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Post by wanttobewithGod on Aug 5, 2007 7:22:28 GMT -5
...in the Bible, if anything? (just lately, etc) I have been reading the gospel of Mark this weekend. (NIV) I have enjoyed "getting back to the basics" and relearning about Jesus' days here on Earth, the miracles he performed, etc. (I have been aways so many years, and for much of that time, I was not diligent about reading my Bible, though I did usually pray. Probably not always in the right way or for the right things, but I did pray.)
Anyway, what are you reading and enjoying right now? Just on my mind as it's Sunday morning, I suppose. Michelle
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Post by freespirit on Aug 5, 2007 8:16:53 GMT -5
I've been reading about David and Goliath. Been thinking about the suit of armor that Saul wanted David to wear. David was a kid and Saul a king. Saul's armor would have been custom made specifically to fit Saul and the clothes didn't fit David. Most likely it would have been heavy and hard for David to even walk around in--cumbersome and would hinder him from fighting.
Sometimes when facing life's giants, we are given clothing (advice) that might be perfectly suited for someone else, but it's not the right thing for us at all--maybe that advice might have even been a protection for someone else, but it's just a cumbersome burden for us. And if we wear it, it will keep us from seeing clearly and make it impossible for us to walk, run or fight.
We can't blindly put on what worked for someone else and expect to get victory. David took off the armor because he hadn't proved it--and, trusting God and drawing strength and courage from the other victories that God had given him (the lion and bear)--he was then able to run into the battle and defeat the giant.
peace to all, freespirit
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Post by wanttobewithGod on Aug 5, 2007 8:26:29 GMT -5
very thoughtful response, freespirit. ty! M.
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Post by selah on Aug 5, 2007 10:28:48 GMT -5
Great thread idea Michelle. And thanks for your thoughts freespirit....so true. I was right at the place in Israel where David slew Goliath, so whenever I read or hear about it, my thoughts go right to the place.
I've been reading in Romans for awhile now. I posted this on the 2x2 doctrine board, at the Book Nook, where we are studying Romans:
verse 3 - Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness.
There is such a difference between the fruit we manufacture ourselves and the fruit that is actually born of the Spirit. One is fresh and real, the other is like plastic fruit and provides nothing of real value.
The good news is....
verse 4 - Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. (emphasis mine)
Wow! That's incredible news!! Through Christ, true righteousness becomes available to everyone who believes! - real fruit rather than plastic.
In verses 5-8 a comparison is drawn between DOING and BEING. The reference is to the law (today's application = something we DO) verses the life (word) (today's application = something or SOMEONE (Christ) IN US).
verse 6 & 7 are a little confusing, but here's my possible paraphrase: Righteousness that is by faith does not question who has the power to reflect the annointed whether from the heights or the depths of all creation, but rather it simply recognizes that (verse 8) He (including His righteousness) indwells those who believe.
verses 9 & 10 are so clear and provide such assurance!
verses 11-13...absolutely amazing! verse 12...Although God chose the Jews through whom to manifest Himself to the world (Jesus was a Jew), this verse reminds us that His blessing is available to ALL people groups and in verse 13 includes everyONE who calls on the name of the Lord. This seems to eliminate the idea that only those in a certain group will be accepted.
verses 14 & 15 These verses we've heard used many, many times by the workers to emphasize the necessity of the ministry. Ministry is important, and vital in some circumstances. As in these verses, those who haven't heard need someone to preach. However, I believe it is a misuse of these verses to suggest that Christ cannot save without the ministry, for some people may have heard through another source..perhaps from God, Himself, like Paul.
It says, "How can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?" Ministry of the good news of Jesus Christ can be the vital link to those who haven't heard. But, sometimes it is assumed people haven't heard when they actually have. And this assumption is sometimes made based on the mistaken concept that ministry of the gospel must be done by only one specific Ministry.
In the first century few had heard this good news...because it was new. The resurrection was recent. They had to get the news out! Today, we have many ways to deliver the news. The point is to get it to all the corners of the earth!
verse 16 says that not everyone who hears accepts the good news.
verse 17 says that faith comes by hearing the good news, but then verse 18 states that some hear, but do not respond with faith. The example given is the Israelites who had no excuse to not believe in God, because even the testimony of the heavens has gone out into all the earth. The quote is from Psalms 19:4.
So then, in verse 19 it says, did they not understand? The answer is in verse 21, "All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people." They refused to understand. It was a choice.
Moses prophesies that one day Israel will become angry and envious because of the Gentile nations...those who are not a "chosen" nation and ones they thought had no "understanding." Is it possible that some exclusive groups or individuals today are fulfilling this prophesy too?
verse 20 - I love this verse, because it happened to me in a way. Although I did seek God and ask for Him, I had a preconceived idea of who He was and what His will was for me. He found me in this state and revealed Himself to me. I was not seeking a "better revelation;" I thought I KNEW Him. But when He found me, He drew me in to wonder... to begin to seek Him...and then, WOW! And now the wonder continues, the seeking continues, because He is limitless in His beauty, His awesomeness, His majesty...His love.
Blessings, Linda
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Bonnie
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Post by Bonnie on Aug 5, 2007 16:54:55 GMT -5
Galatians has been my study. So much of it is about the circumcism group and how that teaching was not right. I felt that the whole book was talking about outward things, and not letting it be the inward man.
My problem lately is just letting go of trying to find fault with the way I was taught when I professed. I pray that I can push that past my mind and just see how scripture is applied to me, and what I need to do to be right with God
Love Kathy
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Post by freddy76 on Aug 5, 2007 18:16:07 GMT -5
duh...I'm reading this message board right now.
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matia
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Post by matia on Aug 5, 2007 19:14:27 GMT -5
Hi i am reading the book , ( Dictionary of the New Testament Churches , by John Heading ) very interesting
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Post by jh62 on Aug 5, 2007 22:48:41 GMT -5
I was reading the book of Esther last week. Such a great story. However, I watched the movie, "A Night with the King", and I wasn't too impressed with it. Anyway, I think it's encouraging that there were women who did amazing things in the Bible. By the way, I never realized it before, but Esther is the only book in the Bible which never mentions God!
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Post by ranman77007 on Aug 6, 2007 2:37:34 GMT -5
right now i'm not reading...i was reading, enjoying your posts. i don't have a bible. except online.... can i carry my laptop to sunday morning meeting with my wireless and read a verse from it? i would read, but i have nobody to study with.... i wish i had not been raised in the jungle.....
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Post by great thread on Aug 6, 2007 6:26:27 GMT -5
What a wonderful thread. I have enjoyed reading others thoughts on what they are reading.
JH62, I too have been reading in the book of Esther and love ch 6 where God put it all together - my thoughts were - Esther and Mordecai did what they could, but God put it together ... they couldn't organise that the King couldn't sleep, only God could do that. And because he couldn't sleep he called for the book of chronicles to be brought in and read to him, and found Mordecai had not been rewarded for a deed he had done. So then he asked who was in the court. It could have been anyone, but I wonder if God had organised it to be Haman. Who of course was not there for a good reason.
Just my thoughts on this and the wonder of God putting things in place, while we have to do what we can do.
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Post by selah on Aug 6, 2007 8:51:02 GMT -5
The story of Esther is a great story. Every year the Jews celebrate this story during the Purim festival, but it usually turns into something like mardi gras, especially among secular Jews.
Our drama group presented this story as a dinner theatre to raise funds for Teen Challenge (a drug rehabilitation program). The guys from the program did the cooking, and we had a wonderful time all around. We called it "Esther's Banquet."
Blessings, Linda
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Post by withopeneyes (Mandy) on Aug 6, 2007 8:55:28 GMT -5
I've been doing a study on the Proverbs 31 "Homemaker". I'm working with my church to put together a community of women from newly weds to grandmothers... because I feel it is something that is definitely needed- not just in our area, but all over the world. Especially since many women were not taught how to take care of the home and family by their own mothers.... and there is no longer the "village" mentality of helping each other and raising families together as there were "back in the day". When I shared my desire (God led, I'm sure), to put something like this together my husband gave me his total support. He said, "You know, I have an important job... to bring home the bacon and whatnot, but you're the one who is home with the children all day, the one I come home to, the one who sets the mood for the day and the family. You're the one who does most of the teaching and discipline. That's something that doesn't change with my career or how much money we make. Your job is so much more important than mine." Good hubby.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2007 8:56:02 GMT -5
mutter... mutter... grumble... I am reading up on WiFi and remote IP cameras at the moment. Want some way to watch the top paddock when I am not there! Does any Aussies out there know anything about Telstra's WiFi system and how it can be used in this way? I come from NSW.
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Post by withopeneyes (Mandy) on Aug 6, 2007 9:06:36 GMT -5
I didn't know that was in the bible.... *giggle*
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Post by jh62 on Aug 6, 2007 9:47:18 GMT -5
Withopeneyes, I think it's a wonderful idea! Sadly the art of being a homemaker is becoming lost in our society. I always wanted to be a stay-at-home mom, but my husband always wanted me to work, so we comprimised (sp?). I did daycare at home until our children were all in school, then I went to work outside the home. Unfortunately, I'm one of the worst home-makers ever. :-(
Linda, I would have loved to seen your theatre! I wish I knew of a group like yours to join. I would have loved to have made costumes for it!!
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Post by jh62 on Aug 6, 2007 9:49:20 GMT -5
I think you're right...although the book of Esther doesn't mention God, it reflects His work throughout the whole book.
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Post by Sylvestra on Aug 6, 2007 12:16:34 GMT -5
The main part of my reading in the past couple of weeks has not been from the Bible. I just finished a book "The Sovereignty of God - Who is in charge?" (Can't remember the author and I'm too lazy right now to go upstairs to get it I'm currently working on "Toxic Faith" (also upstairs). It seems to be a helpful book, and would be a good read for every Christian no matter where they worship. Best! Edy
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Post by selah on Aug 6, 2007 13:47:16 GMT -5
Hi Edy,
I have "Toxic Faith" in my bookshelf, but haven't read it yet. I've heard it's very helpful.
Blessings, Linda
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Post by freespirit on Aug 6, 2007 15:32:46 GMT -5
Withopeneyes, I think it's a wonderful idea! Sadly the art of being a homemaker is becoming lost in our society. I always wanted to be a stay-at-home mom, but my husband always wanted me to work, so we comprimised (sp?). I did daycare at home until our children were all in school, then I went to work outside the home. Unfortunately, I'm one of the worst home-makers ever. :-( jh62, just a little encouragement here...I think it's important to note that we women are called to be HOME-makers, not housekeepers. And while keeping the house decently clean (I'm not suggesting that we all live in squaller) is part of being a homemaker, ANYBODY can mop the floor and do the laundry... but only the wife can do the job of really being there for her husband. My husband would rather come home to a happy wife who wants to talk to him, take a walk with him, minister to him, than live with somebody who is all stressed out about every little spot of dirt. He didn't marry me because he needed a maid and a cook and a laundress--he married me because he wanted a companion. IMO, you going along with your husband's wishes for you to work IS part of YOU being a home-keeper. That is what works in YOUR relationship. I dunno if that makes sense. The Internet is a weird place to express these thoughts and I don't want it to seem like I'm suggesting that we live in filth or never eat a home-cooked meal. Just that being a home-keeper goes beyond perfectly folded socks. peace to all, freespirit
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Post by freespirit on Aug 6, 2007 15:35:45 GMT -5
I've been doing a study on the Proverbs 31 "Homemaker". I'm working with my church to put together a community of women from newly weds to grandmothers... because I feel it is something that is definitely needed- not just in our area, but all over the world. withopeneyes, this sounds like a wonderful ministry. Please let us know how it goes. peace, freespirit ETA: this sort of women's circle/group would have really been a HUGE help to me when I was younger (now, too, but especially when I was first starting a family). I think this is awesome.
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Post by Brad Lewis on Aug 6, 2007 23:28:04 GMT -5
mutter... mutter... grumble... I am reading up on WiFi and remote IP cameras at the moment. Want some way to watch the top paddock when I am not there! Does any Aussies out there know anything about Telstra's WiFi system and how it can be used in this way? I come from NSW. Bert, this is off topic, but anyway, I use a low power micro camera with built-in serial download commands. search "JPEG Compression VGA Camera Module" on www.electronics123.comThe commands for the camera can be issued using a low power 3.3volt microcontroller like the ATtiny13. You can then run a serial to datagram or tcpip internet stream using an Xport from lantronics. THis plus into the wifi through a patch cable. Then to view through internet, just writ a PHP script on your internet server that parses the serial stream and builds jpg image object from it. Make sure to use an image header in the web page so the browser builds it right. You can also write into the php script motion detection based on a que of previous photos and have it generate an email with the latest image attached. Depending on how much motion in the picture though, you might need a hefy data package for your wireless phone. If you need more info, it'll cost ya. Brad
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Post by selah on Aug 6, 2007 23:34:52 GMT -5
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2007 6:35:36 GMT -5
Thanks Brad. I will check that out. I first started attending security conferences on the 1980's, looking at technologies. Things sure have changed!
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