Living Letters Community

Holiness is…’fearsome’ otherness.

“Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD of Hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory” (Isaiah 6:3). This holiness is the devastating divinity of God. Isaiah is undone by this fearsome otherness.” It’s Good to be a Man book by Michael Foster & Dominic Bnonn Tenant, pg. 135. (Italics and bold added by me, and: “I’ve never heard holiness defined in quite these wonderful terms before = WOW!”)

Hallowed, RELATIONAL Holiness & Wholeness…

“Holiness is not God asking us to ‘be good‘. Rather, it’s an invitation to ‘be His‘.” Lisa Bevere, as quoted in small book, First Cup Devotions for Couples, pg. 57.

Small Gov, Big Growth

“It is not my intention to do away with government. It is, rather, to make it work with us, not over us; to stand by our side, not ride on our back. Government can and must provide opportunity, not smother it; foster productivity, not stifle it. The size of the federal budget is not an appropriate barometer of social conscience or charitable concern. It has taken too much tax money from the people, too much authority from the states, and too much ‘liberty’ with our Constitution.” The late President Ronald Reagan

First Love Fire?

“Paul said elsewhere, we should not quench or extinguish the Spirit in our lives (I Thess. 5:19). In the sermon “Reigniting Your Passion for God,” Rick Warren highlights seven passion killers:

An Unbalanced Schedule
An Unused Talent
An Unconfessed Sin
An Unresolved Conflict
An Unsupported Life
An Unclear Purpose
An Undernourished Spirit

“So many forces are capable of stifling the work of God in our lives. That’s why we must pray without ceasing. It is through prayer we draw close to the God Who is a consuming fire, and we become illuminated (empowered and connected to His People) in His Presence,” as found in The Book on Prayer, by Ken Gurley, pg. 158 (words in parenthesis added by me, dkb).

Masqueraders

In thinking re. my ‘cutting-edge’ yet faltering laptop…and our current fixation on ‘smart’ phones, the thought came to me, ‘it sure is a phone-ey world’! (I know, corny, right? But true, w/our addiction to virtual ‘reality’ and the ‘god’ of technology!)

Law…or Grace?

“For many centuries, it was traditional for many Christians to think of Law and Grace in opposing terms. However, the opposite of Grace was never Law…but disgrace. Just as the opposite of Law was never Grace…but lawlessness.” Pastor/Rabbi Jorge Corrales, IPC (International Pentecostal Church), Simi Valley, CA

Slippery ‘Success’

“(World) history has shown us that, prosper…ity fosters greed, greed fosters hate, hate fosters war, war fosters poverty, pove…rty fosters peace and peace fosters prosperity…and the cycle repeats itself (due to man’s fallen, sinful nature).” (‘America is entering into the hate stage’). Ivan Keim.

‘Easy’…or ‘the Ultimate’?

“‘Easy’ is not always ‘good’, much less ‘best.’” Ivan Keim, Amish Homesteader, Speaker, Educator, Entrepreneur, who did Q & A ‘Panel’ with Homesteader, Country Music songwriter, musician and singer, Rory Feek, after intro by (neighbor/friend/homesteader &) non-profit founder/publisher of Plain Values magazine/ministry, Marlin Miller.

Lip-service…or Life-surrender?

“Zephaniah, a contemporary of Judah’s King Josiah, represents a type of leader that every organization needs. Josiah was the godly king who, as a 20-year-old monarch, began to initiate much-needed national reforms. He restored the worship practices of old, ordered the Book of the Law to be read aloud, and required everyone to bow down and repent for their sin and (un)spiritual drifting. “Merely external reforms, however, remain incomplete. You cannot perfume a skunk and expect to transform him! Many in Josiah’s day performed the repentance rituals but continued in their secret sins. Many never acknowledged their private sinfulness, nor did they inwardly repent of their personal wickedness. John Maxwell, in his NKJV Leadership Bible, pg. 1111.

Here and Now…or Hereafter?

We think, ‘right here, right now.’ God is thinking, ‘nations and generations!’ Caleb wasn’t conquering Hebron just for himself. More than four hundred years later, David would be crowned king in the city Caleb conquered. (In a large sense) David was standing on Caleb’s shoulders! It was Caleb’s victory that made David’s coronation possible! When you ‘wind the clock’ the way Caleb did, your brave can become someone else’s breakthrough! Mark Batterson, Win the Day, pg. 167.