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.”
Something Important As We Enter 2010
Joseph's Dungeon
Here is a link to an important message from the past year:
Not spectacular, but very valuable.
Scott
Principles of War
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 |
resisting the tide
Have 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”