OK, I will start posting again

Hello peeps,

I am not intellectual, I am not deep, I am not full of theology, in fact, I don't even think I am much of a thinker. Therefore, I differ from everyone else on Xanga.  I just want to share some simple things I learn from the Bible.  So here goes!

Last Tues, I lead a study on Acts 2 and concentrated on these verses:

36"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

 37When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"

 38Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call."

 40With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." 41Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

 42They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

So here is the application:

When Christians hear the Gospel, they should be cut to the heart (verse 36 and 37) and cry out loud, "What shall we do!"

When Christians hear the Gospel, they should repent and be baptized.  Repent meaning to turn away from their sins (inward allegiance with Jesus) and be baptized (outward allegiance with Jesus).  As P. Wayne asked a while back....why aren't Christians nowadays getting baptized????  (verse 38)

When Christians hear the Gospel, they should devote themselves to Bible study (vs 42)

When Christians hear the Gospel, they should break bread with other believers (vs 42)

When Christians hear the Gospel, they should pray (verse 42)

When Christians hear the Gospel and see God's work, they should be filled with awe (verse 43)

When Christians hear the Gospel, they should be generous and help one another so that no one is in need (vs 44-45)

When Christians hear the Gospel, they should have glad and sincere hearts (vs 46)

When Christians hear the Gospel, they should praise God (vs 47)

I wonder how many Christians know and act on these things?  I need to learn!   :)

Here are some lessons I need to keep in mind!

Titus 2:

 ¹You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. ²Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.

 ⁶Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. ⁷In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness ⁸and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.

A hard act to follow for this young Chinese brotha!  :) 

Please remind me of these things guys whenever you see me!  :)

How Boyish or Girlish Are You?

This is my result for the test!  Tell me what y'all think....agree or disagree!

You Are 60% Boyish and 40% Girlish

You are pretty evenly split down the middle - a total eunuch.

Okay, kidding about the eunuch part. But you do get along with both sexes.
You reject traditional gender roles. However, you don't actively fight them.

You're just you. You don't try to be what people expect you to be.
"http://www.blogthings.com/howboyishorgirlishareyouquiz/">

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!

OK, I guess I have to post something even tho I am too lazy!  hahahahaah!

I have to admit, married life is good.  I sleep a lot more now that I am married.  The bed is warmer with 2 people so it is easier to sleep and harder to get out of bed. 

I guess King Solomon knew what he was talking about because in Ecclesiates 4, it reads:   

¹¹ Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
       But how can one keep warm alone?

Enjoy life everyone!  God is good.

So You Wanna Be A Teacher?

I have been studying James Chapter 3 and it is a very interesting chapter indeed.  Of course, everyone thinks it is a chapter about controlling our tongues, but it is much deeper.  If you read the entire chapter in context, you will see that it begins by giving a strict warning to teachers. 

¹Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

First of all, so many of us are so eager to become Bible study leaders and worship leaders or church leaders.  It is the pride of man which takes over when one wants to become a self-appointed leader.  We think we are so much better than another person in leading that we want to be the teacher or leader to others cuz we can do a better job.

But James shows us first that if you want to be a teacher, the first thing you need to know what to do is to control your tongue. 

⁹With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. ¹⁰Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. ¹¹Can both fresh water and salt^[a] water flow from the same spring? ¹²My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

How can it be that everything in nature is so consistent but yet our tongue is not consistent?  A fresh water spring will only have fresh water come out of it.  Yet our tongues praise God and curse man at the same time?  Our tongues were meant for edifying and glorifying God.  If we can’t even get that straight, then what are we doing wanting to be teachers?

Furthermore, so many people who want to be teachers think they are soooooo wise.  They think they have wisdom and discernment but they are hypocrites. 

¹³Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. ¹⁴But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. ¹⁵Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. ¹⁶For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

If we are truly “wise”, prove it by living a life of good deeds done in humility.  Don’t show off by mouthing off and thinking people will think you are wise by what comes out of your mouth.  Show your wisdom.  Show it thru action! 

Verses 17 and 18 tells us what true wisdom is.  It is peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy, and good fruit, impartial and sincere.  If we do not have any of these things in our Spirit….if we are someone who loves to boast, has bitter envy, and selfish ambition (vs. 14), then we need to step down from being self appointed leaders and humble ourselves before the Lord.  God has high standards and we need to live by those standards.  Tough lesson to learn indeed!

¹⁷But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. ¹⁸Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.