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Gary Patton

Mark 5:21-42 NASB - Miracles and Healing - When Jesus had - Bible Gateway - 0 views

  • Mark 5:21-42
  • Do not be afraid any longer, only [h]believe.”
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    My title above for Mark 5:21-42 are the words of Jesus. He spoke them to a Father who's daughter just had been pronounced dead. They're in the second sentence of Verse 36 of this passage that recounts an encouraging, documented miracle. Jesus lovingly speaks the same words to every person who has a seemingly insurmountable challenge which they can't handle but are willing to give up trying and let Him handle it. gfp (2012-06-21)
Gary Patton

Jesus thinking on Homosexuality - 0 views

  • What does Jesus think about Homosexuality?
  • Regardless of where we stand on the rightness or the wrongness of being gay, none of that matters much when people are dying. We can argue over what the Bible says about homosexuality, but one thing is utterly clear: Jesus clearly teaches us to love people, not to hate them, not to make them feel hated, and not to stand by while that is happening.
  • Jesus was especially known for loving the very people that the religious people of his time had condemned and cast out
  • ...7 more annotations...
  • Is homosexuality a sin?
  • “The law commands that she should be stoned to death, what do you say?” Jesus bends down and draws with his finger in the dirt, and then says to them “Let the one who is without sin throw the first stone.”
  • So again, even if we think homosexuality is wrong, we know what Jesus would do in our shoes. He has drawn a line in the sand, and we need to decide what side of that line we will be on. Will we be on the side of Jesus and the one who is being condemned and threatened? Or will we stand with the religious accusers on the other side of that line?
  • Jesus never says a word about homosexuality, but there was one kind of sin that he spoke out against all the time. There was one kind of sin that got Jesus really mad. This was the sin of religious people who shut out those in need of mercy.
  • What this all comes down to is we, as Christians, acting like Jesus. It’s about discerning what Jesus would want us to do right now, and the answer is clear: We need to change our priorities and focus on the critical issue of communicating love and acceptance to people–especially the very people our society so often ostracizes, condemns, and rejects. Because that is exactly what Jesus did.
  • Because as long as our priority is in looking moral rather than in showing compassion and grace to those on the outside, we simply do not have the priorities of Jesus.
  • Now you may have noticed that I didn’t ever say what I thought about whether homosexuality was wrong or right. I didn’t say because this is not about me and what I think. It’s about us as Christians learning to care about what Jesus cares about. This is not about gay rights. It is about about human rights, and that starts with the least. It is about us having the courage to stand with those who are vulnerable. It is about us saying “no” to hate, even when it is done in the name of God–no, especially when it is done in the name of God. It’s about having the guts to draw that line in the sand like Jesus did. Even when that means facing that mob ourselves.
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    Jesus may never spoke about the issue of homosexuality. He never spoke about the "man at the Gate Beautiful, either. But He died so the both he and homosexuals might be healed. Jesus didn't speak about homosexuality. But as Immanuel, He knew what the Old Covenant clearly stated. Nonetheless, this article raises some challenging issues for religious people who lean to justice rather than love. gfp (2012-04-28)
Gary Patton

Gen. 1:26-30 VOICE - "God Speaks for the First Recorded Time" - 0 views

  • God (to humanity): 29 Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant that grows on the earth and every fruit-bearing tree. They will be your food and nourishment.
    • Gary Patton
       
      "Watch what you eat. Poor choices can kill you because not all so-called food is healthy nor created equal!" ~ gfp '42™
Gary Patton

The Violent & Valiant Take Heaven - 0 views

  • " The violent and valiant are they which take heaven by force: cowards never won heaven. Say not that thou hast royal blood running in thy veins, and art begotten of God, except thou canst prove thy pedigree by this heroic spirit, to dare to be holy despite men and devils. The eagle tries her young ones by the sun; Christ tries his children by their courage, that dare to look on the face of death and danger for his sake ..." (Mark 8:34, 35) ~ Pastor William Gurnall (1617–1679) English author & clergyman from Chpt. 1 of his e-Book, "The Christian in Complete Armour ...A Treatise Of the Saints' War Against the Devil" at http://is.gd/Na6TmN "Take heart therefore, O ye saints, and be strong; your cause is good, God himself espouseth your quarrel, who hath appointed you his own Son, General of the field, called 'the Captain of our salvation,’ Heb. 2:10. He shall lead you on with courage, and bring you off with honour. He lived and died for you; he will live and die with you; for mercy and tenderness to his soldiers, none like him. Trajan, it is said, rent his clothes to bind up his soldiers' wounds: Christ poured out his blood as balm to heal his saints' wounds; tears off his flesh to bind them up. For prowess, none to compare with him: he never turned his head from danger: no, not when hell's malice and heaven's justice appeared in field against him; knowing all that should come upon him, [he] went forth and said, 'Whom seek ye?’" (John 18:4) ~ Pastor William Gurnall (1617–1679) English author & clergyman from Chpt. 1 of his e-Book, "The Christian in Complete Armour ...A Treatise Of the Saints' War Against the Devil" at http://is.gd/Na6TmN "In a word, Christians, God and angels are spectators, observing how you quit yourselves like children of the Most High; every exploit your faith doth against sin and Satan causeth a shout in heaven; while you valiantly prostrate this temptation, scale that difficulty, regain the other ground, you even now lost out of your enemies' hands. Your dear Saviour, who stands by with a reserve for your relief at a pinch, his very heart leaps within him for joy to see the proof of your love to him and zeal for him in all your combats; and will not forget all the faithful service you have done in his wars on earth; but when thou comest out of the field, will receive thee with the like joy as he was entertained himself at his return to heaven of his Father." ~ Pastor William Gurnall (1617–1679) English author & clergyman from Chpt. 1 of his e-Book, "The Christian in Complete Armour ...A Treatise Of the Saints' War Against the Devil" at http://is.gd/Na6TmN
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    How to make heaven by Pastor William Gurnall (1617-1679) English author & clergyman from Chpt. 1 of his e-Book, "The Christian in Complete Armour ...A Treatise Of the Saints' War Against the Devil" at http://is.gd/Na6TmN
Gary Patton

The Violent & Valiant Take Heaven - 0 views

" The violent and valiant are they which take heaven by force: cowards never won heaven. Say not that thou hast royal blood running in thy veins, and art begotten of God, except thou canst prove th...

heaven theology note

started by Gary Patton on 27 Aug 12 no follow-up yet
Gary Patton

Anger Management | Ten Essentials to Consider - 0 views

  • Anger is healthy
  • It’s what we do with our anger that makes all the difference to the maintenance of our own health
  • Anger arousal symptoms
  • ...7 more annotations...
  • warning to keep our mouth shut and think
  • soul solitude time will allow us to trace and track the origins of the triggers so we can understand them
    • Gary Patton
       
      My problem with Rhoberta's psychology when she points to "understanding" the roots of anger/rage as a route to healing is that it cannot produce freedom from your bondage. (I know this because I knew the emotional and spiritual roots of my rage for the full 25 years that I struggled with my it and that understanding didn't help me one bit. Only knowing "truth" can set you free. Understanding our past pain's roots doesn't produce truth or "freedom" from the pain. Only the truth that Jesus talks about at http://is.gd/NwDqOu can do that. gfp
  • trouble in relationships
    • Gary Patton
       
      I taught "anger management techniques" and knowing tips like this S-M-A-R-TTip didn't help me: "Relationships can only thrive when one party, at least, knows how to back off!" (Rhoberta is more blunt in her Esstenial #1 when she says: "Shut your mouth!") But, bluntness in my teaching wasn't the lack! Teaching "techniques" rather than "spiritual truth" was! Here's truth http://diigo.com/0jiqa . gfp
  • one of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves
  • We have to learn to manage incoming anger, too.
  • you may not have any boundaries
  • Anger is healthy. It is natural. It is a gift of perception, experience and biology
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    Anger is one of the most powerful emotions and the most challenging one to manage for most people. Some of us can't "manage" it ...at all. At best, some of us can ONLY moderate our reaction to our amygdala's response to our perception of a violation of our so-called rights. That's why Essential #1 is so crucial. (I know because I fought a losing battle with anger/rage for over 25 years until recently when I re-discovered a truth that I had forgotten as a Jesus Follower. Yeh! We're NOT perfect ...just saved as someone said.) You may enjoy my Tweet for 2011-08-27 apropos Essential #1: "A relationship can only thrive when at least one party knows when to back off!" ~ gfp '42™ gfp
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    Essential #1 in this article is so crucial. (I know because I fought a losing battle with anger/rage for over 25 years until recently. I have now re-discovered a truth that I had forgotten as a Jesus Follower. Yeh! We're NOT perfect ...just saved as someone said.) gfp
Gary Patton

Connecting With the One Living God - Bible Gateway - 0 views

  • if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and (C)believe in your heart that (D)God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, [b]resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, [c]resulting in salvation.
    • Gary Patton
       
      But, what do I confess and believe you may ask? The key to reconciliation with God is to simply say honestly to Jesus: "I am a sinner. Please save me from my sin nature and my many sins. I believe you died on Your cross and rose ffrom your grave to reconcile me with God by paying the full penalty for my wrongs that my good works cannot overcome!"
  • Romans 10:8-12
    • Gary Patton
       
      "How To Connect With The One True God" You'll discover in Romans 10:8-12 below what the Bible says about connecting with God and having abundant life and day-to-day peace ...now not just in the next life... through a relationship with Jesus, the One Living God in Three. Having a relationship with the One Living God is not complicated. The door is always available ...in fact, Jesus (Yeshua), but not the Qur'anic Isa, is there knocking right now for those who don't know Him personally. He says so at http://diigo.com/0lk60 . Please take Jesus at His word, believe He wants to save you from your sin nature and your sins ...no matter what you may have done... as He promises below. He WANTS to give you complete peace by entering into His eternity with Him, now, as well as after death! gfp (2011-11-30)
  • WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE [d]DISAPPOINTED.”
  • ...2 more annotations...
  • Whoever believes in Him will not be [d]disappointed
    • Gary Patton
       
      You're too bright to believe in your heart that a perfectly holy God who demands absolute justice would be willing to measure anyone's ability to enter heaven on a "Bell Curve of good works" as the Qur'an suggests in Surah 23:97-104 or any other way but via His loving grace.
  • there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is (G)Lord of (H)all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him;
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    Connecting with God and having peace with Him is not complicated. The door is always available ...in fact Jesus is there knocking right now as He says at http://diigo.com/0lk60 if you don't know Him personally. Please take Jesus at His word, believe He wants to save you from your sin nature and sins ...not matter what you've done! gfp (2011-11-30
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    Here's the only route to heaven. Your good works can NEVER get you there! gfp
Gary Patton

NASB - Those whom I love I reprove and - Bible Gateway - 1 views

  • I stand (C)at the door and (D)knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, (E)I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.
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    Jesus is always calling those who recognize they are sinners and know that they know that they cannot get better themselves and wish to turn from their bad habits with Jesus' help. Jesus is waiting patiently for you to open the door of your heart. Revelation 3:19-22 clearly says so! gfp (2011-11-30)
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    Calling out to Jesus from the depths of our sin is simple! He's waiting patiently for you to open the door of your heart.gfp
Gary Patton

Humankind's Creation - Bible Gateway - 0 views

  • Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the [b]sky and over every living thing that [c]moves on the earth.”
    • Gary Patton
       
      Humankinds orignial and basic life purpose which has never been rescinded and is suplemeted for each Jesus Follower as outlined in Ephesians 2: 10 at http://diigo.com/0n20e in context.
  • I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the [d]surface of all the earth, and every tree [e]which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you;
    • Gary Patton
       
      In 1968, Karen, my wife, and I became changed our diet and our lifestyle from what most people follow. We gave up the SAD (Standard American Diet) after different diseases almost killed me and threatened Karen's life. In Karen's case, colon cancer could have killed her. The results of a gangrenous bladder almost put me in a grave.  In less than four (4) months following our shift in diet Karen and I were both completely healed. We have remained vibrantly healthy ever since. In November of that year, we became what are called "Live Food Vegans", i.e., we started to eat only fruits, vegetables, seeds nuts and and gluten-free grains. In addition, less than 20% of what we eat most days is cooked in any way. Karen and I have learned a lot about how to be and stay healthy. At 70+, we both are told we look like we're in our 50s.  Our lifestyle, which involves more than than just a diet change, we call our S-M-A-R-TLifestyle™.  You can read more about what happened to us and our lifestyle at this link (http://is.gd/l0mZPv). We agree that a Jesus Follower is free to eat what s(he) wishes, within reason. That's part of being free In Jesus! Nonetheless, we simply believe that the diet outlined in the Christian Bible in  Genesis 1:29 was God's "best" one for his perfect creation. He has never rescinded that diet.  By following it, you too can reap the substantial rewards of natural law which anyone can take advantage of ...like we did in 1998.
  • Genesis 1:26-31
    • Gary Patton
       
      Genesis 1: 26-31 describe the first humans' creation as the original ancestors of every man and woman who has ever lived as confirmed by modern DNA and gnome science. They also confirm God's original life mandate and ideal diet for every human ...neither of which He has EVER rescinded. gfp (2012-01-31)
Gary Patton

Reinterpreting the Great Commission - 0 views

  • Missional Discipleship: Reinterpreting the Great Commission
    • Gary Patton
       
      Jonathan Dodson adds exciting new dimensions to the standard interpretations of Jesus' "Great Commission" in the article. It is the first of two parts. gfp (2012-03-03)
  • In evangelical subculture the ubiquity of the Great Commission is matched by the poverty of its interpretation.
    • Gary Patton
       
      The only greater "poverty" is its lack of application in their lives by so-called Christians. In North America, a too-common and oft-heard phrase exchanged between so-called Christians is: "I'd din't know you were a Christian!" "Lord, please forgive us although we know what we're doing! gfp"
  • The OT commission, frequently referred to as the creation or cultural mandate, was issued by God before the Fall of humanity, emphasizing creative activity with the following verbs: be fruitful, multiply, rule, and subdue (Gen 1.27-28).2 By producing more creators who rule and subdue the elements of the earth,
  • ...30 more annotations...
  • A surface reading of these Old and New Testament texts places them at odds with one another.
  • These impoverished readings call for reinterpretation, one that that allows both Genesis and the Gospels to speak.
  • we will be challenged to understand and embrace discipleship as more that "spiritual disciplines" or an evangelistic program.
  • following after Jesus that requires redemptive engagement not just with souls but with creation and culture.
  • the command is to make disciples of all nations not from all nations.
  • The Great Commission is not about soul-extraction, to remove the disciple from his culture,
    • Gary Patton
       
      To often in the past ...and still..., so-called Christian Missionaries who "went" and "go" into other cultures try to shape their disciples in the image of the Missionary's culture, i.e. they "clothed the naked", literally, instead of providing what's need in the moment by the individuals they encounter which is what Jesus meant. 
  • the many-splendored new humanity of Christ.
  • Where Matthew emphasizes the action of making distinctive disciples, Mark stresses the importance of preaching to all creation.
  • When Jesus used the word "preach" he did not mean converse. The Greek word for preach always carries a sense of urgency and gravity, as though what is to be proclaimed is of great importance
    • Gary Patton
       
      A better translation of the Greek, that captures it's sense and is not intentionally designed by the translator to reinforce "Sunday morning church activity", is "herald"! 
  • Paul perceives himself as an announcer of a worldly Christ-centered gospel,
  • While this worldly gospel saves, it also condemns.
  • For some it brings life; for others it brings death, but all are to be given the opportunity to be written into the story of God's redemption of all creation.
    • Gary Patton
       
      This is not a particularly "Calvinistic statement, i.e., those saved are pre-ordained (Romans 8:28) but probably accurate because we'll never know 'till we get to heaven whether Holy Spirit used us to touch the "right" people and bring them "one step closer to Jesus". 
  • Humanity was charged with the task of caring for the earth and creating culture, making the uninhabitable habitable.
  • Jesus preached a worldly gospel, a restorative message that put the creation project back on track. His glorified, resurrection body is clearly proof of the new creation to come.
  • Jesus told those who believe that they will be given power to heal the sick, restore the demon-possessed, and to speak new languages (Mk. 16:17-18). This worldly gospel is for the redemption and renewal of the earth, the body, the heart, the mind, and the cultures of the world. It is a saving message that rescues people from their unbelief, not their world,
  • we are called to preach "repentance and forgiveness of sins." A social gospel will not suffice.
    • Gary Patton
       
      And a "social gospel" approach is also not excluded.
  • What does it mean to be "witnesses of all these things"? Well, at the very least it means sharing Jesus' self-sacrificing offer of forgiveness,
    • Gary Patton
       
      And witnessing includes, I suggest, the practical and explanatory sharing of the blessings that have enriched the life of the witnesser as a result of their forgiveness and Jesus coming to live His life out through them by sharing what Christians call "their testimony". 
  • The problem with many of our stories is that they contain all spirit and very little flesh.
  • People want to touch redemption, which means they need to see resurrection power in our personal struggles.
  • The stories we tell should boast of Jesus' death and resurrection, of his forgiveness of sin and of his restoration of sinners — reconciled families and marriages, restored and housed homeless, renewed life among AIDS orphans, and so on.
    • Gary Patton
       
      And make sure these resurrection-power stories, if not about yourself, are about other you KNOW personally ...otherwise they can be considered so much fluff!
  • Whereas the previous gospel writers emphasized Jesus' command to make distinctive disciples, preach a worldly gospel, and witness a fleshly Jesus, John stresses Jesus sending his disciples.
  • According to John Piper, we are either goers, senders, or disobedient, but according to Jesus we are all the sent.
    • Gary Patton
       
      And I agree with Jesus. It's clear notwithstanding Mr. Piper's opinion, that Jesus clearly tells all his followers that we are to "go along", i.e., herald Jesus where He plants us". It's not wrong to help a Brother or Sister "go" somewhere else but Jesus never said or giving money to a so-called missionary could replace His Followers heralding Him where they are in the moment".
  • All followers of Jesus are called to live as missionaries in their culture
  • Our paradigm for living a sent life, a missionary life, is the sending of the Son by the Father.
  • So, within reason we should take on the trappings of our culture in order to contextually relate the gospel.
    • Gary Patton
       
      And for this reason, it's not wrong to accompany your work colleagues after work for a "drink" at a local strip club ...just don't oggle the strippers or get drunk! We can only earn their trust so they'll "as the reason for the hope that is in us (1 Peter 3:15-17) when we're not the typical judgemental Christian or pushy Televangelist-type they have been warned to avoid by those judged by those folks.
  • It leads us to immerse ourselves into the humanity of our neighborhoods and cities in order relate the gospel to people and their needs.
    • Gary Patton
       
      And this doesn't mean that we're more spiritual if we leave our middle-class lifestyle and neighbourhood and move into an inner-city slum or evangelize street people on weekends unless Holy Spirit makes clear that role is His will for you at that point in your life!
  • The power of missional living does not spring from cultural savvy or social sensitivity; it requires the otherworldly, utterly personal power of the Holy Spirit. Only the Spirit of God can make men new.
    • Gary Patton
       
      Amen to that!! A Lone Ranger Christian carries a notch-less gun in his "heralding holster". 
  • The "good news" of Genesis 1-2 is that God created all things to be enjoyed, managed, cultivated, and recreated by humanity.
    • Gary Patton
       
      And applying 1 Corinthians 6:12 is the wise person's context for ALL her/his behaviour... not just the limited ones involving "food" and "sex" mentioned by Paul in the immediately surrounding verses of this passage.
  • This fruitful multiplication continues both physically and spiritually through the reproducing ministry of missional disciples, who increase in number and good works (Acts 6:7; Col. 1:6, 10). These good works include ruling and subduing creation through the careful, creative arrangement of the elements of the earth into art, technology, infrastructure etc. for the flourishing of humanity.
  • Retaining the cultural impulse of Genesis, the Gospels call us to a missional discipleship that entails creation care, cultural engagement, social action, and gospel proclamation. Missional disciples will not content themselves by preaching a culturally irrelevant, creation indifferent, resurrection neglecting message.
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