Allow me to introduce this book. It’s called Philemon. It’s oh so personal (1:1). The book bares the name of the person whom the words are to (1:1). Paul’s urging dude praying for this servant who (1:4) refreshed the saints day by day in the church, its true (1:5). He was encouraged too by this dude’s passion. Fellowship growing in faith, it was fantastic (1:6). But he had this slave Onesimus. This man happened to steal some things and ran away. Yeah, he fled faster (1:15/1:18). Philemon didn’t know. He ended up in Rome where God redeemed his soul through Paul’s teaching (1:10). The gospel of Christ made some things change because now he and Philemon became the same slaves – slaves to Christ. Onesimus stayed beside Paul in Prison He had changed his life (1:11/1:13). So he served Paul. It hurt Paul to have to let him leave (1:11) with this letter in his hand hoping he’d be received (1:12).

Take him back. It don’t matter what he did. Christ Forgives, that’s what it is. I know you’ve been wronged. He’s been gone for a minute but now God got up in him, so I call for forgiveness.

So Paul the Apostle saw that he ought to resolve what was harming the body. He’s got to. So he comes on strong but then also as a fellow servant of God as he talks to (1:8-9) Philemon pleading for Onesimus. Please don’t grieve him I need him but he is still yours so just listen (1:13-14). His presence is dear to me but he’s dearer to you (1:16) and it’s so clear to see, since hearing the truth He’s been adopted and cleaned (1:10) and often it seems that God in his sovereignty saw that these things like him thieving and leaving you for a season. Through that, God redeemed him and cleaned him so he can (1:15). Be yours forever as a brother in Christ (1:16). So receive this letter, don’t cut him off twice (1:17) and whatever he owes you charge it to me. Even though you owe me, I want you to be pleased (1:18-19).

Paul wrote that he was sure and secure in the fact that Philemon would surely enjoy taking back (1:21). This man who had wronged him before in his past but now they were one in the Lord. It’s a wrap (1:16). Just like Onesimus. We need forgiveness when we grieve our Lord who saved us and filled us with His spirit to seal us in and heal us from the illest sin even though we’re sinning men. Look at what we did to him but he takes us back, and what we owed was paid on the cross with the blood that flowed, From the side of his body, now I’m in the body/ Of Christ in the light still I say I’m sorry/ To God for the charge that was held against me/ I’m forgiven because he was nailed to a tree. So I yell and I scream as I’m telling these people that we need to be like Jesus and seek to take him back.

Lyrics from Take ‘Em Back (Philemon) by Dillon Chase (116 Clique), a Reach Recordsartist in association with ReachLife Ministries.

Her website, Death is Not Dying (www.deathisnotdying.com) reads this:

Reachel’s story is not unlike what thousands of women around the world have experienced. A diagnosis that changes a woman’s life and inevitably takes from her what we consider to be most precious. After four and a half years of vigilantly fighting breast cancer, the 37 year old wife and mother of two was diagnosed with terminal cancer. But for Rachel the essence of life is found in her relationship with God through Jesus. And that’s why Rachel is convinced that death is not dying.

At the website are short blog posts that she wrote in her final days – even to the day before her death. Each are filled with inner joy and outer suffering. They chronolize her last moments and thoughts of eternity. They speak about her hope and about her loss. And more importantly, they are full of God’s soveriegn love.

After watching her speech, I think a divinely appointed one, I was compelled to follow up by reading her letters. The speech was not dynamically glorious in its oration, but it abounded in spiritual power. It was inspiring and convicting. I thought so highly of it, that if I didn’t share, it would be a disservice to you all. So, watch the video. It is approximately one hour long, but worth every second. For more information, visitdeathisnotdying.com.

I’m not ashamed of the gospel, y’all. It’s the power of Christ that can save us all. In the gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed. And who lives by faith? The righteous will!

Awake from your slumber, rise! A letter from the wise. The book of Romans – the Christian faith summarized by Paul, a bondservant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel (1:1). Chapter 1:16-17 is the thesis because our sins are colossal, hearts are harder than fossils (1:21, 29-31, 2:5). That’s everybody’s plight; can’t solve it- goodnight! How do sinners get right in a Holy God’s sight? Amazing is the answer, see – Romans states it candidly, the first three chapters – God’s case against humanity. Whether it’s idolatry (1:23) or religious hypocrisy (2:1, 23). No one can possibly see the charges and say “It’s not for me.” Everybody’s guilty, everybody’s filthy (3:9-19). Before God on judgment day is where everybody will be (2:5, 16). For those who believe in Jesus who suffered and died, “It feels so good to be justified” (3:21-26).

At the cross the wrath of God was spent on Jesus on behalf of all who repent and believe this (3:25). We receive His perfect righteousness (4:5). In exchange, believers cursed lives are His (4:25). Behold the blessedness for earth’s cold residents. Chapter 4, Paul defends it from the Old Testament (4:1). Up to this point, we saw the need for justification (3:19-20). In chapter 5 and following, we see it’s implications (5:1). In service and purity, we yearn for maturity empowered by Christ, who gives eternal security (5:9-11). Slowly but surely, He removes every vice. Raised to newness of life through our union with Christ (6:4, 14, 17). But chapter 7 finds us struggling with sin (7:15, 21). It’s buggin’ us within but He loves us to the end (7:24-25). Even with complications through sin’s occupation. For God’s consecrated there’s no condemnation (8:1). The Holy Spirit inside, He comforts like no other. He convinces us we’re God’s children even when we suffer (8:16-17). Nothing in creation could ever separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus who saved us (8:39). In chapter 9 we see God is sovereign in His mercy (9:15). His dealings with Israel shows He’s working out His purposes (9:11). By the end of 11 it’s jew and gentile together, united in Christ to His glory forever!

So in view of God’s mercies, we remove our worldly uniforms and throw on crucified jerseys. Holy and acceptable, ruled by the divine, being transformed by renewal of the mind (12:1-2), Yeshua’s design – obedience to the Scriptures with love as the key ingredient in the mixture (12:9-10. 13:8-10). The godly man’s picture under the new covenant. Mindful of God, we submit to the goverment (13:1). Not passing judgment on weaker brothers, instead we spread love to them to keep them from stumbling (14:13-15). When we do this, God will truly then smile as Christ is glorified through jew and gentile (15:5-6). And the God of peace at His judgment seat will soon crush Satan under our feet! (16:20). Now this is just an overview – go and read Romans through and I pray the God of Romans will grab a hold of you!

Lyrics from Gospel Music by Shai Linne (116 Clique), a Lampmode Recordings artist and in association with Reach Records and ReachLife Ministries.

I came across a new free service today called, BibleArc.com, which was possibly derived from John Piper’s teaching on a biblical interpretation process called “arching.” Piper said, “What has come to be known as arcing, has proven to be a most fruitful exectical tool. Its principles undergird my whole approach to biblical interpretation.”

The web site explains, “Arcing is a graphical tool used to determine, document, and discuss the flow of thought in the Biblical text.” Namely, enhance your studies by breaking up the sentence fragments (called propositions) into ideas and thoughts. Then, by grouping these thoughts in relationship to each other, you create an arching system where segments are connected to others.

This is a basic principle to interpreting Scripture whereby you are focusing on small propositions of the text (for better understanding) and then comparing them with those surrounding propositions in order to see the context. For example, Romans 3:23 reads, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” It can be divided into two coordinating propositions: (1) for all have sinned; and (2) and fall short of the glory of God.” See the image below of how it would look in the arching service.

The service looks very intriguing and very useful, especially for those who are just getting started with biblical interpretation and have some basic knowledge of English grammar. The service is apparenly new and so the downfall of the service is its lack of beauty and usability. It does have a small learning curve. But, it is still obviously in its baby stages. It needs a good designer with usability skills to improve it.

All in all, I think that it will do well. I’m going to try it out for a time and see how it helps. If nothing else, it will get your to think more about the way you study.

Visit the site and create your own Bible Archs: http://www.biblearc.com

Of course, this doesn’t bother me. These moments of learning and writing have been very interesting and very enlightening. They have strengthened my understanding and faith. They have really served to help me put the narratives of Christ’s life here on earth into perspective. They have been challenging as well. Some things (like penpointing the exact time Jesus was born) drove me to intense research and I often was left with uncertainty in the exacts but more faith in the Lord. And plus, I will likely be closing out the texts of Jesus’ birth right before Christmas which will make this year all the more glorious.

Since the new stand-up of the t411.com site with eControl, I have been able to post more freely and easily here at my main site. (This was one of the reasons for posting to a blog.) So, I’ll be adding those posts here to the site and continue in my studies until I finish the gospels.

Follow along with me from the updated In the Gospels page.