May God bless you today, and may you have a truly GOOD Friday.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JElzkHX5smE
Keep Soaring,
Branson
Friday, March 29, 2013
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
"A Comprehensive Biblical Defense of the Trinity"
For the past few months, Mandy and I have been meeting with a family of Jehovah's Witnesses and discussing our beliefs, some of them common and some not so much. It's been very enlightening, and its dispelled most of the misconceptions I've had about Jehovah's Witnesses. (Up until a few months ago, what little I knew about them was from what I read in anti-JW literature.)
One of the topics that we have--and still are--debating is the Doctrine of the Trinity. In my research, I came across this article online, and to date it may be one of the best defenses of the Trinity that I've ever read. The author does a good job of pointing out the difference between what the Doctrine of the Trinity actually says and what it has come to mean to some today.
We have to be careful that, in an effort to make the nature of God understandable, we don't actually teach something that Scripture doesn't support.
I hope you enjoy and are edified by this article as much as I was. Enjoy!!
A Comprehensive Biblical Defense of the Trinity
Keep Soaring,
Branson
One of the topics that we have--and still are--debating is the Doctrine of the Trinity. In my research, I came across this article online, and to date it may be one of the best defenses of the Trinity that I've ever read. The author does a good job of pointing out the difference between what the Doctrine of the Trinity actually says and what it has come to mean to some today.
We have to be careful that, in an effort to make the nature of God understandable, we don't actually teach something that Scripture doesn't support.
I hope you enjoy and are edified by this article as much as I was. Enjoy!!
A Comprehensive Biblical Defense of the Trinity
Keep Soaring,
Branson
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Trying to be a better me...
I'm reading through Kingdom Man by Dr. Tony Evans. Excellent book, and it hits home on several levels. One of which is realizing that as a man I set the temperature of my home (metaphorically speaking....Mandy is in charge of the actual thermostat). Dr. Evans says, "You can't expect a summer wife if all you bring home is winter weather." Basically, take responsibility for your part in making a home a good home.
In light of that, I've come to realize that I don't take criticism very well, even if it's constructive. I crave approval, constantly looking for what more I can do to get it from anyone and everyone. And if that approval isn't given completely, I get irritated. I don't want to be told how I could improve; I want to be told that I'm already good. But I want you to mean it when you say it, not just give me lip service.
I realize that I can't have it both ways. People either are honest with me and tell me where I screw up, or they tell me what tickles my ears. And if I really want to be a better version of myself, then I need to see criticism as a challenge to improve rather than a sting against my pride.
So, instead of telling Simon Cowell he can suck it, maybe I just need to accept that I might not be X Factor material. (Again, metaphorically speaking....I didn't actually try out for the X Factor.)
"Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses." --Proverbs 27:6
Keep Soaring,
B
In light of that, I've come to realize that I don't take criticism very well, even if it's constructive. I crave approval, constantly looking for what more I can do to get it from anyone and everyone. And if that approval isn't given completely, I get irritated. I don't want to be told how I could improve; I want to be told that I'm already good. But I want you to mean it when you say it, not just give me lip service.
I realize that I can't have it both ways. People either are honest with me and tell me where I screw up, or they tell me what tickles my ears. And if I really want to be a better version of myself, then I need to see criticism as a challenge to improve rather than a sting against my pride.
So, instead of telling Simon Cowell he can suck it, maybe I just need to accept that I might not be X Factor material. (Again, metaphorically speaking....I didn't actually try out for the X Factor.)
"Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses." --Proverbs 27:6
Keep Soaring,
B
Monday, March 4, 2013
A More Light-Hearted Post...
Looking back on my posts, I realize that the past several have been extremely heavy. I feel like I need to spend some time talking about what good is going on in my life.
Leaving my position as pastor is proving every day to be a good decision. It was a hard one to make, and not one that I made whimsically or even happily. But the returns from that decision, and the rest I've gotten because of it, have been much needed and wonderful.
I spent yesterday afternoon rolling on the floor playing with Brayson and Mandy. I watched him laugh at the goofy faces I made, trip over himself as he slowly tried to understand the mechanics of walking (not there yet, but getting close!!), and give the biggest grin when he heard his Mama talk. He was twenty pounds of pure joy, and I soaked up every second of it that I could.
Brayson's 11 months old today. 1 month short of the Big Time!!
I've spent a lot of time asking some hard questions about my faith. And the answers I've found have been enlightening. I think my relationship with Christ, although difficult and a struggle at times, is the best its been in years. I don't have all the answers, and some answers I may never have, but the journey to find those answers has been edifying so far, and I look forward to where it will lead me and my family next.
Every time I'm asked to step out on faith, there's always that nagging fear that maybe I'm wrong, that things are about to fall apart. But so far, things have actually been falling together. I feel....aligned...in ways I haven't in a long time.
God is good, both in the land that is plentiful and the desert place. Even if nothing was going right, God would still be good. But, for now, He has chosen to place me in the plentiful land. And I am grateful for it.
Leaving my position as pastor is proving every day to be a good decision. It was a hard one to make, and not one that I made whimsically or even happily. But the returns from that decision, and the rest I've gotten because of it, have been much needed and wonderful.
I spent yesterday afternoon rolling on the floor playing with Brayson and Mandy. I watched him laugh at the goofy faces I made, trip over himself as he slowly tried to understand the mechanics of walking (not there yet, but getting close!!), and give the biggest grin when he heard his Mama talk. He was twenty pounds of pure joy, and I soaked up every second of it that I could.
Brayson's 11 months old today. 1 month short of the Big Time!!
I've spent a lot of time asking some hard questions about my faith. And the answers I've found have been enlightening. I think my relationship with Christ, although difficult and a struggle at times, is the best its been in years. I don't have all the answers, and some answers I may never have, but the journey to find those answers has been edifying so far, and I look forward to where it will lead me and my family next.
Every time I'm asked to step out on faith, there's always that nagging fear that maybe I'm wrong, that things are about to fall apart. But so far, things have actually been falling together. I feel....aligned...in ways I haven't in a long time.
God is good, both in the land that is plentiful and the desert place. Even if nothing was going right, God would still be good. But, for now, He has chosen to place me in the plentiful land. And I am grateful for it.
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