not sure what this proves
I know this is a few days late, but I just read the story about the pastor/church burning the Quran. If you haven’t read anything about it, CNN has a story as does Foxnews.
My first thought is what exactly does this prove? That you can burn the Quran? Any book can be burned.
Historically, book burning has done nothing, but incite violence and confusion.
pray and plan
Around 650 B.C. the Babylonians destroyed the city of Jerusalem. 100 years later, Nehemiah had a vision to return to the destroyed city and rebuild it. Before he did anything sporadically, he prayed and he planned.
Nehemiah didn’t plan for months and then pray to ask God to bless his dreams, he prayed from the beginning and made sure he was in the center of God’s will.
Then when the timing was right, and the King asked Nehemiah what he wanted, Nehemiah had a plan in place.
Pray and plan.
back against the wall
Today, one of the things that stood out to me as I preached from Jonah 2, was Jonah finally realized that his back was against the wall. He had nowhere to go.
He had run as far as he could.
He had avoided God as long as he could.
He finally had to stop avoiding God.
The whale wasn’t the first warning God had sent his way. God sent the storm, he sent the captain to talk to him, and he sent the sailors as well. But Jonah hopped over those obstacles.
God often places obstacles in our way for a purpose. May we realize that before God has to place us in a situation where are backs are against the wall.
the prayer of Jonah
Tomorrow morning, I am going to preach from Jonah chapter 2,which is the prayer of Jonah.
“I called out to the Lord, out of my distress,
and he answered me;
out of the belly of Sheol I cried,
and you heard my voice.
For you cast me into the deep,
into the heart of the seas,
and the flood surrounded me;
all your waves and your billows
passed over me.
Then I said, ‘I am driven away
from your sight;
yet I shall again look
upon your holy temple.’
The waters closed in over me to take my life;
the deep surrounded me;
weeds were wrapped about my head
at the roots of the mountains.
I went down to the land
whose bars closed upon me forever;
yet you brought up my life from the pit,
O Lord my God.” Jonah 2:1-6 ESV
Accountability questions from John Wesley
Today e I was reminded of John Wesley’s list of examination questions that he encouraged everyone to follow.
1. Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?
2. Am I honest in all my acts and words, or do I exaggerate?
3. Do I confidentially pass onto another what was told me in confidence?
4. Am I a slave to dress, friends, work , or habits?
5. Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?
6. Did the Bible live in me today?
7. Do I give it time to speak to me everyday?
8. Am I enjoying prayer?
9. When did I last speak to someone about my faith?
10. Do I pray about the money I spend?
11. Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?
12. Do I disobey God in anything?
13. Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?
14. Am I defeated in any part of my life?
15. Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy or distrustful?
16. How do I spend my spare time?
17. Am I proud?
18. Do I thank God that I am not as other people, especially as the Pharisee who despised the publican?
19. Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold resentment toward or disregard? If so, what am I going to do about it?
20. Do I grumble and complain constantly?
21. Is Christ real to me?
random wednesday thoughts
- Today has been a beautiful cool day. So nice to have a humidity-free day!
- I have taken a semester off of seminary. Too much stuff going on to be fair to my family and myself.
- Some of the framing and electric have been completed at our house. Still much to be done.
- This coming Sunday the Gospel Center is having a Baptism & BBQ. I believe it is important to celebrate baptisms and we plan on doing so on Sunday.
- I love baptizing people!
- Author, Seth Godin wrote why he doesn’t plan on using traditional publishing again [here].
- The CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishing responds why most authors shouldn’t do what Seth Godin is doing [here].
- Have a great week!
friday evening thoughts
- We just finished archery week with some of our up7street crew. Lots of fun!
- John Sherman does a fantastic joy intertwining archery and character lessons.
- Busy week with family, ministry and remodeling.
- Today Arlene and I were able to see baby Booth # 2 via ultrasound! It was pretty neat to see the baby’s heart beating and the little arms and legs kicking
- Can’t believe I get to be a dad again!
- In the crazy activity, I totally missed the annual religious book sale! It is the largest one in our area. I attended it eight consecutive years. Oh well.
- Have a great weekend!
four links of interest
- Mark Driscoll responds to Ann Rice “quitting” Christianity.
- Disney princesses deconstructed
- Scott McKnight asks Brian McLaren to clarify some of his viewpoints.
- I always enjoy Michael Hyatt’s posts on productivity. He did another great post today.
random friday thoughts
- It has been sometime since I have done one of these lists!
- Crazy, busy summer.
- We have been ripping things out of our new home.
- I have learned to despise old plaster and fir strips It is so messy.
- Archery camp for our teens starts next Tuesday. This is the final event we have for our teens this summer.
- Looking forward to our first ever baptism and BBQ. If you want to get baptized, talk to me this weekend.
- Been enjoying Evernote.
- I was out front of the Gospel Center and this guy I met in jail came up to shake my hand. In the process I dropped my iPhone and the screen shattered.
- In the past few weeks, we have received and given around 100 boxes of baked goods and other food items.
- Have a great weekend!
