Go Dawgs?

Yeah right.  Last week, they went into half-time, got on some busses and drove down the road, asking for people that could play football.  They came back from half-time with the new players, in the old jerseys.  They kept them through the first half of this week, then let them go home at half-time.  Of course, it IS just a football game . . . 
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"Offering all of me . . . "

There's not much to offer.  Tomorrow is the second Sunday of the month, and on the second Sunday of the month, we participate in the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.For our worship tomorrow, we're singing the song Hungry.  Great tune, and moving lyrics, but when you really think about the statement: "I'm falling on my knees, offering all of me . . . "  it brings me (at least) to the most humbling place - I have nothing to offer but my sin; which is exactly where the Gospel brings us - repenting of our sin, the belief (surrender, offering)…
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The Apostles' Creed

" . . . He descended into hell . . . "Not the literal hell. Not separation from the Father, but the punishment, equivalent to an eternity in hell, for our sins. The wrath and justice of God - placed upon the shoulders of the Christ for our sins. Descending into hell = taking that amount of punishment so we can be declared righteous before the throne.
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The devil doesn't look like it . . .

I had a conversation with a friend tonight, and it reminded me, as I should always be reminded, that the devil doesn't come with a neon sign, flashing: "i'm the devil, beware! Watch out. I'm here to ruin your day!" Nope. He's crafty, smooth, friendly, appealing . . . He talks a great game, and he'll do anything, say anything, be anything to win. He attacks in ways that we're never looking for, and has an uncanny ability to use our insecurities, or our over-securities to attack. So the defense then becomes the prayer that the Spirit would constantly be…
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Some thoughts from Tim Keller

Mistaken EmotionsNot everything we feel Sunday morning can be labeled true worship. Several emotions can be mistakenly associated with true worship.Nostalgia. Some people are moved to tears by listening to "The Old Rugged Cross" and others by "The Wind Beneath My Wings." But those feelings are not necessarily worship. They could also be merely a sentimental connection; the song reminds people of a warm memory. This is one reason why people will say, "I can't worship if I don't sit in my pew," or "I can't worship because you rearranged the furniture," or "I can't worship if I don't know…
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The Crocodile Hunter

This has nothing to do with worship, or OMPC, but I'm gonna miss the Crocodile Hunter. I will say this though - at least he died doing what he loved to do.I'll also say this - he was an incredibly passionate man. He was passionate about animals, wildlife, and communicating to people the love he had for these creatures. They don't do anything to deserve it, in fact, often times the closer he got, the madder they got, or the more defensive they became - maybe out of insecurity, or fear, or lack of faith that his only goal was…
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The Hebrew Words for Praise, part V

5.TOWDAH -to-daw -To give worship by the extension of the hand in adoration or agreeing with what has been done or will be. This word is common- ly found in connection with sacrifice-applying the giving of thanks or praise as a sacrifice before reception or manifestation. Thanking God for something that I don't have in the natural. Agreeing with His Word - faith in His Word. This form of praise goes in operation just because His Word is true. "Father, I thank YOU that YOUR WORD is TRUE. As we raise our hearts and hands in praise to the Lord,…
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The Journey

So I've been reflecting lately on the steps that God has taken me and my family through to bring us to where He has us right now. It's gotten to the point where it's fun to reflect back on relationships, locations, and decisions that God used to prepare us for where we are now. It makes me repent of my decisiveness and impatience when going through new learning situations, and motivates me to change perspective to see what it is that God is specifically teaching me.
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