tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6381557444269413747.comments2024-02-07T10:46:06.465-05:00Mind On FireBob - Mind on Firehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13018004821460668489noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6381557444269413747.post-23626681565643192022024-02-02T19:36:39.119-05:002024-02-02T19:36:39.119-05:00I have sometimes wondered if the "greater&quo...I have sometimes wondered if the "greater" might refer either to the degree of diffuculty, such as crossing oceans in a wooden boat to proclaim the Gospel to a hostile people, in the way of Adonirum Judson and John Paton, or perhaps in the sense of numbers transformed, as with Billy Graham. The greatest miracle of all may be a changed human heart.Pastor Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02631025200678434044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6381557444269413747.post-17154061697884554292021-05-02T17:38:40.776-04:002021-05-02T17:38:40.776-04:00Thanks for the helpful input on seeking. In thinki...Thanks for the helpful input on seeking. In thinking about the specifics of God's face, I forgot about the real emphasis of the passage--seeking. <br /><br />Also, I appreciated your thoughts on the spiritual/supernatural nature of the Word. I believe that but don't often have a transcendent experience commensurate with that reality. Pastor Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02631025200678434044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6381557444269413747.post-33104265974502347692021-04-27T20:08:36.001-04:002021-04-27T20:08:36.001-04:00Bob, a few weeks ago someone in my men's disci...Bob, a few weeks ago someone in my men's discipleship group asked what people meant by "seeking God's face". He was perplexed given God's immateriality. My thought was that it was anthropomorphic language for a personal relationship. Maybe you could write about exactly what you mean by this phrase for the more obtuse of us.Pastor Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02631025200678434044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6381557444269413747.post-84426131584075262602018-05-11T10:10:54.379-04:002018-05-11T10:10:54.379-04:00Great thoughts. Just listened to a podcast that ma...Great thoughts. Just listened to a podcast that made the point that the book of Hebrews was written to address this very dilemma, with the conclusion that the new way is incomparably better.Pastor Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02631025200678434044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6381557444269413747.post-73275897124251224322017-10-13T21:05:44.161-04:002017-10-13T21:05:44.161-04:00For what it's worth, I think the primary reaso...For what it's worth, I think the primary reason for confession to another is not forgiveness--we have that after all when we confess to God. Rather, confession to another is an effective means to mortify sin by humbling the self and getting the aid of the other.Pastor Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02631025200678434044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6381557444269413747.post-75482223492461238832017-08-19T08:53:13.705-04:002017-08-19T08:53:13.705-04:00Thank you for your encouragement. I feel like I...Thank you for your encouragement. I feel like I'm trying to negotiate the Grand Canyon or Yellowstone - so many facets and dimensions; we really need each other on this pilgrimage; I can't take it all in. Bob - Mind on Firehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13018004821460668489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6381557444269413747.post-70940159598191408322017-08-18T13:46:25.684-04:002017-08-18T13:46:25.684-04:00That was an absolutely excellent and wonderful ref...That was an absolutely excellent and wonderful reflection!Pastor Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02631025200678434044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6381557444269413747.post-79294056898077923242017-06-04T07:55:49.486-04:002017-06-04T07:55:49.486-04:00My mother knelt at my bedside when I was very smal...My mother knelt at my bedside when I was very small and said the same prayer. Sallyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07576802989130650018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6381557444269413747.post-33900435508739044682017-05-09T22:33:53.956-04:002017-05-09T22:33:53.956-04:00You know what is even WORSE than cutesy war pictur...You know what is even WORSE than cutesy war pictures? Cutesy Jesus pictures. The boys had The Young Readers Bible. I had to find a book with some POWERFUL illustrations to counteract those silly pictures that are INSULTING to children!Sallyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07576802989130650018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6381557444269413747.post-61461842464307825202016-08-21T16:46:55.797-04:002016-08-21T16:46:55.797-04:00Excellent metaphor! (I just discovered this series...Excellent metaphor! (I just discovered this series. Amazing what I can find when I look around.)Sallyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07576802989130650018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6381557444269413747.post-8420727068978100642016-08-21T16:38:59.601-04:002016-08-21T16:38:59.601-04:00Or, Heaven forbid, you are on the "wrong side...Or, Heaven forbid, you are on the "wrong side of history."Sallyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07576802989130650018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6381557444269413747.post-82244294108499410882014-08-20T09:04:30.369-04:002014-08-20T09:04:30.369-04:00One day I was walking to my car and, out of the co...One day I was walking to my car and, out of the corner of my eye, noticed a half-sized kernel of popcorn haphazardly bobbling along my driveway. Although I later established that it moved consistently forward, it seemed to hobble a few inches to the left and then ricochet into a new course and trudge towards the right. Like a skier traversing down a steep slope, the piece of popcorn bounced in every compass direction. Peering deeper, I discovered a tiny ant almost hidden under the corn kernel. I quickly assumed that the size and the weight of the popcorn was what caused the ant to crisscross so haphazardly. <br />Once I fully focused on the plight of the ant and its trophy meal, I noticed other ants, many with no burdens, traversing in the same manner as the heavily loaded one. Had I stopped at any given moment and taken a snapshot, it would be nearly impossible to establish the actual course or direction of my group of ants. Each would be frozen in a seemingly different direction: some right, others left, some facing one direction and others seemingly opposite. It would not be wise for any ant to measure itself by the specific position of any other ant. I did not witness any ant attempt to correct the direction of its neighbor. <br />The further I pulled back from my popcorn laden ant, while still keeping it in perspective, the greater my clarity became. Fully ascended, I now recognized hundreds of ants—each seemingly bouncing its own way along in a sort of frenzied cacophony—moving in a well-organized syncopation. It was easy to determine direction, easy to see that the colony was moving in common purpose. A snapshot from this vantage point would reveal the ants’ true course: indubitably forward.<br />The lowly ant has shown me the benefit of an ascended view. The colony was pressing forward along invisible chemical trails left by forerunners. The constant course corrections were the result of each ant’s reassessment of its position along the well-marked route. While chaotic at the single ant level, the route was unmistakable from the ascended vantage point. <br />My relationship with my fellow man was changed by this ascended view. God has placed eternity in every heart. Seeking our place within His path is an individual response to the great clouds of witnesses marking His way. We are not called to force others to march in step with our cadence. Being right does not assure an effective life. Be slow to shout that I follow Apollos, or Paul, or Cephas, or the countless excluding schisms of denominationalism. There is, after all, only one church. So choose to bear with and encourage others irrespective of seemingly conflicting directions. Our imperfect tendency is to focus more on what someone does rather than their heart’s motivation—the why.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17756158538924184572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6381557444269413747.post-37256351452716891342013-05-22T21:39:38.866-04:002013-05-22T21:39:38.866-04:00Thank you Dan, I appreciate your insight. Thank you Dan, I appreciate your insight. Bob - Mind on Firehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13018004821460668489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6381557444269413747.post-3607434460141444992013-05-22T20:36:45.211-04:002013-05-22T20:36:45.211-04:00I've been studying this quote lately and find ...I've been studying this quote lately and find it quite interesting. Duty is never a bad thing. In fact, it simply means that which we are obligated to do based on our position. Children have a duty to honor their parents. Husbands have a duty to love their wives. Lewis doesn't use the right words here as he is setting duty against love. He says "duty is only a substitute for love". In sports, a substitute cannot be on the field while the original is. They can't co-exist. But duty and love should co-exist. So, Lewis has it wrong on this one.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04978321346443742248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6381557444269413747.post-84656284829106287322013-05-11T12:58:39.725-04:002013-05-11T12:58:39.725-04:00Yes indeed!Yes indeed!Bob - Mind on Firehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13018004821460668489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6381557444269413747.post-75397630837201704452013-05-11T08:43:21.087-04:002013-05-11T08:43:21.087-04:00A mentor told the story of going to college and lo...A mentor told the story of going to college and looking for a church. His dad told him that if he went through two Sundays and the blood of Christ was not preached - leave!aletheaparkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08415062785346322794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6381557444269413747.post-69714365611688036392013-05-11T08:40:05.637-04:002013-05-11T08:40:05.637-04:00It gets better with Practice! It gets better with Practice! aletheaparkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08415062785346322794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6381557444269413747.post-91864035888683632582012-08-08T21:32:25.455-04:002012-08-08T21:32:25.455-04:00Hey! That's really helpful for my preparation ...Hey! That's really helpful for my preparation on John 18:12-27!Pastor Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04506888721434975233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6381557444269413747.post-32427213224602211822012-05-11T07:13:51.879-04:002012-05-11T07:13:51.879-04:00Oh thank you Michael for mentioning Peter and Juda...Oh thank you Michael for mentioning Peter and Judas, I missed that. And your comment about hearts being captivated by the King and His Kingdom goes along with the post I just wrote for May 11.Bob - Mind on Firehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13018004821460668489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6381557444269413747.post-53260525561130888262012-05-09T20:06:21.837-04:002012-05-09T20:06:21.837-04:00Not really germane to your topic, but because I re...Not really germane to your topic, but because I recently preached on this I noticed that all four gospels record both Peter's denial and Judas' betrayal.<br /><br />Well, maybe it is germane, because each of these men's hearts were not fully captivated by the King and his Kingdom, a problem shared by the Pharisees and temple leaders.Pastor Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04506888721434975233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6381557444269413747.post-17113945596774137032012-03-27T20:46:52.385-04:002012-03-27T20:46:52.385-04:00Thanks Michael; I do appreciate the article. BobThanks Michael; I do appreciate the article. BobBob - Mind on Firehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13018004821460668489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6381557444269413747.post-8390416042113917972012-03-24T20:02:51.004-04:002012-03-24T20:02:51.004-04:00Bob,
Here's a review I think you'll appre...Bob,<br /><br />Here's a review I think you'll appreciate:<br />http://credenda.org/index.php/Reviews/christians-and-the-hunger-games.htmlPastor Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04506888721434975233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6381557444269413747.post-82330131961398658372011-11-08T20:20:30.365-05:002011-11-08T20:20:30.365-05:00Thanks Brandon - blessings and love, BobThanks Brandon - blessings and love, BobBob - Mind on Firehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13018004821460668489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6381557444269413747.post-61596162375394245262011-11-05T23:12:38.831-04:002011-11-05T23:12:38.831-04:00Love this, and your honesty. We all too often try ...Love this, and your honesty. We all too often try to use scripture (often without realizing) to fit our needs rather than submitting ourselves to the word of God.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14559742567338839169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6381557444269413747.post-66326268611679101632011-08-08T23:07:30.258-04:002011-08-08T23:07:30.258-04:00Incredibly transparent article. There is so much m...Incredibly transparent article. There is so much more to this discussion and we must listen to our African American brothers. The Church cannot continue to be silent. Yet, I am lost for words, like so many others. You have been an inspiration to my life. Thanks Bob.<br />Dayton BirtBishop Dayton Birthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13975161176502125468noreply@blogger.com