http://christianlivingtoday.today.com Applying Christian Principles To Life In The 21st Century Wed, 23 Dec 2009 09:56:04 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Having stated, clearly and substantially from Scripture, what Christ’s redemption accomplished, Murray moves into the second section of his book: Redemption Applied. He will spend the remainder of this work breaking down the various aspects of Christ’s work and defining these aspects. Why, you may ask, do I need to understand ... http://christianlivingtoday.today.com/2009/12/23/redemption-accomplished-and-applied-part-2-chapter-1/ I rarely share an extended direct quote from someone else. However, reading through ‘Random Thoughts, Vol 1’ - a newsletter written by Jim Osman, pastor of the Kootenai Community Church in Kootenai, Idaho - something struck me as incredibly important. I believe he put his finger on a major perception ... http://christianlivingtoday.today.com/2009/12/21/a-gift-not-a-loan/ The Vanishing Conscience - Preface Recently I picked up a book by John MacArthur. One of the subjects I have been pursuing, of late, is the value and proper use of my mind. Thus the title intrigued me. MacArthur published "The Vanishing Conscience" in 1994. While many books are quickly dated, ... http://christianlivingtoday.today.com/2009/12/19/the-vanishing-conscience-preface/ To borrow an illustration from a good friend: What happens if you drop your glove into a mud puddle. Does the puddle become glovy or does the glove become muddy? I’ll admit in that context the question seems silly. However, that is the beauty of illustrations. They often reveal the foolishness ... http://christianlivingtoday.today.com/2009/12/17/keep-a-pure-mind/ From a great distance you stare out over the sea, your eyes drawn to a dark spot bobbing several hundred yards from shore. As recognition dawns, you hear the faint cry, "Help!" Knowing you are too far away to assist, your eyes scour the shoreline, looking for someone to help. ... http://christianlivingtoday.today.com/2009/12/15/redemption-accomplished-applied-ch-4-5/ Last time we looked at Jacob’s deathbed prophecies concerning the first half of his sons. Today we will complete this overview. In closing the first part I asked if you noticed anything striking about these men and the prophecies relating to them and their posterity. As I read and re-read and ... http://christianlivingtoday.today.com/2009/12/13/jacobs-sons-p2/ So often we read through Scripture catching bits and pieces. We enjoy the stories but often skim over genealogies. We read with interest a parable, but rush through a father’s blessings on his son. In so doing we belie the truth in 2 Timothy 3:16 which says, "All Scripture is ... http://christianlivingtoday.today.com/2009/12/11/jacobs-sons-p1/ In my review of Your Mind Matters, by John Stott, I inadvertently left off two points from chapter three’s review. Because this chapter was long and chapter four much shorter, I will begin my review of chapter four with the final two points from chapter three. Why did God make us ... http://christianlivingtoday.today.com/2009/12/09/your-mind-matters-ch-4/ I may be a little naive, but I suspect most true Christians today do not struggle with accepting God as sovereign. Granted there are some who preach and others who believe God is a hand-wringing deity, stymied by unexpected actions, scurrying around trying to plug holes in His plans. However, ... http://christianlivingtoday.today.com/2009/12/07/is-god-good/ As I continue reading through Redemption Accomplished and Applied, I am amazed at the depth of understanding John Murray exhibits. Christians are thankful for their salvation. They are looking forward to heaven. They understand their sins have been covered by Jesus’ blood. However, I wonder how well most of us ... http://christianlivingtoday.today.com/2009/12/05/redemption-accomplished-applied-ch-3/