Sharing Life and Christ

I'll be honest. I'm writing this entry as I contemplate how much studying for my surface warfare qual I have to do in the next three days. I have antennas and the steam cycle and anchor weights stuck in my head and I feel like I've only begun to scratch the surface of what I need to know. I guess I can remember back to when I felt like that with Scripture, and I definitely still feel that way at times. But regardless of how much I have to learn for ESWS, I'm determined to remain faithful to God and my goal of writing a commentary on each of the first 8 chapters of Romans during this underway period. I think I might be a little bit behind, but I don't want to give up! Prayers for both ESWS and my Romans study are appreciated. Before we get into Chapter 4, it is critical to understand a bit about the faith and promise that Abraham received from God in the account in Genesis. In Genesis 15:4 , God tells Abraham that his own son will be his heir. Two verses later, Scrip...

I want to praise God today and share a great revelation from my quiet time this morning. I want you all to know that God hears the cries of His children and answers them in His perfect way and time. I have been burdened lately and haven't known what to do. As someone who has spent a great deal of time in the Word in the last 18 months, I've seen God do a great work in my life. In this same period, I have seen others struggle and done my best to encourage them. It seems so easy to me that the answers to all of life's problems can be found in the Word of God and through Jesus Christ. It has been my aim to point people to the Word and encourage them to seek the same solutions that I have found by studying and meditating on the truths of Scripture. But, I can't do the work for anyone. I can't change anyone's thinking, and I can't make them read the Word or believe it. That is between them and God. So at times, I question whether God has really called me to full-...

Well, if you haven't been able to tell from the first two chapters of Romans, I've been looking forward to spending some quality time in chapter 3. It has been a real blessing over the past week to see Paul conclude a major part of his thoughts on the first half of the Gospel: humans are sinful to the core and stand condemned before a righteous God. In addition, chapter 3 gives man the only means of justification which comes through faith in Jesus Christ. As I try to consider the magnitude of this letter that God wrote through Paul, I can't help but wonder what Paul may have felt as he was drafting this letter. I imagine that I myself would be shaking with excitement and conviction and yet probably burdened as well knowing full well that most would not accept what is being written. Well, without further ado, let's dig in! Paul has just finished speaking of true obedience coming from the heart. He now turns to answer questions that skeptics had (and still have!) regardin...

For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. Hebrews 13:14 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." Revelation 21:3, 4 If it wasn't enough that God has forgiven the sins of His people through faith in Jesus Christ, He promises us something in addition that none of us can even fathom. He promises us a new city. He promises to dwell with us, His people, who are set apart as God's treasured possession (Deuteronomy 7:6). Is there anyone who, when thinking about the sinfulness of our flesh, would even consider that a righteous God would love him or her at all? I'm brought to my knees when I think of the rea...

Ok, here it is! Things have been great on the ship. We've had some very good conversation going on and people are fired up to know the truth. I rejoice in that. The band is also trucking through our surface warfare qualification and I think we all have a good chance of finishing this cruise. I'm excited about the opportunity to be a motivator for this to happen. So, Romans Chapter 2...to recap for a bit, Romans 1 defined the Gospel and spoke of its power to save all those who believe. Paul then turned and discussed the decay of human thinking that results from exchanging the truth of God for a lie. Now we find Paul turning his attention to the Jew. I can imagine that the Jews might have been nodding in agreement with Paul in his thoughts on the Gentiles, but now he confronts them in their pride and boasting and probably makes a few enemies for himself. Thank God that Paul was not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and placed the truth higher than his personal well-be...