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Therefore, Hear

I hope you are able to join me at the Southern Idaho Bible Lecture Series at the College of Southern Idaho on March 30 at 5PM. This gathering of churches is designed to provide fellowship and encouragement from Scripture as we look unto the Lord.

I’ve invited two men to help me examine Jeremiah 6:16-17.

“Bear” Morton will examine Jeremiah 6:16. Join me as he “stands by the ways” and speaks of the good way and calls us to walk in this good path. This path leads to rest for the weary souls in our day. There is hope in the Lord, walk in His way with me.

Jeff Norton, a watchman on the wall, will sound the “trumpet”. This clarion sound is a trustworthy call to walk the Lord’s path.

I’ll examine the response of the people. Surprisingly, many will not listen and most won’t walk the path. But our duty remains as strong as ever… stand by the way and herald the gospel to all, pointing the way to the better rest.

Join us Sunday evening, March 30, 2014 at 5PM.

Thus says the LORD,
“Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths,
Where the good way is, and walk in it;
And you will find rest for your souls.
But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.
“And I set watchmen over you, saying,
‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’
But they said, ‘We will not listen.’ Jeremiah 6:16-17 (NASB)

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theBridgeCast (tBC007)

After taking a few weeks off because of technical difficulties (meaning; I couldn’t find the box with my podcasting equipment in it) I’m back on track with the podcast.

00:00 – Intro
02:39 – Jeremiah 6:16-17
0820 – Facts and Trends

29:39 – Scripture Memorization

39:35 – Next Time

42:10 – Closing

theBridgeCast (tBC001)

Here it is… the debut episode of theBridgeCast.

GE

For some time I’ve been planning to launch into this venture and have finally jumped in. Back in 1985 (wow that sounds like a long time ago) I was introduced to radio broadcasting through a friend, David Sparks. David was working at the college radio station and would invite me in upon occasion as a guest on his morning show. Eventually David talked me in to taking a shot at applying to work at the station and I was hired to fill a time slot that couldn’t hurt the station.

This online broadcast is quite different than those days at KWLD. I’m not required to have a license from the FCC to broadcast online (I still have my FCC license) I’m not introducing music, I’m not giving time and weather updates, or running public service announcements from the crash test dummies.  

For now, theBridgCast is hosted here. The recording lacks in a few ways but the deadline I set on myself required me to go ahead and publish the broadcast as is. Without any further delay… here is theBridgeCast (tBC001)

Timeline and Links from tBC001 for reference:

tBC001 total length: 00:32:16
Download to mp3 HERE

:00:00 ~ Start/Intro
:00:30 ~ Welcome and Explanation
:03:19 ~ Scripture Reading (James 1:19-27) Hearing and Doing
:10:14 ~ Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs: Tell it to Jesus and Psalm 6
:14:01 ~ Church History: January 1873, Charles Spurgeon article “Acta Non Verba
:26:42 ~ CALL TO ACTION LINKS:

:30:58 ~ Salutation and plans for January 13, 2014.

Share this broadcast with your friends and follow Paul on Twitter and Facebook #theBridge

Do Not Deceive Yourself

This morning at Eastside Baptist Church in Twin Falls, Idaho. The preaching is from 1 Corinthians 3:18 – 4:5. The SermonAudio file is ready and .pdf document of scripture references used in the sermon.

1 Corinthians 3:18-23 (NASB)

18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is
wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become
wise.19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is
written, “He is THE ONE WHO CATCHES THE WISE IN THEIR
CRAFTINESS”;20 and again, “THE LORD KNOWS THE REASONINGS of the
wise, THAT THEY ARE USELESS.”21 So then let no one boast in men. For
all things belong to you,22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the
world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things
belong to you,23 and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God.

1 Corinthians 4:1-5 (NASB)
1 Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards
of the mysteries of God.2 In this case, moreover, it is required of
stewards that one be found trustworthy.3 But to me it is a very small
thing that I may be examined by you, or by any human court ; in fact, I
do not even examine myself.4 For I am conscious of nothing against
myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is
the Lord.5 Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but
wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden
in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each
man’s praise will come to him from God.

1 Corinthians 3:18 ~ 18 Let no man deceive himself
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 ~ 9Or do you not know that the unrighteous will
not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither
fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate (womanish or
woman like; to be unman), nor homosexuals,10 nor thieves, nor the
covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the
kingdom of God.11 Such were some of you; but you were washed, but
you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus
Christ and in the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 15:33 ~ 33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts
good morals.”34 Become sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning;
for some have no knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.
How do one deceive himself?
By saying he has no sin (1 John 1:8) 8If we say that we have no
sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.
By giving into temptation (James 1:14-16) 14 But each one is
tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own
lust.15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and
when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.16 Do not be
deceived , my beloved brethren.
By not being an effectual doer of the word (James 1:22) 22But
prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who
delude themselves.
By being a hearer only (James 1:22)
22But prove yourselves
doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude
themselves.
By not controlling his tongue (James 1:26) 26If anyone thinks
himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but
deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.
By empty words (Ephesians 5:6) 6 Let no one deceive you with
empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes
upon the sons of disobedience.
By thinking more highly of himself(Galatians 6:3) 3 For if
anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives
himself.
By what he does (Galatians 6:7) 7 Do not be deceived, God is
not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.
He boasts about himself (Jeremiah 9:23-24) 23 Thus says the
LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the
mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his
riches;24 but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands
and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises
lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight
in these things,” declares the LORD.
What does one look like who is deceived?
He is led astray and cannot deliver himself (Isaiah 44:20) a
deceived heart has turned him aside. And he cannot deliver
himself, nor say, “Is there not a lie in my right hand?”
Because bad company corrupts good morals, what can be done and what
should we do.
1 Corinthians 4:1-5 (NASB)
1 Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards
of the mysteries of God.2 In this case, moreover, it is required of
stewards that one be found trustworthy.3 But to me it is a very small
thing that I may be examined by you, or by any human court ; in fact, I
do not even examine myself.4 For I am conscious of nothing against
myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is
the Lord.5 Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but
wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden
in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each
man’s praise will come to him from God.

Be serious, humble, intentional,
Do not treat the things of God with little value
Do not keep company with wicked
Converse with good
Eat, drink, associate with the house of God.

theBridge Annual Report

Here are a few boring statistics of the 2013 year in blogging here at theBridge followed with some explanations of what to expect in 2014 (Lord willing).

This is actually my first full year with my blog being hosted at WordPress. I began blogging at LiveJournal in 2001, when I moved to Twin Falls, I used it so infrequently that I can’t even remember log-in and password data, and the email address attatched to to the account has been inactive for years. I am likely glad that those earliest entries into the blogging world are locked up in an online vault somewhere in cyberspace. I began consistently blogging in 2006 at www.bridgebloggin.blogspot.com (I thought that was such a cool name then, now I’m embarrassed of it). In blogging years that may make me as old as Methuselah.

I’ve never causes a server melt-down because of high traffic volumes. I’m sometimes amazed at what gets read and what doesn’t get read. I posted 151 posts in 2013, setting a new record for me. Those 151 posts generated 20,722 pageviews from over 62 countries. (all statistics are from Google Analytics and Reporting)

Total visitor count:

  1. 8,484 from United States
    • In the USA visitors from every state except Maine and Vermont
      1. 3,618 from Idaho
      2. 797 from Utah
      3. 614 from Texas
      4. 403 from California
      5. 243 from Colorado
  2. 215 from Haiti
  3. 70 from Canada

Most visits in one day:

  • November 13 with 752 visits (the day after my movie review of the Saratov Approach)

Most Viewed posts:

  1. Saratov Approach
  2. Hebrews 13:3 Day
  3. Freedom of Speech
  4. Is Your Church Youth Group Even Biblical?
  5. UNICEF and Planned Parenthood

All in all, I continue to enjoy writing. My readers have grown to accept (and enjoy at my expenses) the grammar, spelling, and typos that frequent my site.

What can you expect in 2014? I hope to continue writing. If for no other reason it is a helpful exercise for me to put thoughts and ideas in print and the feedback, push-back, sharpening, agreeing, and disagreeing with thoughts are helpful and even enjoyable. It is good to be challenged on thoughts and then exercise being kind while explaining and expressing. Not always successful, but a good discipline for me to be in.

GEIn 2014 I plan to launch my first weekly podcast (internet broadcast). I’m scheduled for my first broadcast to air on Monday, January 6, 2014. On this broadcast I hope to lay out the plan for each week and then aim to discipline myself to sitting down every week and publish the weekly broadcast. I hope you’ll consider listening in. It will be hosted here are theBridge. I don’t know if it can technically be called a “podcast” because I have not set up an iTunes account and will simply host it here (for now).

Last night, Renee helped me with the opening and closing (bumpers) for the broadcast. She’s a natural. Here is a sample of the how the show will open and close.

Christmas Eve Message

Stop Trying to Save Yourself

As one devoted to giving my attention to the study of the Bible and the preaching of the Bible to a weekly gathering of Magic Valley residents, I hope to be clear and concise on a matter of greatest importance.

It is likely that you have crossed paths with the biblical nativity scene somewhere in the past several weeks. Have you stopped long enough to consider that scene? After all, why would anyone make such an ordeal of this baby in a manger?  It is just a baby right? If so, why do so many people want to display this manger scene and why do so many want it removed from public places? How is it possible that a baby in a manger and a man on a cross can generate such opposite emotions?

Take a moment with me and ponder one more time and ponder these acts of the Almighty God toward humanity.

According to Scripture, all have sinned against God and are found insufficient to reconcile this offence of sinning against God and justly condemned to face the full wrath of God. Do not try to save yourself from this wrath.

Be mindful of this; if it were possible for us to save ourselves, there would be no need for God to send His only begotten son, born of a virgin, to eventually satisfy His wrath against sinners on a cross.

God put the value of heaven at a price that we are not capable of paying. As God placed a value on heaven, it required that He bring all of humanity through the death, burial, and resurrection of His son. Will you still hold that your good works are sufficient to buy heaven for yourself? Will you dare to gamble on any price less than the blood of His only begotten Son?

Have you considered this insult?

Why would he put His only begotten Son to this task if a better deal could be offered? Why begin with a manger? Why a cross if this act of salvation could be done any other way? Why even attempt to barter with such a requirement as this?

To accept these terms means we must be humbled by the weight of such an offence. To accept these terms means we are too weak, too sick and completely spiritually bankrupt to meet the terms and in need of a Redeemer.

As you begin to see the manger scenes removed from yards look quickly to the cross of Golgotha and see the price due for our wretchedness. Believe quickly with joy! Rejoice that this payment has been made and is credited to your spiritually bankrupt account. It is no longer insufficient.

This cross will be, to some, an offence and foolishness, to others it is the best news we have ever heard.

Stop trying to save yourself.

Follow that manger to the cross, see there the required cost to be saved from the full wrath of God and there see how great the Father’s love is for you. He already paid this price Himself. If He were to accept a lesser offer for His glory would be to make His glory of no value.

All of this, according to Scripture; our spiritually bankrupt condition has been satisfied by the Messiah who was born of a virgin, crucified on a cross for our sins, buried in a grave and raised Himself from the grave, according to Scripture.

Believe and live lest you try to save yourself in vain.

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