POWER OF PERSUASION
Who said Christians don't have a sense of humour?
There was a feud between the Pastor and the Choir Director.
It seems the first hint of trouble came when the Pastor preached on "Dedicating oneself to Service" and the Choir Director chose to sing "I shall not be moved"
Trying to believe that it was a coincidence, the Pastor put the incident behind him. The next Sunday, he preached on "Giving". Afterwards, the Choir squirmed as the director led them in the hymn "Jesus Paid it All"
By this time, the Pastor was losing his temper and the Sunday morning attendance swelled as the tension between the two built up. A large crowd showed up the next week to hear his sermon on the "Sin of Gossiping". Would you believe it, the Choir Director selected "I love to tell the story"
There was no turning back. The following Sunday, the Pastor told the congregation that unless something changed, he was considering resignation. The entire Church gasped when the Choir Director led them in the song "Why not tonight?"
Truthfully, no one was surprised when the Pastor resigned a week later, explaining that "Jesus had led him there and Jesus was leading him away" The Choir Director could not resist and led them all in singing, "What a Friend we have in Jesus"
Monday, November 21, 2011
Sunday, November 20, 2011
License to Trample
Luke 10:18-19 He (Jesus) replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you."
These 2 verses tell me:
1. Satan fell like lightning. Lightning travels at 93,000 miles per second (according to the US Dept. of Energy) which is roughly equivalent to travelling around the earth's equator 4 times in one second. That's PDQ. Satan fell. (Thanks to all grammar classes, I recognize this as the past tense of "see".) Jesus saw him and that was at least a couple of millenia back.
2. A few milligrams of the venom from the Belcher's sea snake can kill 1000 men. The Death Stalker scorpion (let's not pussy foot around this) may not cause instant death but excruciating pain. O joy. But note...Jesus said "I have given you authority..." Past perfect tense. Given out and not retracted.
Today I pit my very worst current battle against the very cornerstone of my belief centred upon these verses. I am not the type that goes out looking for trouble, (so I won't be packing to Australia or Africa to look for snakes and scorpions to stamp on any time soon) but today, this passage struck me in a different way. Jesus had sent his 72 disciples out two-by-two to preach the Good News. And when you go out on the mission that He sends you out on, you are going to meet with snakes and scorpions and other creepy crawlies. Sure, you weren't going out to look for them, but they will be found along the way. Hang on a second...here's the juggernaut...depend on the certainty that God gave you the authority to overcome the enemy (creepy crawlies, poisonous crunchy beetles and slithery belly-dancing vipers, satan's minions) who likes nothing better than for you not to deliver the Good News.
I know some of us are going through whatever is equivalent to a scorpion's spiritual bite, so I'm praying for you based on the realization that God has given you to me and I'm trusting God to see that His Authority working not just on Top Secret level three FBI security clearance but Willy-Wonka Golden Ticket kinda clearance! I am writing specifically to each one of you to tell you that God has you on His mind and I'm praying alongside you.
We are so incredibly well-made to trample on dubious poisonous creatures that try to beset us, but let's not fall prey to that. We have been given the license to trample. Let that soak in for a bit. I don't know about you, but while I am trampling, I'm going to add a bit of a shake, twist and swivel just to get that sucker good.
These 2 verses tell me:
1. Satan fell like lightning. Lightning travels at 93,000 miles per second (according to the US Dept. of Energy) which is roughly equivalent to travelling around the earth's equator 4 times in one second. That's PDQ. Satan fell. (Thanks to all grammar classes, I recognize this as the past tense of "see".) Jesus saw him and that was at least a couple of millenia back.
2. A few milligrams of the venom from the Belcher's sea snake can kill 1000 men. The Death Stalker scorpion (let's not pussy foot around this) may not cause instant death but excruciating pain. O joy. But note...Jesus said "I have given you authority..." Past perfect tense. Given out and not retracted.
Today I pit my very worst current battle against the very cornerstone of my belief centred upon these verses. I am not the type that goes out looking for trouble, (so I won't be packing to Australia or Africa to look for snakes and scorpions to stamp on any time soon) but today, this passage struck me in a different way. Jesus had sent his 72 disciples out two-by-two to preach the Good News. And when you go out on the mission that He sends you out on, you are going to meet with snakes and scorpions and other creepy crawlies. Sure, you weren't going out to look for them, but they will be found along the way. Hang on a second...here's the juggernaut...depend on the certainty that God gave you the authority to overcome the enemy (creepy crawlies, poisonous crunchy beetles and slithery belly-dancing vipers, satan's minions) who likes nothing better than for you not to deliver the Good News.
I know some of us are going through whatever is equivalent to a scorpion's spiritual bite, so I'm praying for you based on the realization that God has given you to me and I'm trusting God to see that His Authority working not just on Top Secret level three FBI security clearance but Willy-Wonka Golden Ticket kinda clearance! I am writing specifically to each one of you to tell you that God has you on His mind and I'm praying alongside you.
We are so incredibly well-made to trample on dubious poisonous creatures that try to beset us, but let's not fall prey to that. We have been given the license to trample. Let that soak in for a bit. I don't know about you, but while I am trampling, I'm going to add a bit of a shake, twist and swivel just to get that sucker good.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Clauses
Clauses have a subject and verb.
Clauses are either Independent or Dependent.
Example:
Keiko ate the seeds that we bought for her last week.
The subject: Keiko (Our pet cockatiel)
Predicate: ate the seeds that we bought for her last week.
Our predicate has 2 verbs: ate and bought
Clause 1: Keiko ate the seeds.
Clause 2: That we bought for her last week
Clause 1 can stand alone, so it's an independent clause.
Clause 2 needs to be attached to the first clause to make sense so that's called a dependent clause (or Subordinate clause) usually by a relative pronoun (that, which, who) or a linking conjunction or connective adverb like after, although, as, because, before, if, since, unless, until, when, while, so that...
Dependent Clauses (Subordinate Clauses)
Has different functions:
1. Act as an adjective (Adjective describes or modifies a noun)
2. Act as nouns
3. Act as adverbs
1. As an adjective: Example: The painting, which was a priceless piece of artwork, was stolen from the museum. (which was a priceless piece of artwork modifies the painting) Rule for Adjective Clauses: Usually right after the noun.
2. As a noun: I can't understand what she said. (what she said is the object of understand) Rule for Noun Clauses: Generally goes after a verb and can be introduced by that, what, which, who, whom, where, when, whoever, whatever
3. As an adverb: I felt horrible when I found out Keiko died from seed poisoning! (when I found out Keiko died from seed poisoning! modifies the verb "felt; it tells when I felt horrible) Rule for Adverb Clauses: Usually before or right after the independent clause and tend to explain time, manner, purpose, cause, result, effect, concession or contrast
Prepositions are usually at the end of the clause:
This is the part of Grammar which we are most frustrated with.
This is the part of the test which Paul is most anxious about.
Clauses are either Independent or Dependent.
Example:
Keiko ate the seeds that we bought for her last week.
The subject: Keiko (Our pet cockatiel)
Predicate: ate the seeds that we bought for her last week.
Our predicate has 2 verbs: ate and bought
Clause 1: Keiko ate the seeds.
Clause 2: That we bought for her last week
Clause 1 can stand alone, so it's an independent clause.
Clause 2 needs to be attached to the first clause to make sense so that's called a dependent clause (or Subordinate clause) usually by a relative pronoun (that, which, who) or a linking conjunction or connective adverb like after, although, as, because, before, if, since, unless, until, when, while, so that...
Dependent Clauses (Subordinate Clauses)
Has different functions:
1. Act as an adjective (Adjective describes or modifies a noun)
2. Act as nouns
3. Act as adverbs
1. As an adjective: Example: The painting, which was a priceless piece of artwork, was stolen from the museum. (which was a priceless piece of artwork modifies the painting) Rule for Adjective Clauses: Usually right after the noun.
2. As a noun: I can't understand what she said. (what she said is the object of understand) Rule for Noun Clauses: Generally goes after a verb and can be introduced by that, what, which, who, whom, where, when, whoever, whatever
3. As an adverb: I felt horrible when I found out Keiko died from seed poisoning! (when I found out Keiko died from seed poisoning! modifies the verb "felt; it tells when I felt horrible) Rule for Adverb Clauses: Usually before or right after the independent clause and tend to explain time, manner, purpose, cause, result, effect, concession or contrast
Prepositions are usually at the end of the clause:
This is the part of Grammar which we are most frustrated with.
This is the part of the test which Paul is most anxious about.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Monday, November 07, 2011
What determination will help you do...
Here is a 1 minute video I recorded to remind me what I had set out to accomplish 10 months ago.
I had written: "What determination will help you accomplish if you don't give up." - Shirley, a right hander
I had written: "What determination will help you accomplish if you don't give up." - Shirley, a right hander
Sunday, November 06, 2011
Nolstagia
I remember
Those days when I sat on the window ledge
And dreamt.
I wish I was far away
So that nothing could distract the castles I built.
Now that that window ledge is no longer there
And it's but a memory of my childhood,
I long to find
A substitute.
But there is none that could be
My little standing space
to see
Through the window of my bedroom
With the eyes of a child
Who only wished to be
Far away.
Entry: 8 February 1988, Pasadena, California
Those days when I sat on the window ledge
And dreamt.
I wish I was far away
So that nothing could distract the castles I built.
Now that that window ledge is no longer there
And it's but a memory of my childhood,
I long to find
A substitute.
But there is none that could be
My little standing space
to see
Through the window of my bedroom
With the eyes of a child
Who only wished to be
Far away.
Entry: 8 February 1988, Pasadena, California
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