Yesterday
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Jesus was "the" living Stone. He was rejected. Who rejected him? Not so much the non-religious (at least publicly), but the religious. He was rejected and criticized by those who knew the scriptures, who considered themselves close to God, who prayed, etc. I am not "the" living Stone, but I am like a living stone. I am like Jesus. He was rejected & criticized. I will be rejected and criticized. Meadow will be rejected and criticized. Not that I need to do things… Read more »
Nov 19
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"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 be met until I spend time reading (feeding) on the Bible? He… Read more »
Nov 17
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jlaeger added a text contribution My First vs My Second BirthMy 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 "stuff" in my life makes me envious. Everything I acquire here in this life is… Read more »
Nov 16
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jlaeger added a text contribution Obedience Leads to Getting RightObedience 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 »
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 anticipation - like a young teen watching out the window expecting her fir… Read more »
Nov 9
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jlaeger added a text contribution Prepped for ActionWhen 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 station. And when that truck and crew on on their way to the scene, they are getting ready, list… Read more »
Nov 7
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jlaeger added a text contribution It's Not For MeIt is easy to slowly shift into a "I want to know more about the Bible for me. I want to know more about the mysteries of God for me. It's cool. It's interesting." However, from this passage it is clear that we read and study and grow in our faith - not for me - but to serve and help others. For example...it is interesting and intriguing to study the end times. I enjoy thinking about it - the rapture, the tribulation, the second coming, when it all will happen, how it a… Read more »
Nov 5
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jlaeger added a text contribution The Product of PainPain. 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 while I am in the middle of it, it is actually temporary...for the f… Read more »
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 us and this inheritance - SHIELDED!!! Here's how The Message reads... "What a… Read more »
Nov 2
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jlaeger added a text contribution What for? - Pt. 2You 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 of Christ. What agreement? The agreement to give you life. The agree… Read more »
Oct 31
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jlaeger added a text contribution What for? - Pt. 1God 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 by his blood." If I do anything other than that - it is a wa… Read more »
Oct 27
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jlaeger added a text contribution Why can't I go home? I don't live here.All followers of Christ are "strangers" in this world. This world is not our home. Our home is in heaven. Sounds freaky, I know. Maybe even like the psycho who is part of some cult. This is why we are often uncomfortable in situations. Our values are different. Our priorities are different. The way we think is different. Our world-view is different. The way we handle money is different. Our approach (especially as men) to our wives and kids is different. This is also why th… Read more »
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 - chose me. Me. I am so not even close to being worthy of a relationship… Read more »
Jul 14
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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 are being sought (a wounded/hurting/incomplete mind & conscience). If, in that search, I stay… Read more »
Jul 6
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jlaeger added a text contribution Good ReputationHere'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 by insiders - Christians. Criticized for my focus and intent on reaching outsiders… Read more »
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 even be an excuse I use to not dig deeper for fear of discovering so… Read more »
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 people who just don't get it. And this passage is one of those that I just want to ring so… Read more »
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 - and then shut our Bibles and enter into a slam-fest of criticism for our governmental le… Read more »
Jun 15
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jlaeger added a text contribution ShipwreckedWhy 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 start pointing your fingers at others blaming them. You will blame the church. You wi… Read more »
Jun 13
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jlaeger added a text contribution Drawn to WorshipRight 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 this verse, and present it in a complex academic way. I have heard entire sermons on this one v… Read more »
Jun 12
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jlaeger added a text contribution Purpose of My PastPaul 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 than my past and He showed me mercy, forgave me, and now is using me." My… Read more »
Jun 9
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jlaeger added a text contribution Pouring Out GracePaul 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 the way of grace. He was not intentionally rejecting the grace and truth of God. Those who… Read more »
Jun 8
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jlaeger added a text contribution The Good LawRecent events are no doubt affecting the lens I am reading this passage. Bottom line...the law is for ME. I am ungodly, sinful, etc. Now, some will argue and say, "No. You are righteous. God made you righteous. You are holy and forgiven because you are covered by the blood of Jesus Christ." And they would be 100% right. The difference here is that it is God who is making me and declaring me righteous, not me. When I look in the mirror and state the truth, "I am righteous… Read more »
Jun 2
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jlaeger added a text contribution Well-Intentioned False DoctrineI know it's probably stretching the specific application and situation Paul intended - but "false doctrines" could also include misperceptions that people really do believe is truth and they "teach" it by the small talk with others and/or by modeling it in their behavior. They aren't choosing to teach false doctrine, they are just living out what they believe to be true. Add to this that if this false doctrine has been left unchecked by the truth of scripture, it wi… Read more »
Jun 1
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jlaeger added a text contribution The Goal of this Command is LoveThe immediate context is commanding men not to teach false doctrine, myths, and endless genealogies. The broader context is the rest of 1 Timothy and Paul's charge to Timothy on what it will take to lead a church. To carry out this command (v. 3) will mean confrontation. Anytime you tell another person to stop something or change something, you are confronting them. Confrontation is always potentially explosive and can (and too often does) damage and/or end relationships. When I confront… Read more »
User Info
Name: John Laeger
User Since: May 2009
Location: Shakopee, MN
Website: www.johnlaeger.com
Contributions: 26
Tags: 3