Seasons of Waiting: Walking By Faith When Dreams Are Delayed

Posted on Monday, August 15, 2016 by Aimee Byrd on Housewife Theologian

"How we live when we are waiting is a testimony of our faith."

The quality of Christian books marketed to women is very important to me. So I do a lot of reviews of the good, the mediocre, the challenging, the bad, and the just plain ugly.

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Mortification of Spin is a casual conversation of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Mortification of Spin and the mission of the Alliance.

The Birth of the Savior, Scene 1

By James Boice
Theme: The Most Important Birthday of All
 
In these lessons on the birth of Christ we focus on its paradoxes, and how these show that Jesus’ coming is for all who will receive him.
 
Scripture: Luke 2
 
Birthdays are usually very happy times. For that reason we generally try to remember the birthdays of close friends. We who have children cannot forget birthdays; the children will remind us.
What is there about this story that so claims the attention of our contemporaries and will continue to claim the attention of many who come after us? Some would point to “the sentimental nature of the story.” Some would say, “It’s a religious story and maybe one of the best. People are kind of religious, that’s all.” I think there is more to it than that. The story is a magnificent one. But above all it is a story of compelling paradoxes.

Think and Act Biblically from James Boice is a devotional of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Think and Act Biblically and the mission of the Alliance.

Making Changes in a Church

by Nick Batzig • August 13, 2016

No one likes change. Change frequently becomes a platform for anxiety in an individual's life. We all like routine. Knowing what to expect makes us feel safe and offers us the comfort of seeming stability. Yet, change is inevitable. We are changing creatures in a changing world. Things are either changing for the worst or for the better. Nothing remains static. Growth and progress necessitate change. This is no less true with regard to the growth and progress of a local church as it is with regard to an individual's life. Change in the church is one of the most necessary but also one of the most unwelcomed guests. So, given the fact that change can be stressful and steal away an individual's sense of comfort, how should pastors approach this subject in theory and practice?

No one likes change. Change frequently becomes a platform for anxiety in an individual's life. We all like routine. Knowing what to expect makes us feel safe and offers us the comfort of seeming stability. Yet, change is inevitable. We are changing creatures in a changing world. Things are either changing for the worst or for the better. Nothing remains static. Growth and progress necessitate change. This is no less true with regard to the growth and progress of a local church as it is with regard to an individual's life.

The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals is member supported and operates only by your faithful support. Thank you.

Christward Collective is a conversation of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Christward Collective and the mission of the Alliance.

God My Shepherd, Section 5

By James Boice
Theme: A Table and Place Prepared
 
This week’s lessons focus on how God acts as a shepherd toward his sheep, and what we are to do in response to him.
 
Scripture: Psalm 23
 
Verse 5 deals with provision. We will not lack provision because “you prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” David had real enemies. They wanted to kill him. So if God was able to provide for David in a situation like that, He is able to provide for you.
Verse 5 deals with provision. We will not lack provision because “you prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” David had real enemies. They wanted to kill him. So if God was able to provide for David in a situation like that, He is able to provide for you. And He does! He provides for us very, very well. Oh, we become worried. We begin to imagine what might happen tomorrow or the day after that. There are many difficulties in our day. People are losing jobs. Some are suffering. Nevertheless, even in those difficult situations, even in the loss of jobs or families, God provides for us. The same God who provided for David in the presence of his enemies provides for us in the difficulties of our own time.
 

Think and Act Biblically from James Boice is a devotional of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Think and Act Biblically and the mission of the Alliance.

What Denny Burk Could Do

Posted on Thursday, August 11, 2016 by Aimee Byrd on Housewife Theologian

Now is not the time for CBMW to act like they have nothing to do with the Trinity debate.

Denny Burk, the new president of CBMW, has posted an update on his take-aways from the Trinity debate.

The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals is member supported and operates only by your faithful support. Thank you.

Mortification of Spin is a casual conversation of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Mortification of Spin and the mission of the Alliance.

What Denny Burk Could Do

Posted on Thursday, August 11, 2016 by Aimee Byrd on Housewife Theologian

Now is not the time for CBMW to act like they have nothing to do with the Trinity debate.

Denny Burk, the new president of CBMW, has posted an update on his take-aways from the Trinity debate.

The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals is member supported and operates only by your faithful support. Thank you.

Mortification of Spin is a casual conversation of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Mortification of Spin and the mission of the Alliance.

God My Shepherd, Section 4

By James Boice
Theme: Safety in Shadow
 
This week’s lessons focus on how God acts as a shepherd toward his sheep, and what we are to do in response to him.
 
Scripture: Psalm 23
 
Verse 4 deals with safety. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” What is this valley of the shadow of death?

Verse 4 deals with safety. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” What is this valley of the shadow of death? The popular way of looking at this is to regard it as a promise of God’s presence in the moments of dying, that is, the shadow just before we actually die. That verse has been used that way many times, helpfully, I believe. But, even though that is true as a principle, I do not think that is what the verse is dealing with. Because, if you follow the flow of the psalm, you find that it covers the progress of the Christian life from the moment of belief in God (at the beginning) to our heavenly home (at the end). And this verse is not the step before the end; it is in the middle. So I think what it is dealing with is not death but the shadow or threat of death, the fact that we go through difficult times, sometimes when even our life is threatened.

Think and Act Biblically from James Boice is a devotional of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Think and Act Biblically and the mission of the Alliance.

Are Nude Selfies Empowering?

Posted on Wednesday, August 10, 2016 by Aimee Byrd on Housewife Theologian

More on beauty, shame, sexual intimacy, and the weight of our neighbor's glory.

Yesterday I wrote about the state of our culture revealed by the spokesperson for one of our presidential candidates saying Marlania Trump’s published nude photos are nothing to be embarrassed about because she is beautiful. I then made a contrast with another woman who heard the opposite when she wanted to use her body for a weekend fling.

The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals is member supported and operates only by your faithful support. Thank you.

Mortification of Spin is a casual conversation of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Mortification of Spin and the mission of the Alliance.

Social Interaction and Exegetical Trinitarianism

by Joe Holland • August 10, 2016

We have met the Persons of the Godhead in the Bible and found both Jesus and the Holy Spirit to bear the unequivocal marks of God Almighty.

I’m a reluctant extrovert, thrilled to talk to others long after they’re thrilled to talk to me yet intimidated to walk into a room full of strangers and social acquaintances. What I really want is a glance at a social key before parties as a way to find out everything I need to know about folks so I can better enjoy my conversations with them. You see, I love peeking at guests lists in advance so I can figure out what conversation topics to bring up or avoid, whichever the case may be.

The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals is member supported and operates only by your faithful support. Thank you.

Christward Collective is a conversation of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Christward Collective and the mission of the Alliance.

God My Shepherd, Section 3

By James Boice
Theme: Our Faithful Guide
 
This week’s lessons focus on how God acts as a shepherd toward his sheep, and what we are to do in response to him.
 
Scripture: Psalm 23
 
I said earlier that the Christian life also has activity, and that is what comes next. The next portion of the psalm stresses guidance: “He leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.

I said earlier that the Christian life also has activity, and that is what comes next. The next portion of the psalm stresses guidance: “He leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” Guidance is the proper way to approach this matter because activity itself is not everything. This is because a person can be active in a wrong cause as well as in a right one. As you know, in the Christian life there are areas that seem ambiguous. We do not know which way to go. We do not know the right road to take. We do not know the proper direction to turn. We need a guide. We need somebody who knows the way, who has been over this course before. In fact, we need somebody who knows us and knows what he wants to do with us. That is precisely the kind of guide we have in Jesus Christ. He guides us in paths of righteousness. 

Think and Act Biblically from James Boice is a devotional of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Think and Act Biblically and the mission of the Alliance.

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