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Random Ramblings
  
The purpose of this blog is to share devotions along with my random and passing thoughts. Funny posts or serious posts, I hope your time here is blessed and that God will speak to your heart as a result of what you read!
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It was late and not as planned, but we got the wedding done... Jun 8, 2008 6:11 pm
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Some time ago my nephew asked me to perform his wedding ceremony yesterday. The wedding was in a little town south west of Terre Haute, IN. You may have seen in the news where they received over 10" of rain over Friday night resulting in power outages and a lot of flooding.

Many family and friends were unable to get to the church - which didn't have power until a few hours before the wedding. Included in those unable to make it were the pianist and violinist. We delayed as long as they could because Andrew was going to sing to Erica (as a surprise) during the ceremony - and they were going to be the accompaniment for his song.

They eventually found a way to get to the church - after most everybody had departed for the reception. But fortunately, several people were still there for pictures as he sang to his bride.

Christ was honored in the ceremony and I am certain He will be in their marriage also.

Just wanted to share...
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*~*~*~*~Praise Report!!!*~*~*~*~ Jun 4, 2008 8:03 pm
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I was offered a job the last week of May with an uncertain start date. I was excited about the opportunity, but the uncertain start date was a little concerning and delayed my accepting the job.

I received a call yesterday inviting me to an interview this afternoon at 5:15. The interview went really well and I left at 6:40. I barely got out of the parking lot at 6:46 when my cell phone rang offering me the job.

The amazing thing is that the severance agreement with my old job included a six month non-compete. Take a guess when the non-compete ended...TODAY!!!

Do you think our Heavenly Father has things in control?

Thank You and praise You Father! I'm sorry my faith was a little thin a few times over the past six months. You are an awesome God!!!
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~~~do the questions ever go away?~~~ Jun 1, 2008 7:26 am
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I'm in Louisville this morning. Spending the weekend with my son. We went to Bowling Green last night to the dragstrip...they were allowing street cars to run. We raced four times with him barely winning each time. Dad's gonna have to get his car back in the shop and tune it up a bit!

I'm sitting here this morning reflecting on the fun we've had this weekend when the thought of what went wrong began to creep into my mind. This would have been our 23 wedding anniversary. Instead its one month short of the three year anniversary of the beginning of divorce proceedings.

Why did Satan win this battle? Why am I the first and only one in my family to get a divorce? Why would the one I treated like a princess do the things she did? Can anyone be trusted? Is there any reason to look for another relationship? Will it turn out the same way no matter how well I treat her? Should I be content to spend the remainder of my life as a single man? The questions...do they ever go away?

The kids are getting ready and we are going out for breakfast in a few minutes. Just felt the need to ask my BC friends if they have the same questions...or better yet, do they have any answers?
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It was a good day... May 25, 2008 7:10 pm
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...I had the honor and privilege of preaching for the annual Memorial Day service at the church where generations of my family worshipped. They no longer have services there, other than Memorial Day, but it was a special day.

There wasn't an open seat in the building. Even chairs along the back wall were filled. There were family and friends from several states that came in. I was able to visit with folks you don't normally see unless there's a funeral - if you know what I mean.
My great aunt, the last living from that generation was driven seven hours to hear me preach.

As I sat there during the song service, I began to weep. The precious memories, the emotions of my personal losses of the past few years, the unusual gathering of family...I didn't know if I would be able to regain my composure to preach.

Holy Spirit filled me and strengthened me and gave me great liberty to preach. There was a great movement of God during the time of decision...to God alone be the glory.

I just wanted to drop in and share my day with my BC friends. I hope each of you had an awesome day worshipping the King of kings today!
20 Comments
A BLAST FROM THE PAST....Apotle2day May 17, 2008 2:49 pm
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Those who've been around BC awhile remember Apostle2day, Ed. We occasionally share emails. He is doing well. He sent this to me today and thought I might want to post it. Its funny, but unfortunately true:

The Indian and the Bull

An Indian walks into a cafe with a shotgun in one hand pulling a male buffalo with the other. He says to the waiter, "Want coffee."
The waiter says, "Sure, Chief, coming right up." He gets the Indian a tall mug of coffee. The Indian drinks the coffee down in one gulp, turns and blasts the buffalo with the shotgun, causing parts of the animal to splatter everywhere, then just walks out.

The next morning the Indian returns. He has his shotgun in one hand pulling another male buffalo with the other. He walks up to the counter and says to the waiter, "Want coffee."
The waiter says, "Whoa, Tonto! We're still cleaning up your mess from yesterday. What was all that about, anyway?"
The Indian smiles and proudly says, "Training for position in United States Congress. Come in, drink coffee, shoot the bull, leave mess for others to clean up, disappear for the rest of the day."
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I know I said I was leaving, and I am, but I did leave the door open for an occasional blog post... May 13, 2008 12:46 pm
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...so listen up. Irregardless of who said what, who's doing what, and whether or not you agree with what they are saying or doing...would you all just grow up???

If I hadn't already decided to leave, I would have after all of this. I'm gonna tell you like I tell my boys

If you don't have something good to say, don't say anything at all.

Now, if you all can't behave like good little boys and girls...

I'm gonna send you all to your rooms and take away your internet privileges for a week.

Now, go to somebody who you've had words with and seek forgiveness...that is Christ's command, not mine!!!

...and if you don't, it speaks volumes to your relationship with Christ!
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Good Bye Big Church May 9, 2008 1:04 pm
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I feel my time here is finished. I might on occasion drop in and read blogs and possibly occasionally post something, but no promises. LOL. (I will linger for a few days to respond to some ongoing comments on my blogs.)

I've enjoyed many friendships here - some who have already left BC and some who remain today.

I came here in a time of crisis. I was trying to cope with the ending of a 21 year marriage and leaving the pastorate after 14 years. Blogging was my outlet.

Now, it seems BC has become a distraction to me getting on with my life. I tried to scale back a few months ago, but still find myself here too much.

Some of you have my personal email address. If you don't have it, and want to stay in touch with me, I will be happy to provide it.

I appreciate your prayers as I endeavor to seek His will and continue in this journey to heaven...

Solo Deo Gloria!!!
85 Comments
The TRUTH about tithing... May 8, 2008 10:20 am
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Tithing began before the law was introduced. The Law simply regulated the tithe. Abraham tithed to Melchizedek, 400 years before the time of Moses and the Law, and according to Romans 4:12 we are to walk in the footsteps of the faith of Abraham. If tithing was good for him, it should be good for us, too.

We give tithes like Abraham gave them—not by the Law but by faith. And beside that, if the people of God paid ten percent before the Law, and ten percent under the Law, should we, who live by grace, be doing any less since we have a better covenant (Hebrews 7 : 2).

There is a passage in Hebrews, which deals with this issue directly. It is Hebrews 7 : 8 "In the one case, the tenth is collected by men who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living."

Melchizedek received Abraham's tithe. The Hebrew writer shows that Melchizedek is a prefigure of Christ. We can conclude that just as Abraham gave a tithe to Melchizedek we give a tithe to Christ who is declared to be living.

Some people think this is a new issue. It is as old as the second century when more and more Gentiles were being converted. The early Jewish believers had no problem with tithing since they had done it under the Law and gave it to the priests. They simply gave their tithe to the elders of the church and did by love. However, as the church became less Jewish this issue came up to the church fathers. They answered the question of tithing with Matthew 23 : 23 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former."

Notice Jesus said, "You should have practiced the latter (justice, mercy and faithfulness), without neglecting the former (tithing)." The fathers argued, and rightful so, that Jesus word ends the discussion. Since Jesus said not to neglect the former—being tithing—then no believer should neglect tithing. I wholeheartedly agree!

Paul also uses the pattern of tithing under the law in 1 Corinthians 9 : 13 - 14 and says,
"Don't you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel."

Paul argues that just as the priests got their food from the tithes of the people, so the preachers should live the same way. This passage clearly shows the mentality of the apostle and his understanding of carrying over the concept of tithing into the church.

The passage often used to contradict this is 2 Corinthians 9 : 7 "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

The argument goes something like this: "Each believer has a right to decide for himself what to give and should not be told what percentage he should contribute."

The problem with this argument is that the above passage is not dealing with giving to support the church, but rather giving to the poor. Under the Law, giving to the poor was a freewill offering. The Law commanded freewill offerings as well as tithes, "But you are to seek the place the LORD your God will choose from among all your tribes to put his Name there for his dwelling. To that place you must go; there bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, what you have vowed to give and your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks." (Deut 12 : 5 - 6)

It is quite inconsistent for people to appeal to freewill offerings yet claim that tithing has been abolished. Both tithing and freewill offerings were incorporated in the Law as the above passage shows, but they preceded the Law, thus they both should continue to be practiced.

The burden of proof is placed on those who teach that tithing has been abolished. If so, where in the New Testament does it clearly say that tithing has been abolished?

One last thing, notice the resemblance of the language Paul uses in the first passage in Galatians and compare it with the Old Testament passage about tithing:

Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor. (Galatians 6 : 6)

And you and the Levites and the aliens among you shall rejoice in all the good things the LORD your God has given to you and your household. When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied. (Deut 26:11-12)

Galatians 6 is dealing with giving to the teacher of the gospel and he uses the same language about the Levites receiving the tithe of the people and he calls it "all good things." This is pretty good internal evidence that the early church tithed.

(file on my PC, not certain who should get credit for authoring this article)
76 Comments
Home at last, home at last.... May 8, 2008 6:33 am
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...thank God Almighty, I'm home at last!

8 Comments
Homesick May 6, 2008 10:13 pm
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I obtained all the continuing education credits I needed today, so I thought I would check into getting an earlier flight home. To change my flight time was going to cost $280 - that's more than I paid for the round trip ticket to get here!!!

As homesick as I am, I really struggled not to pay it - but common sense prevailed, so I'm stuck there until my flight leaves tomorrow at 7:35...YUCK!!!

I really feel like an old fuddy, duddy. Here I am in Las Vegas and want to go home. Furthermore, I'm to cheap to pay extra to go home early.

Geesh, I'm pathetic...
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