Tag Archives: life

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#S3-028: Encore Episode: How To Release Your Faith With Words [Podcast]

Real Bible Faith: How It Works

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Medicine at Work, published by the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association, has stressed the critical importance of words spoken in surgery. As the anesthetic is given for surgery, deadly fear may strike the patient when he hears someone say, “I’m going to shoot him now,” or, “Hook up the monitor.” “Monitor” to the drugged patient may sound like “monster.” Or a doctor may declare in disgust, “This isn’t my day!” Dr. Paul J. Moses told a medical audience in San Francisco that “the same directions given by two different physicians could help or fail.” One doctor’s voice, Dr. Moses suggested, might make the medicine work, but the other’s might reveal doubt and the medicine would fail. 1 Words are extremely important in the realm of the faith life. Words are difference makers. They are deal breakers. Jesus said, “By Your words you are justified and by your words, you’re condemned” (Matt. 12:37). In this week’s Light on Life, we are going to take a look at the importance of words and their connection to the faith life.

This is part two of the Series entitled, ‘Real Bible Faith: How It Works’. You can find Part One ‘Why is Faith Important and Who Has It? [Podcast]‘ here.

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[Tweet “Circumstances have a voice and once they speak they need to be answered with the Word.”]

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Why Mortifying the Flesh Is a Good God Thing

Roaming through Romans

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John Flavel said, ‘It is easier to declaim, like an orator, against a thousand sins of others than it is to mortify one sin, like Christians, in ourselves; to be more industrious in our pulpits than in our closets; to preach twenty sermons to our people than one to our own hearts.’ 1 Mortifying sin was Paul’s subject here in Romans 8:12-13. What can we learn about how to put this into operation in our everyday lives?

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How Can ‘Christ in You’ Propel Your Life?

Roaming through Romans

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What is a Christian? In the Letter to Diognetus, which dates back to the second century A.D., an anonymous writer describes a strange people who are in the world but not of the world.
“Christians are not differentiated from other people by country, language, or customs; you see, they do not live in cities of their own, or speak some strange dialect. They live in both Greek and foreign cities, wherever chance has put them. They follow local customs in clothing, food, and other aspects of life. But at the same time, they demonstrate to us the unusual form of their own citizenship. “They live in their own native lands, but as aliens. Every foreign country is to them as their native country, and every native land as a foreign country.
“They marry and have children just like everyone else, but they do not kill unwanted babies. They offer a shared table, but not a shared bed. They are passing their days on earth, but are citizens of heaven. They obey the appointed laws and go beyond the laws in their own lives.”
“They love everyone, but are persecuted by all. They are put to death and gain life. They are poor and yet make many rich.”
“They are dishonored and yet gain glory through dishonor. Their names are blackened and yet they are cleared. They are mocked and bless in return. They are treated outrageously and behave respectfully to others.”
“When they do good, they are punished as evildoers; when punished, they rejoice as if being given new life. They are attacked by Jews as aliens and are persecuted by Greeks; yet those who hate them cannot give any reason for their hostility.” The word “Christian” has lost much of its meaning in our culture. It means “Christ in one.” 1

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#S2-050: More of Why Renewing the Mind Is Important for Soul Development [Podcast]

Soul Power for Your Present Hour

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One gentleman said he met a young man not long ago who dove for exotic fish for aquariums. He said that one of the most popular aquarium fish is the shark. He explained that if you catch a small shark and confine it, it will stay a size proportionate to the aquarium you put it in. Sharks can be six inches long yet fully matured. But if you turn them loose in the ocean, they grow to their normal length of eight feet. 1 You can be a six inch Christian or you can become a six foot tall fully matured full grown believer. To expand, to grow, to develop you have to go bigger in your thinking. Get out of the small tank of worldly thinking and jump into the great ocean of the knowledge of God found in His Word.

This is part two of the Series entitled, ‘Soul Power for Your Present Hour’. You can find Part One ‘Why Renewing the Mind is Important for Soul Development’ here and Part 2 “Why Renewing the Mind is Important for Soul Development” here.

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The Importance of Knowing Where Your Faith Lies

The Epistle of James

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On June 1, 1976, in a television interview with Reverend Adrian Rogers, then president of the Southern Baptist Convention and George Otis, director of High Adventure Ministries, Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States spoke these words. “I can’t remember a time in my life when I didn’t call upon God, and hopefully thank Him as often as I called upon Him. And, yes, in my own experience there came a time when there developed a new relationship with God and it grew out of a need. So, yes, I have had an experience that could be described as “born again.” 1 Knowing where your faith and confidence lies is vitally important in these ‘darker days’ in which we live. This knowledge should not lie just in a ‘one time’ experience with God but in a day to day, situation by situation lifestyle. The believers James writes to, in his epistle, had their faith somewhere else. It’s helpful to be reminded of his counsel.

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#S2-039: How to Release Your Faith with Words [Podcast]

Real Bible Faith: How It Works

by

Medicine at Work, published by the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association, has stressed the critical importance of words spoken in surgery. As the anesthetic is given for surgery, deadly fear may strike the patient when he hears someone say, “I’m going to shoot him now,” or, “Hook up the monitor.” “Monitor” to the drugged patient may sound like “monster.” Or a doctor may declare in disgust, “This isn’t my day!” Dr. Paul J. Moses told a medical audience in San Francisco that “the same directions given by two different physicians could help or fail.” One doctor’s voice, Dr. Moses suggested, might make the medicine work, but the other’s might reveal doubt and the medicine would fail. 1 Words are extremely important in the realm of the faith life. Words are difference makers. They are deal breakers. Jesus said “By Your words you are justified and by your words you’re condemmed” (Matt. 12:37). In this week’s Light on Life, we are going to take a look at the importance of words and their connection to the faith life.

This is part two of the Series entitled, ‘Real Bible Faith: How It Works’. You can find Part One ‘Why is Faith Important and Who Has It? [Podcast]‘ here.

Listen to the Audio

Click to Listen | Right Click to Download | Subscribe in iTunes

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Is Giving Jesus Everything Worth The Risk?

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Sometimes people try to avoid the complexities of life.  As the story goes, an American businessman named Wilson, tired of the Great depression, rising taxes and increasing crime, sold his home and business in 1940 and moved to an island in the Pacific. Balmy and ringed with beautiful beaches, the island seemed like paradise. Its name? Iwo Jima 1. Inadvertently, we try to live out our Christianity the same way. We try to play it safe. Reduce every possible risk. But, following Jesus is not the place to skimp when it comes to risk. That’s the nature of faith.

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#050: More How to Cultivate God’s Presence in Your Life [Podcast]

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Psalm 91 is famous for the comfort it brings to the children of God. Verse one is a declaration about God’s Presence. “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I don’t know about you, but I sure like the sound of abiding under God’s shadow or presence. But there is even more good news. The Psalmist also declares that in God’s presence there is fulness of joy (Psalm 16:11). Joy, peace, and protection, what more can you ask for? And it all comes from His Presence. This week we are going to continue the podcast we began last week on “How to Cultivate God’s Presence in Your Life.”

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More How to Cultivate Gods Presence in Your Life

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Psalm 91 is famous for the comfort it brings to the children of God. Verse one is a declaration about God’s Presence. “He who dwells in the secret pace of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I don’t know about you, but I sure like the sound of abiding under God’s shadow or presence. But there is even more good news. The Psalmist also declares that in God’s presence there is fulness of joy (Psalm 16:11). Joy, peace and protection, what more can you ask for? And it all comes from His Presence. This week we are going to continue the post we began last week on “How to Cultivate God’s Presence in Your Life.”

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#035: Words Have Power [Podcast]

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This podcast is a joint venture between my daughter Sophie West and I. We discuss her blog post Words Have Power . The notes below are hers.

I suppose it’s only fitting that I introduce myself to you, as that is what most people do upon meeting each other. I am the youngest born to my father Emery and my mother Sharon. I’ve been called a lot of things in my life, but you may call me Sophie West, and I’m a twenty something year old whose passion revolves around three things; My God, my family and words. These areas that I have centered my life on are seemingly typical responses to the age old question “What is important to you?” Well the first two are in any happenstance. Americans the world over have professed a deep and abiding love for God and family. But the two that I’m going to focus on are My God, and my words.

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#033: Three Things Jesus Did that You Can Do [Podcast]

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Jesus was not a wayside philosopher. He did not sit around and debate the state of the world. He didn’t engage in political banter for the sake of it. He wasn’t a baby kisser pining for office. Jesus was a doer. The tsunami impact of His life branded the world. How did He do it? He moved in God’s timing. He flowed with the Spirits direction. He left every disciple a reproducible model. What Jesus did you can do. How do we know? He told us so.

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#032: How Quality Decisions Keep You from Drifting [Podcast]

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A silent rowboat drifting to no particular place. The other boats clustering at port look normal. Why is this one floating alone?  The motor is in place. The oars, you can see them. They are a little splintered but they are serviceable. How confusing. Why is this boat drifting? The absence of anchor and rope makes everything clear. Isn’t this like some churchgoers today? Sometimes you see them, they are full of God’s Words. Other times, if you didn’t know better, you might think, “I need to help them find Jesus.” It is an odd thought for a believer in Jesus to need help finding Him. Isn’t He with you everywhere you go? Quality decisions are like anchors for a rowboat. They steady you.  They help you stay in port. They keep you from making a living mess out of your life. Let’s look at how quality decisions keep you from drifting.

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