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I've been listening to Pastor Joe Focht from Calvary Chapel Philadelphia on my smart phone. He goes verse by verse and the whole bible is available on the app or website. I have found that listening to the Word of God explained in the car is much better than talk radio! See the link below.
- dr joe
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Food for Thought...
I believe our nation is headed for very hard, even disastrous times. I do not believe politics will fix our economy - it's too far gone - too much debt to ever pay back. We depend completely on our fragile technological infrastructure for food, water, shelter, transportation, and entertainment. Any number of events could cause a sudden collapse of our system e.g., electric grid collapse from terrorism, natural event like solar flare, simple breakdown from lack of modernization, or Israel attacks Iran and the price of oil skyrockets, or China stops buying our treasury bonds. I am feeling called to prepare for such disaster by working to be less dependent and more self-sufficient. If you have interest in or questions about this line of thinking, please e-mail me by replying to this e-mail. Below are some of my favorite links:
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Luke 18:18-27
18Once a religious leader asked Jesus this question: "Good Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?" 19"Why do you call me good?" Jesus asked him. "Only God is truly good.
( The guy was right because Jesus is God!) 20But to answer your question, you know the commandments: 'You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother.'"
21The man replied, "I've obeyed all these commandments since I was young."
22When Jesus heard his answer, he said,
"There is still one thing you haven't done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." ( Following Jesus is the only way. Whatever it takes, whatever we need to give up to do it.)
23But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very rich.
24When Jesus saw this, he said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God! 25In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!"
26Those who heard this said, "Then who in the world can be saved?"
27He replied, "What is impossible for people is possible with God."
This man's wealth made his life comfortable and gave him power and prestige. When Jesus told him to sell everything he owned, Jesus was touching the very basis of his security and identity. The man did not understand that he would be even more secure if he followed Jesus than he was with all his wealth. Jesus does not ask all believers to sell everything they have, although this may be his will for some. He does ask us all, however, to get rid of anything that has become more important than God. If your basis for security has shifted from God to what you own, it would be better for you to get rid of those possessions.
Verse and commentary above and below in this color is copied from the Life Application Study Bible Reading Plan on YouVersion. Check it out at: http://www.youversion.com/ .
Any Dr JOE comments will be in BLUE :0)
Acts 20:13-12
13
Paul went by land to Assos, where he had arranged for us to join him (Luke is writing this so when he says us or we he is referring to himself going.), while we traveled by ship.
14He joined us there, and we sailed together to Mitylene. 15The next day we sailed past the island of Kios. The following day we crossed to the island of Samos, and a day later we arrived at Miletus.
16Paul had decided to sail on past Ephesus, for he didn't want to spend any more time in the province of Asia. He was hurrying to get to Jerusalem, if possible, in time for the Festival of Pentecost. 17But when we landed at Miletus, he sent a message to the elders of the church at Ephesus, asking them to come and meet him.
18When they arrived he declared, "You know that from the day I set foot in the province of Asia until now 19 I have done the Lord's work humbly and with many tears. I have endured the trials that came to me from the plots of the Jews. 20 I never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear, either publicly or in your homes.
21
I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike-the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus. (It's the same message for us!)
22"And now I am bound by the Spirit
to go to Jerusalem. ( Paul was listening to the Holy Spirit's leading. Are we?) I don't know what awaits me,
23 except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. 24
But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus-the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God. (Not everyone is called to evangelism like Paul, but everyone is called to do the part God wants us to. If you don't know what He is asking of you, start by surrendering your life to Him and wait. It's His job to make it clear to you. Read the Bible, pray, listen, wait.)
25"And now I know that none of you to whom I have preached the Kingdom will ever see me again. 26 I declare today that I have been faithful. If anyone suffers eternal death, it's not my fault, 27
for I didn't shrink from declaring all that God wants you to know. (I love that the Bible shows how God uses imperfect people. Paul seems a little cocky here. Know anyone like that? Ok, so I'm working on it, ok?)
28 "So guard yourselves and God's people. Feed and shepherd God's flock-his church, purchased with his own blood-over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as elders. 29 I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. 30 Even some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following. 31 Watch out! Remember the three years I was with you-my constant watch and care over you night and day, and my many tears for you. 32 "And now I entrust you to God and the message of his grace that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those he has set apart for himself.
God has set you apart for His purpose. There is nothing more fulfilling, important, and enjoyable than doing what He designed you to do! Ask Him to clearly show you what He wants you to do today.
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Questions?
Please email me with any questions about today's scripture message or anything related to the Bible or Christianity.
I might not know the answer but I'll try real hard to find it.
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