A Real Case Study Read Part Two of this post HERE William came to me with a question about sarcasm. He has a friend who regularly mocks or puts him down when they are together. Unfortunately, William does not have a real relationship with his friend because his friend is not transparent. William assumes the mocking and sarcasm is [...]
Archive for the ‘Devotional Thoughts’ Category
BIG SINNERS vs. little sinners
Posted: August 13, 2008 by Tristen Thomas in Devotional Thoughts, LuciaMy Wife’s Journal Entry: September 6, 2003 I can only attribute the glow I am beginning to feel to God’s graciousness and the teaching on what the gospel really is — all Christ’s work, none of mine. It is like spring after a long winter. I was resigned to being spiritually unmoved forever toward the [...]
Christians are rapidly losing sight of sin as the root of all human woes. And many Christians are explicitly denying that their own sin can be the cause of their personal anguish. More and more are attempting to explain the human dilemma in wholly unbiblical terms: temperament, addiction, dysfunctional families, the child within, codependency, and [...]
Functional Legalism
Posted: July 24, 2008 by RickThomasNet in Devotional Thoughts, Reflections of a LegalistLegalism is typically an easy sin for me to yield to. Being a person who has historically been concerned with what some people think of me I have found legalism to be functional, practical and easy to maintain, in a twisted kind of way of course. You see, in order to be a good legalist you need [...]
The key to any relationship is fellowship. Spiritual, biblical, caring fellowship is the functional, practical core of a robust relationship. Whether you are married or have kids or close friends it is active, animating, consistent fellowship that will keep the relationship alive and focused on God. Our animating center must be a desire to pursue [...]
Recently I enjoyed the privilege of reading the book The Gospel Primer, by Milton Vincent. I’ve excerpted some enriching and inspiring quotes for you here. I trust it will also inspire you as well as you savor the Christ. Jerry Bridges popularized the quote “you must preach the Gospel to yourself everyday”. I think this small but [...]
Carolyn Mahaney recently posted on her Girl Talk Blog a very helpful article on the tensions and toils of the wife laboring in the home. She points out that it is okay for the woman not to excel in everything she does. She further points out that the wife and mother should NOT feel as [...]
While on vacation recently we visited a local church meeting. It was a wonderful experience. I loved it. My wife loved it. My kids loved it. Christ was magnified. God was glorified. The people were warm and friendly. The teaching was outstanding. As a guest our family was served so well. We went away encouraged [...]
I have been thinking the past several days about a recent comment made by a friend of mine. She has been married for nearly two decades, and she told me that her husband has confessed more sin in the past few months than during the previous twenty years of marriage. What is truly amazing about [...]
It’s been awhile since I have thought through some of the implications of being made in the image of God. God imaging. To be personal and specific, I am made in the image of God. I image God. I am a representation of who God is. If you want to get some kind of idea [...]
