Tag: specific grace

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What is life like without God?

What is life like without God?

This is a question I posed recently.  It has been on my mind since a recent trip to the town where I grew up.  I appreciate the feedback I got back from quite a few perspectives.  It's hard, but important I think, to have a mind open to someone else's point of view.  I need the perspective, really.  No one sees things the way they are, not completely.  That takes a lot of points of view, to see things from all sides.  Thanks those who responded and helped me expand my view.

I want to encourage you, and me, to take some time to deeply consider this question.

As I glanced around the internet for an image that would help me communicate this question, I got what they call in Texas an “eye full!”  There were a good number of points of view that I encountered there that went well beyond the direct feedback I received, and some strange ones at that.

 

life_without_God

Continue reading “What is life like without God?”

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Another Call to Suffering.

When Jesus said in Matthew 18:22 that Peter should forgive his brother “seventy times seven” times, he was speaking from personal experience, not just handing down a golden truth.  It is difficult for us to dislodge the notion that the Christ-child arrived to the planet forearmed with wisdom and perfect knowledge of the Way, to reconcile the idea that Jesus the Christ, perfect, savior-king, had to learn something as basic to holy living as obedience to God, and to do so by encountering personal difficulty, but it is so (Heb 5:8).  Through Jesus, God sought also to distinguish the being of humanness from sinfulness, that is, to establish that being human is not in itself a woeful thing; on the contrary, Jesus proved that it was to this race of peculiar beings that God has affirmed his complete favor and ultimate identification. Continue reading “Another Call to Suffering.”

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Principles of War

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The nine Principles of War, as defined in the Army Field Manual FM-3 Military Operations:

PRINCIPLE DEFINITION
Mass Concentrate combat power at the decisive place and time
Objective Direct every military operation towards a clearly defined, decisive, and attainable objective
Offensive Seize, retain, and exploit the initiative
Surprise Strike the enemy at a time, at a place, or in a manner for which he is unprepared
Economy of force Allocate minimum essential combat power to secondary efforts
Maneuver Place the enemy in a position of disadvantage through the flexible application of combat power
Unity of command For every objective, ensure unity of effort under one responsible commander
Security Never permit the enemy to acquire an unexpected advantage
Simplicity Prepare clear, uncomplicated plans and clear, concise orders to ensure thorough understanding
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resisting the tide

IMG_2903Have you noticed how the spirit of the age seeks to invade our hearts, our lives?

I have heard this in the past, and I am beginning to see it, that the real fight in this realm is between Satan and God's people. All the rest of the self important activity is flowing into the Abyss. And the tide of evil rises.

The whole world lies in the power of the evil one – all those who are not in Christ. At the same time, many who are in Christ are giving the evil one advantage. We must be careful not to do this. Give us wisdom to avoid this trap Lord. Continue reading “resisting the tide”