A Walk Through the Valley

So, I am towards the end of Deuteronomy right now and I have felt this need to really add in some reading about Jesus too.  Basically, I need some New Testament.  So, while I am still reading Deuteronomy I am also adding in Matthew at the same time.  You can check my daily log to see where I am at exactly.  I will probably carry on this way for the duration - sticking to the chronological reading of the Old Testament and adding in chapters from the New Testament.

I have recently read a blog where a few (not all, but a few) non-believers have stated that the only difference between me (Christian) and them (non-Christian) is that I believe in God and they don’t.

Wrong.

The difference is that I have come to a full and complete understanding of how I have sinned against God and how I need to repent and turn to Him for salvation.  Because of coming to that complete understanding I will be spending eternity with the Father while they (the non-Christian) will be spending eternity separated from Him unless they open their eyes to the reality that surrounds them and make some drastic changes.

Their lack of belief is sin - the difference is an understanding of that sin and the need for forgiveness.

Don’t hold out until it is too late - there will come a day when your heart will grow hard, when nothing will affect you, when it is too late. 

Pray for the non-believer.

I’ve been listening to Paul Washer a bit lately and his sermons are just riveting! Please take a few minutes to listen.

Prophecy has always been confusing to me, yet I find it entirely fascinating.  Some people believe there will be a pre-tribulation rapture, others believe there will be no rapture, and then there are some people who believe we are already seeing the bowl judgments and such coming to be.  There are so many different theories.

I guess for me the one that always made the most sense was the pre-tribulation rapture.  Even so, I am not schooled enough in it to know all the ins and outs and I was just wondering what you think regarding such things?

Last night I began the book of Deuteronomy.  I am now on chapter 4.  I have to say, as I read through the law I have become even more grateful for the sacrifice Christ made for us all.  It is a type of thankfulness that I can hardly explain with words.

I was listening to my favorite podcast last night when The Message was brought up.  It was just a short little snippet, the conversation wasn’t really about The Message, but the basic gist of what was said was that Eugene Peterson took the Bible, changed it into his own words and interpretation, and then sold it to millions.  I don’t remember the exact quote, but the main feel was that this guy and his message are not bringing glory to God.

I have never bought The Message.  Every once in a while I have read a translation of a verse online from The Message, of course now I realize from a little Google research this morning that it isn’t a translation linguistically, it is a translation into this dude’s thoughts.

This concerns me.  Does it concern you?

Every time I hear it this song it stops me in my tracks and makes me wonder, yeah, what if… Seriously, look at what the modern church has turned into - look at what people are turning to these days - and look at what they don’t turn to…