Another Project

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The Righteousness of God and Redemption in Christ

Romans 3:21-28

"But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law."

The Necessity of the Spirit and the Failure of Patriarchy

"I am absolutely convinced that the thing we need in our families more than anything else are men and women who are putting on the new man in the power of God - men that are living by faith, women that are living lives looking to Christ, full of the Spirit, full of the power of God, full of joy. I really believe that this is the heart and soul of healthy families. That's why I don't believe brethren that I've strayed at all. Last week, as I've been progressing through Ephesians chapter 4, I came to that verse there in 4:30 that has to do with grieving the Spirit. well from there, I jumped back into Ephesians 3 simply because one of the main operations of the Spirit is described there. And if we grieve the Spirit, then we quench such operations. So it's key! If we live in families where the spirit of God is quenched - true Christians though you may be - you cannot survive spiritually without the power of God. Jesus said it: Without me, you can do nothing." 

Tim Conway

Why has patriarchy failed to bring us to the promised land? Why are so many of our youth in patriarchal homes unsaved? Why do our young men love sport and game more than the ministry of the Word? Because the central teaching of Patriarchy is not Christ  and the necessity of the indwelling and filling of the Holy Spirit. It is the teaching of go and do, but it fails to maintain that without Christ you can do nothing and no amount of deeds done will produce a nice beautiful home without sin and distress. If you walk in the Spirit you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh, but if you live after the flesh, you will die. Patriarchy as a whole is bound to be an utter failure until it recognizes the truth of Christ's words, "Without me, you can do nothing." When the basis of patriarchy is the filling of the Holy Ghost, the power of the gospel, and intimate relationship with Christ on a day to day basis, then the fruit of the gospel will be born in our homes - but not before then. 

Lord, Teach Us to Pray

Luke 11:1-4

"Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples." So He said to them, "When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one."

Why I am Not a Modern Day Calvinist

Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: 'DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,' 'DO NOT MURDER,' 'DO NOT STEAL,' 'DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS,' 'Do not defraud,' 'HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER.'" And he answered and said to Him, "Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth." Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me." But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!" (Mar 10:17-23)

Modern day Calvinism has no place for the non-elect to be loved by Christ, going so far as to redefine the plain text of Scripture - such as the word world in John 3:16 in order to deny that God loves even those who will burn forever. Yet this passage presents us with a case of a man who did not get saved - and yet Christ loved Him. May we have this heart to love those who are lost, even those who are self righteous claiming to have done all the commandments. Truly Christ is the "Savior of all men", even the non-elect, and "specially of those who believe."

Share the love of Christ with someone today!

My Yoke Is Easy

Matthew 11:28-30

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

End of Day

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Back in Business

I have just a moment - I really ought to be sleeping, but my best friend just left (my preaching partner from church) so we are running late - so here is a really quick update. Since my last round of posts, I have two business I have been working on. The one which I posted about earlier is not nearly as far along as I would like, but at least it is more on its way to making money. I have my local business license and a retail office space set up. I am just in the long wait for Federal approval...

The other business was sort of an impromptu idea that the Lord arranged by making the remodel company I was planning on working for go out of business. I decided I might as well start my own. Here are a couple things I've been doing since getting up and running:

Drywall: My first job was a drywall job, made necessary by a builder not getting the insulation inspected. I had to cut open the drywall all over the house for the inspection. The Lord was very good to me in having me build my apartment - that's where I learned how to do the work that is now providing my living... And honestly, I never had anyone teach me how to do drywall. I learned watching youtube videos. So if you need work and all else fails, take some free job training off of youtube and you might be able to start a business! - just be sure to pay close attention to detail.

The repainted wall:

 

After repainting:

  

Repainted wall:

All told, there were over 30 panels I had to cut out and redo. 

My next project was a small landing and stairway: 

Now, I am working on a screened porch. The porch has 6 6x6 posts which I am replacing with 4x4 posts, railing and screen:

I ran into an issue of a short ladder and needing to reach the top of the posts so I rigged myself up a quick scaffold. OSHA might not have appreciated my design but it is good and sturdy...: 

I hope to have all four remaining posts cut out and replaced and the rails built by the end of the day tomorrow. We shall see if the Lord so blesses my labors.

The sky one day while I was working:

The Lord is good; His mercy endures forever!

And They Saw God

Exodus 24:9-11 KJV

Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel: And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness. And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drink.

Pollen Attack...

It is pollen season here in the south, and the other day, the city of Youngsville was burried in a pollen storm...

This picture was taken looking east down Main Street as the trees in the background were engulfed in a cloud of pollen. 

 

An outside bench and table covered in pollen.

:-{ !

More Progress

Today, I had my Certificate of Assumed Business Name notarized so that tomorrow I can register it at the Register of Deeds office as well as pick up my business permit from the county.

I'll probably pick up FBI approved fingerprint cards at the Sheriff's department and passport photos tomorrow as well. (Yes, this business is a little more regulated than my last one...). Then its fill out the government paperwork for the federal side of the business license. We'll see if I can get that approved, 'cause without it, this business is dead in the water.

New Things are Happening

Alas, I have got the entrepreneurial bug. I started my first business (Soter's Windshield Repair) last December. I have done various contract jobs, but they are all stand alone, so I guess they don't count as a business. This week, I am off on my second real business that, Lord willing, should be operating by July. If the Lord blesses, it will be my favorite job for sure, although the one with the most liability. So what have the last couple days looked like? Well, Saturday I was trying to figure out if I could actually start the business with cash on a hair string of a budget (ie, less than one half of my tax return which isn't very big). I got the affirmative on that so today was spent pouring over laws, regulations, government forms, sole proprietorship vs. LLC, zoning regulations, etc. I visited the local city hall, the sheriffs department, talked with the county zoning commission... The result? I got tentative permission for the business from the zoning board, just have to go in and pick up the permit. I determined what form of company I would be setting up (sp vs. llc question) and studied the best way to protect my assets (think I answered that question as well). I also found a lot of questions I hadn't realized I would need to answer. Red tape... I'll keep you updated as to the success or non-success of this company as time goes on. The name by the way starts with Soter's, just like my last one. As to the business itself, that is to be announced on the success of this operation. Until next time...

Walk in the Spirit - 1

Romans 8:13 KJV

For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

Consider How Dear Our Sins Cost Christ

To consider how dear our sins cost Christ may cause tears to distil from our eyes. Christ is called the Rock (1 Cor. 10:4). When his hands were pierced with nails, and the spear thrust in his side, then was this Rock smitten, and there came out water and blood. And all this Christ endured for us: 'the Messiah shall be cut off, but not for himself' (Dan. 9:26). We tasted the apple, and he the vinegar and the gall. We sinned in every faculty, and he bled in every vain...

Can we look upon a suffering Saviour with dry eyes? Shall we not be sorry for those sins which made Christ a man of sorrow? Shall not our enormities, which drew blood from Christ, draw tears from us? Shall we sport any more with sin and so rake in Christ's wounds? Oh that by repentance we could crucify our sins afresh! The Jews said to Pilate, 'If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend' (John 19:12). If we let our sins go and do not crucify them, we are not Christ's friends.

- Thomas Watson, The Doctrine of Repentance

The Reason Rally - How to Deal with Atheists

Romans 12:14-21 KJV Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.