Starbucks failed

Starbucks failed while it still continues to be successful. I wanted to share an excerpt from Creature of the Word that hits today's society right on the money. We need to make sure this does not happen in our churches.

“Since the day Adam searched for a suitable helper, people have always longed for community. So it would seem our era is a great one in which to live, seeing as how connectivity is so much easier now than it’s ever been. Facebook currently claims more than 900 million active users who visit their social networking site at least once a month. Thanks to Twitter, we can constantly bombard each other with even the most boring details of our everyday lives. You can take a picture of the sampler you ordered at Applebee’s, and then tweet it to all your friends so they can be jealous of your potato skins. Technology has enabled humanity to be more connected, more informed, and more social than at any other time in history.
But connectivity does not equate to community. Being able to make quick connections with people doesn’t automatically require any depth to the relationship.
All you have to do is take a look inside your local Starbucks to see something strange going on in the midst of all these “connections.” Starbucks was founded to be a gathering place for relationships. Sure, they serve a million combinations of coffee and pastries “but it was also intended as a place where people could get their coffee not “to go” but to stay. And stay together. Starbucks was built to capitalize on the intrinsic human desire to relate.
But as you look into your local Starbucks, notice that many people are in there—together in one place—but they’re also alone. They’re sitting at tables with their headphones on, working on their computers or fiddling with their phones. Not that” “it’s the fault of Starbucks. This “all alone, all together” phenomenon is merely symptomatic of what’s at play in human relationships throughout our culture.
So although we are more connected than we’ve ever been, we also feel more alone and unknown than at any other time in human history. We relate without relationships, all together but all alone. Thus, without the gospel forming community, we are doomed to connectivity and aloneness in the midst of crowds. Only the gospel forms deep community.”

Excerpt From: Matt Chandler, Eric Geiger & Josh Patterson. “Creature of the Word.” B&H Publishing Group, 2012. iBooks.
This material may be protected by copyright.

Check out this book on the iBookstore: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/creature-of-the-word/id560382548?mt=11

Lessons from evil people

Believe it or not we could learn a lot from evil people. Look at how zealously they serve there god, Satan and look at in comparison how apathetic we serve the true God. Consider the words from Living Zealously by Joel Beeke and James A. La Belle

We should be motivated by people who are violent ways of sin, lest they serve Satan better than we serve God. People of this world are industrious, vigorous, and resolute in the ways of sin, while we are negligent, cold, and inconstant in the service of righteousness. They disregard all reproofs and counsel, they grieve friends and relatives who stand in their way they readily venture into great dangers, they waste their wealth, macerate their bodies, and in the end die martyrs to lust and sin. They are zealous in following the way to hell, while many of us are sluggish on the path to heaven. They break bone and body for hell, while we are afraid to break flesh and skin for glory.

You have to give evil people credit they love what they do and they do it well. What about the Christian?

Resturant Review: 61 Chop House

 

61 Chop House

The decor is nice but somehow the tables and booths don’t match the rest of the theme, if that make any sense at all. But what the heck it’s about the food and the service. We’ll start with the service unfortunately the service we received was well below average. The initial contact was good but it was a slow steady decline after that. Our waitress managed to hit on both of my service pet peeves, my water sat empty forever and I had to wait an eternity for our check when we were done. Speaking of the check we found out later that she ran the tip through our debit card as a separate transaction.  Hopefully she just had an off night and the other servers are better. Because overall the food was pretty good, I did have one head scratcher however. The place is owned and run by a “certified executive chef” and they serve frozen French fries that I do not understand. The menu made it very clear that the Barn Burger (pictured here)

  is what the 61 Chop house is known for so that is what I ordered. It was billed as one of the top ten burgers in Iowa for 2011. It was very good, the secret barn sauce and the onion straws were a nice touch, was it the top ten in the state? Possibly. The other diner’s at our table had a tenderloin and the prime rib which were both reported as very good. By the looks of the place and the website it looks like the 61 Chop House is very active in the community which is nice to see. Looks like in January they are revamping their menu, I’ll go back and try it again. Perhaps we will have a different waitress or by then she will have improved. I tried really hard to not let our service experience effect the food and overall score suffer. Service really does set the tone for a great dining experience.

 Price range: (everyday, a night out, a special occasion only) everyday

Overall rankings all based 1 to 5

Atmosphere:  3

Service:         2

Food:            4

Value:           3

Overall          3.5

 

213 South Wapello Road Mediapolis, IA 52637
(319) 394-9222

Are you ready?

Do you recognize any of these symptoms in people today?

Love only themselves and their money
Boastful and proud
Disobedient
Ungrateful
Consider nothing sacred.
 Unloving and unforgiving
Slandering others
No self-control
Cruel and hate what is good
 Betrayal of friends
Reckless
Puffed up with pride
Love pleasure rather than God
 Act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly

If you’re honest your answer is yes and you shouldn’t be surprised. Is this list one I just came up with in my dealings with people yesterday? No, but it could have been. This list came straight out of 2 Timothy 3 with the heading of Dangers of the Last Days. I’m not running around saying the end of the world is near, but it could be. To be true to scripture no one knows when that day will come. However the signs are there, there are indications, signs or whatever you want to call it, that the end of the world is approaching. And I can’t wait. How about you? Are you ready for the end of the world? You don’t get ready by stocking up on food, water, and guns. You get ready for the end of the world by trusting in Jesus.

Not made to wait

I was very convicted at church yesterday as it worked out the Sunday school lesson and the sermon were both pointing fingers right at me. Sunday school had to do with being a lukewarm Christian and the sermon was about sharing your faith. I was reminded of what I have done more times than I’d care to admit. I go into a situation all prepared to share my faith, talk about Jesus, to tell someone how much He means to me, then I walk away saying the opportunity never came up and I’m good with that. I should not be good with that attitude. Because Satan would be greatly pleased with that attitude and Jesus would not. Sitting around waiting for the right moment is not what we are commanded to do. In the great commission Jesus said GO not wait. There are those who would not agree but the Christian was made to play offense not defense. The opportunity never came up is one of the worst things a Christian can say because it actually shows that they hate people, by not letting them know that trusting in Jesus is how they avoid Hell. It also show how little they think of Jesus by not wanting to be identified with Him. We were not made to wait.

Time to Vote

I was asked a question today that I thought was worth blogging about. The question had to do with voting in the upcoming election and what should a person do. My answer is really very simple and I can answer it without even saying who I’m voting for. When it comes to voting everyone should vote, it’s your responsibility as a citizen of the greatest country in the history of the world. I get accused of voting a strait party ticket every time I vote, like there is something wrong with that. In my opinion in most, but not every case a person should vote a strait party ticket and it has absolutely nothing to do with party loyalty. I believe a person should actually look into what the candidates have done and not what they say they will do, then line that up with what you believe. That is who you should vote for and if you are consistent in what you believe most likely it will be a strait party ticket. I really get frustrated with those who just vote for who they “like, “when a person does that they have no core convictions. If you have no core convictions even if they are different than mine I would just a soon you not vote at all. The other question I was asked as a Christian what do I do if neither candidate is a Christian? Would you vote at all? My answer is yes, due do the fact that even if a candidate professes to be a Christian does not mean that they are. I still line them up and vote whose views are the closest to mine. Because whether a Republican or a Democrat a Christian or a non Christian wins an election they all have to answer to the same person I do, The King.

When on your knees is not enough

The following is a section from the book Glorious Ruin by Tullian Tchividjian. The book is about how suffering can actually set you free. This section on Job was eye opening and worth the entire price of the book.

Imagine for a moment that God had given Job the explanation he desired. Let’s say God had come to Job and said; this is what you are going to experience; this is how it will happen to you; but just hold on tight. It won’t last forever, and in the end you will be sanctified; I will be glorified, and the Devil will be defeated. Just know that for thousands of years, My people will be talking about you, Job, so a little bit of pain is worth generations of pleasure. What would Job have ultimately been putting his faith and trust in? What would have been helping him endure? Certainly not God alone. If Job would have been given that explanation, he could have said to himself, Well, if that’s the good that’s going to happen to me, if I’m going to get a double portion of everything I list, then I’ll endure, not for God’s sake, but for mine.

This is the key to God’s silence. God wanted Job to trust Him, come what might. He knew that it was the only way Job would survive his hours of darkness. Explanations, as we said earlier, are a substitute for trust, a red herring at best. God is interested in something much more powerful than any information could ever produce. He is interested in faith. It should come as no surprise then, that when God finally broke His silence; it was not to explain Himself. Quite the opposite in fact.

Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind:

² “Who is this that questions my wisdom
with such ignorant words?
³ Brace yourself like a man,
because I have some questions for you,
and you must answer them.

⁴ “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
Tell me, if you know so much.
⁵ Who determined its dimensions
and stretched out the surveying line?

(Job 38:1-5)

If you detect a whiff of divine sarcasm, you’re not mistaken. God asked Job a series of questions that, at first glance, almost seem mean. But they were designed to show Job just how small and powerless he really was. God was not doing this for His own benefit. Job may have been on his knees, but his forehead wasn’t to the ground yet. The Lord mercifully put to death Job’s final idol – the idol of explanation. God liberated Job from himself. It was glorious ruin.
Only when we come to the end of ourselves do we come to the beginning of God. This is a common theme in the Bible---- desperation precedes deliverance. Grief precedes glory. The cross precedes the crown. Powerlessness is the beginning of freedom. This is not to say that every cloud had a silver lining, or some such nonsense. That would be minimization.

 

Be Prepared

Note to Self by Joe Thorn is a book that I now use as a daily devotional. Each day I will share the scripture passage and an expert from the book and a few of my own thoughts as part of my blog.

Scripture passage Luke 14:25-27  

²⁵ A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, ²⁶ “If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. ²⁷ And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.
Section from the book
And when Jesus really does come first, life becomes filled with risks. You risk the loss of family, reputation, prosperity, and more—for the world is hostile to this kind of allegiance and worship and hates the renunciation of those things the world loves to worship.

Simple thoughts

This is one of those cases when the section from the book really speaks for itself. However the key words are the first 7, and when Jesus really does come first.

If you have never lost anything for the sake of Jesus, I’m not sure you really have him first.  When you put Jesus first be prepared because the Bible is clear the world will come against you. The question is do you trust Jesus enough to take on the world?

Bon appétit.

Note to Self by Joe Thorn is a book that I now use as a daily devotional. Each day I will share the scripture passage and an expert from the book and a few of my own thoughts as part of my blog.

Scripture passage Psalm 119: 129-135  

¹²⁹ Your laws are wonderful.
No wonder I obey them!
¹³⁰ The teaching of your word gives light,
so even the simple can understand.
¹³¹ I pant with expectation,
longing for your commands.
¹³² Come and show me your mercy,
as you do for all who love your name.
¹³³ Guide my steps by your word,
so I will not be overcome by evil.
¹³⁴ Ransom me from the oppression of evil people;
then I can obey your commandments.
¹³⁵ Look upon me with love;
teach me your decrees.

Section from the book
But what is clear is that Scripture requires both head and heart, and you need to see it not just as a text but as the very words of God. This will encourage you to pay close attention to the very words he uses, but it will also compel you to feast on those words as light-shedding, wisdom-dispensing, and life-giving counsel from on high.

Simple thoughts

The Bible is more than a book. God’s word is something that needs to be experienced, lived, digested, shared, listened to, and so on. God’s word is something that needs to be thought of as a meal. Something done regularly, to be enjoyed ,  and to be digested. Bon appétit.

Check your ID

 

Note to Self by Joe Thorn is a book that I now use as a daily devotional. Each day I will share the scripture passage and an expert from the book and a few of my own thoughts as part of my blog.

Scripture passage Romans 5: 3-5  

³ We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. ⁴ And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. ⁵ And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Section from the book

When the world strips away your comfort and confidence in things temporal, when friends become enemies and attack you, when in the providence of God suffering enters your life like a flash flood, you are given an opportunity to see very clearly where your ultimate dependence lies and where you find your identity.

Simple thoughts

There are two kinds of suffering and trials. One is the self inflicted kind where there are consequences for your actions. The other comes when something happens that you had no control over. The key to both kinds of suffering is knowing that God causes all things to work for good for those who love him. I really love what it says above in regards to suffering and trials. You are given an opportunity to see very clearly where your ultimate dependence lies and where you find your identity. When you come to the realization that your ultimate dependence and your identity is found in Christ. You should say thank you suffering, thank you trials. When a person’s dependence and identity is in something other than Christ they are doomed now and possibly forever unless they change and trust in Christ. The next time a trial or suffering comes upon you let it be an opportunity to check your identity.

Do you go to church to be fed?

Note to Self by Joe Thorn is a book that I now use as a daily devotional. Each day I will share the scripture passage and an expert from the book and a few of my own thoughts as part of my blog.

Scripture passage  Psalm 29: 1-2

¹ Honor the Lord, you heavenly beings;
honor the Lord for his glory and strength.
² Honor the Lord for the glory of his name.
Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.
Section from the book
You should think of worship as an opportunity to offer something to God, not just to receive something. You should come with the intention of offering your words, your mind, your heart, and your entire life to the God who has rescued you from sin, death, and hell itself.

Simple thoughts

Do you go to church to be fed? Do you go to get filled up for the rest of the week? If that is the reason you go to church you’re selfish. You should go to church to give not to get. You should first and foremost go to church to give worship to God with other believers. And that is no excuse not to worship him the other 6 days of the week either. Worshiping in church is not for your good, it is for the glory and pleasure of God. Going to church is not about being fed, it more about being led by the grace that God has shown you and publicly not just thanking him but worshiping him for it. Needless to say when you worship God you will in the end be fed and it will carry you through anything.

You're UGLY

Note to Self by Joe Thorn is a book that I now use as a daily devotional. Each day I will share the scripture passage and an expert from the book and a few of my own thoughts as part of my blog.

Scripture passage  John 17: 1-3
17 After saying all these things, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you. ² For you have given him authority over everyone. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him. ³ And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.

Section from the book

Good theology uncovers the truth about ourselves—that we are men and women made in God’s image, who exist for his glory, but have turned inward and ugly through our own sin. Without the hope of the gospel we are objects of wrath and await destruction
Simple thoughts

Theology is an interesting word, it brings up images of really smart people. I had a pastor one time tell me that I had a theological mind, I thought to myself this guy is not to smart. However as I have come to realize that theology is not all about being really smart. I like what was said in the section above, good theology uncovers the truth about ourselves. Good theology is when you come to the realization that you are not who you were created to be and that indeed you are a sinner (you’re ugly) and the only way to fix it is to trust in God. Otherwise you are headed for wrath and destruction aka. Hell. For some theology leads to pride and for others it leads to Jesus. Make sure you practice good theology.

Un-happiness is a choice

A while back I posted a comment on facebook that didn’t get much action. The comment has continued to make me think for days now. The comment was something like un-happiness occurs when you make yourself god. The more I think about it the more true it becomes. You become unhappy when things don’t go the way you think they should or when people don’t do what you want them to. Does not wanting things you want and not considering what God wants really make you god in your own mind?  Unhappiness is a choice, choose God instead.

Resturant Review: Mondo's Draft House

Mondo’s Draft House

 

We needed a place to eat in Iowa City and wanted to try something new. I did a little research and fell in love with this picture.

 

A salmon BLT! It was all I could think about. So Mondo’s Draft House it was. The overall theme I would call an upscale sports bar it was very nice. The décor was rich and elegant for a sports bar. The service was good but for what I would call an upscale establishment (that serves $30 steaks) the dress of the wait staff did not match the décor. Their attire was a takeoff on Hooters, just out of place for what you can see here a very nice place.  

 

When the food arrived I knew immediately that my expectations of Mondo’s Draft House were set to high. I did not take any pictures of our food but now wish I had. If you refer to the picture of the Salmon BLT above which is amazing. What I ordered came on a regular bun in a plastic basket on paper! Far from what the picture showed. I will say despite the let down it was a good sandwich. The fries that came with them were undercooked and soggy. I won’t go into a lot of detail about the other dishes I sampled at the table, the French Dip was average, the Mac and Cheese was okay, the mashed potatoes were the worst I’ve ever had and the steak bruschetta salad was just weird, almost greasy.  With all that said Mondo’s received one of the lowest value scores I’ve ever given. My sandwich served in plastic was $12.00. I would have valued it at $7.00. Needless to say a bad experience but when it comes to eating out sometimes you win sometimes you lose.  This time we lost, never give up trying.

 Price range: (everyday, a night out, a special occasion only) Special occasion

Overall rankings all based 1 to 5

Atmosphere:  3.5

Service:         3.5

Food:             2

Value:           1

Overall          2

516 2nd Street
Coralville
(319) 337-3000

Break time

Time to take a short break from the daily blog. I need to concentrate for a bit on a sermon for September 30th. As soon as it's done I'll be back.

Trust me you need this

Note to Self by Joe Thorn is a book that I now use as a daily devotional. Each day I will share the scripture passage and an expert from the book and a few of my own thoughts as part of my blog.

Scripture passage 1 John 5:21

Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

Section from the book

The call to keep one’s self from idols is given to the church. This sounds strange, as you see yourself as a worshiper of God and not of strange deities. But there it is at the end of John’s epistle. His last words in that letter to the church are, “Keep yourselves from idols.” The warning isn’t given to them because it wasn’t a real danger or because there was an off chance someone might fall into idolatry. It was given because this is our root problem on any given day. It is what we, especially as followers of Jesus, must fight against.

Even when you know the dangers of idolatry and the command to keep yourself from idols, do you know what idols you need to keep yourself from? It is not enough to say that you will worship Christ alone and reject false gods. You must be able to recognize the form idolatry takes in your life.

Simple thoughts

I’m sure you do not have a golden calf enshrined somewhere in your house that you worship everyday. But I am sure somewhere ,you have an idol that you worship more than you even know. The funny thing about idols is that they don’t look like you’d think. They are not statues; they may not even be a physical thing. The simple definition of an idol is anything you place in front of God. To indentify your idols just look where you spend the most of your time and money, that could very well be your idol. What is it that you are the most afraid of losing? That could be your idol. Where does your mind drift off to when given the chance? That too could be your idol.  I will go out on a limb and say that the root of all your personal problems is in fact idolatry. The way to kill roots in a septic system is copper sulfate. The way to kill the roots of idolatry in your life is a fresh and renewed sense of the gospel.

A complaint is nothing but a lack of trust

Scripture passage Philippians 2:14

Do all things without grumbling or questioning.

Section from the book

Let’s get something straight. You complain, and you know it. The problem with your complaining is that you do not see it as a problem. You view it as harmless venting. You believe you are just stating facts, that a certain circumstance is frustrating. Your justification of complaining is truly unfortunate, because it certainly bothers God. The reason you complain is the reason it is wrong.

You complain because you misunderstand (or just miss altogether) the grace you have received and the purposes of God in your life. You misunderstand the grace you have received by not recognizing it and receiving it with gratitude. Life, breath, and all of God’s provisions for your life are acts of his kindness and are truly wonderful, and yet they all seem to disappear when the small inconveniences of life appear.

And no, you do not get a pass because you can handle the big problems in life but not the small ones. Perhaps when sickness, death, and affliction come into your life, you run to God and his promises and find comfort that gives peace and patience. Maybe it is just the small stuff that you sweat. So what is the big deal? Everything! In fact, your complaining about the small stuff is more dangerous than complaining about the big, because life is made up of the small stuff. Tragedies punctuate periods of your life, but it is the smaller inconveniences that make up the bulk of your existence, and this is what most people will see you handle. Those situations are the most obvious testing ground of your faith. If God’s grace is big enough for you to handle the big problems, why isn’t it enough for you to walk meekly though the smaller issues?

 Simple thoughts

It is hard for me to say and it may be hard for you to hear but anytime you complain you may think you are only stating facts but the truth is you are really ungrateful for what you do have and questioning God for the circumstances He gave you for your own good. Ouch! I’ve done it and you have too, the key is recognizing it and fixing it. Because complaining is draining and complaining is not a conversation, although there are some who would be mute if they couldn’t complain. The next time you are about to complain or hear someone complaining think about it as a lack of trust in God and address it accordingly. Because God causes ALL things to work together for good for those who love him, even what your complaining about.

Who's on your pedastal?

Note to Self by Joe Thorn is a book that I now use as a daily devotional. Each day I will share the scripture passage and an expert from the book and a few of my own thoughts as part of my blog.

Scripture passage 1 Peter 5:5

Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Section from the book

You are proud, and what makes this so dangerous is that you don’t realize just how proud you are. There are two reasons you see pride as a sin that isn’t a real problem for you. One is that you are quick to compare yourself to the worst examples of proud men and women, and this gives you a sense of self-righteousness that comforts you. Comparatively, you believe you aren’t “that bad.” This makes little of a very serious sin problem.

The second reason you think pride isn’t a serious issue for you is that you think so little of your talents and abilities. But poor self-esteem is not an indication of humility or meekness. In fact, it may be a disregarding of the gifts God has given you and a mocking of the work he is doing in your life. How does this connect to pride? Haven’t you used this excuse of no ability and no talent to clear yourself of responsibility? Isn’t it possible that you have used poor self-esteem as an excuse for doing nothing or as a means of saving face? Who could fault you when you don’t claim to be good at anything? Make no mistake about it—you are proud!

  Simple thoughts

Pride is all about elevation. Pride occurs when a person elevates themselves. Immediately when you compare yourself to someone worse than you, you just elevated yourself. That’s pride. The other side of the coin is very sneaky and one many have never thought about and that is when you try and lower yourself you are trying to manipulate others into elevating you. Either way you are putting yourself on a pedestal when Christ is the only one who deserves the top spot.

Confidence is looking in the mirror and seeing someone else

Note to Self by Joe Thorn is a book that I now use as a daily devotional. Each day I will share the scripture passage and an expert from the book and a few of my own thoughts as part of my blog.

Scripture passage Isaiah 44:22

I have swept away your sins like a cloud.
I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist.
Oh, return to me,
for I have paid the price to set you free.”

Section from the book

You can, and must, return to God daily. His promise is that he will receive you as you come—in faith, not in moral purity. This is what gospel confidence looks like. It is not an insincere approach to God that dismisses our corruption while presuming on his grace, but a heartfelt dependency on the grace of Christ to make us acceptable at all times. Gospel confidence is not found in our best religious performance, be it guilt-penance or law keeping, but in the merit and mercy of Jesus on our behalf.
  Simple thoughts

Gospel confidence is something we should strive for. But it is something that we can never achieve on our own. In fact the more we try to achieve it, the more distant it becomes. It is in a sense just like today’s picture, when you look into the mirror you need to see someone else, Jesus. When you can do this that is when you will have gospel confidence.

Kill it

Scripture passage Romans 8:13

For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

Section from the book

You seem to think that your sins will somehow die of old age. It’s as if you believe you can wait them out, and they will eventually grow weak and fail. But the truth is your sin ages more like an oak tree. If you aren’t chopping it down, its roots are growing deeper, and its branches are growing stronger.

In other words, your sin will not just go away. You are called to aggressively seek sin’s destruction—to kill it. But even when you understand this, it is more complicated than plotting its murder, for the act of killing sin is a slow, continuous process that runs the span of your life. And if you are not putting sin to death, then you will find that it is seeking your destruction. As John Owen said, “Be killing sin or it will be killing you.”

Killing sin isn’t merely the cutting of branches but a striking at the root. This means you need to do more than recognize your sin of impatience; you must seek to know how this branch of sin is connected to the root of pride. From there you can get to work. But the work of killing sin is not moral improvement or personal reformation. It is the Holy Spirit empowered spiritual war against all forms of corruption that would lead you away from the gospel. Sin and temptation lead you away from the gospel by telling you that you can find greater fulfillment and satisfaction in something other than Jesus. Your sinful actions always reflect the battle within you over your allegiance.

What this means is that the true nature of spiritual warfare is a fight against indwelling sin, and that the only success you can have in that fight is through the power of God’s Spirit. And how is it that you and the Spirit can work together? How is it that the Holy Spirit has come to dwell in you? The answer is found in the gospel. God justifies the sinner, gives him the Spirit, and sanctifies him in the truth by the Spirit. Your hope in this war against sin is outside of yourself in God. In the end, you are called to kill sin because it seeks to lead you away from the hope of the gospel, and you are able to kill sin because of the hope of the gospel.

 Simple thoughts

No reason to say anything more.  

What's behind your good works?

Note to Self by Joe Thorn is a book that I now use as a daily devotional. Each day I will share the scripture passage and an expert from the book and a few of my own thoughts as part of my blog.

Scripture passage 1 Peter 2: 24-25
He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.
²⁵ Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.
Section from the book
Your progress in the faith, your sanctification, is not a result of will power or education but the consequence of Christ’s atoning work
 Simple thoughts
Did you do a good deed yesterday? Did you memorize a Bible verse? Did you have some quality time with God? If you did and your motives were pure it was only possible by the death of Jesus. Prior to that you were a slave to sin and everything you did had a selfish motive. Even today some of the good things you do still have a selfish motive, but Christ’s death has made it possible for good and pure motives. Kind of like helping an old lady across the street did you do it out of a love for her or just for street cred. Be honest with yourself and think of how many times you have done “good” things for selfish reasons. Good things don’t happen because of what you do, they happen because of what Jesus has already done.

Repentance Reaction

Note to Self by Joe Thorn is a book that I now use as a daily devotional. Each day I will share the scripture passage and an expert from the book and a few of my own thoughts as part of my blog.

Scripture passage 2 Corinthians 7:10

¹⁰ For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.

Section from the book

You will never be done with repentance—at least, not until death or Christ’s return. While it is something you should be doing frequently, it is not something you just “get used to.” Repentance requires a daily intentionality. And let’s be honest; you will have more to repent of by the end of the day than you can possibly remember. So, where should you start? The big picture is that repentance is both an attitude and an action. It is more than being sorry for sin, and it is more than cutting out a bad habit.
 Simple thoughts

I like what the book says here that repentance is more than an action. Many of us have heard the definition of repentance as turning and walking away from your sin. It needs to be much more than that. Repentance is also an attitude, true repentance is a hate for the sin you’ve committed against God and when you truly see if for what it is your response shouldn’t be much different than Kevin’s in the movie classic Home Alone.  When you understand the sin you’ve committed against God you should be repulsed, shocked, or even mortified. If you’re not you may be just sorry or just sorry they got caught. You must understand that repentance is much more than being sorry or stopping a bad habit.

Is it real?

Note to Self by Joe Thorn is a book that I now use as a daily devotional. Each day I will share the scripture passage and an expert from the book and a few of my own thoughts as part of my blog.

Scripture passage Proverbs 4:23

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.

Section from the book

The call to keep your heart is a call to work on your life internally, not merely externally. The latter is easy; the former is much harder and more complicated. The religious or moral person will focus on the external and maintain good appearances, but it may have little to nothing to do with the heart. God is first and foremost concerned with your heart, for when you are keeping your heart, the rest of life follows.

To keep your heart means that your focus and work is on maintaining communion with God and pursuing the transformation that only God can accomplish in you. It is not performance-based religion, nor the moral improvement of your life, but the ongoing work of cultivating love for God and hatred for sin. It is the unending effort of guarding ourselves against idols while resting in the promises of the gospel.

Simple thoughts

God knows the heart, the question you need to ask yourself is how much time do you spend actually working on your heart and I’m not talking cardio here. You must ask yourself do you spend more time working on your actual heart or is your time spent making your outside look good when there is nothing on the inside? It’s much like today’s picture of an inflatable tank. Ever since there have been tanks militaries from all over the world have utilized fake, inflatable tanks to trick the enemy. To make them think there is more than there really is. Do you do that with your heart? Do you make it appear to be something that it’s not? Even though inflatable tanks may have tricked some over the years, God knows the heart. There is no tricking him the only one you are deceiving is you. Don’t spend your time working on your religion or even moral improvements. Spend it on your heart and considering the gospel is a good place to start.  

Go ahead and hate

Note to Self by Joe Thorn is a book that I now use as a daily devotional. Each day I will share the scripture passage and an expert from the book and a few of my own thoughts as part of my blog.

Scripture passage Proverbs 8:13
The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.

Section from the book

In all your longing to love as Christ loved, you sometimes forget that true love for one thing will, or at least should, produce a hatred for whatever stands against it. Do not neglect cultivating hatred, an intense hatred, for the right things

If you are following Jesus, cherishing the gospel, and loving God and neighbor, then you will hate well. If you do not hate evil, you will find yourself more susceptible to temptation, slower to respond to corruption, and unmotivated to contend for the faith. Hate is a real part of your faith—don’t forget it.

Simple thoughts

Hard to believe, but you are supposed be a hater, Jesus was. Jesus never sinned and hated, it is possible but you must hate the right things.  The Bible talks so much about love and people emphasize the love aspect so much that they think hate is off limits. Well it’s not. To truly love something you have to hate the something that stands against it. The first thing a Christian needs to learn to hate is their own sin. If you don’t learn to hate the things that need to be hated you had better ask yourself how much you love Jesus.

In case you needed proof that Jesus hated see Revelation 2:6 But this is in your favor: You hate the evil deeds of the Nicolaitans, just as I do.

You can do it

Note to Self by Joe Thorn is a book that I now use as a daily devotional. Each day I will share the scripture passage and an expert from the book and a few of my own thoughts as part of my blog.

Scripture passage Hebrews 3: 12-13

Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

Section from the book

At times you feel as if you have little to say, or that your words are too simple and not deep enough. But when you doubt that you have anything to offer, you question God’s ability to use you beyond your own weakness. Your usefulness in the lives of others is not dependent on your intellectual or creative abilities, though God will use your talents whatever they are. Your usefulness to God and his people is connected with your dependence on God and his Word and your love for his people.

The people around you need to hear from you. Share God’s Word with those who need to hear it.

Simple thoughts

A line that Rob Schneider as weaved into many Adam Sandler films is you can do it. That is exactly what is being said here. If you think you have nothing to offer someone as far as what to say, you are doubting what God can do. In fact sometimes the simplest words are the best words and simple words are much better than no words at all.  You can do it!

Storm Shelter

Note to Self by Joe Thorn is a book that I now use as a daily devotional. Each day I will share the scripture passage and an expert from the book and a few of my own thoughts as part of my blog.

Scripture passage Hebrews 3: 12-13

Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

Section from the book

So the local church must be more than a weekly event. It needs to be your covenant community and extended family who have the right and privilege to exhort you—to speak into your life when you need it most. From words of encouragement to gentle but needed rebuke, the words of wisdom and insight are all around you. Are you listening?

 Simple thoughts

You don’t need church to become a Christian, God takes care of that. But I do believe that you do need church to survive as a Christian. Christianity is no easy life in fact it is a very hard life and a person needs a family of believers to help get them through it. But there is another but, but when you belong to a church you have to be willing to encourage one another and yes even tell someone that they are wrong. You can’t just sit in the building and take up space. When you are part of a church you need to participate. For some participating in the church life is easy for others it is harder but it is something everyone needs to work at. There is one other thing that may be much harder than encouraging someone or telling them they are wrong if you can believe that. It is actually listening if you are the one being encourage or rebuked. That goes with being part of a church as well. It’s not the church building that is a shelter in the storm it’s the church family. Once you become a Christian storm warnings are in effect and remember storms don't just come on Sunday's you need your church family the other six days of the week as well.

Don't just sit there, Go!

 

Note to Self by Joe Thorn is a book that I now use as a daily devotional. Each day I will share the scripture passage and an expert from the book and a few of my own thoughts as part of my blog.

Scripture passage Matthew 28:19-20

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

Section from the book

If you want to be useful to God, you will need to be the person who moves first. You have to take the initiative to move toward the people God has put into your life and the people God has sent you to. Most will not come to your church’s worship gathering, most will not seek out your advice, and most will not strike up a conversation with you. You will have to go to them.

The opportunities are always there, but they are difficult to see if you are too focused on yourself. You must take the time to be truly present where God has put you

 Simple thoughts

Imagine yourself being the second car at a stop light, the light turns green and the car in front of you does not move. How long is it before you do something? Before throwing your arms up in disgust, or honking your horn? Probably not very long, you say to yourself why do they not just go! It’s not that hard! More than likely God says the same thing about you. In Matthew 28 Jesus says go, ask yourself are you just sitting there, not moving? In sharing your Christian faith you can’t stay put and wait for people to come to you, you have to go. Your reasons for not going could be many but the root of the problem is you’re too focused on yourself just like the person sitting at the green light in front of you is focused on something other than going.  So please take your foot off the brake, hit the gas and just go.

When it come to forgiveness, look in the mirror

Note to Self by Joe Thorn is a book that I now use as a daily devotional. Each day I will share the scripture passage and an expert from the book and a few of my own thoughts as part of my blog.

Scripture passage Colossian 3:12-13

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

Section from the book
Your refusal to forgive one who has sinned against you is a manifestation of hypocrisy—a telltale sign that either you have not experienced God’s forgiving grace, or that you take such grace for granted. Why do you withhold what has been given so freely to you? Have your offenders done worse than you? Are their crimes against you more severe than your crimes against God and others? When you refuse to forgive, it can only mean that you have not yet come to understand forgiveness, or you have been taking it for granted and have not yet sufficiently learned from it.

 Simple thoughts

When Christians gather forgiveness is a topic that generates a lot of conversation. People have a hard time forgiving and if you’re honest with yourself the person you have trouble forgiving has probably done what, one or two things to you? Even if it was ten or twenty that is just a drop in the bucket for the sins you have committed against God yet he forgave you. So when you have trouble forgiving someone look in the mirror and ask yourself, do I even know what forgiveness or grace is or do I take it completely for granted? Scripture says you must forgive.