Our Peace

This project is one of those dreams who's status has been convicting me for some time. I know my last post concerned a wiki. I wish that could have worked, but I think I've found something better that I've already put in place.

The new system is called Etomite CMS. It's not a wiki, but it does have an approval system that we can use to add content to the site. The current setup can be found at http://www.ourpeace.net/e/.

The OurPeace.net domain is up for renewal next month. The warning that the domain name was about to expire got me thinking about ways to improve ourpeace.net.

Over the past two years, Micah has done a great amount of information collecting for the site. Trouble is, I haven't helped him get it out.

Fact is, there are quit a few other interested parties that may also like to contribute: Bo Beck, David Morris, Stephanie and I.

James 1 (ESV)

⁵If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. ⁶But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

v. 6 ask in faith, with no doubting That's the implicit trust of a child to his Father. We have grown up too much in ourselves instead of our faith. We think so much for ourselves that we doubt the Almighty. We need that faith of a child. The faith that asks for bread and expects bread, not a stone; asks for fish and expects fish, not a snake (Matthew 7:9-11).

Our wavering must insult the Creator. We can't expect anything from Him if we are like that (v. 7).

Let's not be unstable. Let's be like the Lord Jesus Christ who is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

Malachi 3:2-3 (ESV)

²But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap. ³He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the LORD.

I've heard about "refiner's fire"; actually, there is a Wilds song about it. But I was reading this tonight and thinking about it.

We are the Levites. A holy priesthood (1 Peter 2:5). And His refining is our sanctification. So...is the "offerings in righteousness to the LORD" our "bodies a living and holy sacrifice" (Romans 12:1)?

I'm always concerned about context and pretext and no text. Is this reasonable application? I guess I need to do further study.

James 1:2-5 (ESV)

² Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, ³for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. ⁴And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

v. 2 Count it all joy This isn't a one time thing. It is a consistent joy, a joy that is a once-and-for-all attitude. Joy that God gives that is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10).

v. 4 let steadfastness (Or, endurance NASB) have its full effect This is a cause and effect relationship.

cause: steadfastness
effect: perfect and complete

v. 5 In the context of this verse, one who lacks wisdom asks God for wisdom facing trials. It is important to remember that. Even though, I am sure there is an application outside that. But it is interesting to note how often it is taken from the context so readily.

To ask for wisdom we have to realize that we are lacking (1 Corinthians 3:18-19). And the first step is clear Proverbs 1:7 (ESV)

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
            fools despise wisdom and instruction.

So far my philosophy of Categories has been to allow the user to choose a broad category (like Bible, OT or NT) to see all entries that come under that category or a specific category (like John) to see only entries relating to the book of John. Now, this philosophy promotes necessarily a large amount of Categories, and it requires authors to choose mutiple categories to maintain the system.

But we don't have to keep this going, we can change it if we don't like it.

I've heard the Holy Spirit called the Comforter (KJV) and the Helper, (NASB) but I never knew the Greek word until my Pastor explained it this morning, and I read it in the notes in the NASB.

παρακλητος -- one called alongside to help.

These are notes taken from church, February 25, 2004

Matthew 8 (ESV) 23And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. 24And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. 25And they went and woke him, saying, "Save us, Lord; we are perishing." 26And he said to them, "Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?" Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27And the men marveled, saying, "What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?"

“Faith and Doubt”

Doubt is many times very close to faith. A good way to look at it is doubt is the wavering back and forth between faith and unbelief. For instance, see

Mark 9:23-24 (ESV) 23And Jesus said to him, "If you can! All things are possible for one who believes." 24Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!"

These are three types of faith the Christian may face/have.

1. A disturbed faith (sort of crisis moments)

(Matthew 11:2) John questioned his faith in Christ while in prison.

a. Our circumstances may cause us to doubt.
b. Delay (or perhaps the incorrect expectation of the fulfillment of God’s plans; second-guessing God.) Also impatience, which is sin.
When your faith is disturbed the honest reaction is to turn immediately to Jesus as John did. It is not wrong to question the Lord when we are confused. Jesus answer to John was the mighty works of God.

Matthew 8 (ESV) 3and said to him, "Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?" 4And Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 6 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me."

(It is also interesting that He quoted Scripture; we have the Word, and It comforts us and increases our faith.) Also, it is good to remember that

Psalm 103 (ESV) 13As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. 14For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.

2. A “doubting” faith

We are saved by grace through faith. We can’t lose our salvation. But sometimes when our faith is strongest we doubt.

Matthew 14:28 Peter walks on the water.

Matthew 14:31 Jesus caught him. There is no time when the Lord will not catch us.

Hebrews 13 (ESV) 5Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

3. Dynamic faith

Mark 11 (ESV) 22And Jesus answered them, "Have faith in God. 23 Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses."

Our faith can accomplish God’s purposes. It honors God and glorifies Him when we believe in faith.

My Pastor brought an encouraging message on "The Power of Praise" last night. He said the outline was borrowed. And although it is simple, it is something we ought to remember.

I think it was Dr. Berg who always told us, to change your emotional state (or how you're feeling, eg. anger --> calm; sadness --> joy), you have to change what you are thinking about. It's a focus problem. That's really what this means too. And as Christians we are supposed to be doing this; in fact, we of all people (we who are redeemed) should have praise on our lips and a song in our hearts.

The verse for today (verseoftheday.com) is 1 Samuel 12:24 "Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you."

So let's consider the great things God has done for us, and let's be encouraged in His great love for us!

We might be able to use or glean from David's "Diving Wounds" blog. Let me know your thoughts on it.