Inspiration

     

Even as I sit here
In deep wonderment I am;
It's something between awe
And ad nauseam!
     Yet not that—but puzzlement.

I am not myself,
But another, yet unknown;
It is something in my finger
That I would seek to disown.
     Yet not that—but imprisonment.

I would that I could control it
(It from my stylus pours);
It must be tamed somehow,
Lest I myself deplore.
     Yet not that—but penitent.

This scourge that from my finger flows
Is sampled here upon this page;
It comes and keeps on coming—
I would to put it in a cage!
     Yet not that—but banishment.

But I reckon that it's here stay,
So I'll let it do its thing;
I'll let it pour out on paper
All its foolish clamorings.
     Yet not that—but accomplishments!

So I'll use this Gift from God
(He by His Grace bestowed it);
I'll nurture it and cherish it
And be a real composer-poet.
     Yet not that—but His instrument!

- D. Benning
02 Dec 1982

In the Cold of That Decemeber

In the cold of that December
Came a child so we'd remember
    That the gift most precious given
    Sent to earth from God in Heaven
        Came in dark midst hate most cruel—
        Yet earth will bow beneath His rule.

- D. Benning

Debunking Bad Arguments

Excellent resource debunking crass, anti-Christian internet arguments.

Debunks four commonly held myths about religion and Christianity.

1. Religion = #1 cause of wars.                                     FALSE
2. Due to science, days of religion are dwindling.        FALSE
3. Dark ages were anti science because of religion.      FALSE
4. NT stole most ideas about Jesus from other myths.  FALSE

From: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/exploringourmatrix/2012/06/better-atheist-fact-checking.html

Foolish

"Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace;
When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive."
Prov. 17:28  NKJV

Big White Square

Foolish to think that anything that I write will be useful to anyone else or even that anyone else would want to read my drivel.

Calls to Holiness & Personal Progressive Sanctification

"You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus."
2 Tim. 2:1

Paul includes so many different ways of saying that we all must make sure that we are moving on in holiness and continuing our sanctification.  It all starts with the overarching principle of verse one: we can't do it in our own strength.  We must be strong in the Lord!  Self-sufficiency will result in self-failure.  Therefore we must press into Him and into His Word.

The concept of:

• v. 4 — soldier—avoid civilian affairs; that is, do what the commanding officer says.  This implies obedience to human authority and a chain of command.  Be a disciple.  Don't be a loner and disconnected.
• v. 5 — athlete—compete according the rules.  Therefore, look into the Book to see what the rules are and then obey them!
• v. 6 — hardworking farmer—doesn't do things on a whim; instead follows patterns and plants then harvests according patterns and dictates of the seasons.  Be a person who understands the times and seasons to know what to do.  The goal is fruit: that is, personal sanctification as well as result of evangelism.
• w. 15 — workman / craftsman—this implies precision, diligence, hard work, quality.  It takes years of careful practice under a master craftsman as an apprentice.  Likewise, the Christian faith takes years of discipleship under a man or woman of God to train you in the way to go.

So many calls to holiness because:

• we are not holy.
• God is holy!
• without holiness, no one may see the Lord.
• the only acceptable worship is to worship Him in the beauty of holiness (1 Chr. 16:29 KJV).
• note: this means that holiness is beauty!—thus He adorns His bride with the most beautiful object He can find: holiness!
• Lam. 2:15b — we are called to be the perfection of beauty; the joy of the earth.  Only if we are holy can we truly give joy to the earth.  Being wrapped up in our unholiness is exactly as the world is and that does not bring joy.

Therefore, be holy!