September 18, 2007 6:38 AM
Sam wrote:
Prov 18. Verse 21. Here we go again. We see this reference to 'fruit of the tongue', which we discussed briefly last week. In today's society, the tongue (or things said) definitely is (are) extremely powerful. In the days when I was growing up as a child and teenager, the term "sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me", was prevalent. Where did this go? We used to have what was referred to as the 'freedom of speech'. "Names", for whatever reason, do hurt people. I see people every day who are arrogant, stupid and obnoxious. But I am not allowed to call them such. And, even though it is difficult to do sometimes, this is the way it SHOULD be. Names DO hurt people. So do sticks, stones, knives and guns---but so do hurtful words. The phrase about names not hurting me should never have been taught to my generation (as it was to others probably). What SHOULD have been taught was verse 21: "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit." So, to all those stupid, arrogant and obnoxious people, I apologize.
Acts 18: Another "action"-packed chapter. So much is happening here. We see reference to verse 21 from Proverbs (see above) as well. (see verse 15 of this chapter---"words and names") These words and names were powerful, even back then. I guess the main point I got out of part of this chapter is that we are never to give up. Never stop preaching the Word. Initially, Paul did. At least to the Jews, and started preaching only to those who listened to him (the Gentiles). However, after being told by the Holy Spirit to keep on preaching, he did. Initially, I thought he only continued to preach to the Gentiles, but then in verse 19, I see he continues his preaching to the Jews. The lesson, I see, is to never give up preaching the Word. No matter who. Do you only share the gospel with people who are more likely to be receptive, or are you talking about Jesus and salvation to the stupid, arrogant and obnoxious (again, see above in Proverbs discussion)? We should not give up on people who have given up. Mike is a perfect example. Once a person who wouldn't even let his children pray at a meal table, now a devoted 'Paul'. Read his comments as he adds them to this blog and you will see a man who is full of the Holy Spirit. Our goals include reaching out to the lost, not just to those wandering just off the path of life, but to everyone, no matter his or her demeanor. The last part of this chapter is awesome where a learned man is preaching, but not quite correctly, and is corrected by simple disciples. They preached even to the powerful and intelligent...they weren't afraid to spread the gospel to anyone. Are you? Reply to this
September 18, 2007 7:09 AM
michael wrote:
Prov:18 Gossip is something prevelant in society today.We are all guilty of doing or being a victom of it some point in our lives.Sometimes without even knowing it.Even if we are in a group of people gossiping we tend to think well I am not saying anything.By just listening and not doing anything we are not honoring GOD.I know I have been guilty of it.But I just have to humble myself before GOD confess and ask for the strength to speak up when I need to.Because gossip is everywhere TV,work,school,and if I'm being honest even in our churches.I think he gives us some good advise about dealing with it.First we need to hear the oyher persons side before we speak.Second have a open mind when listening.Third make sure you hear both sides and get the facts to everyones story before you make up your mind.It reminds me of my kids fighting,he did this no she did this.Sound familar.I have to hear both sides,get the facts and then pass judgement.Choose your words carefully because we can use them to demonstrate GODs Love,lift people up or we can destroy relationships.I did not understand why he wrote in this chapter about finding a wife and receive favor from the Lord.Maybe so men can understand what gossip really is.Just Kidding. ACTS:18 Man I really like paul.He is one tuff dude.In his ministry he knew what he had to do.Teach the message of JESUS CHRIST.In corinth the rejected him and tried to have him punished but failed.But what about Crispus.He received the message of christ but after the trial he was beaten by the crowd.Maybe GOD was testing him or maybe he was to be used for a larger purpose.Pauls third mission was a great example of what we as followers of CHRIST need to grasp.We need to continue growing in knowledge of the word so we are confident in teaching the message of CHIST.Because if we are doing what JESUS commanded then we must be prepared.Especially because unbeleivers will test you.They are looking for that loophole.If your not prepared you could loose that person forever.I pray today that GOD will put someone in our path that wants to question us about GOD.So be prepared. Stength and Honor Reply to this
September 18, 2007 9:19 AM
rik wrote:
in reading this mornings Proverbs I see many more scriptures about our mouths and tongues. I believe we hold a lot of power in our verbal waterfall. if we flow positive uplifting verbiage positive and uplifting things will happen. If we spew icy ill tempered chatter, it will only lead to misery. so when you speak realize you are speaking into exsistance your own fortune, good or bad it is coming from you. Reply to this
September 18, 2007 2:07 PM
Tony wrote:
Proverbs 18:1 "One who isolates himself pursues selfish desires, he rebels against all sound judgment" Sounds like a few people that I know. Myself being the first one. Why is it we think that we can do it all by ourselves? Is it because we are prideful and arrogant? Or because we are MEN! I can not do this Life) alone. I know that I have not been in the blog for aloooooooooong time, but at the same time I have been relying on God and the rest of the cords to keep me alive. Sunday I did not want to do anything. Not church, not work, not visit, not anything. I have let ALL the troubles of life come to the surface and they are overwhelming. The bible tells us allot of things, do not worry, God will not give us more than we can handle, God will give us all that we need. I can't help but worry about certain things, even though there is very little I can do by worrying. I can (and do) pray and ask God for help, even though I hate to ask for help. I know in my walk with God,( it's a bunch of short walks, no long hikes yet,) I do talk. Especially when I am working by myself. I thank God for the ability that he has given me for the work that I do. I cannot begin to think that what I do in life is because of me. God has given me all my talents to do the things that I do and I thank Him for that every time I look at what I (we ) have done. God says he will give us what we need. I look at all that I have that God has given me though I have done nothing in return. I cannot imagine what He give me if I do what he asks! What do we give our children when they deserve nothing? We still give them the necessities, but it is hard to give them the extras. God is awesome!! I truly believe that. I depend on him daily even though you guys don't see me. I am always talking, praying and asking for help and guidance. I can't possible run my life, my family and my business without God. Love covers all things. I only remember the first couple of things, but I think the very fist one is the most important. Love is PATIENT!! When I get in a bind that has benn the very ting that comes to mind lately, love is patient. I am not. Sunday I did not want to but I chose to go to work about 11. I was going down town, 20 to 75 to 400. I was listening to J93.3, christian station, trying to focus on whatever. When you exit 20 to get on 75, you know the bridge, The song Our God Is An Awesome God came on. I could not stop crying, I had to pull over and it all just came out. I am an emotional mess right now, just writting this makes me cry. But I have to focus. I cannot show this in front of the kids. Not because I am the man, but because I must remain their foundation, I will be strong and God will get me, us, through this. I cannot talk about this in person, but I know that you guys are there for me as I am for you. A cord of three strands is not easily broken, how much harder is it to break a cor of many strands!! It is good to hear from you Reply to this
September 18, 2007 2:08 PM
Tony wrote:
I ran out of space. It is good to hear from all of you!!Mac, Rick, Michael, and Rich, you are all truly awsome men of God and we are all after the same thing Reply to this
Prov 18. Verse 21. Here we go again. We see this reference to 'fruit of the tongue', which we discussed briefly last week. In today's society, the tongue (or things said) definitely is (are) extremely powerful. In the days when I was growing up as a child and teenager, the term "sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me", was prevalent. Where did this go? We used to have what was referred to as the 'freedom of speech'. "Names", for whatever reason, do hurt people. I see people every day who are arrogant, stupid and obnoxious. But I am not allowed to call them such. And, even though it is difficult to do sometimes, this is the way it SHOULD be. Names DO hurt people. So do sticks, stones, knives and guns---but so do hurtful words. The phrase about names not hurting me should never have been taught to my generation (as it was to others probably). What SHOULD have been taught was verse 21: "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit." So, to all those stupid, arrogant and obnoxious people, I apologize.
Acts 18: Another "action"-packed chapter. So much is happening here. We see reference to verse 21 from Proverbs (see above) as well. (see verse 15 of this chapter---"words and names") These words and names were powerful, even back then. I guess the main point I got out of part of this chapter is that we are never to give up. Never stop preaching the Word. Initially, Paul did. At least to the Jews, and started preaching only to those who listened to him (the Gentiles). However, after being told by the Holy Spirit to keep on preaching, he did. Initially, I thought he only continued to preach to the Gentiles, but then in verse 19, I see he continues his preaching to the Jews. The lesson, I see, is to never give up preaching the Word. No matter who. Do you only share the gospel with people who are more likely to be receptive, or are you talking about Jesus and salvation to the stupid, arrogant and obnoxious (again, see above in Proverbs discussion)? We should not give up on people who have given up. Mike is a perfect example. Once a person who wouldn't even let his children pray at a meal table, now a devoted 'Paul'. Read his comments as he adds them to this blog and you will see a man who is full of the Holy Spirit. Our goals include reaching out to the lost, not just to those wandering just off the path of life, but to everyone, no matter his or her demeanor.
The last part of this chapter is awesome where a learned man is preaching, but not quite correctly, and is corrected by simple disciples. They preached even to the powerful and intelligent...they weren't afraid to spread the gospel to anyone. Are you?
Reply to this
Prov:18 Gossip is something prevelant in society today.We are all guilty of doing or being a victom of it some point in our lives.Sometimes without even knowing it.Even if we are in a group of people gossiping we tend to think well I am not saying anything.By just listening and not doing anything we are not honoring GOD.I know I have been guilty of it.But I just have to humble myself before GOD confess and ask for the strength to speak up when I need to.Because gossip is everywhere TV,work,school,and if I'm being honest even in our churches.I think he gives us some good advise about dealing with it.First we need to hear the oyher persons side before we speak.Second have a open mind when listening.Third make sure you hear both sides and get the facts to everyones story before you make up your mind.It reminds me of my kids fighting,he did this no she did this.Sound familar.I have to hear both sides,get the facts and then pass judgement.Choose your words carefully because we can use them to demonstrate GODs Love,lift people up or we can destroy relationships.I did not understand why he wrote in this chapter about finding a wife and receive favor from the Lord.Maybe so men can understand what gossip really is.Just Kidding. ACTS:18 Man I really like paul.He is one tuff dude.In his ministry he knew what he had to do.Teach the message of JESUS CHRIST.In corinth the rejected him and tried to have him punished but failed.But what about Crispus.He received the message of christ but after the trial he was beaten by the crowd.Maybe GOD was testing him or maybe he was to be used for a larger purpose.Pauls third mission was a great example of what we as followers of CHRIST need to grasp.We need to continue growing in knowledge of the word so we are confident in teaching the message of CHIST.Because if we are doing what JESUS commanded then we must be prepared.Especially because unbeleivers will test you.They are looking for that loophole.If your not prepared you could loose that person forever.I pray today that GOD will put someone in our path that wants to question us about GOD.So be prepared. Stength and Honor
Reply to this
in reading this mornings Proverbs I see many more scriptures about our mouths and tongues. I believe we hold a lot of power in our verbal waterfall. if we flow positive uplifting verbiage positive and uplifting things will happen. If we spew icy ill tempered chatter, it will only lead to misery. so when you speak realize you are speaking into exsistance your own fortune, good or bad it is coming from you.
Reply to this
Proverbs 18:1
"One who isolates himself pursues selfish desires, he rebels against all sound judgment" Sounds like a few people that I know. Myself being the first one. Why is it we think that we can do it all by ourselves? Is it because we are prideful and arrogant? Or because we are MEN! I can not do this Life) alone. I know that I have not been in the blog for aloooooooooong time, but at the same time I have been relying on God and the rest of the cords to keep me alive. Sunday I did not want to do anything. Not church, not work, not visit, not anything. I have let ALL the troubles of life come to the surface and they are overwhelming. The bible tells us allot of things, do not worry, God will not give us more than we can handle, God will give us all that we need. I can't help but worry about certain things, even though there is very little I can do by worrying. I can (and do) pray and ask God for help, even though I hate to ask for help. I know in my walk with God,( it's a bunch of short walks, no long hikes yet,) I do talk. Especially when I am working by myself. I thank God for the ability that he has given me for the work that I do. I cannot begin to think that what I do in life is because of me. God has given me all my talents to do the things that I do and I thank Him for that every time I look at what I (we ) have done. God says he will give us what we need. I look at all that I have that God has given me though I have done nothing in return. I cannot imagine what He give me if I do what he asks! What do we give our children when they deserve nothing? We still give them the necessities, but it is hard to give them the extras.
God is awesome!! I truly believe that. I depend on him daily even though you guys don't see me. I am always talking, praying and asking for help and guidance. I can't possible run my life, my family and my business without God. Love covers all things. I only remember the first couple of things, but I think the very fist one is the most important. Love is PATIENT!! When I get in a bind that has benn the very ting that comes to mind lately, love is patient. I am not. Sunday I did not want to but I chose to go to work about 11. I was going down town, 20 to 75 to 400. I was listening to J93.3, christian station, trying to focus on whatever. When you exit 20 to get on 75, you know the bridge, The song Our God Is An Awesome God came on. I could not stop crying, I had to pull over and it all just came out. I am an emotional mess right now, just writting this makes me cry. But I have to focus. I cannot show this in front of the kids. Not because I am the man, but because I must remain their foundation, I will be strong and God will get me, us, through this. I cannot talk about this in person, but I know that you guys are there for me as I am for you. A cord of three strands is not easily broken, how much harder is it to break a cor of many strands!! It is good to hear from you
Reply to this
I ran out of space. It is good to hear from all of you!!Mac, Rick, Michael, and Rich, you are all truly awsome men of God and we are all after the same thing
Reply to this
Good site. I will go more often to you
Reply to this