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Phil Auxier's Blog

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1st vs. 2nd…

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J.C. Ryle, from his Commentary on Mark, p.210…
“The second coming in Christ will be utterly unlike the first. He came the first time in weakness, a tender infant born of a poor woman in the manger at Bethlehem, unnoticed, unhonored, and scarcely known. He will come the second time in royal dignity, with the armies of heaven around Him, to be known, recognized and feared by all the tribes of the earth. He came the first time to suffer – to bear our sins – to be reckoned a curse – to be despised, rejected, unjustly condemned and slain. He will come the second time to reign – to put down every enemy under His feet – to take the kingdoms of this world for His inheritance – to rule them with righteousness – to judge everybody, and to live forevermore.”

President’s Day?

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Anybody do anything special on this day. At the Y this AM, I noticed the History Channel is doing something, but other than keeping us from getting snail mail, how does this day affect your life?

Shoddy Journalism?

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I was reading Baptist Press (who allegedly pride themselves on being “news with a Christian perspective) this morning and came across this story about Mark Driscoll. Needless to say, after reading my first thought was, I wonder if they tried to talk to Driscoll. Timmy Brister weighs in, as does the seminary where Driscoll spoke this week.

I simply think we need to be more Christian in our actions towards (or in this case our words about) others. Driscoll’s not perfect (and that doesn’t excuse his sin) but I’ve also heard him be very transparent about sins and weaknesses. I just think allowing him to weigh in on criticism would show how “sinister” he really is. After all, Jesus said, did He not in Matthew 7:12, in the context of judgment, that we should treat others as we would like for them to treat us. I wonder if this is really demonstrating a love for a neighbor?

Then again, I wonder if my life demonstrates a love for others when I proudly act self-righteous compared to those with whom I associate. Lots to think about in this regard.

Talking Taxes…

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Last night, Meg and I collated all the info in our lives to give to our accountant so that we can fulfill the governmental obligation that comes our way every April. It occurred to me that many of us take great pains to make sure that the government gets its due and we forget to render to God what is His.

Why am I more passionate about having accurate taxes than having a life that honors God?

The Future…Prepared?

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This Sunday, Lord willing, in the AM service, we will be looking at Mark 13:5-23 and the incredible way that Jesus prepares His followers for the future. There is much here for us. What strikes me, though, is the way we as humans are so consumed with the here and now that we don’t focus on what’s to come. This might be a subtle self-centeredness. It is because I am so confident in my abilities and ability to live life that I forget that life is a vapor and I need to be oriented to the greater future I will live after this life into all of eternity. May God grant us grace to have an eternal perspective through His Word.

Bible Arcing (pronounced ARKing)

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Heard about this method of Bible study at the DG Pastor’s Conference. Here’s a description from their website: “Arcing is a graphical tool used to determine, document,
and discuss the flow of thought in the Biblical text.”

Visit their website and check out the method.