is mortified!Jim Drakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02989416780490285219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741776280839519552.post-80108031685130259832008-12-26T09:46:00.000-05:002008-12-26T09:46:00.000-05:00That is one of my favorite books. When I was teac...That is one of my favorite books. When I was teaching school I read it every December to my students. They loved it because it is truly funny. I loved it because within the context of the story the mom reads the Christmas story from Luke 2. I could never have picked up a Bible and done that, but in that setting it was perfectly alright. When I was able to get a copy of the video, I would show that after I read the book. Eventually I was able to purchase a class set of the books and we would use that for our Reading class in December. A bit devious? Perhaps, but I rather claim God's promise that His Word does not return void.Lynnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741776280839519552.post-85818463812424765522008-12-26T09:54:00.000-05:002008-12-26T09:54:00.000-05:00I have to admit that I was not familiar with the b...I have to admit that I was not familiar with the book until last Christmas when Katelyn and CJ participated in the play at Bluefield College. Katelyn was an angel and CJ was one of the Herdman boys. From that point on, I was hooked!Jim Drakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02989416780490285219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741776280839519552.post-69699127785577596612008-12-27T07:18:00.000-05:002008-12-27T07:18:00.000-05:00Jim,That is an awesome list. You say you blew it,...Jim,<br><br>That is an awesome list. You say you blew it, but man, you tore it but in 08. That's 5.583 books a month! <br><br>Have a great new year and here's to reading more in 09.<br><br>JBAIndiasDadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02892675145590169884noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741776280839519552.post-26565429681976951852008-12-27T09:17:00.000-05:002008-12-27T09:17:00.000-05:00Math in public--I'm impressed! May God continu...Math in public--I'm impressed! May God continue His blessings on you in the New Year.Jim Drakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02989416780490285219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741776280839519552.post-49115171601509946162009-01-06T16:47:00.000-05:002009-01-06T16:47:00.000-05:00I have the same type of "magic closet" m...I have the same type of "magic closet" myself!C.J. Adkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13395054641895235568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741776280839519552.post-23310729854607277862009-01-26T18:00:00.000-05:002009-01-26T18:00:00.000-05:00Thanks, Pastor Jim.Sober, sober topic, but the com...Thanks, Pastor Jim.<br><br>Sober, sober topic, but the comparison to women devouring their children is a good one.<br><br>Cheryl D.Cheryl D.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741776280839519552.post-65062815795857135982009-01-29T10:46:00.000-05:002009-01-29T10:46:00.000-05:00Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus...Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Pastor Jim!<br><br>We "met" at Calvinistic cartoons. Just dropping by to say I'll be back to read more of your blog. :)<br><br>Soli deo Gloria!Isaiahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379258972760515194noreply@blogger.com