the Bible Style Guide

Excellent resource, in pdf format about the Bible's history, composition, components, and translations. Good for believers and seekers.

The Bible Style Guide

Judas, Peter, and apostasy

Here is a really good sermon from Phil Johnson on Matt. 12:30-32 -- the Unpardonable Sin.

I have sat in on many discussions about this topic, even on one of the most prominent campuses in the theological world, and have never received such a good exposition as this.

friends!post: Sila

Heavy-metal music. Teenage drama films. Barbie. Tattoos and Piercings.

This is one of my more random friends, who comes to our house about once a week. Her mind literally thinks polar opposite things at the same time. Sometimes, when I think there's progress with a pretty heavy topic, it's acknowledged with a, "O yeah, sure," and followed by a question like, "Is European fashion popular in America?" Of course, that comes with a personality with whom I can share anything and everything, and laugh about a lot of things. (We both have a pretty childish sense of humor.)

One of her best friends is an American teenager that lives here. Between Erin, me, and him, she hears a lot of our opinions. The most recent thing we talked about was how everything good that we do still isn't good enough for some people, kinda like our best clothes being a dirty rag for others. We're not sure if it sunk in or not.

She's really interested in spirits, claiming that she sees them all the time. I think a lot of it is brought on, even though I believe she's telling the truth. She believes that the only thing that can stop these things is reciting some things from her family's book. The book has power. Any other method that we tell her about is good, but it obviously has nothing to do with her. I hope she tries another method one day.

Worlds Apart

A six hour car journey led me to rediscover a couple of songs, especially Jars of Clay's "World's Apart" from their first self-titled CD. I found this YouTube video that just has the song and lyrics, figured I'd share. As corny as it sounds, this song has been my prayer for the past couple of days.

studying the book of Revelation

I've been studying Revelation for about a month now, and today I'm to the point in the book where there is nothing but hope for those who believe, and everyone rejoices in the New Earth. Exciting stuff, and a good reminder that as the Bride left on her wedding night, the Church is supposed to long for her husband.

I started reading the book with some definite goals, none of which have been completed, but I have learned a whole lot, and have realized yet again that pre/am/post thinking will really get you nowhere.

Anyway, wanted to link everyone with this wonderful batch of sermons on the book, all in .pdf format, and easy to read and understand. Also good on holding Scripture against Scripture, and to getting to the main point of the matter: glorifying God.

The Big Picture: Ramadan

Here are some pictures from all around the world, capturing images of Ramadan. Follow the link to go to the blog.

friends!post: Nova, Santy, Ika, Yuli, Ian, Ida

These are my friends who work at the English center where I study. Recently, there's been a lot of sharing going around the center, and there's been some really good conversations. The first two from the left are really good at meeting with university students and talking with them about life. They're crazy, easy-going, and friendly. Right now they have a couple of appointments to meet with students and hang out.
These are a couple of my friends. Ian is a civil engineer, very talented. Ida is a fashion designer, also very talented. You remember the appointments my friends from the English center have? They're with these guys. These guys, who have heard story after story, but don't yet understand them. Recently, after telling Ian I would pray that he would get his first "big job," he did, a testimony to the one in whose name I pray. One day the girl was talking with a friend of hers and for the first time her friend explained the idea of prayer to her, and she was intrigued. She wants to talk about that topic again later.

* * *

The two on the right have a standing appointment with house helpers every Wednesday. Together, they make Christmas decorations and learn new skills like sewing and cross stitch. These house helpers are usually low-educated women who grew up in villages. As they learn these new skills, they tell and discuss stories. In her personal time, one of the house helpers is learning stories that have a theme about the problem we have and how to fix it. Maybe she'll share those stories with the other women in the group--stories about disobedience, a brother's murder, a natural disaster, a son's escape from death, and even slavery.