Little Condo On The Prairie

Posted on 2013/05/14 by Shawn Thomas

Another week has gone by in our “little condo on the prairie”; highlighted by my first opportunity to preach in about eight months since I have been sick. Libby will be delivering our first grandchild soon, and we are still enjoying the close fellowship … Continue reading →

Posted in Home & Family Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

No “Family Plan”

Posted on 2013/05/14 by Shawn Thomas

Exodus 30:12 says: “When you take a census of the sons of Israel to number them, then each of them shall give a ransom for himself to the Lord …”. Each individual member of the people of Israel was responsible to see that his own ransom was paid (:13 tells us that the ransom was a half shekel each). This reminds us that we are each accountable for ourselves to the Lord. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“A Heritage of Faith” (Mothers Day Message 2013)

Posted on 2013/05/13 by Shawn Thomas

II Timothy 1:5 “A Heritage of Faith” Mothers Day 2013

One of the things that has been very gratifying to Cheryl & I in recent years has been seeing our kids adopt some of our family traditions for their own. Cheryl especially has enjoyed talking with the kids on the phone during the holidays, helping them to get their cinnamon rolls to rise, or telling them how to make icing, or how to melt the chocolate to dip the Christmas candy in. But as good as that is, there is something more important we can pass down to our children than our best holiday recipes: and that is the heritage of our Christian faith. This is what we see in our passage for today, II Timothy 1:5: Continue reading →

Posted in Home & Family Life, Sermons | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

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.

Continue reading →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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.

Continue reading →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

“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.

Continue reading →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies | Tagged , | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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:

Continue reading →

Posted in Home & Family Life, This Week In Paradise (pastors family blog) | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

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.

Continue reading →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment