Updating

Hi all who view this blog. I have made the decision to make a move. My new blog site will be http://danpresland.wordpress.com/

Why??

After a discussion with a reader i learnt that it is not easy for non bloggers to comment on this site. I dont know how to fix that besides going to wordpress. It seems easier for people to comment. So please log onto the new site for updates on what I am up to.

Thanks, hope it is not a huge inconvenience for you.

Dan

Should philosophy be apart of the Christian mind?

One of the subjects i have an exam for is philosophy.

But should Christians learn philosophy? and therefore should i and other biblical students learn philosophy?

For a great discussion starter view the Box's post

We're not in Kansas anymore

Unfortunately our holiday is over, the most unfortunate thing is exams :(

I have come back from the great views of South Australia to the great stress of 3 looming exams. As I cringe as I type this I dont expect sympathy or empathy. Exams are a natural part of life. We all need to be tested and put under trials.

So bring on the lack of sleep and the plethora of coffee.

p.s. Sam R - are you happy your reader can now tell you that i am back in Sydney also that someone is posting?

Hi from Adelaide - part 3

Last day in Adelaide. Wow i am tired.

We had a beautiful breakfast at Glenegl beach and walked along the pier.

Than we hit Adelaide city, mixing with the brainstrust at the Museum and Art Gallery than a walk down the river.

Great day, especially the SUNSHINE!!!!!!!!! Finally sunshine, none in Sydney before we left than none when we were here, until today. Gotta love sunshine :)

Anyway we will be back in Sydney tomorrow, than it is back to study for me. Exams start next thursday :(

Hi from Adelaide - part 2

Well another day another dollar. In our case another day another beautiful picture.

We went from the Hills to the Barossa. Wow!!!!
What a view, what a view!!!!

This is a beautiful part of the world.
We started with a great coffee at Chocolate No. 5 in Hahndorf. Great coffee even better chocolate. We than hightailed it to Melba's Chocolate Factory. great place to get chocolate.


We than continued to Liebethal to a Micro brewery for a drop. Than we continued to Menglers Hill lookout, a must see for anyone.


The Barossa is great although at night it is hard to see what is going on. We ventured throughout the Barossa today visiting the big three: Wolf Blass, Penfolds and Jocob's Creek. Great wine!! Great views from the tasting rooms, it is very serene.

After leaving the Barossa we went to the whispering wall, literally a whispering wall. It is a dam wall about 50m long. You stand at one end and speak to someone on the other, amazing! Another must see.

We are now in busy Adelaide city. Great dinner at the British India. And now we are watching Home Made.

We are stuffed. So much seen in so little time. But we are both sad to have left the scenery of the Hills and the Barossa. We could tour there for weeks. We are now looking forward to Glenelg Beach tomorrow and Port Adelaide topped off with the North of Adelaide city. Then we are back home : (

Till next time, approximately 2 hours left for you Moore Students!!!!! God Bless you with passion for His word and will. To the normal people hope you are enjoying the sunshine of Sydney and beyond, it rained here again!!!! very anoying. But I am sure you would rather be here than at work or studying. May God Bless you with passion for His word and will also and may you enjoy the gifts he has given you.

From Adelaide
Dan and Aimee

Hi from Adelaide - part 1

Aimee and I are in South Australia. Nice place. Very Scenic!!
Our first day was lots and lots of fun. I can't believe I am thinking this but I love Adelaide.


We went to Holy Trinity in Adelaide City for the 10:30am service. Funny story, we checked out the services online while we were eating breakfast and thought we would get to the family service at 10am. Looked at the map gave ourselves 15mins to get there, big mistake!! Adelaide is bigger than we thought we walked from the East of the city to the church and it took us a little longer than we thought, we turned up on time for the 10:30am service, which was a 'Modern Service' according to the net. We found out it was modern if you were born in the 1800's. It wasnt a prayer book service but we were the youngest there by 50 years. It was still great and very encouraging. Great church, loved the sermon and the welcome.

We continued to Hahndorf. A German town, one of many in South Australia which we realised today. Great town, a must visit if you ever come to South Australia. We are currently in the Barossa (it's a hard life). Beautiful drives from town to town. You could accidently get lost out here very easily :)

I worked hard to get here this week. I finished my Old Testament essay by Friday (first time i have ever finished an essay well before it is due). My prayers are with the many 2nd year Moore students doing there Old Testament Essay now. God bless you with your endeavours.

Till later enjoy the sunshine in sydney or where ever you are (it is raining here, went from rain to rain very frustrating).

My Dad on national radio!!!

Pretty exciting stuff, while enjoying a great meal at the Euro Lounge in Castle Hill (Peter, I expect a meal for the shout out!!) my dad told me that he was on ABC radio recently. No joke there it is "Battle of the shires - Baulkham Hills" Although they dont know how to spell my fathers name, it is exciting to see him on the world wide web. I must apologize to the Mayor, Larry Bolitho, who was ready to be interviewed but was left on his own as my dad turned up to the interview WITH A COW!!!!!

The point of the story is, I am now famous by association. Yay me : )


By the way, if anyone needs some good quality right out of the backyard grown beef contact me!!!
I will set you up ; )

Good Christian Tunes?????

Aimee and I love listening to music. But we cannot find music we like. Aimee got a free cd on the weekend, I wont mention what cd, but it was whiny and boring. It wasnt good music. We both cant find good Christian music. That is good tunes with sound message.

After reading this post from Dave Miers i thought i would pose the question to anyone, are there any good Christian musicians????

Any suggestions????

Knowing God???

On Sunday I gave a talk on Psalm 19. I have done this talk twice now at two different churches and it is a great passage that i wanted to share with you. I know it is long, but it is brief. If you have the time read through this as well as the passage, if you dont have the time then read the passage and think!!!!!

Knowing God?
In our society, which is pluralist (we accept more than one idea), how can we say we know the one true God?

With Dawkins and science how can we say there is a God? Aren’t we being stupid and irrational believing in a God who has no logical explanation and no proof for existence? These views attack the Christians ability and claim to know the truth.

But the Christian faith is held up in truth. The truth that there is one God, creator, law-giver and saviour. Psalm 19 describes some of the reasons for the Christian to claim they know the one true God.

Psalm 19 is David’s Psalm declaring how he knows God and how his knowledge of God has impacted his life.

God revealed in Creation
In Psalm 19:1-6 David describes creation revealing God. These verses remind me of a song ‘Indescribable’ by Chris Tomlin. I think these verses inspired the song. Both David and the song look at creation, it’s fine detail, it’s complexities, it’s magnificence and they come to the conclusion that there must be something behind it all. Something that is greater than us that could create it all. This something must be God, a powerful being. Powerful to control the sun, powerful to control the lightning, powerful to create everything. Creation reveals God.

Why can’t people understand this?

Romans 1:20-23.

Our sinful minds distort the truth. We cannot see God being revealed in creation.

God revealed in the Law.
Psalm 19:7-11 is another revelation of God. David describes the Law (Old Testament Law, which he also names: statutes, precepts, commands) as being of the LORD. They are of God or from God. they reveal God’s requirements on his creation. As he describes his requirements on creation he also describes his holiness and perfection. As God asks us to live a life that he lives.
David finds benefit from the Law. He compares the Law to pure gold. The Law for David is very valuable. Most people wouldn’t agree with David. They would say the Law is a killjoy, that it stops us from enjoying life. But the law is not a downgrading, punishment on people. It is not designed to suck the fun out of life. But it is to guide us to enjoy life to the full. The Law revives the soul, makes us wise, brings joy to our heart and enlightens our eyes. These are great things. Something that will always last as it endures forever, compare this to the options of this world that will not last (alcohol, sex, drugs, shopping, money, etc.). There is no comparison, God’s Law is awesome and valuable.

God our Rock and Redeemer
But we cannot do it ☹. David realises this. Psalm 19:12-14 is David reflecting on God revealed in creation and the Law and realising he not even close to God’s requirement for his world. David, like us all, sins. Knowing this he also understands this wont make him acceptable to God. Knowing God he understands that the almighty creator and Lawgiver can be his rock and redeemer. That God can help David to be acceptable.

This is where Christians find great comfort and joy. This is where the truth is greatly seen and experienced. God sent his son to be the Rock and Redeemer, so that through him we are acceptable to God (cf. Acts 4:8-12). Through Jesus our words and our meditations will be pleasing to God.

We can know God
Christians are confident that they know the truth. God has made it clear to them. He has revealed himself in creation and the Law. Most importantly and explicitly through his son, Jesus Christ.

What I mean by preaching

I stumbled across this blog on desiring God. It is interesting what he thinks about preaching.

What do you mean by preaching?

Books and Covers?!

Who judges a book by the pages during the first impression?

Sometimes I will look inside a book to see if it is good, but most of the time I gravitate to a good looking cover. (This is not a metaphor)

But it makes me wonder about first impressions at Church and ministers. Do looks come into play for the visitor of a Church? And is it bad if a minister looks unhealthy?

To me if a minister looks unhealthy I associate with that: lethargic, sloppy, bad manager of their life, uninterested, and uncaring. If a visitor thinks like this than they wont come back. But they will go to a Church where they like the look of the minister.

It is a human characteristic that we flock to people that we want to be like. We gravitate towards them. I noticed this especially when I was a personal trainer. People who wanted to gain muscle flocked to the more muscular trainers, women flocked toward the prettiest female trainer. Usually the more charismatic, content and confident you were the more people would be likely to want to train under you.

I want to put forward that ministers looking after their physical appearance will attract more people to church, and/or keep more visitors coming back.

Change

Do you have some change?

I am currently preparing a talk for this sunday on Colossians 1:1-23
Great passage, but very hard to preach. Why? Good question, I am glad you asked.
It is hard to preach because there is so much in there. I could probably spend hours unpacking this passage. But for the sake of the listeners on Sunday I wont.

Even though this passage is so chunky (lots of good bits to chew over) there is a clear message of 'Change'.

For the past few hours i haven't been able to get the segway song of 'Change' out of my head (it is a song by Black Eyed Peas aka. BEP, in between the second last and the last song on their Monkey Business album). Thinking about it the BEP ask serious questions on making the world a better place. They reason the world would be a better place if we changed. Thinking about this I couldn't help but notice that this is what God will do. As you read Colossians 1 you realise God is bringing change to make the world better.

Starting at verses 3-8 Paul comments that the gospel changes people. It gives them hope of eternal life free from pain, death and fear. It gives them faith in Jesus Christ which is in response to the hope. And it gives them love for one another. The faith, hope and love change the Colossians to be unified and at peace with one another. This is exactly what the BEP want to see.

Verses 9-11 Paul comments that the Colossians will be continually changed to harmonize with God's will. This is in thankfulness of the salvation they have received (v12-23). But these qualities and ways of life provide great change and continual peace with one another, making the world a better place, which is what the BEP ask for in track 15 on the album.

This is all tied together as we see everything changing in verses 12-23. Paul tells the Colossians of the change God has made to reconcille them to himself. And then he tells them of Jesus being the one who will reconcille everything to himself. Both heaven and earth. All things will be either reconcilled (the one's coming under Jesus' rule) through Jesus or destroyed (those who do not come under Jesus' rule) by Jesus. This will bring a change to the world. There will be peace.

This chapter is amazing and I have done little justice to the vast meaning in these verses. But to the BEP change is coming and is happening. God is changing the world and those in the world.

Take home question: Have you been changed?

Church Planting

Picture from: http://www.liverpool.nsw.gov.au/

I went to a ministry seminar this afternoon on Church planting. We had a few guys from Church Army come in and share some things with us on how they have approached church planting in dark areas of the world. It was great to hear the wisdom from these guys. These guys were strongly encouraging going into the community to get to know people, not to evangelize straight up. They were pushing us to think about adopting a block, doing a community bbq, getting involved in local sporting teams, etc.

This is something I am trying to do at Hornsby. But it also raised some questions. Are we (ie. Sydney Anglicans, not specifying clergy) to focused on Church evangelism that we dont go out into the community to get to know people? Are we to focused on telling people the gospel (which is an awesome idea and great to do) and not loving people and getting to know people first?

This is all in the thought of getting to know people, caring for them, which leads to the gospel being shared and God willing accepted.

So what are we going to do? Are we going to invite our friends to another church event? Or are you going to take the Church to the community?

Wright vs Piper Final Round

Well it was a fun filled bout. Many ups and downs for both. For me the highlight was reading to objective views and seeing good in both. I think many object to a lot of Wright's views (Piper included) because he doesn't say things the way we would like. But his breakdown of the gospel, covenant, and the place of works in justification has yet to be fully challenged by Piper.

THE GOSPEL
I think there is a lot of emphasis on covenant in Wright. This leads to a skewed view of justification and the implications of his view. But i think his view of the gospel as the pronouncement of the Lordship of Jesus is great besides the lack of acceptance of salvation within the gospel. Piper doesn't like it because of that reason. I think the lordship of Jesus leads us to salvation, Wright says this but also denies its importance.

THE COVENANT
I do see the covenant as an important part of the doctrine of justification. God did give Abraham the covenant that would deal with sin and evil. This is met with the death and resurrection of Jesus. But it should not define God's righteousness. God's righteousness i believe is seen through the law. I think it logically stupid for God to give a law that he doesn't fulfill. He proves that he can meet the requirements of the law through Jesus (Romans 2). I think this leads to Jesus becoming our righteousness as his fulfillment of the law is imputed (put on us) because we are judged as unrighteous before God unless we have this righteousness. It doesn't make sense that God would judge us righteous/just because he has called us into a covenant (Wright's view). But we need to be forgiven of our sins, have the slate wiped clean, and be given a status righteous by Christ's righteousness. We are in Christ and therefore we share in his righteousness. Through Jesus' death and resurrection we are included as heirs to the covenant promises in union with Jesus. Therefore we are covenant members by Christ.

WORKS
As a result of being in Christ. We are marked with the Holy Spirit which helps us to do the requirements of the law, not that we need to, but with a changed heart we look to submit to our king (Christ Jesus) and our works by the Spirit are a sign of the justification and covenant relationship we have. This is not to say that our works make us right with God, or add merit to us. This would deny the work of God.

So in if you have been following the battle so far I would not say that the round by round description would count towards a winner. But i would recommend reading the three books i have read and come to your own conclusion. For me the winner is God and his word. In terms of argument style in the books i give it to Wright. But as Michael commented earlier in the first blog of this series, "it doesn't mean he is right."

The future of Justification is still decided by God and we are still working out what it means. The battle continues on many fronts. If you are joining in feel free to read, think and critique.

Wright vs Piper - Round 2

I remember watching the Anthony Mundine and Danny Green fight a few years ago. It was a big build up to a great boxing match. As i watched it I was frustrated and disappointed. I was going for Green, i thought he was the better boxer. But he just didnt have anything on Mundine. Mundine was all over Green, it was easily to tell that Mundine won the fight.

I feel like i am watching this match all over again as i read through "The future of Justification" (Piper), "What St Paul Really Said" (Wright), and "Justification: God's Plan and Paul's Vision" (Wright). I want Piper to win, surely he has the better position on justification. But as i read these books i am drawn to Wright as having a better defence and attack.

When Danny Green was fighting Mundine you could tell that if Mundine went toe to toe in close combat with Green then the fight would be over, Green would win most likely by knockout. But Mundine stayed back and made Green come to him. I think Piper is writing like Green fought. Piper is going so much into Wright's territory that he doesnt step back and make Wright come to him. I read through Piper and feel confused as to what he is arguing for. Is it different, where? When i read Wright i know where the differences are and i know where he stands.

So if i judge the books on argumentation i would give it to Wright. But i am feeling like there is something missing even from Wright's 'perspective'. And it is something that i havent seen Piper argue for strongly. Where is the arguement of being 'in Christ'? What has this got to do with Justification? So far in my reading this has not been mentioned much if at all. Wright has mentioned that through Christ our sins are atoned for, Piper agrees. But with such a big issue of Law court metaphor in justification isnt our being 'in Christ' the point of major and clear difference? I hope this will come up soon. As i feel like this is not a point that will be raised.

Even though Piper is losing the argumentative fight, I am still cheering for him. Hoping for a knockdown blow.

Thinking about Men's ministry

I stumbled across this page from a blog. It is thought provoking. Mens ministry is vital for Church in my mind, hopefully this can help me and anyone else who reads this.

Wright vs Piper - Round 1

It was a weird start to the confrontation. Piper came out throwing sloppy jabs, and getting into the clinch when possible. Wright came out swinging for everyone. May have taken out the ref in the process.

Piper argues that the gospel message is at stake. Claiming that Wright is not understanding the gospel as a means of salvation. Wright claims Salvation is achieved through the gospel. Wright wants the message of the gospel to be the announcement of the Kingship (he likes King better than Lord) of Jesus. Piper's qualm is that Wright's understanding of the gospel doesnt bring good news. How does the announcement of Jesus as King bring good news to us? It doesnt address our need to be saved!!
Wright argues that we need to come under the Kingship of Jesus. Through the kingship of Jesus sin is dealt with. This is the good news for people, the message of salvation from sin.

Wright is compelling in his argument (in What St Paul Really Said, Chapter 3) stating that this message is the gospel that fulfills Old Testament prophecies. Jesus the Messiah has come, he is the son of David and therefore heir to the throne of Israel, and he is the son of God and therefore the heir to the throne of Heaven. Jesus' kingship reaches victory through the death and resurrection. Conquering the enemies of his kingdom.

Round 1 to Wright

Wright vs Piper

Pre Bout Weigh In

I am currently looking into the new perspective debate. I have read, but can only somewhat remember, Piper's book "The Future of Justification: A Response to N.T. Wright". And i am currently reading the response to Piper. N.T. Wright's book "Justification: God's plan and Paul's vision".

The view of Wright has caused a big spark in many Christian circles. And so i am happy to look into this debate with intrigue and report back what is going down (or who is going down as the case may be ☺).

Crowd involvement

If you have looked into the debate and would like to contribute your two cents worth, go for it.
If you havent even thought about it but would like to chip in, feel free to do so.

God is near!!!!

How can we be near God?

I have been writing an exegetical paper on Deuteronomy 30:11-20.
This passage is really interesting. Firstly in verses 11-14 we are looking at God being near to his people through his word (commandment). Secondly (verse 15-20) because the commandment is so close Israel has the choice to listen and obey or disobey.

God drawing Israel close.
In 30:11-14 Moses calls Israel to know that the commandment doesn't have to be sought. They are near them. Moses stresses this by the contrast of looking for the commandment in Heaven or earth to finding it in themselves. Moses has already taught them the commandment. He received it from God and taught them everything he was told. They have the commandment.
We think of God as unknowable. This is also what is fed to us in our society. God is not proven by science, therefore he is not there. But Israel in the Old Testament had proof for God. Deuteronomy shows their encounters with God (cf. 4:3-4, 4:11-14, 4:32-40). Israel know God and now they have the knowledge of God revealed to them (29:29). The secret things which we cannot know, God has made known to Israel. Ian Cairns comments that "nearness of the torah [commandment] is in fact a mode of the nearness of Yahweh's [God's] nearness". Israel is near to God because God has revealed himself to them. God has drawn Israel close to himself through the word he has spoken to them.

Moses continues and teaches that the nearness (special relationship to God) has a responsibility. Obedience (30:15-20). If Israel wants to relate to God in a right way they need to listen and obey the commandment. This is how Israel is to be close to God. By having the commandment in their heart and mouth. Acting and speaking the commandment (cf. Deuteronomy 4:32-40, 6:5-7, 10:12-13, 11:13, 26:16-19). Israel's obedience will mean they will be near God in a right relationship. They will also have life.

God drawing us close.
Israel is not the only people who can read this and get something out of it. We are involved in this to. Paul quotes Deuteronomy 30:11-14 in Romans 10:5-17. In these verses Paul is saying that Israel in Deuteronomy received the commandments of God through Moses. For us Jesus appeared revealing the gospel. Jesus revealed the gospel of God to us. By believing the gospel we have nearness to God. Faith in Jesus makes us right with God. We are brought near to God through the gospel.
We also have a responsibility to share this message with others. How are others to hear the great news of Jesus without someone to tell them?

Do you want to be close to God?

- Hear the gospel or Read the gospel and Believe with your heart that Jesus is Lord.


Do you know people who want to be close to God?

- Tell them about Jesus.


Praise be to God for his provision of salvation through his son. May he be praised for his provision of the gospel that reveals secret things to us. May we be thankful that God has not left us in the dark but has given us light to see him clearly.

False Messages of the Cross

I came across this opinion piece in a SA newspaper "Take heart in Easter's great message"
At first i thought wow, this is awesome someone has put the message of the gospel into a newspaper. But after reading a few lines i realised this is a twisted and false gospel.

The article interprets the easter message in the Bible to today's problems. Which is fine if you correctly interpret it. But this article uses the example of Jesus as a way we can get through Political injustice, lower pay in a economic downturn, doom and gloom. Overall the article tells us "The Easter story gives us faith in the human spirit to say they can be solved."

What????

The easter story is a message of hope to us. Not because it gives us a stronger human spirit to deal with things. But because we are made right with God. The problems we face today are nothing compared to the problem of facing God and being judged for our disobedience. Jesus gives us hope and assurance of being pardoned for our sins. In this I will take heart. I will not take heart in human spirits. They are corrupt, sinful, wrong, and finite.

This easter take heart in the message of forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ, the King of the universe.

Reflections on College Mission

This Tuesday i was asked to reflect on the mission i went to last week. This was a great question that inspired me to stop and think and share.
So here it is my reflections on Moore College Mission 09
I was on Mission at Penrith Anglican College (PAC) in combination with Christ Church at the College. Firstly i must comment on my house parents. They were awesome. I had so many great conversations with them. We talked about how we each became Christians, the struggles we have been through, the experiences we have had, etc. We pretty much shared our lives together over the week. It was amazing. I was very encouraged by their lives and how much God has worked in their lives.
At PAC i was participating in divinity classes (classes on God and the Bible), lunch time Christian group ROCK, and Chapel. I really enjoyed the time doing these things but i must admitt being at PAC reminded me of my school. So i could understand the boredom of the school kids who dont believe in Jesus.
Christ Church held bible study groups through the week, did door knocking in the local area and had a big Sunday program. On the Sunday we had a morning service followed by Fair go market (market with fair trade and other products). Then that night we had Sunday Night Live (SNL) which is a once a month youth service. I was able to share my testimony with the Groups through the week and attend and help at the Sunday events.

What did i learn from all this?

- God is gracious to all
- A church that is loving is more attractive to outsiders
- Evangelism isnt just about talking about Jesus. It involves relationships and the above point. Loving people not just to tell them about Jesus but genuinly loving (caring) them.
- I need to step out of my box to get to know people.
- Debates over church styles damages Christian fellowship. There are many people from different church backgrounds that are still part of God's Church.

Moore College Mission 09 over, God's mission still ongoing.

O What a Beautiful Morning

I only know of a few backyards that have such a great vista.

Challenge Time

If you have a better backyard photo please comment and provide a link.

Ministry Update

Hey crew,

I haven't done an update for all of you who have been praying and paying for me. For this I apologize.

So what is new?

Aimee and I are now at St Luke's Anglican Church in Hornsby Heights. We are really enjoying the fellowship at church. We are enjoying getting to know as many people as we can from the church. Denis the minister has been great in getting us both involved in the church. Thanks Den.

I am currently in my second year at Moore. It is going well. The work load has increased, but so has my interest in study. I have just arrived home (as of sunday night) from College mission. Mission was great. I was part of a team that went to Penrith. We were helping at Penrith Anglican College (a kinder to yr 12 school) and Christ Church at the College. We did a range of things including: Door Knocking, attending Bible studies, speaking at events, attending the church services and loads more. Mission was a blast. Check back soon for a mission debreif soon. I loved hanging with Tony and Sandy my mission parents. If you are ever out at Penrith drop on in. Only joking.....

I am playing baseball again out at the local sports ground. Sydney Rangers. We won the summer 08/09 season. What a blast. I am planning on playing the winter season also more to come on that.

Thank you so much for all your support.
Give thanks to God for his grace and mercy.
Thank him that he provides so much in our life.
Thank him for St Luke's and the many loving people there.
Thank him for Denis and his family and please pray that as they move on in ministry that they will be wholly trusting in Jesus.

Please keep praying for Aimee and I that we can continue to work on our marriage.
Please pray for us as we are both studying this year. (Aimee is doing midwifery at UTS)
Please pray for me that i continue to rely on Jesus for forgiveness and God for his work in people's life.
Please pray that i can continue to be of service to St Luke's especially as Denis is moving on.

Thanks Heaps

What is your churches love rating?

How do you rate churches?

After talking to people about church I have become interested in this question.

What makes a good church?
Money, Music, Prayer, Great Speakers, Mass, Numbers, Architecture, etc.

It seems that there can be a number of factors in rating a church. But what is the most important factor?

I would think that it is 'love'.
Love for God, love for Jesus and love for people.
A few of the conversation i have had over the past week have highlighted the factor of love. Love for God and Jesus is seen in love for others. I agree with this conclusion. In the letter 2 John, John points out that love for others is out of obedience to God. This love seems to be in contrast to the many deceivers in the world. John is clear in his teaching on love. Love for God is love for others. 1 John 4:20 - If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.

Does your church love?

By judging on this factor how does your church rate?

Wow i feel like a nerd, and i dont care

This is my first time of blogging.
I have no idea of what i am doing but everyone else is doing it and i like the benefits of blogs.

So here i am world, blog wit me.