Rhyme Thru the Old Testament

I recently posted a rhyme I created for the books of the Old Testament. I teach Bible Survey at the Word of Life Bible Institute and love creating/using various media that grab attention and help people remember the Bible.

You can check it out at http://wardlysbiblesurvey.blogspot.com/?zx=c90b080d45ed5241

Real Christian Living

Why is Christianity so derided and disrespected? Many people look at Christianity and only see hypocrisy and inconsistency. Many professing believers in Jesus Christ are sad, angry, arrogant, hypocritical, inconsistent people without comfort, peace, or joy. This just should not be!
The apostle Peter writes in his second epistle, chapter one, verse three, "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue:" The Bible says that we should have everything we need to live the lives that God promised us. Lives of comfort (not 'comfortable-ness' but the comfort of hope - 1 Thess. 4:18), peace (Phil. 4:7), and joy (John 10:10). Second Timothy 3:16-17, our theme verse for WOLBI this year, tells us God gave us all of His Word that we might become mature in our faith. What is the problem? There's really no excuse for us as believers in Jesus not to be living the message He taught, right?

Easier said than done but there is hope.

The problem is that we are, "Educated beyond our obedience." As James relates in his epistle, we are deceived because we are hearing the Word of God but not doing the Word of God.

Around Word of Life we use what some have called the triangle model to help us put God's Word into practice in our lives and ministry. If you are interested in growing in your faith, then this is for you!

Do you want to become a BIBLICAL PERSON?

Pick an area of life that needs a 'biblical' tune-up. For instance, how to handle money, our choices of entertainment, being a godly parent, husband, wife, leader, or child. The Bible is full of principles and wisdom on every area of life.

The example students came up with today are extreme 

but help make the points obvious and are in blue below.

Then we have to start with BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES.

Ask, "What does the Bible say about the topic in question?"

Biblical Principles are true for all people in all places at all times because they come from the Word of the Almighty, Changeless, Creator God - the Bible. God created life and knows how it is best to be lived.

"Thou shalt not kill" Ex. 20:13

From biblical principles we develop a BIBLICAL PHILOSOPHY.

Answer, "If the Bible says ____ about this issue, then I should _____."

Biblical Philosophy is not usually hard for us to understand because it tells us what we SHOULD do about God's Word. Most of us already know what we should do, it is a matter of doing it.

I should not murder (Ex. 20:13) or even hate (Matt. 5:21-22)

After the biblical philosophy is established we are motivated to do it by understanding the BIBLICAL PURPOSE behind what we should do.

Ask, "Why should I do _____?"

It is important to realize that the Principles, Philosophy, and Purpose of biblical truth do not change because they are all rooted in God's revelation to us in His Word.

I should not murder or hate because:

People are created in God's Image (Gen. 1:26-27)

God loves everyone (John 3:16)

I am commanded to love even my enemies (Matt. 5:44)

there are consequences for you and others (obviously!)

From here we develop a BIBLICAL PROGRAM to help us accomplish what God wants us to do.

Ask, "Now, What should I do _____?"

Our Biblical Program is our way of applying God's Word in a personal, practical, and specific way.

I will not murder or hate by:

doing loving things for and praying everyday for people who hurt me

meeting with someone I trust each week to keep me accountable for my thoughts and emotions

Not having access to guns -Extreme suggestion but gets the point across and truly Canadian :).

From blog

This material is condensed from a much larger and dynamic conference called Source One developed by Mike Calhoun and Ric Garland of Word of Life Local Church Ministries. In Canada, Barry Speck is the Local Church Ministries Director available for presenting this material.

The Tyranny of the Urgent vs. The Necessity of the Moment

Ever find yourself in the midst of a snaking line of people reaching beyond sight in each direction? Security tape, ever intrusive airport security guards, slow-as-snail checkpoints, the discomfort of body odour that you know is not yours, people packed elbow to elbow, and the sudden overwhelming realization -- I have to go! Now! Nature is calling and there's no chance for leaving a message.
Usually I can "hold it" and I hate stopping for anything whether driving, working, or whatever I am focused on the task at hand. "Just get through security and I'll have lots of time to go on the other side," I tried to convince myself as I began to break out in a cold sweat. I hate losing my place in line...I found myself ignoring my bodies warning sights of discomfort (which normally is not a problem) until they reached a borderline explosive pain from my bladder to my kidneys. After an embarrassing exchange with a very helpful and graciously understanding security guard, I was relieved and back in line. However, upon examining the line, I found that I had lost more spaces "holding it" than if I had gone before the line at the first bodily warning message.
I learned some important lessons (at least upon reflection - whether I learned enough to change my future behaviour is yet to be determined). First, always listen to your body before it's too late. This should be obvious but I can be pretty "thick" sometimes (my wife would be happy to verify if there's any doubt). I am not as young as I used to be and cannot do what I used to do - a painful lesson that sooner learned will save the body and mind even though it leaves a scar on the pride. The second lesson contrasts the message of the "Tyranny of the Urgent" (an article assigned our student leaders for a class I teach tomorrow) which teaches that the immediate is not always the priority and can steal time and effectiveness. I learned that sometimes I need to listen to the moment. Take time for the urgent or it will grow to the unbearable. Sometimes as I rush through life micro-managing each moment into a sense-dulling frenzy of apparent accomplishment I need to attend to the here and now. I need to lay aside my single focus for a potentially more important moment at hand. Take some time to reflect, seek balance, live prepared for every moment, and by all means go when you've got to go!