Wow.

I'm putting the finishing touches on TXT part 2 for tomorrow (if your even thinking about missing it your crazy, some of this stuff of the Bible will blow your mind) and thumbing through the "Pocket Guide to the Bible" [Relevant Book] by Jason Boyett.

His summary of the book of Romans is both short and profound. I don't cry. But something about this statement still adds a little moisture to my eyes.

"[Regarding the book of Romans] This is Paul's longest letter, and the crux of his argument is that following the Law is powerless when it comes to salvation. No human is righteous, which sucks. And which also means we can't save ourselves. The only source of salvation? The only rescue from the dregs of sin? The only hope for fallen humanity? It's faith in Jesus Christ." [Emphasis Mine]

Evotional - The History of the Bible

There has never been another book that can compare to the Bible.

Many have tried.

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12

I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word. Psalms 119:16

shakach (shaw-kakh'); to lay aside, to forget, to take for granted or neglect.

One of the problems with us and the Bible is that concept. We forget about it and for the most part we take it for granted. One of the things that can help us not to neglect the Bible is to understand where it comes from. We have it available and for free. But it has not always been that way.

Here is the history of the Bible.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. John 1:1-2

History Timeline

• 1400 - 1500 BC: God wrote the 10 Commandments in ancient Hebrew on stone.
• 500 BC: 39 books that make up the Old Testament were completed and preserved in Hebrew on scrolls.
• First Century AD: New Testament had been completed and was preserved in Greek on papyrus.
• 393 AD: Synod of Hippo officially approved the New Testament for the entire Church.
• 500 AD: Bible had been translated into over 500 languages.
• 600 AD: Bible was restricted to only Latin. All other versions were considered illegal.
• 400-1400 AD: Known as the “Dark Ages.”
• 500’s - 1300’s: Secret Bible society made up of the “Culdees” continued to study God’s word.
• 1380: John Wycliffe (often called the Morningstar of the Reformation) translated the Bible into English.
• 1415: John Hus burned at the stake for his stance for the Bible. Wycliffe’s bibles used to start the fire.
• 1517: Martin Luther nailed his famous 95 Thesis on the church door at the church in Wittenberg.
• 1526: William Tyndale printed the first English Bible.
• 1536: Tyndale was incarcerated before he was strangled and burned at the stake. Before dying, Tyndale prayed, “Oh Lord, open the King of England’s eyes".
• 1539: King Henry VIII finally allowed (and even funded) the printing of an English Bible.

Do Not Neglect God’s Word

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:1-2, 14

The idea of God giving us a record of His character in written form is not a new one. The question is what will we do with it? Not a single one of us will be on the run for a having the Bible in a language we can read. Others who came before us paid the price so that we could be able to have it.

The question is will we shaw-kakh it? Will be neglect God’s Word and the power it can have to change our life?

I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word. Psalms 119:16

You Version - Mobile

Now, you can now access the Bible via your mobile phone at http://m.youversion.com! If you have a web enabled mobile phone, you will be able to read and search The Bible in 14+ translations and much more.

Some of the key features include:

Quick Search including Book, Verse, Keywords/Text.
14+ translations currently including: ASV, AMP, ESV, HCSB, NASB, NCV, NIV, NKJV, TNIV, MSG, WEB, LBLA (Spanish), NBLH (Spanish), RVA (Spanish).
Daily Reading (One Year Bible).
YouVersion.com User contributions attributed to scripture verses including text, links and YouTube mobile video.
List of the 20 most recent user contributions.
Oh, I almost forgot…of course it works on the iPhone

Be sure to check it out using your mobile phone at http://m.youversion.com.

What do I really need?

Matthew 10:7-10

As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep.

The call to me is still the same. As I go I am to be proclaiming the Kingdom of God through the work of Jesus. Jesus is clear that we are not to get caught up with having stuff, or in trusting in what we have to provide for ourselves. Those who follow Jesus are to trust God to be the one to meet their needs, however it applies in their own life context.

I often try to help out God. I’m not the first though. Back in Genesis Abraham thought that God needed some help in providing him a child. This caused Abraham nothing but trouble. In the same way when I try to give God a hand with my needs more often than not I screw things up. God allows me to partner with Him, but I have to trust Him and let Him do things His way

God help me to trust you! I don’t want to make my own plans because your are better. Guide my path. Amen.

TXT.

I am freakin excited about the start of our new series at illuminate tomorrow - TXT.

Many of us don't really understand why the Bible is unique. Even more don't really understand its capacity to change our lives.

The Bible is the most powerful book ever written. It will rock you. Don't miss out on TXT.

This Thursday night at illuminate.

illuminate.mylfc.com or text "illuminate" to 41411 for our service times and address.

One of the Sick.

On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matthew 9:11-12)

Jesus came for the the sick, the broken, and the sinner. When He was telling this to the Pharisees He also told them to think on the phrase “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” The heart of God is not in those who give things up for God, but for those who have mercy on other people. Jesus came to have mercy on a broken humanity.

It is easy for me to look at a verse like this one and think: “Yes I need to have mercy on those poor sinful people.” The truth is, when I really look at myself, that I am one of the sick. Jesus came to be my doctor because I could not heal myself.

Today I’m just glad for that.

God thank you that You loved me enough to send your Son because I was sick and broken. Although I don’t deserve Your mercy, You gave anyway. Help me to have the same attitude.

Making a Statement.

Scripture: Matthew 3:1-5

1In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” 3This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:
“A voice of one calling in the desert,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’ “^[a]

4John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

Observation:

I love John the Baptist. The guy knew what he was doing, he was no fool. John came from a family that was the priests of Israel, they were the ones who performed the sacrifices in the temple that provided the people with forgiveness from their sins.

When John, who was from a priestly family, when into the wilderness and began to baptize people for forgiveness he was intentionally providing an alternative to the temple. He was making a statement to the corrupt people running the temple that God was providing a new means of forgiveness. He came to lay the groundwork for the coming of Jesus.

Application:

We have to be ready when God wants to do a new thing in our lives. In Johns day many could not accept the idea that God would get rid of His temple and the system of animal sacrifice for forgiving sin. Today often we set up our own holy traditions that have little to do with the Word of God. It could be a style of clothing we expect to see at church, a certain type of music, or the color of the paint on the walls but it all is Biblically irrelevant. It could be a habit that we don’t want to give up, even one that is not forbidden in the Bible, that distracts us from following God. If we put anything before God, it is an idol, and eventually God will want us to deal with it and get rid of it. When God wants us to change, we need to be ready to change.

Prayer:

God help me to be a part of what you are doing in my life today. Help me to see what you are doing and to accept it and move with your Spirit. Amen.