Hey fellow Bible memorization enthusiasts!
My friend Phil Walker at scripturememorychallenge.org sent out an announcement regarding Scriptorium 2008, a convention devoted to scripture memorization and recitation.
Sounds like a really fun time, click here for more information!
Modesty is a hot-topic issue at probably any Bible-believing church. Pastors feel the tension between crossing cultural and ethnic lines, offending church members, being regarded as dirty-minded, and wanting to protect their sheep from stumbling. Unfortunately, in our fallen world and in our fallen natures, these will be issues that we’ll struggle with until Christ returns.
Pastor Albert N. Martin of Trinity Baptist Church in Montville, New Jersey recently preached an excellent message that addresses this topic: Validating The Gospel in Modesty. I highly recommend it.
[audio http://mp3.sa-media.com/media/2250872194/2250872194.mp3]
There’s some t-shirts for sale from Voice of the Martyrs. If you buy 3 you get one free.
I’m not too big on “Jesus” t-shirts necessarily, but there’s something about the message that really resonates with me- it says “This shirt is illegal in 51 countries” on the front, with a cross and Romans 1:16 on the back:
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. (NIV)
It’s incredible to me that a shirt with a Bible verse could be considered offensive in some places and illegal in others. The only explanation is that the Gospel is offensive because Jesus Christ is real- not some fairy tale. What other reason is there to make governments so furious about Christianity?
Here’s the link for those shirts: http://etools.ncol.com/a/vomso/bg_vomso_wdbm_303.html
I’m a big-time geek. Therefore, when gadgets meet Religion, I’m all for them.
Case in point- my devotional life is entirely online! I got an iPod Touch a while back. This is the greatest gadget ever invented. So easy that my 4 year old can navigate it. So complex, that I can run BibleMemory.us from it! It has a web browser and can connect to the internet via our wifi router in the house.
When I wake up, I check my mobile Gmail account and read my emailed scriptures from www.Bibleinayear.org while I listen to Max McLean read them. Then I go over to Google Notebook, where I have 6 days of prayer notes. On Monday, I pray for Pastors and Deacons that I know. Today, I prayed for family members and missionaries that I know. All without getting up from my warm bed! I like this pattern very much. I pray that God will use my daily devotions to draw me closer to Him.
What do you do for devotions? What’s your pattern?
Is there such a thing as an unselfish act? The great website, “Howstuffworks.com” asks that very question of science and philosophy here.
I don’t have the time to write about it all, but once again, the Bible proves science and philosophy when Isaiah says:
All of us have become like one who is unclean,
and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags;
Isaiah 64:6
Hello Everyone,
Just a friendly reminder to please try to review your verses- every day if possible! It’s the best (and only) way to keep all those verses you’re learning fresh in your mind.
If you don’t know how to review, just do your daily verse and click on the big “Go!” button at the bottom of the screen, which takes you to the “Member Home Page.” On that page, there’s a link to “Review all my learned verses.”
Keep up the good work, and keep pressing on!
Robert
Here’s another Member Profile. If you’d like your ministry or yourself profiled on the web site, please send me a paragraph or two about yourself. I’d like to do this every Tuesday, if enough people are interested in doing it. I think it’s kind of fun and interesting. Here’s Connie Giordano:
I am an ordained minister of the Gospel. I am a graduate of Christ For The Nations Institute. I am the founder of Walking In Truth Ministry. Presently, I teach the Bible to God’s people over the Internet. Daily, I send out a challenging teaching to all who subscribe to my Walking In Truth list. My website is - www.walkingintruth.org - where people can sign up to receive the messages.
I have such a hunger for God’s Word and a burden to see a Bible Revival in our churches across the land. I have such a desire to know God more than any human being has ever known Him. Oh! That I may increase in the knowledge of my God! That is the cry of my heart!
I am also an evangelist. My family (husband Carl and son John) and I spent 14 years ministering on the streets of Dallas, TX. calling this city to repentance and faith in Jesus. Now, I evangelize in the Tarrant County Jail in Fort Worth, TX. ministering to the women inmates.
I just added another church’s memory program, Stevinson Chapel! I want to thank long-time member Georgene for making it all happen. Thanks, Georgene! If your church has a memory program that you’d like to add, let me know!
Also, you may notice when you go to the member home page that something’s missing. I hid the number of current members. I’ve had a few folks tell me it’s discouraging to see the number dwindle down. I didn’t remove it, I just turned it white, so if you’re curious to see how many members the program has, just put your mouse in the upper left corner, click the left mouse button, and drag the mouse- you should see the number!
I want to thank the following blogs for recently mentioning this program:
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/
http://wrestlingmat.blogspot.com/
http://kevinhash.blogspot.com/
http://missioncontend.wordpress.com/
http://hauserhighlights.blogspot.com/
http://fromchristtoculture.blogspot.com/
I also want to thank Christina, Delimar, and Rebecca of Englewood Baptist Church in Englewood, NJ (that’s my church) for signing up for the program. I’m so encouraged that more people that I know are giving the program a try- you’ll never know how much that means to me!
No baby yet, I’ll keep you posted. Due date is next Friday, 2/15.
Hello! I had a productive night the other night: I was able to fix a problem with “Chris’ Challenge.” Seems that the comparison didn’t like it if someone entered two spaces anywhere. That’s been improved.
Also, I made some changes to the profile section. You can now change the day of the week that you’re on, and, the best change, you can change to a specific verse. This should be particularly helpful for those of you who are doing a program with your church. If you get behind, you can move yourself up to where everyone else is. I also cleaned that page up a bit- it was looking hideously ugly, especially on Firefox.
Coming soon- the ability to change your program. Yeah, I’m excited about that, too. My man Chris is working on that for me. Thanks, Chris!
You may or may not hear from me for a while- my wife is due Feb. 15 with our 4th kiddo. According to her doctor, it maybe sooner than that. I can’t wait. If my wife lets me, I’ll try to post some pics for you after the baby is born. 
Have a great day!
