The Moving Word

Sharing my life as a writer, bookworm, & Fibromyalgia sufferer

Archive for the category “Bible”

Overcoming Disabilities

by Richard Mansel

May 10, 2010 was one of the scariest days of my life. I was in the office writing. I stood up to go somewhere and realized I couldn’t walk. I stumbled home to lie on the bed, scared and hurting. Soon it spread to my arms and hands.

Several doctor’s appointments and tests followed. I eventually went to the Mayo Clinic and spent five weeks at a Pain Rehabilitation Center. I was eventually diagnosed with  Fibromyalgia.

At the Pain Rehabilitation Center, I learned to walk again and use my arms and hands better. I still have pain, serious fatigue and problems walking and using my arms and hands.

Read more…

Crime is a Sin Problem

fire55

Immodesty Meets Reality

The only possible motives for women intentionally showing off their bodies, namely their cleavage, are:

  • No one can tell that they can’t
  • If you got it, flaunt it.
  • Everyone else is doing it.

If we wrap all of these into one Idea for the sake of illustration, we see the real problem with intentional immodesty. This idea is no different than Mary and her little lamb-everywhere Mary went, her lamb was sure to follow.

If Mary goes left, the lamb goes left. She can’t go anywhere outside where the lamb will not pursue her.

The aforementioned Idea’s lamb is unwanted attention. Idea cannot ever hope to go out in public where Unwanted Attention will not follow. Unwanted Attention will pursue Idea no matter where it goes.

Immodesty is contrary to human nature and that will never change. Unwanted attention will never be banished by political correctness, indoctrination, anger or violence. Unwanted Attention will always persist in the chase.

Even if women were modest and chaste, unwanted attention would still exist. However, it would be much less aggressive.

Immodesty activates the hunger of Unwanted Attention and it will not be satisfied by anything that Idea thinks or wishes. Unwanted Attention is primal and not subject to reasoning.

The only way Unwanted Attention can be controlled is by degrees. Lower the temperature and Unwanted Attention slows down and becomes less active.

In a strange twist, Idea also seems to be lacking the ability to reason. No matter what anyone says or does, Idea persists in the hopeless idea that they can put a leash on Unwanted Attention and control it. This is impossible as long as Idea exists.

Fighting against the impossible is like yelling at a mountain to move out of our way.

Immodest women will never be able to control who notices them. When an attractive woman walks into a room, everyone-men, boys, women and girls-all turn to watch. It’s human nature and will not change.

If that is true of women in general, it would obviously be more pronounced if she were half-dressed.

Yet, immodest women still insist that only attractive men will notice their immodesty. Undesirable men will ignore them because, well, they just should. No intellectual reason, just coulda, woulda, shoulda.

Judah perceived that Tamar was available because of where she was and how she was dressed (Genesis 38).

Intentionally immodest women are proclaiming themselves available sexually and nothing can change that fact. Idea can get mad, yell, protest and picket.

Immodesty can stand and yell at that mountain until they are hoarse and that mountain isn’t moving.

 

Sermon Topics on Prayer

In 2013, I plan on preaching on the theme of prayer. Twice every month, I will be addressing the topic of prayer from a different passage.

I pray it will edify our congregation and spur growth, numercially and spiritually. We can all be uplifted as we grow closer to God in our Christian walks.

The question before me now is what topics to address?

Naturally, we would have to identify and define prayer and its purposes and priorities. So, what do you think are the most important passages on prayer in all of the Bible?

I look forward to your suggestions.

Negativity in the Pulpit

 

In order to grow and maintain peace and unity, the atmosphere of a congregation must be constantly monitored. Encouragement builds warmth and strength while negativity spreads disunity and suspicion.

The leadership of a local congregation has a responsibility to create a desirable climate so people feel comfortable. Things grow much better in the sun then they do in the shade.

We must be very clear that negativity in this article does not refer to standing for truth.

Read More 

Man’s Hopelessness

If the message in this photo is correct, what’s the point in going on? Where is hope? Where is peace? Depression would be the only logical answer.

Thankfully, it is a lie straight from Satan’s blackened heart (John 8:44). We can help ourselves in minor ways but we depend on God when we do so.

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

Spiritual Maturity

How can we grow the church if we are not prepared spiritually to do so? If we are acting like spoiled children, we cannot represent Christ. Find out how spiritual growth is the real answer to church growth!

The one thing needed by most congregations of the Lord’s Church doesn’t cost a penny. We can put millions into new buildings, exciting entertainment and comedians in the pulpit.

However, the problems are internal and they are causing great damage among God’s people. The importance of spiritual maturity in our Christian lives cannot be overestimated.

Without it, we can destroy the Lord’s work in the communities we serve. Spiritually immature Christians are deadly to the work of the Church. They bring the sins of the flesh into the Lord’s body and we fight, argue, divide and misrepresent Christ to the world.

Read More

The Road to Valencia

Jose had to keep walking. However, he needed another minute to rest. He wiped his brow with his soaked, red handkerchief and looked up at the blazing sun.

Shaking his head, he put his hat on and began to trudge forward.
He had been walking for hours. Soon, the day would begin its descent into darkness. Yet, his throbbing feet kept moving. Crows circled above, waiting for him to die. He tried to ignore them while his own stomach growled.

He had to get to Valencia. His muscles waged war against his will, but Jose still moved toward Valencia, his hope and strength.

Read more…

Alone

Gertie awakened into a world familiar and bleak. Her faded wallpaper and antiquated bed brought no cheer to her mornings. She put her feet on the faded carpet and met the day.

Walking down the hall to the bathroom, her younger brother threw a toy at her, hitting her in the side. She yelped and threw it back. She passed her parent’s room and saw her Mom sitting on the bed, digging in her sewing box.

Read more…

Review of Bruce Morton’s “Deceiving Winds.”

Technology advances, yet man stays the same. The problems of God’s people in the past, return in new clothes to do battle again in a new age.

Bruce Morton’s book, Deceiving Winds asks, “Is the Church adapting to remain relevant to our culture or are we simply repeating the abuses of worship in ancient Ephesus?”

Morton’s subtitle says: “Christians Navigating the Storm of Mysticism, Leadership Struggles and Sensational Worship.”

Morton’s extensive research brings Ephesus to life for modern readers. Their culture is examined in light of modern America and the challenges facing the Lord’s church.

Morton does good work in this book and his attention to detail adds to the body of knowledge available to students of Ephesians.He helps his readers maneuver the choppy waters of the emerging church movement and mysticism.

He uses a nautical theme from time to time to make his points. This is appropriate since the strengths of Deceiving Winds lie fore and aft. That is, the best parts of the book are the introduction and the appendices where the author focuses on his research of archaeology and the work of scholars in the field. These sections are worth the price of the book for students of God’s Word.

In these sections, Morton is confident, comfortable and concise. Yet, in between, he becomes a different writer. He is less assured and his writing begins to meander. In the body of the book, he feigns discussing social issues but his approach is too timid for the controversial subject matter. It lacks crispness and focus.

For these reasons, I can recommend Bruce Morton’s book on an academic level. However, for popular reading for the general public, I am hesitant due to the conciliatory tone of material that begs for assertiveness. If only the entire book had the resolve of the introduction and appendices.

 

 

Post Navigation

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 1,522 other followers