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Nov 19

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  jlaeger added a text contribution Crave

  "Crave" spiritual milk like a baby craves his mother's milk when he is hungry. When a baby craves his mother's milk, he cries until he is fed. Nothing is more important to him that getting that milk. Is this my attitude toward the Bible? Sure, I desire it. I want to read it. I like to read it. But do I "crave" it like a baby craves his mother's milk? Do I have a deep, deep longing that cannot... Read more »

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Nov 17

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  jlaeger added a text contribution My First vs My Second Birth

  My first birth was via perishable seed. My second birth was via imperishable seed. My first birth is like grass ... here today, gone tomorrow. Weak. Susceptible to drought, bugs, too much water, too much fertilizer, animals pooping on it, people trampling on it. Awesome analogy to my first birth and life and all that is associated to it. Too much "stuff" in my life - destroys me. Too little... Read more »

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  jlaeger bookmarked 1 Peter 2:1 NIV

Nov 16

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  jlaeger added a text contribution Obedience Leads to Getting Right

  Obedience results in getting right with God. And the evidence of getting right with God is a growing love for other Christians primarily but also for the lost. It is not "they will know we are Christians" by how much we know or how awesome our music is in church ... but they will know we are Christians by our love. Read more »

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Nov 11

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  jlaeger added a text contribution Shaped by God's Life

  "Roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready. Be pulled into a way of life shaped by God's life." The Christian life is not a life of laziness and presumption but one of action, alertness, energy. It's rolling up my sleeves, putting my mind in gear, being totally ready. I need to be active, working, serving, watching, expecting. Watching & expecting the return of Christ with... Read more »

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Nov 9

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  jlaeger added a text contribution Prepped for Action

  When the fire department is paged, we always send two trucks - sometimes more. Before anyone gets to the scene - we send two trucks. One reason is so we are prepared and already moving. It is easier, faster, and more efficient to need and use a truck with a crew that is already on the way to the scene and ready for action than it is to call a crew and truck into action that is just sitting at the... Read more »

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Nov 7

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  jlaeger added contributions: It's Not For Me and It's Not For Me

Nov 5

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  jlaeger added a text contribution The Product of Pain

  Pain. Life pain. It's real. We often ask, in times of pain, "Why?" One reason might be because it is due to something I did or said. Pain is often the by-product of stupid choices I've made. But the pain that comes due to situations I have no control over or are not a by-product of choices I've made - maybe a by-product of a choice someone else made...why that pain? While pain often seems forever... Read more »

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Nov 3

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  jlaeger added a text contribution What More Reason Do I Need To Worship?

  If you read these verses and let them soak into your brain - and you find yourself NOT worshiping ... you should check your pulse and see if you are still alive! In just these three verses, God has: 1. Given us a new birth - a NEW birth!! 2. Brought us into a living hope - a LIVING hope!!! 3. Brought us into an inheritance that will never perish - NEVER EVER NEVER EVER!!! 4. Shielded us and protected... Read more »

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Nov 2

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  jlaeger added a text contribution What for? - Pt. 2

  You were not only chosen to obey (see "What for? - Pt. 1), but you were also chosen for "sprinkling by His blood"? What? In the Old Testament, blood was sprinkled and used to seal an agreement. What happened in the O.T. was symbolic of what was to come and happen with Christ. The blood of Christ "sprinkled" - poured out at the crucifixion - seals the agreement God is making with you as a follower... Read more »

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Oct 31

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  jlaeger added a text contribution What for? - Pt. 1

  God chose me "for"? . . . My boat was made for floating on a lake not sitting in my garage. My grill was made for grilling outside not inside. My mower was made for cutting grass not shredding tree branches. It is not only a waste to use these for purposes other than what they were made for, but it is also dangerous and stupid. God chose me "for". For what? "For obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling... Read more »

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Oct 27

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  jlaeger added contributions: Why can't I go home? I don't live here., Why can't I go home? I don't live here. and Why can't I go home? I don't live here.

Oct 26

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  jlaeger added a text contribution God Chose Me. Me.

  "Elect" and "Chosen" ... lots of theological debate and discussion have surrounded these two words. I have been part of that at times. Lately though - I want to just chew on this truth at face value and be amazed at the simplicity of what God wants us to realize. Let's not complicate it. Think about it. The eternal, all-powerful, all-knowing, never-changing, creator, holy, all-present...God -... Read more »

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  jlaeger started following meadowspring

Jul 14

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  jlaeger added a text contribution Seared

  What will prevent my conscience from being seared from the truth? From right vs wrong? Searing (a wound) happens when something extremely hot comes in contact, for an extended period of time, with the wound/skin. With this in mind, searing a conscience happens when a hurting/wounded conscience comes in contact and stays in contact with false teaching. Healing is being sought. Answers to questions... Read more »

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  jlaeger bookmarked 1 Timothy 4:1 NIV

Jul 7

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  jlaeger bookmarked 1 Timothy 3:8 NIV

Jul 6

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  jlaeger added a text contribution Good Reputation

  Here's my struggle...God has called me and the church to reach the "outsiders" mentioned in this verse. If my reputation is weak or such that outsiders criticize me or think less of me - not only am I widening the gap between them and me, but more tragic is that I am widening the gap between them and the church and them and Christ. BUT...too often I find myself being criticized not by outsiders but... Read more »

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Jun 24

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  jlaeger added a text contribution Easy for me to accept this - but...

  This whole passage (and others) about the role of women in the church is easy for me to read and accept. But I am a guy. However, there is something unsettling in my gut in my easy acceptance of this. Not in the sense of "God said it. I believe it. That settles it for me." But unsettling because "easy" leads me to quickly skip over it without digging into the treasures that are there. "Easy" might... Read more »

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Jun 19

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  jlaeger added a text contribution Can't get any clearer...

  I am a bit vulnerable today. My 14 yr old dog (that's 69 yrs old in dog years) is not doing well and I fear the worse. I have never had a more loyal, faithful, gentle, obedient dog. She has been part of our family since she was 8 weeks old. When I get vulnerable like this, the grace and mercy in my life is harder to find and my tolerance level goes down - especially with Christians and religious... Read more »

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Jun 16

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  jlaeger added a text contribution What if we traded...?

  What if we traded all the critical whining and condemnation we get so vocal about in regards to our governmental leaders with prayer? What if, everytime we were about to say something critical - we prayed instead? This country and world would never be the same. I just don't understand how we (Christians) can read this verse and others that speak of praying for, respecting, and obeying our authorities... Read more »

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Jun 15

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  jlaeger added a text contribution Shipwrecked

  Why did Paul use the word "shipwrecked"? Build your faith on false doctrine, heresay, books (even books authored by great and godly men), church programs, opinions of friends ... and there will come storms in your life, seasons of living, and situations you are put in that your faith will not be able to withstand. You will fall. Your faith will not hold. And too often, you will get defensive and... Read more »

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Jun 13

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  jlaeger added a text contribution Drawn to Worship

  Right in the middle of Paul talking about who he was and how God poured out His mercy and forgiveness on Him - he makes this statement about God. Seems out place from one perspective, but the more I think about the entire context, it is not out of place at all. Maybe it seems out of place initially to me because of my theological training and hearing teachers dissect this verse, write doctrine around... Read more »

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Jun 12

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  jlaeger added a text contribution Purpose of My Past

  Paul was not ashamed of his past. He wasn't proud of it either in the sense of boasting about what he did and who he was. But, he was not ashamed of it in the sense of not wanting to talk about it or admit it. He used it to point to Christ. He used it to point to God's mercy and forgiveness. He used it to put his foot down and say, "Yeah, my past was bad. But God's mercy and forgiveness are bigger... Read more »

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Jun 9

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  jlaeger added a text contribution Pouring Out Grace

  Paul was the exact opposite of what we often think is necessary for someone to be used by God. Many of the things that Paul just mentioned to Timothy, Paul was. But God poured out His grace abundantly on Paul and Paul's past or present behavior/lifestyle did not disqualify him from serving God. A major element to consider though is that Paul was living this lifestyle in ignorance. He didn't know... Read more »

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