Our adult and children’s choirs at church are doing a really neat arrangement of Little Drummer Boy in a few weeks. I was given the neat honor of being asked to choreograph something to it. I don’t want to give away anything, so there won’t be any details about what is going to happen in this post. Instead, I want to share what God has shown me with this song.

This was one of my favorite Christmas songs when I was a kid and it remained high on my list until even a few months ago. It definitely ranks even higher now. As a kid I loved that this little kid who didn’t have anything to give this precious baby was not only allowed to play for Him, but was welcomed to play for Him. I literally daydreamed about being the kid who Jesus smiled at. It seems kind of silly, but I think that it shows something that is in all our hearts.

When we look at God and know how completely holy He is and see ourselves in the light of that, we see that we are unworthy of even being in His presence. Much less giving Him anything! If we really understand that we have nothing to offer Him, then we approach Him with the same sentiment as the drummer boy. “I have nothing for you Jesus. Nothing that is worthy of you. But I can play my drum. Will you accept that?”

His answer is a resounding “Yes!” That is just exactly what He wants from us! He wants us to see Himself and know that there is nothing that we can ever give Him that is a worthy gift. But He wants and accepts our lives. He wants us to worship Him. With our pitiful little drum, we are to worship Him. That is the only gift any of us has to offer — to worship Him with our entire life.

Do you think that your gift is too lowly? Too lowly for the King of kings who humbled Himself and was born in a stinky, dirty stable? Too lowly for the Creator of the universe who subjected Himself to die the most humiliating death there is, death on the cross? Too lowly for the Lord of heaven who descended to hell in order to free us for eternity? You’re right! It is too lowly! But He wants it. He cherishes it. He honors and will one day glorify all those pitiful gifts! And He gave us the gift. He gave us the gift so that we would give it back to Him.

What are you holding back because it is too pitiful? Is it your song? Your ability with numbers? Or maybe your compassion? Is it your life? I beg you, give Him your all! He will accept it. And just like in the song, He will smile at you. He will fill you with His joy and peace! Go worship!!!

Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.

Psalm 29:2

“Were I asked to focus the New Testament message in three words, my proposal would be adoption through propitiation, and I do not expect ever to meet a richer or more pregnant summary of the gospel than that.” —J.I. Packer

Source: Of Firt Importance

Devamını Okuyun istediğim gözle görünsün

Merhaba takipçiler ya da bilmiyorum öyle mi demeliyim . Blog`a başlayalı 3 gün oldu fakat şuan sadece bir yorum görüyorum . Eleştirin , beğenin birşeyler yazın çünkü kendimi yanlız hissediyorum blog`da ve beğenilmediğini düşünüyorum sizce bu erken mi ?

Vulture Capalist – noun ~
***A businessman who is looking to buy companies at giveaway prices, as opposed to venture capitalists.

Example:
“It’s well known that the business is having major problems paying its bills, so I guess it won’t be long before the vulture capitalists start circling.”

Don’t be a tattletale. I heard it very young. I was the child who told everyone what I saw. At the time I didn’t know that I was being a pain in the ass, I was just trying to be interesting; I was trying to fit in and get everyone to be my friend. I told everyone everything; I told my babysitter about my mom’s lovers, I told the teacher who was trying to learn how to kiss in the back of the class, I told the pastor who really prayed in Sunday School.

Of course I developed many enemies,and at first I had no clue why. I spent many a days crying because someone had yelled at me for “spreading their business” and it broke my little seven year old heart. What the hell were they talking about? I was just talking?! She said she wanted to know what you did yesterday so I told her. Why shouldn’t I tell her she’s your best friend?!! But as I eventually learned in many cases it’s best to not be the center of attention. Keep your mouth shut and your head low; you’ll learn much more that way.

After a while though, you stop talking in cases where you really should talk. Who decides when it’s a good idea to talk and when it’s not? Hmm…let’s see, how about that person that just got shot across the street? Whose shooter you saw, know, and go to the swap meet with every Sunday who will now walk away free because you said nothing? Is that ok? Is it really ok to just walk away from stuff like that and not say a word?

When we do say a word what happens? We have to go down to the police station, fill out a report, and go to court to tell everyone ” Yes that’s the guy”.

It’s hard as hell to be the right guy. I know the movies give off this “Disney-like” sterotype that says the minute you tell the truth the entire town will run down the street with collered streamers and give you a hero’s parade, but trust me, that’s not the way it usually goes. If anything sometimes the people you love most in your life will turn their backs on you. Because you’re different. Because you stood out in the crowd and said the right thing.

http://www.free-tv-video-online.info/player/smotri.php?id=v10594222806

신명기의 제사관련 내용은 성경에서 가장 지루하고 별로 생각할 것 없는 무미건조한 내용이라고 생각해왔는데, 사실 그 내용을 잘 살펴보면 굉장한 의미가 있고 감동적인 내용을 담고 있다는 것을 알 수 있다.

5장까지 내용을 보면 5가지 종류의 명확히 구분되는 제사가 나온다.

• 1장 – Burnt Offering (번제)
• 2장 – Grain Offering/Meal Offering (곡식제)
• 3장 – Fellowship/Peace Offering(화목제)
• 4장 – Sin Offering(속제죄)
• 5장 – Repayment/Guilt/Trespassing Offering(속건제)

Wiersbe의 설명에 따르면 각각 Christ’s Complete Dedication(Burnt), Christ’s Perfection(Meal), Christ Our Peace(Peace), Christ Made Sin For Us(Sin), Christ Paying Sin’s Dept(Trespassing)이라는 의미를 가진다. 모두 그리스도를 상징하는 것이다. 하나님의 경륜으로 보자면 그분이 하나님께 consecrated되어(burnt) deliverance를 위해 준비되어지는 것으로 시작할 수 있다. 인간 입장에서 보자면 각각의 죄를 깨닫고(guilt), 인간이 죄인임을 깨닫고(sin), 예수님으로 인한 하나님과의 화목을 알게되고(fellowship), 예수님의 완전함을 알게되고(grain), 결국 하나님이 이 예수님을 영원전부터 준비하셨음을 알게된다(burnt)

Hebrew 10:14는 예수님이 이 모든 제사를 단번에 완벽하게 끝내셨음을 설명한다.

For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. Hebrew 10:14

제사의 기본 아이디어는 sacrifice이다. 예수님은 그것을 단번에 완전히 그리고 영원히 이루셨다. 이스라엘은 제사장의 나라로서 철저하게 그 상징을 위해서 존재했던 것이다. 인생의 모든 원리가 다 그렇다. 인생은 상징으로 가득 차 있으며 그것이 나타내는 영원한 의미를 위해 그것을 지키려고 노력하는 것이다.

I remember the confusion I experienced understanding salvation when I first read the Bible. I had heard that whoever believes in Jesus was saved and forgiven for all their sins. But two passages of Scripture confused me as I made my way through the New Testament, the first concerned blaspheming the Holy Spirit, and the second addressed falling away.

I found this note in the Life Application Study Bible on 1John 1:9 very helpful:

1:9 Confession is supposed to free us to enjoy fellowship with Christ. It should ease our consciences and lighten our cares. But some Christians do not understand how it works. They feel so guilty that they confess the same sins over and over, and then they wonder if they might have forgotten something. Other Christians believe God forgives them when they confess, but if they died with unconfessed sins, they would be forever lost. These Christians do not understand that God wants to forgive us. He allowed his beloved Son to die just so he could pardon us. When we come to Christ, he forgives all the sins we have committed or will ever commit. We don’t need to fear that he will cast us out if we don’t keep our slate perfectly clean (John 6:37). Of course we want to continue to confess our sins, but not because we think failure to do so will make us lose our salvation. Our relationship with Christ is secure (John 6:47). Instead, we confess so we can enjoy maximum fellowship and joy with him.

True confession also involves a commitment not to continue in sin. We are not genuinely confessing our sins before God if we plan to commit the sin again and just want temporary forgiveness. We must pray for strength to defeat the temptation the next time it appears.

In addition, the following article from the Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible explains that God forgives all who repent for blaspheming the Holy Spirit. Indeed God forgives all people for all sin if they repent and believe in Jesus Christ (1John 1:7). And the subsequent excerpt from the section titled The Interpreter of John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress, looks at falling away, and explains that it is only unrepentance that prevents people from receiving God’s forgiveness. Lastly, three passages from Holy Scripture close the article.

From the note on Mark 3:28,29 of the Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible:

3:28-29 This important saying of our Lord referring to the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit occurs also in Mt. 12:31,32 and Lk. 12:10. It speaks of God’s willingness and ability to forgive anyone of any sin and of all their sins put together. It is to be noted that these words of the Lord were spoken immediately after the accusation was made against Him that the works He was doing were done by the power of Beelzebul, the chief of the demons (see Mt. 12:22-30; Mk. 3:20-27). In Lk. 12:10 the Lord’s saying about the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is separated from the context of the discussion concerning Jesus and Beelzebul which is given in Lk. 11:14-23. The words of Christ become far more understandable if we examine what occasioned them. What the Lord wanted to teach after this discussion regarding the activity of the devil among men was this: The devil is really not the countertype of the Lord Jesus in the plan of man’s salvation, but he is the countertype of the Holy Spirit who’s function is to convict unto repentance or reprove the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment (Jn.16:8-15). The devil counteracts this conviction. The verb that is translated as “convict” in Jn. 16:8 is elegxei which means “to bring under conviction.” The Holy Spirit here is presented as the one who brings judgment upon the devil. The two are counteracting each other. The first statement that is made by Christ is that each sin (hamartia, 266), all sins together (pasa, 3956) and blasphemy (blasphemia, 988) shall be forgiven. Mark 3:28, instead of saying every sin and blasphemy, says panta, “all sins,” the neuter plural of pas (3956). The word “blasphemies” means to say something which hurts a person. Hamartia is the inclusive name of all kinds of sins, missing the mark of any kind which God has set for man’s goal. What is stated in this first word is that God is both ready and able to forgive anything. In order to comprehend this, we must first understand the meaning of the word “forgiven,” (aphiemi, 863). It means to send away, to remove the sin from the sinner, so that he is free from it in order that the sin can never be found and charged against him before the judgment seat of God. It is not overlooking the sin, paresis(3929), but removing the sin from the sinner, aphesis (859). In this connection see note on Rom. 3:25. Secondly, observe that this verb is in the passive voice, which means any and all sins will be removed by God. God must be understood at the agent who removes the sin from the sinner. This is particularly the function of Jesus Christ who took upon Himself man’s sin. We must remember however, that no personality of the triune God acts independently, but always in complete and united agreement and cooperation with the other personalities of the Trinity. Thus the agent of “shall be forgiven,” (aphethesetai), must be understood to be God in general and Christ in particular. Thirdly, this verb “shall be forgiven” is in the punctiliar future which means that it will be taken away each time that it is necessary to do so, and it will be done repetitively. It indicates that the forgiveness which man experiences from God is available whenever man asks for it in true repentance. The objects of this forgiveness are “the sons of men” (Mk. 3:28), “men” (Mt. 12:31) and “him” (Lk. 12:10).

In Mk. 3:28 we have panta ta hamartemata, “all the sins.” The word for “sins” here is hamartemata (265) and not hamartia as in Mt. 12:31. Hamartema (singular), as all nouns ending in ma, indicates the result of an action. In this instance, hamartemata(plural) indicates sins as individual acts or the bad reputation resulting from them. The comprehensiveness of the forgiveness which God can give to the sinner is made very clear here. Not only all sin (hamartia) or sinfulness in itself, but also the individual acts of sin, as well as their ill repute brought upon the sinner, are removed. This forgiveness, however, we know from other Scriptures is not automatic, but depends on our true repentance. Every sin is forgiven by God consequent to man’s repentance, and man’s repentance is consequent to the activity of the Holy Spirit in a man’s life. If man resists that activity of the Holy Spirit, he will be unconvicted of either his sinfulness in general or his sin in particular and its ill repute; if man is unconvicted by the Holy Spirit, he will not repent. Consequently, God will not remove that sin or its effects.

Mark adds something which the other two evangelists do not in this first statement about God’s readiness and ability to forgive all sin and blasphemy: “Whatever blasphemies they may utter.” More literally this should be translated: “and blasphemies, (the reports that men will give which will hurt God’s reputation among men) whatever these blasphemies may be if they shall blaspheme.” The verb blasphemesosin, “will blaspheme,” is in the punctiliar future which means at one time and not continuously as a perpetual and uninterrupted mode of life. The Lord is here declaring that no matter how careful we are, we can never live in such a perfect way as to always cause others to believe all that they should about our God whom we represent among them. Our actions portray a different God than what our mouths proclaim. Many times we give the wrong impression to others about our Lord whom we profess to follow. These wrong reputations of God, blasphemiai, will be forgiven. We who love Him allow His Holy Spirit to convict us of our shortcomings in adequately representing God among others. As a result of that conviction, there is the removal of the harm which we have done to the testimony of God.

For a more complete understanding of what these blasphemies are which are generally spoken of by Mark, we must go to Mt. 12:32. Jesus said, “And whoever shall speak a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him.” The Son of Man here is Jesus Christ. In order for a sinner to appropriate Christ he must repent of his sin (Rom. 10:9; Jn 1:12). But, in order that we may be convicted of our sin, it is necessary for us to allow the Holy Spirit to work in us. In other words, any sin that we confess to the Lord Jesus Christ He will forgive, being able and ready to remove it from us. But, if an individual has not been convicted of sin, how can he confess Christ? And this is what makes the next statement of our Lord in Mt. 12:32 understandable: “But whoever shall speak against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him.” In Mk. 3:29 is says, “But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness.” And in Lk. 12:10 we read, “But he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him.” The verb in Mt. 12:32 is eipe, the subjunctive aorist of lego (3004), which is, “to say at one particular time with full understanding of what one says.” In Mk. 3:29 it is blasphemese the aorist subjunctive of blasphemeo. In Lk. 12:10 it is blasphemesanti. This is a participial noun in the aorist, meaning the one having blasphemed in the past at one particular time or repetitively. It is used as a supposition, meaning that if at any time in the past he did blaspheme. Both words eipe, “say,” and blasphemesanti (being an aorist participle), “having blasphemed,” are indicative of the fact that this saying or blasphemy is a one-time blasphemy either once or on different occasions, and not a continuous life of blasphemy, i.e., constantly attacking the person and work of the Holy Spirit and His reputation among men. This refers first to the resistance against the Holy Spirit for His conviction unto salvation, the initial repentance of man. The declaration is that no one who resists the convicting power of the Holy Spirit can be saved. The secondary meaning is that no one, not even the believer, will be able to escape the consequence of his willful sin (hamartema) if he does not allow the Holy Spirit to convict him of these specific sins, or sinfulness in general, which has hurt God’s reputation among men (Heb. 10:26,27).

As to the relationship of the sin of blasphemy to the Holy Spirit in Mt. 12:32, we have it thus, “But whoever shall speak against (Kata, 2596) the Holy Spirit.” In Mark 3:29 we have, “But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit.” In Greek it does not say “against” but “unto” (eis, 1519), which means “unto or in the face of.” In Lk. 12:10 the same preposition is used. Actually the use of this preposition, eis, makes the blasphemy worse. With kata, “against,” we may understand that the blasphemy is spoken against the Holy Sprit to others, but with the prepositioneis we may understand that the blasphemy is hurled directly in the face of the Holy Spirit. It is as if man is defying the Holy Spirit and saying, “There is nothing you can do to divert me from my present sinful course. I am going to have my own way regardless of the shame brought upon the name of Christ.” The remarks of all three evangelists differ in the last statement concerning the impossibility of forgiveness here and in the hereafter in the absence of man’s acknowledgement of his sin, and consequent convicting of the Holy Spirit. Mt. 12:32 says, “It shall not be forgiven him, either in this age, or in the age to come.” The verbouk aphethesetai, translated “shall not be forgiven,” is in the passive punctiliar future, which means it shall not be forgiven by God, and in particular by Jesus Christ, at any specific time in the future. Matthew says, “shall not be forgiven him,” (auto), meaning, “will not be removed from him.” Put positively, it means it will be counted against him, either in hindering him from entrance into heaven if he only had a false repentance. Mk. 3:29 says, “never has forgiveness.” A more literal translation of the Greek text is, “does not have remission unto the aeon.” Luke simply says, “shall not be forgiven” (ouk aphethesetai). Matthew, however, is the most explicit in saying, “either in this age, or in the age to come.” This is proof that the fate of man as it is determined in this age cannot be altered in the next age. If one does not submit to the convicting power of the Holy Spirit and repent, in the future, God is not going to grant that person exemption from the consequences of his failure to repent during his earthly life. The bed that one makes in his life will be the one he must lie in for eternity!

Only Mark 3:29 has the concluding phrase, “But is guilty of an eternal sin.” The Greek text says, “But guilty is he of eternal judgment.” “Guilty” in Greek is enochos (1777), from the verbenecho and enechomai (1758), “to be held fast, bound, obligated.”

Therefore, enochos means guilty and deserving of the punishment to which he is subject, as also in Mt. 26:66; Mk. 3:29; 14:64. Observe that the verb estin (eimi, 1510) is in the present tense. He is guilty right now, not will be guilty. This guilt is always upon the man who does not recognize the Holy Spirit’s conviction. There is no chance of repenting in the hereafter. If he would recognize it and seek forgiveness here, then he would not be liable at the eternal judgment.

Eternal judgment is based upon the judgment of sin on this earth. In eternity God is going to respect our will which we have exercised in the here and now. If we chose to defy God here and the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, then God is going to defy us in eternity and let us reap the results of the choice which we made. The last phrase of Mk. 3:29 in the Textus Receptus isaionibu kriseos, “eternal judgment or condemnation.” In other manuscripts, instead of kriseos, “judgment,” we havehamartematos, “individual sin or the result of sin,” which agrees with hamartemata in v. 28 in the phrase “all sins…whatever blasphemies.” Both words, krisis and hamartema, would fit perfectly. If it is krisis (2920), it refers to the ultimate judgment of God which means separating or sifting the good from the evil (Mt. 13:41-43; 49-50), but it also includes the punishment for the evil. If we take it as hamartematos, it would refer to the consequence or the result of our unconfessed and unredeemed sin on earth. The adjective aioniou (166) refers to the eternal judgment, that judgment that will have an effect upon us in the future aeon, “generation” or “age.” Since Matthew speaks both of the present generation and the future generation, this must refer to the future generation when we will be judged as to whether we believed on the Lord unto salvation and also for our walk of the life of faith. The phrase aionios krisis, “eternal judgment,” never occurs anywhere else in the N.T. The closest to it we have is in II Thess. 1:9 where it speaks of “everlasting destruction” (olethron, 3639, aioniou); and in Jude 7, “the vengeance of eternal fire,” which in Greek is “of fire,” puros (4442), “eternal,” aioniou in the genitive, “vengeance or judgment,” diken (1349), as a synonym of krisis.

As far as aionion hamartema, “eternal result of sin,” we find it nowhere else in the N.T.

This excerpt is taken from John Bunyan’s legendary classic The Pilgrim’s Progress, from the chapter titled The Interpreter:

So he took him by the hand again, and led him into a very dark room, where there sat a man in an iron cage.

Now, the man seemed very sad to look on. He sat with his eyes looking down to the ground; his hands folded together; and he sighed as if he would break his heart. Then CHRISTIAN asked, “What does this mean?” At which the INTERPRETER bid him talk with the man.

Christian. Then CHRISTIAN said to the man, “What are you?”

Backslider. The man answered, “I am what I was not once.”

Chr. What were you once?

Back. The man said, “I was once a fair and flourishing professor, both in my own eyes and also in the eyes of others: I once was, as I thought, right for the Celestial City, and even had joy at the thought that I should get there.”

“But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.” Luke 8:13

Chr. Well, but what are you now?

Back. I am now a man of despair, and am shut up in it, as in this iron cage. I cannot get out; oh now, I cannot!

Chr. But how did you come to be in this condition?

Back. I stopped watching over my soul; I laid the reins upon the neck of my lusts; I sinned against the Light of the World, and the goodness of God. I have grieved the Spirit, and he is gone. I tempted the devil, and he has come to me. I have provoked God to anger, and he has left me. I have so hardened my heart, that I cannot repent.

Then CHRISTIAN asked the INTERPRETER, “But is there no hope for such a man as this?” “Ask him,” said the INTERPRETER.

Chr. Then said CHRISTIAN, “Is there no hope. Must you be kept in the iron cage of despair?”

Back. No, none at all!

Chr. Why? The Son of the Blessed is very pitiful.

Back. I have crucified him to myself afresh;

“if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.” Hebrews 6:6
I have despised his person;

“But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’” Luke 19:14
I have despised his righteousness; I have counted his blood an unholy thing; I have done despite to the Spirit of grace:

“For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?” Hebrews 10:26-29
Therefore I have shut myself out of all the promises, and there now remains for me nothing but threatenings–dreadful threatenings –fearful threatenings, of certain judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour me as an adversary.

Chr. For what did you bring yourself into this condition?

Back. For the lusts, pleasures, and profits of this world; in the enjoyment of which I promised myself much delight; but now everyone of those things bites me and gnaws me like a burning worm.

Chr. But can’t you not now repent and turn?

Back. God has denied me repentance. His Word gives me no encouragement to believe: yes, he himself has shut me up in this iron cage; nor can all the men in the world let me out. Oh, eternity! eternity! how shall I grapple with the misery that I must meet with in eternity?

Inter. Then the INTERPRETER said to CHRISTIAN, “Let this man’s misery be remembered by you, and be an everlasting caution to you.”

Revelation 21:8 warns us, “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

And Ezekiel 33:10-20 informs us concerning death:

10 “Therefore you, O son of man, say to the house of Israel: ‘Thus you say, “If our transgressions and our sins lie upon us, and we pine away in them, how can we then live?”’
11 “Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’
12 “Therefore you, O son of man, say to the children of your people: ‘The righteousness of the righteous man shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression; as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall because of it in the day that he turns from his wickedness; nor shall the righteous be able to live because of his righteousness in the day that he sins.’
13 “When I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, but he trusts in his own righteousness and commits iniquity, none of his righteous works shall be remembered; but because of the iniquity that he has committed, he shall die.
14 “Again, when I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ if he turns from his sin and does what is lawful and right,
15 “if the wicked restores the pledge, gives back what he has stolen, and walks in the statutes of life without committing iniquity, he shall surely live; he shall not die.
16 “None of his sins which he has committed shall be remembered against him; he has done what is lawful and right; he shall surely live.
17 “Yet the children of your people say, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ But it is their way which is not fair!
18 “When the righteous turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, he shall die because of it.
19 “But when the wicked turns from his wickedness and does what is lawful and right, he shall live because of it.
20 “Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ O house of Israel, I will judge every one of you according to his own ways.”

Finally, 1John 1:7 blesses us with these words, “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

Meekness does not equal weakness!

The world view is that meekness is the same as weakness. Listen to today’s message on our podcast.

Today we look at the next fruit of the spirit……meekness

This was one of my first ever spoken word pieces….enjoy

I vibe off a thought try to write a little poetry
Wont put my name on it but still you know it’s me
Subject, flow, timing, vocabulary
Hints of emotion, lo and behold you know it’s me

The plain and simple
The unspectacular
Till I fight into your senses
With adjectives to back me up
Against a wall of truth
I survive on the unseen eternal fruits

You see I have an underground vineyard
Everything I produce connoisseurs wanna sample the
Laboured for fruits of my youth
In a quake off the Richter scale my roots wouldn’t move
And I have nothing to prove for I’m that deep

Reluctantly fashionable I only work for big companies yet its not big company I keep
And I hold real not prototyped hyped new age beliefs

I am the topside of a chocolate digestive
Provoking gluttonous lusts yet the most resisted
So I take calculated risks if victory exists
And at the site of beauty I just lick my lips
For its just its…
The don king of moments
The little bit of crazy that everyone goes with

The versatile black that flows with any outfit
Make gold look good
Softly spoken realist
Spiritual apprentice
I was bought by love
Will never be rented
I AM

I find it hard to believe the sheer extent of God’s love sometimes.

After reading about His raging anger upon Israel via Hosea, the Lord God proclaimed that He would “heal their waywardness and love them freely, for (His) anger has turned away from them” in the last chapter. It’s a drastic contrast from the promised destruction and punishment that dominate most of the book.

How can I give you up, Ephraim?
How can I hand you over, Israel?
How can I treat you like Admah?
How can I make you like Zeboiim?
My heart is changed within me;
all my compassion is aroused.
I will not carry out my fierce anger,
nor will I turn and devastate Ephraim.
For I am God, and not man -
the Holy one among you.
I will not come in wrath.

The distinction is crystal clear – He is God through and through. We often respond to injustice with revenge and rage. Even a heartfelt apology might not suffice at times. God, on the other hand, responds to repentance by Renewing His Covenant of Love.

I’m wowed again and again by the King of Kings.

Im Rahmen meiner Ausbildung saß ich lange an der Entwicklung eines Makros…jetzt habe ich es endlich geschafft: Version 1.0 ist fertiggestellt und wird wahrscheinlich morgen am 23.11.2009 released.

Das erste Projekt in meiner Ausbildung. Ein Makro, durch das die Berichtshefte automatisiert aus den Exporten unserer Zeitabrechnung generiert. Die erste “Software” die ich von vorne bis hinten entwickelt habe. Es ist schon irgenwie ein tolles Gefühl es endlich geschafft zu haben. Angefangen habe ich im September dieses Jahres. Und jetzt im November bin ich endlich fertig. Und morgen steht das Release an. Ein wenig aufgeregt bin ich schon; auf die Reaktion der anderen Azubis, denen durch das Makro eine Menge Arbeit erspart bleibt. Und sicherlich wird auch noch der ein oder andere Fehler entdeckt werden.

Es ist mein erstes Projekt. Meine erste selbst erstellte “Software”. Mein erster Kontakt mit VBA. Oft habe ich mir den Kopf zermatert, da irgendetwas nicht so funktioniert hat, wie ich es dachte. Eben habe ich noch die letzten Bugs gefixt, die mir auffielen. Auch mit der Testphase bin ich soweit durch. Fehler konnte ich keine mehr entdecken. Ich hoffe, dass das auch so bleibt.

Version 1.0 ist startklar für den Dauereinsatz

Scripture to read today:

Matthew 11; Matthew 12; Matthew 13

Scripture that spoke to me:
Matthew 11:18-19
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.” ‘ But wisdom is proved right by her actions.”

Matthew 23:34
For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.

Observation:
Both John and Jesus came to the people with some things that they didn’t want to hear. No one wants to be told they’re wrong- especially if they thing they’re right! So the answer must be “they have a demon.” But look past their words to their actions. That’s where you see the goodness and rightness. The words were right too, but the actions is where you got to see that fact.

Application:
I talk a lot. I enjoy a good conversation- and I know how to listen as well. I’m sure my mouth says many things, and I hope they are all true. But I’m even more hopeful that my actions back up my words. It is hard to always do the right thing, and I know there are times that I fail miserably. But I have other people watching me for the right way to live. If  I want my kids to be good people, I have to set an example. I can’t just tell them how to live and then go live some other way.

Prayer:
Lord, let my words and my actions be a reflection of You to others. Help me not be proud that I am right but pleased that I am not wrong. Let me resist the temptations of this world. Amen.

“There is a new update available for download (ver. 2.2.1). To install, click the link below.”

Ahh…updates. No, I’m not talking about me writing a blog post to say how much work I’m not doing, nor to ramble on about things happening in my life. I’m talking about technical updates for programs, hardware, software, and most importantly…operating systems. Because this is a tech post. And unless you’re a nerd, it will be boring. Go read something else.

Okay, so I’ve been beta-testing the new Microsoft Office 2010 programs for the past week. I have two words: HOLY CRAP. Microsoft, since they’ve fallen sadly behind Apple on the popularity chart, has to begin ramping up the actual quality of its products, because people don’t just buy Windows stuff without thinking anymore. And I’ve heard so much whining about the interfaces on the 2007 products in my own circles, I can’t imagine how many whiny, spoiled people complained to Microsoft about it themselves. (Personally, I really liked the 2007 change. It was new, well-thought-out, and gave a fresh rejuvenation to a very old and firmly-established product line.)

But when people got wise to the design flaws (tabs were sometimes confusing, buttons were placed oddly, less customization was possible, etc.) and began having Windows ME-like daymares with Vista, talk began to circulate of a savior to the common man oppressed by poor programmers: CollabNet’s OpenOffice!

OpenOffice is a free, community-driven suite of programs that run the MS Office files, Mac files, Linux files, and basically any other file you can possibly find on any computer since 1985. The suite contains equivalents for Word, Excel, Access, Powerpoint, and Publisher, is compatible with almost every operating system, has peer-created content by the gigabyte, and is laid out just like the good ol’ days of MS Office 2003. Wow. What a great find. And best of all, it’s FREE. Yeah. Check it out here.

I’ll admit: I tried it. I already have Office ‘07 installed, and I already really like it, but I thought, “Why not?” Thirty minutes later, I realized why not.

(In my opinion:) It’s terrible. I don’t really know why. But it bugs me the heck out. Everything seems so…Linux. Which is correct, I guess, because it is. What else would be compatible with everything? The interface is old and decaying, the file extension process is confusing and not for surface users, and the running programs are hefty and awkward. Seriously, see for yourself. (If you like it, more power to you. If not, maybe you’ll agree with me on the next few paragraphs.)

I don’t think Microsoft will quickly release its hold on the word processing business. I know Apple is developing new software, and that Adobe is getting in on the cloud-processing, but Microsoft loves its money. And the Office programs can reach $680 for its “Ultimate” package. Huge business will buy thousands of licenses for these programs, and that’s hundreds of thousands of dollars in profit for the Gates kingdom. And now, with the server technologies developing into multi-billion-dollar revenue-generators, they’ve kept ahead of the game with their OneNote and SharePoint programs, their Office Live online suite and collaboration, and the release of betas for testing by the general public. It’s really incredible business.

Now, for a review of the Office 2010 beta:

Beyond satisfactory. Microsoft is beginning to impress me with their innovation. The new big thing is user themes (the user can create their own theme by selecting pictures, colors, module positions, etc. for their programs), and ‘10 now caters to that idea. The modules, very similar to 2007, are now much more user-maneuverable, and the options everything on the interface now offers are tremendously helpful. Searches have been streamlined to work better for less-experienced users, and return a wide variety of inputted results. Programs like Outlook now offer email string collapsibles, much like advanced coding programs. Contacts have the ability to be connected to and from popular social networking sites via developer kits and smart people. The tabular layouts have been kept, but dumbed-down for the more-confused user who can’t just look at pretty pictures. Word provides easy access to much-used properties; Excel looks excatly the same, but better; PowerPoint won’t confuse anybody anymore, ever; and Access is full of brand new awesomeness that I never actually compared to 2007. It’s probably exactly the same, too. But everything has the look of a cleaner, polished, “this isn’t a test anymore” program, and it’s about time, since Apple has made more headway in the last three years than probably expected.

If Microsoft wants to stay on top of the game in the upcoming battle for customers, they need to quit thinking like they own everything forever. Because even if they do, it’s not an excuse for lukewarm quality. And there’s plenty more companies willing to get in on the action when something bad happens.

A note to consumers: Don’t settle. Don’t ever settle. Look around for programs that fill your needs, and do so with the least amount of discomfort to your and your hard drive. OpenOffice is a great example of teamwork and Linux programming. Adobe’s Acrobat.com is good example of web-based word processing. I’ve been using it for over two years, and it hasn’t failed me yet. And there’s tons more freeware programs to check out. But personally, until I either have no money for Office, or someone designs the most beautiful alternative, I’m sticking with Mr. Gates on this one.

La barra “Revisión”Esta barra es ideal para hacer revisiones ya que marca con uncolor distintivo los cambios que hace el revisor en el textooriginal, permitiendo al cliente saber qué cambios se hanproducido en el documento. Antes que nada, vamos a sacarla desu escondite: pulsamos con el botón derecho en la barra detítulo; después, elegimos “Revisión” y aparecerá la barra delmismo nombre. Para activar el control de cambios, tenemos quepulsar “Control de cambios”. Ahora, todo lo que escribamos en eldocumento aparecerá resaltado con un color distinto. Para volvera escribir en modo normal, desactivar este botón.

Activar el corrector ortográfico mientras escribimosUna de las ventajas de trabajar con Word -que no encontramosen los demás entornos de traducción-, es que marca en rojo laspalabras mal escritas y nos evita la pesada tarea de tener quepasar el corrector manualmente.El problema es que muchas veces nos llegan archivos con estáfunción desactivada, por lo que Word no señalará las palabrasincorrectas. Lo que se suele hacer para volver a activar esta útilfunción es seleccionar todo el documento (ctrl. + E), hacer dobleclic en el idioma de la barra de estado (parte inferior de lapantalla) y activar la casilla “No revisar la ortografía ni lagramática”. Sin embargo, esta opción no funciona la mayoría delas veces.Un truco infalible es ir a Herramientas > Opciones >Ortografía y gramática y activar la casilla “Revisarortografía mientras escribe”. Al hacerlo, se subrayarán todaslas palabras incorrectas que haya en nuestro documento ypodremos corregirlas mientras las escribimos. Por cierto, Wordtambién nos ahorra la tarea de modificarlas: basta con quehagamos clic derecho en la palabra en cuestión para ver una listade opciones de posibles palabras correctas.Actualizar

Gracias a un truco (¿o error?) de Microsoft Word podrás ver con asombro como el fantasma que tiene dentro escribe y es capaz de llenar páginas y páginas con un contenido que no parece ser muy secreto, o al menos, no demasiado profundo.

Para verlo, abre Microsoft Word 2000 (también funciona con 2002 y 97) y escribe en la primera línea el siguiente texto:

= rand (200,69)

Luego presiona la tecla ENTER y espera unos segundos para ver aparecer el fantasma escribiendo!

El truco también funciona si lo escribes en cualquier parte del documento y utilizas valores diferentes al “200″, pero con un máximo de 99 en la segunda casilla (donde está el 69).

Microsoft explica algo como que: el “200″ se refiere a las líneas, y el “69″ a los párrafos. Esto es bastante dudoso ya que si escribimos (2,5) aparecen 6 líneas, y si escribimos (2,6) aparecen 8.

En este Penultimo post, se encuentra el link de descarga del informe escrito completo de nuestra investigación.

Allright, so here it comes: fuck. The most common word in the english dictionary and not only. You might think now, that I’m a bored son of a bitch, who has absolutely nothing else to do but to analyse “censored” speech. Well, the first part isn’t true at all, my mom is a very nice and warm-hearted person, she’s one angel on Earth. The second part is somewhat true. I was thinking of watching Seinfeld, but I decided not to, so I ended up here, pouring my bullshit as usual. Fuck it, who cares…

So, anywhere you are, virtually in any country, if you say “fuck”, people will magically understand you. To understand what fuck means, supposedly you don’t even need to know the fuckin’ language. It seems to be universal, and universally considered a “bad word”. It’s the first word that parents don’t want their kids to hear, still it is the first one they learn. “Mooom! What does fuck mean?” “Nothing dear, that’s a very very bad word, don’t ever say it again!” Strangely, a few years atfter the mother might just say something to her own kid that involves this “forbidden word”. “You fucking son of a bitch! Didn’t I tell you not to burn the house down??” Well, I guess you have to be of a certain age to justify using the “f-word”. It’s like the word “perpendicular”… you have to be of a certain age. You actually have to get an education to learn boht these words. As funny as that may seem, a kid usually learns that word in kindergarten or school. So, if you know the “f-word”, it means you have an education.

Now, fuck has different forms and applications…

Fuck = shit, damn, oh my god and many other censored words.

To fuck = it’s mainly making love, having sex in any position and any types of it, boning someone, making a baby, helping the stork out, intercourse and all that shit. So why is “to fuck” a bad word?

Fucker = now, here I’m confused, and that’s because it supposedly is a very bad adjective a person can get. If someone calls you a fucker, that never means you’re a good person. N-e-v-e-r! Fuck me, if I know why… Cuz how I see it, we’re all fuckers, actually everyone who did any kind of sex is a fucker. Cuz if you had sex, that means you fucked and while you were fucking, you were a fucker. Sorry I can’t put this more nicely, but everyone who ever had sex is a fucker and I don’t see why that’s a bad thing. We all like sex (if you don’t, then something’s seriously wrong with you, or your partner), it’s absolutely normal. So, next times someone calls me a fucker, I’ll smile and tell him or her: “thank God!”

Fucked = it’s damaged, it’s no good, forget about it. Still, I don’t see why… Fucked is about the same as fucker. Being fucked is a good thing, it leads to orgasm, in case you didn’t know. Rape, well, that’s something you don’t want. So, in general a fucked person should be a happy person, in a deeply satisfied state of being. So, next time your blender gives up, don’t say it’s fucked, uz it can’t be fucked unless you did really have sex with your blender – which if you ask me, is just sick. But, on the other hand… we know men, they’d stick it into virtually anything.

Fucking asshole = I’m confused again. It is supposed to mean that you’re a really shitty person, but I just don’t see why. Only two kinds of people can be fucking assholes… gay people and women when they get it in the ass; and even so it never means you are a bad person. Why does fuck + ass = something really bad??? People love ass. Men love women’s ass, women love men’s butts. I’m sorry to say, but I don’t see any logic here… fucking is good, pleasurable, ass is nice and round, still the two together means something really bad.

These were just a few ways of using this so unacceptable word by most of the people and society in general. If you look at someone anywhere and you say a sentence that contains the word “fuck”, you’re dead… you’re going down in an instance. It’s ridiculous, it’s like a big red button for every person… It’s the negative G spot.

Psalm 119:11 Amp

Your word have I laid up in my heart, that I might not sin against You.

The Word of God stored up within you produces spiritual strength to your inner man.

Psalm 119:11 in the King James Version says “Thy word have I hid in my heart” the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew meaning for the word hid is to treasure, to treasure or store up.

• Treasure is something of value, how much do you value the Word of God?
  
• Do you value it enough to take the time everyday to get into it?
  

John 1:1 says the Word was with God and the Word was God, if you are spending time in the Word you are spending time with God. Knowing God is simple trust in the truth of His Word that He and is Word are one. You know the Word; you know Him. This is where you start in your journey to knowing Him and developing your relationship with Him. When we believed and received the truth of the Gospel of Christ, we were given a new life in Him. He came to dwell, live, abide within us. Our spirits were made alive with the life of God. But our spirits need to be fed just like our bodies need to be fed. If you aren’t feeding your spirit; your spirit will be weak and your flesh will dominate. But you start feeding your spirit with the Word of God, hiding it in your heart, storing it up in your heart, your inner man; you will increase in spiritual strength. Both Deuteronomy 30:14 and Romans 10:8 tells us God’s word is to be in our mouth and in our hearts so we can accomplish the Word. We live our lives from the inside out. His Word stored up inside us will give us the strength and capability to walk in His ways. It will give us the ability and capacity to change how we live our life on the outside. If you have trouble walking in love towards someone, store up His Word in your heart on love and forgiveness. If you have trouble giving; store up His Word concerning giving. If there are strongholds, sin, or weaknesses that you desire victory over; store up His word in your heart, till it becomes a part of you. And when those strongholds, sin, or weaknesses try to assert themselves you will have the strength within yourself to say NO, I AM A CHILD OF GOD and the GREATER ONE lives within me!

Scriptures to meditate on:

Psalm 119:11 (Amplified) Your word have I laid up in my heart, that I might not sin against You.

Romans 10:8 (Amplified) But what does it say? The Word (God’s message in Christ) is near you, on your lips and in your heart; that is, the Word (the message, the basis and object) of faith which we preach, [Deut. 30:14.]

Today was my last day of work at Greydog Signs & Displays, Inc. I’ve been working there for the past two years, and it’s been my only job. It saddens me a little bit to be leaving, but I’m moving forward towards a higher goal in life. I’m really excited for Tuesday; it’s my first day of the internship. However, on a bad note, I found out a couple days ago that I won’t be getting paid. No one ever told me whether or not it was paid, and I didn’t want to ask them over an email. I finally decided to call them and ask, but I was disappointed. Nonetheless, the internship will be a great experience (as will be documented in future posts) and hopefully future prospects will open up afterwards.