Fluency

Winters gray skies

Circumstances should not control the way I see the world, but I have to admit, half way through winter, the gray skies start to get to me. Not depression, though I can understand why some people get depressed in the winter time.

So this morning I was thrilled to see a Rainbow.

The colors—yellow, green, red, a little blue and violet—created a wonderful contrast to the gray clouds.

As I was marveling (while driving) I had to praise the Lord, not only for providing the contrast and the joy of color, but for His promises.

I had to wonder what the first rainbow looked like. After the Noahic flood, God promise that He would never again destroy the whole earth by water. And to remind mankind of His promise God provided the rainbow. What must that have looked like? I have rarely seen a complete rainbow—either the whole circle or full range of colors.

So in the midst of winter, I praise God for His promises and creativity. And look forward to the spring giving birth to more color.

When you recognize God as Creator, you will admire him.
When you recognize his wisdom, you will learn from him.
When you discover his strength, you will rely on him.
But only when he saves you will you worship him.

Max Lucado, In the Eye of the Storm, p. 186.

What a man truly knows,
he will love,
and what he truly loves,
he will serve.

J. Dwight Pentecost

I got a new toy.

A new purposeful toy–well, at least that is what I’ve said.

I purchased my first iPod (mp3 player).

The primary reason I purchased an iPod was for podcasts.

Clarification: Podcasts are simply mp3, the most common audio format available. It is the most common because anyone can use it. Many different mp3 players are available. iPod is the brand name for the Apple mp3 player–the most popular player.

Podcasts are audio (and sometime video, called vodcast by some) program / messages that can be subscribed to. Meaning that once you subscribe each time your turn on your podcast receiver–iTunes for iPods the audio program is automatically downloaded. (If you have another brand of mp3 player or if you want to use Windows Media Play or other media play I recommend Juice to manage podcast subscriptions. Not as easy as iTunes but it does work.)  If you already use RSS (Really Simple syndication) to subscribe to blogs, you may be able to use it to subscribe to podcasts–I use google reader and it has that capability.

You can subscribe to podcasts without an mp3 player–just use your computer. I recommend iTunes it is the easiest and most widely supported.

That was for those who might be new to podcasts.

Why did I want to listen to podcasts?

For learning and growing.

There is an amazing amount of free material available. For example:
Audio read through the Bible
Sermons
News

Thought I’m still new to this, here is what is on my iPod now:
Northpoint ministries–Andy Stanley (I’m listing to a great 6 part series on margins in life)
Mosaic–Erwin McManus
Dallas Seminary Chapel messages
1 Year through the Bible–Tom Dooly
Mission Network News
3 Part series on Christian Theology by Alister McGrath
ABC News (I’m looking from something better).

You may even be interested in Romans: The Transforming Power of the Righteousness of God podcast (go to the bottom of the page and click either subscribe through iTunes or RSS depending on your podcast preference).

What podcasts do you listen to?

“Holiness is not a condition into which we drift.”  John Stott

With the rapid proliferation of cell phones it seems we are often privy to one way conversations. People talk loudly as through no one else can hear. And though you might not want to listen, you often don’t have a choice.

The book of Colossians is like a one way conversation–but not an annoying one.

Paul writes the letter in response to a visit from an envoy from the church at Philippi who happened to be from Colossae.

We don’t know what Epaphras (Epaphroditus) said to Paul, what we have is his one way conversation–letter–to the church at Colossae.

In the letter we see Paul’s focus on who Jesus–He is the answer to the problem.

It’s very similar to the way people are trained to spot a counterfeit–they study the real thing. By studying what makes the real bill the real thing, when confronted with a counterfeit–it’s easy (easier) to spot.

While it is helpful to understand the elements of different cults or religions–the best way to deal with counterfeit doctrine is by studying the real thing.

In Colossians Paul’s answer to the “philosophy” was not the need for superior knowledge but superior knowledge of the will of God for the sake of right conduct. And his answer to those who denied the deity of Christ was to reveal the preeminence of Christ and how that should be reflected in the believer’s life and priorities.

A proper view of Christ is the best antidote for heresy.

The answer to dealing with false teaching, false philosophies, and false practices—is to focus on Christ our complete sufficiency.

Over the next few months I’ll be writing thoughts based on Colossians which we are studying in our men’s ministry as well as during our Sunday morning services.

As I contemplate the start of a new year and take time to evaluate, take personal inventory and plan for this new year (yes I try to establish goals and resolutions)–one thing I am particularly thankful for is the unchanging nature of God.

We have no idea what 2008 will hold. We have no way of knowing the highs and lows this year will bring. But one thing we do know–it will be the same God who will guide us, help us, sustain us and comfort us.

In the words of J. I. Packer

God is immutable. This means that he is totally consistent: because he is necessarily perfect, he cannot change either for the better or for the worse; and because he is not in time he is not subject to change as creatures are (2 Pet. 3:8). Far from being detached and immobile, he is always active in his world, constantly making new things spring forth (Isa. 42:9; 2 Cor. 5:17; Rev. 21:5); but in all this he expresses his perfect character with perfect consistency. It is precisely the immutability of his character that guarantees his adherence to the words he has spoken and the plans he has made (Num. 23:19; Ps. 33:11; Mal. 3:6; James 1:16-18); and it is this immutability that explains why, when people change their attitude to him, he changes his attitude to them (Gen. 6:5-7; Exod. 32:9-14; 1 Sam. 15:11; Jon. 3:10). The idea that the changelessness of God involves unresponsive indifference to what goes on in his world is the precise opposite of the truth. (J. I. Packer, Concise Theology: A Guide to Historic Christian Beliefs (Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House, 1995, c1993).)

May this year lead us to
greater trust in our trustworthy God
greater faith in our faithful God
deeper devotion to our wise God
more complete submission to our sovereign God
and greater service to our good and kind God.

Malachi 3:6 “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. (ESV)
Isaiah 46:9-10 remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ (ESV)