To me, the Bible is all about Jesus. The Old Testament shows us why we needed Jesus to come, and foretells of His arrival. The Gospels tell of Jesus’ life and teachings. The Epistles tell of how to live out His new and better covenant, and Revelation is about Jesus’ return and the fulfillment of all things.
Posted in Thought for the Day / Quotes | Tagged bible, covenant, epistles, gospel, Jesus, revelation, teachings | Leave a Comment »
A covenant is a promise.
A wedding is a celebration.
A marriage is a partnership.
Don’t let your wedding be more spectacular than the promise that precedes it
or the marriage that follows it.
Posted in Thought for the Day / Quotes | Tagged celebration, covenant, marriage, partnership, promise, wedding | 1 Comment »
Adulthood doesn’t really happen at a particular age. If you still depend on someone else to keep you housed, fed, and/or mobile, you are still functioning as a child, and shouldn’t be surprised when you are treated accordingly.
Posted in Commentaries, Thought for the Day / Quotes | Tagged adulthood, child, depend on | Leave a Comment »
One of the very few benefits of social media is the ability to stay connected with friends and family from around the globe, sharing moments of both joy and of struggle. But I have to admit, more often than not, it is simply a cesspool of provocation and contention. Even those of us who identify as followers of Christ seem to easily get caught up in the rhetoric.
On one side we have the “woke” folk, who espouse the idea that “silence is violence”, and that we have a duty to speak out on what they view as the critical issues of the day. On the other side, we have our nationalist friends, who seem to feel like we need to, “make our voice heard”, so that America can be “great again”. The steady refusal to engage in some fruitless war of words only seems to draw the ire of both sides.
Recently, I’ve been bombarded with messaging that seems to imply that this lack of engagement is somehow a forfeiture of my “Christian” duty to attempt to effect change in a sinful culture and fallen world. But I would submit that if by observing my life, or being in relationship with me, you are unsure of the values I hold to, my words are not likely to impact you. Indeed, I would be the proverbial clanging cymbal. Only Christ has the words of life, and unless He gives me something to say, I think it best to keep my mouth shut. When Jesus stood before His accusers, He remained silent (Matt.27:12), which is a totally appropriate response for people who are simply trying to set a snare.
I also disagree with the assertion that involvement in political activism is meant to be an integral part of expressing our faith. The scripture tells us not to focus on the seen realm (2Cor.4:18), which is perishing, but to keep our eyes fixed on Christ (Heb.12:2), who is the perfecter of our faith. It tells us that our battle is not against flesh and blood (Eph.6:12), and warns us that a good soldier does not get involved in civilian affairs (2Tim.2:4). When the political, religious and cultural forces came together to attack Jesus, Peter rationalized taking up a sword, but instead of being praised, He was rebuked by Christ; who went on to undo the damage Peter had done (Luke 22:51). He later explained to Pilate that His Kingdom was not of this world, which is why His followers weren’t called to fight for Him in that manner (John 18:36).
I have happily served this country (12 years US Navy), I clearly recognize the wonderful benefits of democracy, and I have voted in every election I could, but on its best day, the American political system is still a corrupted, man-made system. As forms of government go, democracy may be the gold standard, but it still falls under the heading of a “hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world”, rather than on Christ (Col.2:9). While it is completely reasonable to participate as a citizen of the United States, it is not something a child of God ought to invest much hope in.
Christ is our model, and He only did what His Father directed. Then He gave us His Holy Spirit, so that we might do the same. He said that people would be able to identify His followers by their love for one another (John 13;35), and by the fruit of their faith (Matt.7:16). Unfortunately, the people of the world don’t routinely witness either of those. Sadly, they more commonly know us by our political beliefs instead.
When Christ came, God’s chosen people had been conquered by a hostile foreign government (Rome), were being ignored by their own puppet regime (Herod) and were being exploited by the very religious system that was supposed to keep them connected to their God. They expected the Messiah to change all that, but Jesus was focused on something more profound, and eternal. I would submit that He still is.
Posted in Commentaries | Tagged activisim, deceptive philosophy, democracy, politics, war of words | Leave a Comment »
To share in Christ’s suffering, we must first walk in His ways. I’ve we’re just doing what’s right in our own eyes the resultant suffering is simply a consequence.
Posted in Thought for the Day / Quotes | Tagged Christ, suffering | Leave a Comment »
A little warning for our High School Graduates.
Growing up can often be a disappointing process. When you’re 10, you imagine that becoming a “teenager” will change everything. But a few days after your 13th birthday, you realize that things are pretty much the same. Then you start dreaming about turning 16, and getting your license, which is cool; but again, you quickly recognize that it doesn’t make as much difference as you thought. Even 18 is that way. Yeah, you’re legally an adult now, yet you still have to turn in your homework and get up for school the next day.
But finishing High School is different. Though you may not sense it immediately, the rules have changed dramatically. Up to this point, there was a system specifically designed to carry you along. There was a whole panel of adults (e.g. parents, grandparents, pastors, youth group leaders, teachers, coaches, counselors…) assigned to provide guidance, boundaries, bedtimes, wake-ups, rides, resources, and incentives to stay on the right track.
There were organized activities intended specifically for you, like sports teams, school plays, dances, and 4H club. And there was an education system built to pretty much ensure your success. As long as you cooperated (i.e. showed up with a decent attitude) with these processes, you were almost guaranteed to make it through.
But now, that all changes. Almost your entire support staff got laid off at graduation, and adulthood is very much a give and take proposition. Generally, you get out of it what you put into it. Even staying in school changes.
Colleges and Universities are businesses. You pay to take their classes. If you don’t show up, the teacher isn’t going to come looking for you. If you don’t turn in your work, they will not scold you, or even ask about it. If you fail the class, they will happily allow you to pay them to take the course over again next semester.
The workplace, and relationships, and almost every other facet of life works similarly. What you receive from it will be proportional to what you’ve put into it. If you want to have a great marriage, a successful career, or even to live in an exceptional community, you will need to invest yourself (i.e. time, energy, passion…) in it.
Graduation isn’t your retirement from the hard work of high school, it’s your promotion to the Varsity team of life, and the ball’s now in your hands.
Simply showing up, empty handed, will no longer get it done. Ultimately, life was never meant to be a spectator sport – so I’d highly recommend that you dive in, and I wish you the best.
P.S. – Don’t be intimidated, you’re stronger than you know.
Posted in Commentaries | Tagged graduate, graduation, invest yourself, staff | 1 Comment »
Eve was God’s response to what He saw missing in Adam’s existence. She wasn’t created to do everything he could do, she was created to do what he couldn’t do for himself. We weren’t meant to compete, we were meant to complete.
Posted in Thought for the Day / Quotes | Tagged compete, complete, Eve, woman | Leave a Comment »
In order to qualify as a “Follower” you must be willing to allow someone else to take the lead, and then base your responses on their cues.
Posted in Thought for the Day / Quotes | Tagged cues, follower, lead | Leave a Comment »
There should be a marked difference between a “Reporter” and a “Narrator”. One should be bound by facts, while the other is simply promoting their narrative. Clearly this distinction is evaporating within our culture.
Posted in Commentaries, Thought for the Day / Quotes | Tagged culture, distinction, facts, narrative, narrator, reporter | 1 Comment »
Bjcorbin's Blog 
Hopeless Causes
June 15, 2023 by bjcorbin
Received the heartbreaking news that yet another young person, who grew up with our kids, has been lost. The details surrounding his death are not known to us, but given his history of drug use and homelessness, it’s probably a safe bet that it was drug related. Anita first met Bret while she was substitute teaching in the city school system. He was a relatively quiet, and well behaved young man, who was never a problem for her in class. Years later, as we helped a young homeless girl, we found that she and Bret were clinging to each other as they lived on the street, or squatted in old abandoned houses.
Every few weeks, they would contact us, and we would pick them up, feed them, let them wash their clothes, and take showers. At the end of such encounters, it was always gut wrenching to take them back, but we always made sure they had warm dry clothes, shoes, sleeping bags, tents, food… We often discussed making some sort of change, and they both expressed a sort of vague hope that things would somehow get better, but neither demonstrated any willingness to make changes to their course. They were both savvy, able bodied kids, who could have worked, but they seemed resigned to life on the streets.
Throughout the years, God has often had us reach out to people who live in these types of desperate circumstances, and if I’m honest, it’s rarely had a happy ending. We do our best to come alongside of them, love them where they’re at, get them help (if they’re willing to be helped), and try to point them toward hope. More often than not, we’ve been criticized. Some feel as though we’re wasting our time, our resources, and are needlessly exposing our family to potential danger. Others feel as though we should be doing more, like incorporating these folks into our household, and raising their drug babies as our own. For us, it is an exercise in following God’s leading; both grabbing a hold, and letting go as He directs. It’s about having His heart for people, and sharing that heart with them. And every time one falls, our heart breaks.
Our prayers persist for the young girl (Silvia), who remains on the street alone, running from the law, and (last we heard) pregnant with Bret’s child. She is not beyond God’s reach, but He will not take away her ability to choose the path she takes. Though we cannot reach her, we will carry her to Him in prayer. Please join us as you feel led to.
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Posted in Commentaries | Tagged adiction, drug related, heartbreak, homeless | 2 Comments »