The Greatest Blessing

Posted on 2013/05/11 by Shawn Thomas

In Exodus 29:45 God said: “I will dwell among the sons of Israel and will be their God.” The great blessing of Israel was not invincible military might, unequalled prosperity, or unique religious rituals – but that GOD HIMSELF would dwell among them. We need to realize that this is STILL the greatest blessing a people can attain. Continue reading →

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ASK!

Posted on 2013/05/10 by Shawn Thomas

In Psalm 2:8, God tells His Anointed One: “ASK of Me …”. God would do immense things for His Messiah: give the Gentiles as an inheritance, the very ends of the earth as His possession – but He wanted Him to ASK. The same thing is true for us.

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The Incense of Prayer

Posted on 2013/05/09 by Shawn Thomas

After the first verses of Exodus 30 describe the pattern for the altar of incense at the tabernacle, :7 says: “Aaron shall burn fragrant incense on it; he shall burn it every morning when he trims the lamps.” This is significant to us because incense represents the prayers of God’s people.

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“Sound Doctrine”

Posted on 2013/05/08 by Shawn Thomas

In Titus 2:1, Paul commands: “But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine.” Many would say, “Amen!” – but look at what the next verses tell us this “sound doctrine” is composed of:
— older men to be temperate, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance (:2)
— older women: reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips … encouraging young women to be husband-lovers and children-lovers, workers at home … (:3-4)
— young men to be sensible, examples of good deeds, etc. (:6-7)
— bondslaves – subject to their masters, not argumentative, not pilfering, etc. (:9-10)

MOST of the things Paul addresses under the category of “sound doctrine” here have nothing to do with what WE would consider “doctrine”: theories of the atonement, predestination, or the nature of the Trinity.

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Missing the Blessing

Posted on 2013/05/07 by Shawn Thomas

Many are familiar with the opening words of Psalm 1: “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of the scornful.” But sadly, the 3 things that this verse famously promises blessing for, are just what many — even Christian — people do NOT do: Continue reading →

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Little Condo On The Prairie

Posted on 2013/05/06 by Shawn Thomas

As difficult as uprooting our family and moving to another state has been, there have still been no shortage of fun family moments. With Paul having moved here just before us to help get us settled, and Josh & Libby following shortly after with her baby on the way, we are enjoying plenty of time together. We know this familial proximity most likely won’t last forever, so we are savoring each day. Here are some of the highlights I can share:

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The Purpose of Everything

Posted on 2013/05/06 by Shawn Thomas

Psalm 148 commands everything in creation to praise Yahweh:

— “the heavens” :1
— “angels” :2
— “sun and moon … stars of light” :3
— “the earth” :7
— “sea monsters” :7
— “fire and hail, snow and clouds” :8
— “mountains and all hills; fruit trees and all cedars” :9
— “beasts and all cattle” :10
— “kings of the earth and all peoples; princes and judges of the earth; both young men and virgins, old men and children” :11-12

In other words, EVERYONE, and every THING is to praise the Lord. This also points to the PURPOSE of everything; everything which exists, exists to praise God.

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Consecrated By His Glory

Posted on 2013/05/05 by Shawn Thomas

In Exodus 29:43 God said that He would meet with the sons of Israel at the tent of meeting, and that it “shall be consecrated by My glory.” That meeting place would be set apart, not merely by some religious act of men, but by the very presence of the glory of God Himself.

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When Words and Deeds Contradict

Posted on 2013/05/04 by Shawn Thomas

Titus 1:16 should be inscribed across the landscape of religious America: “They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him.” SO many people in our country profess to know God – yet so few demonstrate the reality of it by the way they live.

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But God

Posted on 2013/05/03 by Shawn Thomas

Psalm 102:12 begins: “But You, O Yahweh …”. The first eleven verses of the Psalm are taken up with lament, how “my heart has been smitten” (:4) “my bones cling to my flesh” (:5) and “my enemies have reproached me all day long” (:8). But at the end of his complaint comes a transition: “BUT YOU, O Yahweh.” Even in his great troubles, the Psalmist knew there was a factor outside himself that he could count on: “But You …”. GOD would make all the difference in his situation!

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