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46 days down, 319 to go.

Today’s scriptures for my Read the Bible in a Year plan are Exodus 39:1 – 40:38; Mark 1:1-28; Psalms 35:1-16; Proverbs 9:11-12.

Ladies and gentlemen….

1. POWER COMES FROM THE HEART, NOT FROM WHAT YOU KNOW
2. YOU ARE THE PERFECT TABERNACLE
3. JOHN THE BAPTIST – You may have thought he was crazy

1. POWER COMES FROM THE HEART, NOT FROM WHAT YOU KNOW
People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.

This saying is so true. The bible says knowledge only puffs you up, meaning it makes you think you’re a know-it-all.

I have done some studying in the subject of apologetics, so I am able to provide a fairly solid defense of the Christian faith against its detractors. But this is basically an academic exercise, and I have found that while it may be useful as a polemic, it is rarely effective at healing a wounded heart, or opening the ear of a jaded skeptic or hardened sinner.

Most of the times, real ministry is done when someone simply shares their story of what God has done for them with another person who needs God to do something for them.
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45 days down, 320 to go.

Today’s scriptures for my Read the Bible in a Year plan are Exodus 37:1 – 38:31; Matthew 28:1-20; Psalms 34:11-22; Proverbs 9:9-10.

OK let’s go.

1. THE GREAT COMMISSION – Not just conversion, but also transformation
2. THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM - There are no do-over's in life

1. THE GREAT COMMISSION – Conversion is just the beginning
The Great Commission. Pretty much ever practicing and church attending Christian knows this one. Here it is as stated in Matthew.

Matthew 28:19
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

However, just as much a part of the Great Commission, but not as often quoted is Matthew 28:20.

and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you...

Our job as the church is not just to get people saved, as in converted, but to get people saved, as in transformed. This is the hard part.

Anyone can go down the altar and say a prayer, mean it in their hearts and become a Christian.

What is more difficult, however, is to actually live your life as a Christian.

I first “got saved” when I was only seven years old. I understood what I was doing, and I believed what I was saying.

But as I grew older into adolescence and then young adulthood, I strayed – not in my religious beliefs, but in my lifestyle and behavior.

Why? Perhaps it was because I was so young when I became a Christian, or perhaps because there was no one to disciple me, or be my spiritual mentor, when I entered those teenage years.

Whatever the reason, it happens time and time again with most Christians, at least in America. In fact, if you are reading this, you probably had a similar experience.

You see, having a conversion experience is not enough. That is only the beginning. We must also become disciples of Jesus and live a life of obeying His commandments.

But like I said, this is the hard part. It is so difficult for a person to live a Christian lifestyle. No one can do it on their own. We need each other as fellow followers of Jesus to even just continue to live like followers of Jesus.

The point is that our job as Christians and the church is not just to help other people say the sinner’s prayer and “get saved”, but to help each other become true disciples of Jesus Christ, which means not only getting saved, but also living saved.

Your thoughts?

2. THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM - There are no do-over's in life.

Proverbs 9:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom...

So does that I have to be afraid of God to be wise?

And what about someone who is not a Christian or does not believe in God? Does that mean they cannot be wise?

Well…..yes….and no….and….

To “fear” God in this context means to have a reverential respect of God, His holiness and His authority.

So if the bible is correct, and if a person does not believe in God and His plan of salvation through Jesus Christ, then that person is denying God’s authority. He or she is basically saying

 

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44 days down, 321 to go.

Today’s scriptures for my Read the Bible in a Year plan are Exodus 35:10 – 36:38; Matthew 27:32-66; Psalms 34:1-10; Proverbs 9:7-8.

Here we go. Saturday.

HOW DO WE KNOW THAT WHAT THE BIBLE SAID HAPPENED ACTUALLY HAPPENED? Apologetics 101

In Matthew 27:32-54, we read this gospel’s account of Jesus from His way to the Calvary, all the way to His actual death on the cross. Christians believe this story to be fact.

In case you think Christians are crazy for what we believe, I understand.

After all, it is not unreasonable that someone doubts the historical accuracy of the tale of a man being crucified on a cross and then resurrected from the dead 2,000 years ago, especially if the only place that story is found is within the pages of the holy book of the people who believe that the man crucified was God.

But is the bible really the only piece of ancient literature that supports this story? The answer is no.
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43 days down, 322 to go.

Today’s scriptures for my Read the Bible in a Year plan are Exodus 34:1 – 35:9; Matthew 27:11-31; Psalms 33:12-22; Proverbs 9:1-6.

Here we go.

1. IDOLATRY IS CONTAGIOUS – Be careful who you hang around
2. THERE’S BLOOD ON OUR HANDS – and we should thank God for it
3. NEVER BE CONQUERED – but sometimes it’s just easier to settle for defeat!
4. HOW MUCH LONGER WILL GOD PROTECT AMERICA?

1. IDOLATRY IS CONTAGIOUS – Be careful who you hang around
OK we’ve all heard it when we were kids. Our parents would tell, “Those kids are no kid. Don’t go hanging around with them.” Of course we all know that parents don’t obtain any actual sense until we’re about 20 or 25 years old ourselves, so until then, there’s no point in really listening to them.

All joking aside, look what God says in Exodus 34:12-17.
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42 days down. 323 days to go.

Here are the scriptures for the day. Exodus 32:1 - 33:23; Matthew 26:69 - 27:10; Psalms 33:1-11; Proverbs 8:33-36.

I know this blog is going up a lot later in the day than normal. It was a crazy day. Forgive me.

1. SIN DOESN'T JUST HAPPEN – We build our own golden calf
2. 400 YEARS AND HOLDING – An inheritance of faith
3. KILLER PRIESTS!
4. GOD LIKES MUSIC

1. SIN DOESN'T JUST HAPPEN – We build our own golden calf
Sometimes we like to blame everyone except ourselves for our sin. It is true that we are under a spiritual attack that aims to weigh us down with our own sin, ultimately destroying us. However this does not exempt us from responsibility for our actions.

Ultimately, we are to blame for our own sin, because whenever we sin, we could have chosen to do otherwise.

Sin doesn't just happen. We like sin, so we choose to sin, and that is why we do it.
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41 days down, 324 to go.

Today’s scriptures for my Read the Bible in a Year plan are Exodus 30:11 – 31:18; Matthew 26:47-68; Psalms 32:1-11; Proverbs 8:27-32.

Here we go.

1. GOD’S CEO SUPPORT PROGRAM – You don’t need to know how to cook hamburgers
2. COME OUT OF THE CLOSET - CONFESSION IS GOOD FOR THE SOUL
3. NOW THAT'S COMMITMENT
4. GET CONTROL OF YOURSELF!

1. GOD’S CEO SUPPORT PROGRAM
When God gives you a vision for something, whether it be a business, a ministry or somewhere in between, He doesn’t necessarily pick something you have previous experience with.

When our ministry began making movies, we had no experience in that area. No film school. No Hollywood connections. Not even a theater background.

So may be the case with you. Have you ever heard this saying? “You don’t have to know how to cook hamburgers to open up a hamburger joint. You just have to know someone who does.”
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40 days down, 325 to go.

Today’s scriptures for my Read the Bible in a Year plan are Exodus 29:1 – 30:10; Matthew 26:14-46; Psalms 31:9-18; Proverbs 8:14-26.

Ok I know I got out of order with Psalms. Yesterday’s Psalms was supposed to be for today and today’s was supposed to be for yesterday. Sorry about that....but I’m sure you can follow.

1. HOW TO OVERCOME TEMPTATION – BE ALERT & PRAY
2. ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE NOT SO HAPPY PSALMS
3. THE BIRTH OF WISDOM

1. HOW TO OVERCOME TEMPTATION – BE ALERT & PRAY
In Mathew 26:14-46, the reality of His impending crucifixion is weighing heavy on Jesus. He knows that very soon, He will have to endure a horrible and excruciating death.

In fact, if you do a quick word study, or if you know any Latin at all, you’ll discover that the word “excruciating” means “out of (ex) the cross (crux)”. The fact is that the pain endured during a crucifixion was so severe, that a new word was created to describe it – excruciating.
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39 days down, 326 to go.

Today’s scriptures for my Read the Bible in a Year plan are Exodus 28:1-43; Matthew 25:31 – 26:13; Psalms 31:9-18; Proverbs 8:12-13.

First, congrats to all the Saints and all their fans for winning Superbowl 010. Now for day 39.

1. SOMETIMES GOD JUST CALLS YOUR NUMBER, SO BE READY
2. JESUS ON THE POOR AND MONEY: A LESSON IN WORSHIP

1. SOMETIMES GOD JUST CALLS YOUR NUMBER, SO BE READY
In Exodus 28, God spends an entire chapter doing nothing more than laying out the details for Aaron’s priestly garments.  Ok, for all nit-pickers out there, I know the bible was not originally broken down into chapters, but for the sake of this post, bare with me.

So for this entire chapters, God lays out in intricate detail what type of clothes Aaron the priest would wear. And man, Lady Gaga doesn’t have nothing on Aaron. This guy’s wardrobe was made of the finest materials, complete with gold trimmings and rubies and precious gyms and engraved stones. It was something serious. Just read the chapter to see what I’m saying.
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38 days down, 327 to go.

Today’s scriptures for my Read the Bible in a Year plan are Exodus 26:1– 27:21; Matthew 25:14-30; Psalms 31:1-8; Proverbs 8:1-11.

Superbowl Sunday….let me hurry up and get my blog up before the party.

1. YOUR TALENTS AND GIFTS AREN’T YOURS TO WASTE
2. DO YOU HAVE GOD’S BACK
3. THE VALUE OF WISDOM

1. YOUR TALENTS AND GIFTS AREN’T YOURS TO WASTE
We all have a gift. Some of us are great athletes. Others are gifted teachers. Others are really good at business. Some are talented artists.

Whatever your gift, it is not meant to be yours to simply use as you wish. Whatever money, resources and status your gift brings you, they are not simply for you to live the good life.
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37 days down, 328 to go.

Today’s scriptures for my Read the Bible in a Year plan are Exodus 23:14 – Exodus 25:40; Matthew 24:29 – 25:13; Psalms 30:1-12; Proverbs 7:24-27.

Late getting this one up…but here we go.

1. SMASH THEIR SACRED PILLARS…OF PLURALIST HYPOCRISY
2. YOU’RE NOT READY TILL YOU’RE READY
3. WHAT ARE YOU HERE FOR?
4. MEN, ARE YOU CHASING DEATH?

1. SMASH THEIR SACRED PILLARS…OF PLURALIST HYPOCRISY
In Exodus 23:20-27, God is telling the Israelites that when he takes them into the Promised land, there will be other people there with other gods. God says that He will run these people out of there, and the Israelites are not get too close to them, and they are definitely not to start serving their gods.

In fact in Exodus 23:24, God says, "24 You must not worship the gods of these nations or serve them in any way or imitate their evil practices. Instead, you must utterly destroy them and smash their sacred pillars."

I just thought this was a cool concept. Smash their pillars. It has a special relevance in this age.
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