Revive Us Again

Happy Easter from Ashley Cleveland in this video.

Setting the Record Straight on Francis of Assisi

I also think I have heard this term one too many times. You decide after reading this article.

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Dogs Reading Scripture

The poker-playing dogs, immortalized in the famous paintings by Cassius Coolidge, announced last week that they have repented of their former ways and have replaced their Friday night poker game with a Wednesday night Bible study. Laddie (left), top dog of the study group, hopes that their new painting, “Dogs Reading Scripture,” will make them role models for other dogs caught in the vicious cycle of canine gambling. Says the collie leader, “Our next goal is to stop drinking out of the toilet.”
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HT: The Sacred Sandwich

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"Idols" and Inspiriation

Here is a nice story about when "idols" turn into "inspiration".



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Matthew Patrick Brown (2009-2009)

He died last Sunday. Yet he had a tremendous impact on a couple who decided to walk by faith, and show their love in the most difficult of circumstances.


Read the whole story here

Perhaps it will give you (or me) strength when we need it.

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The China Abortion Syndrom

This is quite a disturbing article about the Chinese totalitarian state and how it is trying to maanipulate gender balance. Intentional or not, this causes skyrocking and disturbing abortion rates. In the wake of these practices it appears all moral conscience ragarding abortions has evaporated from the people in China.

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Six Biblical Guidelines for Loving Each Other Amid Differences

This is an article you may want to put on your corkboard.

Some excellent counsel from John Piper to the pastoral staff at Bethlehem Baptist Church. Read the whole article here.

1. Let’s avoid gossiping.
2. Let’s identify evidences of grace in each other and speak them to each other and about each other.
3. Let’s speak criticism directly to each other if we feel the need to speak to others about it.
4. Let’s look for, and assume, the best motive in the other’s viewpoint, especially when we disagree.
5. Think often of the magnificent things we hold in common.
6. Let’s be more amazed that we are forgiven than that we are right. And in that way, let’s shape our relationships by the gospel.
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Painted into the Corner?

Rick Warren has got many scratching their heads. I hope he can finally clarify with a biblical stance. Here is the latest update.

About Your Choice in Entertainment

Kevin DeYoung encourages us to examine our entertainment habits and make intentional evaluations as to what the implications of our choices mean to our spiritual growth.

Is worldly entertainment a "high place" for you?

Devotions R Us site

Here is a new site for devotional material, all in one place.

Sunday's Coming

Another nice video of a Lockridge classic



S.M. Lockridge:


It’s Friday
Jesus is praying
Peter’s a sleeping
Judas is betraying
But Sunday’s comin’

It’s Friday
Pilate’s struggling
The council is conspiring
The crowd is vilifying
They don’t even know
That Sunday’s comin’

It’s Friday
The disciples are running
Like sheep without a shepherd
Mary’s crying
Peter is denying
But they don’t know
That Sunday’s a comin’

It’s Friday
The Romans beat my Jesus
They robe him in scarlet
They crown him with thorns
But they don’t know
That Sunday’s comin’

It’s Friday
See Jesus walking to Calvary
His blood dripping
His body stumbling
And his spirit’s burdened
But you see, it’s only Friday
Sunday’s comin’

It’s Friday
The world’s winning
People are sinning
And evil’s grinning

It’s Friday
The soldiers nail my Savior’s hands
To the cross
They nail my Savior’s feet
To the cross
And then they raise him up
Next to criminals

It’s Friday
But let me tell you something
Sunday’s comin’

It’s Friday
The disciples are questioning
What has happened to their King
And the Pharisees are celebrating
That their scheming
Has been achieved
But they don’t know
It’s only Friday
Sunday’s comin’

It’s Friday
He’s hanging on the cross
Feeling forsaken by his Father
Left alone and dying
Can nobody save him?
Ooooh
It’s Friday
But Sunday’s comin’

It’s Friday
The earth trembles
The sky grows dark
My King yields his spirit

It’s Friday
Hope is lost
Death has won
Sin has conquered
and Satan’s just a laughin’

It’s Friday
Jesus is buried
A soldier stands guard
And a rock is rolled into place

But it’s Friday
It is only Friday
Sunday is a comin’!

My King

I never get tired of hearing this. I heard this first about 5 years ago as an insert to a sermon, and have treasured it since. Since then I have seen a couple of "video-ized" versions of it - this is a nice one. What is this? It is a version of a wonderful prayer given in 1976 by Dr. S.M. Lockridge (1913-2000), a great preacher of that time. It is classic.

He IS RISEN!!




Here is the full transcript...
"My King" - Dr. S.M. Lockridge

My King was born King.

The Bible says He's a Seven Way King.
He's the King of the Jews -- that's a racial King.
He's the King of Israel -- that's a national King.
He's the King of righteousness.
He's the King of the ages.
He's the King of Heaven.
He's the King of glory.
He's the King of kings
and He is the Lord of lords.

Now that's my King. Well I wonder if you know Him.
Do you know Him?

Don't try to mislead me.
Do you know my King?

David said the Heavens declare the glory of God,
and the firmament showeth His handiwork.
My King is the only one whom there are no means of measure can define His limitless love.
No far seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of His shoreless supplies.
No barriers can hinder Him from pouring out His blessing.

Well, well,
He's enduringly strong.
He's entirely sincere.
He's eternally steadfast.
He's immortally graceful.
He's imperially powerful.
He's impartially merciful.
That's my King.

He's God's Son.
He's the sinner's savior.
He's the centerpiece of civilization.
He stands alone in Himself.
He's august.
He's unique.
He's unparalleled.
He's unprecedented.
He's supreme.
He's pre-eminent.

Well, He's the loftiest idea in literature.
He's the highest personality in philosophy.
He's the supreme problem in higher criticism.
He's the fundamental doctrine of true theology.
He's the cardinal necessity of spiritual religion.
That's my King.

He's the miracle of the age.
He's the superlative of everything good that you choose to call Him.

Well, He's the only one able to supply all of our needs simultaneously.
He supplies strength for the weak.
He's available for the tempted and the tried.
He sympathizes and He saves.
He's strong God and He guides.
He heals the sick.
He cleanses the lepers.
He forgives sinners.
He discharges debtors.
He delivers the captives.
He defends the feeble.
He blesses the young.
He serves the unfortunate.
He regards the aged.
He rewards the diligent and He beautifies the meek.
Do you know Him?

Well, my King is a King of knowledge.
He's the wellspring of wisdom.
He's the doorway of deliverance.
He's the pathway of peace.
He's the roadway of righteousness.
He's the highway of holiness.
He's the gateway of glory.
He's the Master of the mighty.
He's the Captain of the conquerors.
He's the Head of the heroes.
He's the Leader of the legislators.
He's the Overseer of the overcomers.
He's the Governor of governors.
He's the Prince of princes.
He's the King of kings and He's the Lord of lords.

That's my King. Yeah. Yeah.
That's my King. My King, yeah.

His office is manifold.
His promise is sure.
His light is matchless.
His goodness is limitless.
His mercy is everlasting.
His love never changes.
His word is enough.
His grace is sufficient.
His reign is righteous.
His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

Well. I wish I could describe Him to you,
but He's indescribable.
He's indescribable. Yeah!

He's incomprehensible.
He's invincible.
He's irresistible.

I'm trying to tell you,
the heavens of heavens cannot contain Him,
let alone a man explain Him.
You can't get Him out of your mind.
You can't get Him off of your hand.
You can't outlive Him and you can't live without Him.

Well, Pharisees couldn't stand Him,
but they found out they couldn't stop Him.
Pilate couldn't find any fault in Him.
The witnesses couldn't get their testimonies to agree.
Herod couldn't kill Him.
Death couldn't handle Him and the grave couldn't hold Him.

That's my King. Yeah!

He always has been and He always will be.
I'm talking about He had no predecessor
and He'll have no successor.
There was nobody before Him
and there'll be nobody after Him.
You can't impeach Him
and He's not gonna resign.
That's my King! That's my King!

Thine, Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory.
Well, all the power belongs to my King.
We're around here talking about black power and white power and green power,
but it's God's power. Thine is the power.

Yeah.
And the glory.
We try to get prestige and honor and glory for ourselves,
but the glory is all His. Yes.
Thine is the Kingdom
and the power and the glory,
forever and ever
and ever
and ever.

How long is that?
And ever and ever and ever and ever.
And when you get through with all of the forevers,
then, Amen.

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God's Will for The Toothpaste You Pick?

It's a silly title, but a serious topic. A lot of Christians get messed up without a solid biblical understanding of the will of God. And, as this post points out from Team Pyro, there are some dangerous false teachings out there that should be set straight. Dan Phillips does a good job in that with this blogpost.

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I would also recommend James MacDonald's teaching series on God's will.

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Palm Pilot Prophesy

And This is SO true, in my experience, about the Palm Pilot experience.

Set aside the world, people, and take out the book
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