Understanding Theology in 15 Minutes a Day - Book Review

This book is a great book for a person and sunday school teachers to have in their personal library, for quiet time devotions, personal Bible Study, and as reference tool for the serious bible student. ............................. This book has 211 pages and has Bible Scriptures as references. ................. Theology is the study of God himself - who he is and what he has done and will do. ... The Bible is the very Word of God, without error, completely true and trustworthy; Jesus Christ is who he claimed to be, fully and eternally God as well as fully human. .......................... The word itself comes from the Greek terms for "God" (theos) and "word," "thought," or "reason" (logos). ........................... Theology can be thought of as the study of the Bible. ............................. Only a person of faith, one who understands trusts in God and trust in his Word, can truly understand his Word as he intends. ................................ God will never ask us to trust in something for which there is no insufficient basis for belief. Through his Spirit, he will guide us into all truth (John 16:13). ................ Too often theology has been motivated by pride that seeks to show the superiority of one's intellect and knowledge. God-pleasing motives "Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God" (I Corinthians 10:31) and to help the church may be built up (I Corinthians 14:26; Ephesians 4:15-16; Colossians 1:28). ..................... God desires to use theology (biblical truth) to transform us into godly people. .... Interesting Fact: Up until the last couple of centuries, theology was known as the "queen of the sciences." You were not considered to be educated in any field of study unless you had also studied theology. ........................... Our knowledge of God is absolutely dependent upon divine revelation; and not only is he willing to be known, he desires to be known. ............................... History is the working out of God's plans and purposes, and whether we know it or not, we experience and observe his work in all current events. ................... God's ultimate revelation of himself was through his Son, Jesus Christ. The Old Testament often references the "angel of the Lord (Yahweh),: as in Judges 6:11, when this specific "angel" came to Gideon while he was threshing wheat. In the same passage, this individual is referred to only as "the Lord" (verse 14), so clearly this is not just any angel of God but God himself. The term applied is theophany, an appearance or visible "manifestation" of "God." ..................... This ultimate revelation became permanent when Jesus was born. The apostle John show the significance by referring to him as the "Word" (logos), "The Word was God" (John 1:1), and "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us" (verse 14). As a result, "he has made God know" (verse 18). Jesus Christ is the supreme communication from God and of God. We can know God because he became one of us in the person of Jesus Christ. ................................... Because God is always truthful and correct in whatever he says (II Samuel 7:28; Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18), his Word also is truthful and correct in whatever it says (Psalm 12:6; Proverbs 30:5). Theologically, the Bible is inerrant, that is, without error. .................. God is faithful and always can be trusted to do what he says (Numbers 23:19, I Corinthians 1:9, I Thessalonians 5:24), the Bible, as the Word of God, also can be trusted (II Samuel 7:28). .................. The Bible is inerrant and infallible. God does not make mistakes, and his Word does not include mistakes. ........................... Not only is the Bible sufficient for what we are to know and do, but it is also understandable to the average reader. It's encouraging that graduate training in Hebrew, Greek, and theology are not necessary to comprehend the Bible. ............ This does not mean everything in the Bible is easy to understand. The things of God are deep and ultimately incomprehensible. Neither does Scripture's clarity nullify the need for pastors and Bible professors. ................................... "There is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus" (I Timothy 2:5; I Corinthians 8:4-6; Ephesians 4:6; James 2:19). ........................ God demonstrated his mind-boggling power to speak everything into being: "God said, 'Let there be ... (Genesis 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24, 26; Psalm 33:6; Hebrews 11:3)............................ Only God is eternal; everything else came through his will (Isaiah 44:24; John 1:3). This includes both the material and scripture realms (Colossians 1:16). The theological term (from Latin) for such creation is ex nihilo, meaning "out of nothing." .......................... Evil did invade God's perfect creation, and early on, but it is not eternal. ...... His handiwork will be perfected through his redemptive or re-creative work, by which he will reverse and remove the effects of evil and sin and restore creation to what he originally intended. ............................... Even sin cannot keep God from fulfilling his purposes, in the world as a whole or through humanity in particular. .............................. God sovereignly rules and controls his creation (Psalm 47; Daniel 4:17) : the doctrine of divine governance or guidance. God had a plan for his creation even before he had created anything, and everything h does is for the purpose of working out that plan (Acts 2:23; 4:28; Ephesians 1:4, 11). His highest purpose in every act is to glorify himself (Isaiah 48:11; Ephesians 1:6, 12, 14). ..................... Not only did God create everything through his unequalled power, he also sustains everything through that same power. ................................ God works through his creation in order to carry out his plans: the doctrine of concurrence (meaning that God works in harmony, cooperation, or agreement with creation). God controls the weather, and through it, he provides rain that nourishes vegetation, animals, and people (Psalm 135:7; 104:14:147:8-18; Matthew 5:45). He also works through people and events in history (Daniel 2:21; Jonah 1:15; 2:3; Acts 4:27-28; 17:26). ....................................... There are many angels. The apostle John had a glimpse into heaven and recorded, "I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, ten thousands times ten thousand" (Revelation 5:11). They are powerful but not all-powerful. They are intelligent but not omniscient. ............................... God created them for delivering his message (Daniel 10). Other primary activities include worshiping God (Revelation 5:8-14), carrying out his judgments (Revelation 8-11), and protecting his people (Acts 5:19; 12:7-11). ........................... It seems that all angels were created good and holy, they are referred to as "holy ones" in Psalm 89:5-7 but at some point, many rebelled against God. These are referred to as "evil spirits" (Luke 7:21) and often as "demons" (Romans 8:38: James 2:19), especially in the Gospels (Matthew 8:28-33: Luke 4:33-36). Paul calls them "spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12). ............. Christians should be encouraged be the work of good angels on their behalf, whether or not it can be perceived. (II Kings 6:8-23, especially verse 17). With regard to Satan and demons, we should take their threat seriously, they are still dangerous. We should remember that through his death, and resurrection, Jesus Christ has ultimately broken their power and sealed their eventual doom (Colossians 2:13-15; Hebrews 2:14). They will be eventually judged and thrown into the lake of fire forever (Revelation 20:9-10). .......................... Our true confidence is that God is greater than Satan and demons, and he is on our side (I John 4:4). ............................... Christ's resurrection is absolutely vital to Christianity and our salvation, and as such, the fact appears in the earliest creeds of the faith, two of them being the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed. Paul wrote of it in I Corinthians 15, his great chapter on resurrection. ..................................... His resurrection was essentially the Father's "stamp on approval" on Jesus' substitutionary sacrifice. The Father accepted his work, and the basis for the plan of salvation was successfully laid. ............................... His resurrection demonstrates that Christ's death defeated death (I Corinthians 15:54-57). ........................................ His resurrection is evidence of the great victory (II Timothy 1:10; Hebrews 2:14-15). .................................... His resurrection provides spiritual life for believers in him, it results in their regeneration, being born again. ....................... Jesus' resurrection guarantees the resurrection of believers in him. ..................................... Jesus' resurrection should encourage Christians to be faithful in obeying and working for the Lord (I Corinthians 15:58). ........................... The solid evidence for it includes the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus to many people, including the women at the tomb (Matthew 28:1-10), the apostles (Luke 24:36-49), and hundreds of others (I Corinthians 15:6). ............................ "God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administration, various kinds of tongues" (I Corinthians 12:28). ..................................... God sovereignly distributes them according to his will (I Corinthians 12:11, 18), God has given each and every Christian a role and responsibility in the body of Christ and the supernatural ability, in the form of a spiritual gift or gifts, to fulfill it. He knows best how to orchestrate this, and we should be content with the gift he chooses for us. ...................................... Spiritual gifts can be abused; they can be used or exercised out of pride or for one's own glory (Romans 12:3). We are to exercise spiritual gifts to build up the church as a whole, not our own reputation or ego. ...................... If any spiritual gifts are motivated by anything other than love, they amount to nothing (I Corinthians 13:2,3). ....................................... Interesting Fact: There is no command to know one's spiritual gift(S). God will certainly direct us to a venue of service than coincides with the spiritual gift(S) he, through his Spirit, has given us. ......................... Bethany House provided me with this review copy. ............................ Daryl Aaron earned his ThM at Dallas Theological Seminary and his PhD at Graduate Theological Foundation. He spent fourteen years in pastoral ministry before coming to Northwestern College where he is Professor of Theology and Bible. Dr. Aaron lives in Mounds View, Minnesota, with his wife Marilyn. They have one daughter, Kimberly, who recently completed her master's program and will join her father on the faculty of Northwestern College teaching Spanish.

Israelites Tabernacle - 10/15/2007

In 2003 my former pastor when I was at my home church had a study on "The Tabernacle." We ordered work books and studied from them....... The below is from my Family Bible. ..................................... Who am I sharing this? The word "Judah" is in my sunday school lesson for 10-21-07. I do not know how at this time my sunday school lesson and this go together at this time. .................... A Short Summary from "A Comprehensive & Critical Description of the Israelitish Tabernacle & Its Sacred Furniture. Together With An Account of The Priesthood & The Worship & Sacrifices of The Israelites." ............. The Tabernacle was a symbol of the visible church of God on earth. David in the Book of Psalms refers to the Tabernacle & its worship. ........................ The First Tabernacle -- was doubtless the dwelling, or headquarters of Moses, & the place where the public business of the nation was transacted. And it came to pass, when Moses went out unto the Tabernacle, that all the people rose up, & stood every man at his tent door, & looked after Moses until he was gone into the Tabernacle. ...................... An exact pattern of the whole structure of the Tabernacle & all its appointments was shown to Moses by God in Mount Sinai, & he was commanded to entrust, the executing the mechanical part of the work to Bezaleel, of the tribe of Judah, & Aholiab, of the tribe of Dan, who were the most skillful workmen in the nation. .............. The Court -- The appearance of the Court, the arrangement of the posts & walls, the open entrance with its curtains of blue, purple, & scarlet. .................... The Tabernacle -- When the nation was on a march, it moved in advance of the host, pointing the way; but when a halt was made, it settled down over the Tabernacle, resting, as it believed, over the Ark. ............................ The Altar of Burnt Offering -- was the instrument used for the purpose of reconciling man with his Maker. Christ was made sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in HIM. ................. Reference taken from -- KJV, The New Devotional & Pratical Pictorial Family Bible, "A Comprehensive & Critical Description of the Israelitish Tabernacle & Its Sacred Furniture. Together With An Account of The Priesthood & The Worship & Sacrifices of The Israelites." Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1879, by J.R.Jones in the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. ................ Amazon.com sells a workbook titled -- "Life Principles For Worship From the Tabernacle by Wayne Barber, Eddie Rasnake, Richard Shepherd" for those that might be interested. I also have the workbook for in 2003 my home church did a study.

2 of 2 .. Unity, Not Conformity .. 12/9/2012

Sunday School Lesson for 12/9/2012. Unit I. Victory in Jesus. Ephesians 2:11-22. .... In my Teacher's Guide Sunday School Book there is a section for "Adult" and "Youth" concerning "Your Life" & "Your World." ..................... Adult: ...................... "Your Life" - Think about your gift or gifts that the Lord has given you and use them to build the body of Christ. ...................... Ask yourself weekly: Am I building the body of Christ or tearing down the body of Christ. ........................... "Your World" - Pray for better race relations among all people of the world. ............ Youth: "Your Life - Pray and ask God to help you if you have built up a wall of hostility in any of your relationships to forgive the person for the matter that caused the hostility .... Then ask God to forgive you if you had any part in the disruption of the relationship. ................................... "Your World" - As Christians believers we forgive others because Christ forgave us ..................... You just might be able to help your unbelieving friends by showing them how to forgive others when they have been done wrong by others.

1 of 2 .. Unity, Not Conformity . 12/9/2012

Sunday School Lesson for 12/9/2012. Unit I. Victory in Jesus. Ephesians 2:11-22..... Uniformity - Sameness, absence of variation. (variation - something which is difference)............................ When sharing/teaching we need to be sensitive to those who may have been harmed by others in the church. ............................... Jesus presence helps to break down walls of division and equips to be agents of reconciliation. ................................ They are members of God's heavenly and earthly communities. .................. Ephesians 2:11-22 ....................... Jew and Gentile United in the Church - Ephesians 2:11-22 ............... The alienated Jew and Gentile are now reconciled in Christ and formed into a home for God. ............................... God is accessible to the Gentile as to the Jew. ................................ Ephesians 2:11-22 ............................................... Verses 11, 12 - Sacred Rites & Forms; Sacraments, Worship, & Church Fellowship, The Significance of the Rite .................................. Verse 13 - Promise ...... Pardon for Sins and Inquities Promised ............... Verse 13 - Jesus Christ, Offices of Christ, Our Propitiation. (Propitiation - an atoning sacrifice) .......................................... Verses 14, 15, 16 - Jesus Christ, Offices of Christ, Our Propitiation .............. Verses 17, 18 - Promise ... Whosoever Will May Be Saved .......................... Verse 17 - Other Nations, The Conversation of The Gentiles, Jews and Gentiles Made One in Christ .................................. Verse 18 - God, The Trinity .................................. Verse 19 - Man Redeemed, Adoption, Believers His Children ......................... Verses 20, 21 - Jesus Christ, Figurative Characters of Christ, The Corner Stone & Foundation .......................................... Verse 2 - God, The Trinity. Jesus Christ, Figurative Characters of Christ, The Corner Stone & Foundation ................................ For a more detailed study of Ephesians 2:19-22 & Ephesians 2:11-18 you may search/study/research the following Scriptures: ............................. Acts 21:28 - Gentiles forbidden to enter "notices were in Greek and Latin." ....... Herod"s Temple - There was a forbidden entry to non-Jews/Gentiles by the 'Wall of Partition.' ............................................ The Temples - I Kings 6-7, II Chronicles 3-4, Ezekiel 40-43, Nehemiah 13:4-9, Acts 21:17, John 10:23, Luke 19:47, John 2:14-16, Mark 12:41-44 ................... The Tabernacle - Exodus 19:16 -20, Exodus 40:34, Exodus 24, Exodus 6:7, Exodus 29:43-46, Exodus 32-34, Exodus 25-31, Exodus 35-40, Isaiah 29:13, Leviticus 16:14, I Corinthians 3:16, Ephesians 2:19-22, Mark 7:6-13, Ephesians 2:11-18, Hebrews 10:19-25 ..................................................... Scripture reference used/taken from: KJV Precious Promise Bible, KJV Topical Reference Bible, Zondervan Bible Commentary

Her Corner Office .. 2005

“I was either contacted by Trudy Bourgeois or her Public Relations person to review her book in 2005 while being the Business Coach Host/Editor for another site. ..... Marketing Yourself: ................................... Be ready .. You Will Be Tested! ................................. Make friends at every level of the organization. Treat everyone the same. ........... You are the product. There are many ways to go about marketing yourself. ............ Marketing yourself is not about stepping on others. ........................... Building your career requires that you establish the brand called you – “YOU, Inc.” Your brand is based on your strengths, talents, beliefs, values, and vision. ...... You must be willing to find a way to use your talents to serve other people. ...... Create opportunities to market yourself: ................................... Request special assignments. .......................................... Network at every level. ..................................................... Develop good listening skills. .......................................... Often you’ll discover opportunities that have yet to make it onto the grapevine. .... Building relationships: ................................................... Connect with people who have common values and principles. ....................... Quickly get away from people who suck your energy. .......................... Three Critical Components of Building A Relationship. Trust +Authenticity+Open Communication = Real and Lasting Relationships. ................................ African-Americans, Asians and Hispanics were estimated to be 25% of the U.S. consumer base at the end of 2000. The combined spending power of Hispanics and African Americans is nearing $650 million. ........................................... There is a growing and disturbing trend of women leaving big corporations to be more intimately involved in smaller companies. ..................................... Information in and of itself is not powerful. It becomes powerful when you make a choice to act on it.

God Knows About National Affairs... 2007

The Angels of The Lord Are Guardians of Cities and Nations ............... Thursday, July 12, 2007 ... the date I shared this online. ....................... God Knows About National Affairs. ...................................... Amos had to deal with the social evils of his day. Amos was pious and devoted prophet who studied to know the mind of God. ............................... God Knows About National Affairs Universal, World Events and Tension Outcomes are on The Prince of Peace Timetable. ............................ Isaiah 26:3 has wonderful words "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee..." ................................ Ezekiel 9:1 reads " He cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand. ............................................ Daniel 10:21 reads "But I will shew thee that which is noted in the Scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Micheal your prince. ......................................................... Daniel 12:1 reads "And at that time shall Micheal stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people. ...................................... God does know about National Affairs and let's journey back in time to Amos chapter 5 - 8 . The time frame that I am looking at is around B.C. 760 and our destination will be to Bethel. Amos was a peculiar and unique person. He was a native of Tekoa in Judah. God called Amos to be a prophet. ............................... Amos had to deal with the social evils of his day. Amos was pious and devoted prophet who studied to know the mind of God. Amos believed in justice, and he believed in righteousness. He believed that God was just and fair in his dealings. The wise shall see, hear, but say nothing for the time shall warrant God's infliction; his divine tolerance shall no longer endure the sins of the wicked. ........................... The wise people did continue to pray. Amos may have been presented as a good hard working man. Amos was a national leader; he prayed and cried out for the preservation of the nations as a father would pray and cry for the sake and preservation of his children. ........................................... Psalm 91:4 ""HE will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge." God's desire is to care for us and protect us. This psalm's promise of safety must not be taken as an insurance policy against trouble. .................. But God does promise, "I will be with (you) in trouble." It is not necessary for one to be a genius nor a pessimist to recognize a problem and the progressive educators have not solved the problems. ................................... Biblical Facts: Revelation 7:1-2 Acts 12:7 Psalm 147:4 Exodus 3:7 Acts 15:18 Matthew 11:23 .............................................. The Angels hold back the 4 winds of heaven ............................... The Angels deliver God knows every area of the universe .................... God knows our sorrows God knows the past, present and the future ............. God knows what might or could have been ................................. If we have studied history enough to be able to look back over the centuries, we can see that there have been great and critical problems in the past. ............ I have faith that God is on the throne and that HE will rule in the affairs.

Chosen & Claimed - 12/2/2012

Sunday School Lesson for 12/2/2012. Unit I. Victory in Jesus. Ephesians 1:3-14. ..... We are Free Moral Agents - God allows us to make our choices, He does not force Himself on us. ..................................... Thanksgiving & Prayer: Ephesians 1:3-19 ............................. The blessings bestowed in Christ: Verses 3-10 ................................... Shared by Jew & Gentile: Verses 11-14 ...................... Ephesians 1:3-14 ....................................... Verse 3 - Duties To God, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving for Christ & His Salvation ..... Verse 4 - Works of God, The Purposes of God, Elected to Holiness ............... Note: Human Adoption/Foster Care - When sharing and or teaching this be careful, for some might have negative or positive experiences when they were adopted or in foster care. ........................................ Verse 5 - Works of God, The Purposes of God, Human Merit Excluded. The Family, Parents & Children, Adoption. Man Redeemed, The New Covenant, Salvation Is by Grace. ..................... "predestinated" - to forordain to an earthly or eternal lot or destiny by divine decree. ................................ "adoption" - to take voluntarily ( a child of other parents) as one own child. to take by choice into a relationship. ...................................... Verse 6 - Works of God, The Purposes of God, Human Merit Excluded. Man Redeemed, The New Covenant, Salvation Is by Grace. ............................... Verse 7 - Promise (Pardon for Sins & Iniquity Promised) ........................ Verses 7, 8 - Jesus Christ, Offices of Christ, Our Propitiation. (Propitiation - an atoning sacrifice) ................................... Verse 9 - Jesus Christ, Offices of Christ, Our Life ........................... Verse 10 - Jesus Christ, Offices of Christ, Our Life. Man Redeemed, The New Covenant, All May Be Saved .................................. Verses 11, 12 - Works of God, The Purposes of God, Human Merit Excluded ........... Verses 13, 14 - God, Holy Spirit, Offices ................................. Scripture reference used/taken from: KJV Precious Promise Bible, KJV Topical Reference Bible & Zondervan Bible Commentary