Plumbline Faith

Simple Faith, Simple Truth, Simple Virtue

SIMPLE FAITH — April 23, 2016

SIMPLE FAITH

/Plumbline Faith

Although there are mysteries in the Bible, it is not “mystical”.

What God chooses to reveal there – including Himself – is accessible to all who simply repent, embrace His forgiveness, submit to the authority of His word and relate together in healthy local fellowships.

The mystical fringe, however, is driven by their own angst, anxiety and insecurities …

To go “deeper” or “beyond” the simple truths of Scripture by dismissing elementary repentance, basic forgiveness, Biblical authority and functional churches …

Which is why they never seem to find the authentic Christ of Scripture.

Don’t be led astray by them.

SIMPLE FAITH — April 22, 2016
SIMPLE CHURCH — April 21, 2016
IN GOD’S TIMING — April 20, 2016
FAKE FAITH — April 19, 2016
FINDING RESOLUTION — April 18, 2016

FINDING RESOLUTION

/Plumbline Faith

An unresolved past will thwart your future.

To find resolution:

Acknowledge before God – verbally and fully – the hurts, wrongs or regrets your heart’s been carrying;

Openly give or ask for forgiveness as appropriate – in your own words – whether of others or from God;

Then quietly and reverently bundle up the related burdens of your heart and release them in your spirit to the Lord;

Once you do and the Lord takes them, ask Him who you are to Him and how He sees you.

Then stay quiet before Him and let your spirit gently receive His empowering truth and peace in return.

Often the listening ear and patient encouragement of a trusted, Godly friend can help.

Ultimately, though, closure and freedom are always your choice.

SIMPLE TRUTH — April 17, 2016
SIMPLE TRUTH — April 16, 2016
SIMPLE JOY — April 15, 2016
SIMPLE DISCIPLESHIP — April 14, 2016
GOD’S MERCIES — April 13, 2016
SIMPLE TRUTH — April 12, 2016
SIMPLE JOY — April 11, 2016
SIMPLE CHURCH — April 10, 2016
GOD’S WORDS — April 9, 2016

GOD’S WORDS

/Plumbline Faith

“Church,” “pastor,” “preach,” “teach,” “tithe,” “worship” and “ministry:”

Although you keep using those terms …

I do not think they mean in the New Testament what you think they mean.

Yet you claim to follow the New Testament as God’s written word.

How can that be?

A SURE FOUNDATION — April 8, 2016

A SURE FOUNDATION

/Plumbline Faith

It is not reasonable to ultimately rely on reason …

When its legitimacy ultimately depends on reason seeming reasonable.

Absent a transcendent God who alone can immanently define all – including the foundations of logic and meaning – because He alone created all …

“Reason” apart from God ultimately leaves us stuck with ourselves in circular absurdity.

Simple Discipleship — April 7, 2016
SIMPLE FAITH — April 6, 2016
Simple Faith — April 5, 2016

Simple Faith

/Plumbline Faith

Let’s see:

Morning cup of coffee. Check.

Log on and notice all the social media posts about the latest outrage du jour. Hmmm.

Wisely decide to wait a few days until the real facts come out. Priceless.

In the meantime, continue to live a life that makes a difference in this world by loving God and obeying His commands. Eternal.

Simple Joy — April 4, 2016
SIMPLE VIRTUE — April 3, 2016
PURSUING FREEDOM — April 2, 2016
Simple Church — April 1, 2016

Simple Church

/Plumbline Faith

It seems their “apostolic worker” gigs ain’t been turning out so well, with failure after failure to sustain local organic church in their own lives, home towns and elsewhere …

So from the ashes of their prior mutual promotion networks like House2House …

Frank Viola, Milt Rodriquez, Jon Zens and their buddies announced today that they will seek to revive their itinerant ministries through a new marketing alliance called:

Higher
Existential
Revelation
Elevated and
Transformed
Into
Christ

In a joint statement issued April 1st, Frank Viola, Milt Rodriguez and John Zens explained:

“We hope this will allow us to extend our influence to even more organic, simple churches around the world, with similar results.”

New books, blogs and seminars to follow …

😉

HYPER FAITH? —

HYPER FAITH?

/Plumbline Faith

Until we stop using narcissistic labels like “ultimate”, “grand”, “deeper”, “insurgent”, “radical” and “beyond” to describe our faith …

And learn to walk humbly with God and others …

We’re not much good for His Kingdom …

Or anything else.

GOD’S STANDARD — March 31, 2016

GOD’S STANDARD

/Plumbline Faith

Never underestimate the power of people – including Christians – to perceive and believe what they want to perceive and believe …

All evidence, logic and morality to the contrary.

Which is why God gave Scripture as His external standard of truth on those issues where He wants to hold us accountable …

To Himself and each other.

And why those who reject God’s plenary authority of Scripture as His written Word become stuck in existential quagmires …

From which healthy churches and healthy disciples never seem to emerge.