<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005' xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206</id><updated>2012-01-27T12:18:10.600-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Babylon Falling</title><subtitle type='html'></subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default?max-results=100'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><link rel='next' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default?start-index=101&amp;max-results=100'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>442</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>100</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-7623715044333371826</id><published>2012-01-25T12:05:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2012-01-25T12:15:10.532-08:00</updated><title type='text'>As Per Requested :D</title><content type='html'>So...two sermons over the past 1 1/2 months, not including the Christmas Eve sermon which was a repristination of the one you can hear &lt;a href="http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2009/12/feast-of-nativity.html"&gt;here&lt;/a&gt;.  Oh, and it looks like my embed code for flv died, so you'll have to right click and save the link to your cpu.  As I mentioned before, the host site will soon be expiring and I will need to move everything over to worldvieweverlasting.com  Sorry about that.  :(  When I get some time, I will do my best to work on this.  For now, perhaps tune into PCR on Friday mornings to hear these old sermons turning over a new leaf as WE radio. :)  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style:italic;"&gt;Name and Circumcision of Jesus&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight:bold;"&gt;Luke 2&lt;/span&gt; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Luke2circumcision.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style:italic;"&gt;Baptism of Jesus&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight:bold;"&gt;Mark 1&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;br /&gt;(first Sunday in IL)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Mark1baptismofjesus.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-7623715044333371826?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/7623715044333371826/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=7623715044333371826' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/7623715044333371826'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/7623715044333371826'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2012/01/as-per-requested-d.html' title='As Per Requested :D'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-1052989343362210729</id><published>2011-12-11T12:01:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2011-12-11T12:09:53.014-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Catching up</title><content type='html'>Sorry about the delay.  Here are three of the four sermons I've preached in the last few months.  From this point on, my preaching schedule will diminish as I'm sharing duties with two other pastors.  But I will do my best to continue to upload what I do preach to this spot.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style:italic;"&gt;All Saints Sunday&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight:bold;"&gt;Lamentations 3&lt;/span&gt; &lt;br /&gt;(the last Sunday in PA)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Lamentations3.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Lamentations3.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style:italic;"&gt;1st Sunday of Advent&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight:bold;"&gt;Mark 1&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;br /&gt;(first Sunday in IL)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Mark1.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Mark1.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style:italic;"&gt;3rd Sunday of Advent&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight:bold;"&gt;John 1&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/John1.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/John1.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-1052989343362210729?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/1052989343362210729/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=1052989343362210729' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/1052989343362210729'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/1052989343362210729'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2011/12/catching-up.html' title='Catching up'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-2695132874961352866</id><published>2011-10-26T08:34:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2011-10-26T08:35:16.398-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Pentecost 19 - Nehemiah 4</title><content type='html'>Pentecost 19 - Nehemiah 4&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Nehemiah.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Nehemiah.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-2695132874961352866?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/2695132874961352866/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=2695132874961352866' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/2695132874961352866'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/2695132874961352866'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2011/10/pentecost-19-nehemiah-4.html' title='Pentecost 19 - Nehemiah 4'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-1676214290216424394</id><published>2011-10-20T10:40:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2011-10-20T10:42:44.273-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Pentecost Backlog - The Last Three Weeks</title><content type='html'>In all the madness of preparing to move cross country, I've been very negligent in getting these up.  Mea culpa!  Here there are, in the order preached:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Daniel 6&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Daniel6.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Daniel6.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Daniel 2&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Daniel2.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Daniel2.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Esther 4&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Esther.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Esther.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-1676214290216424394?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/1676214290216424394/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=1676214290216424394' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/1676214290216424394'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/1676214290216424394'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2011/10/pentecost-backlog-last-three-weeks.html' title='Pentecost Backlog - The Last Three Weeks'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-5182393046307539394</id><published>2011-09-25T11:43:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2011-09-25T11:45:41.060-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Pentecost 14 - Luke 11</title><content type='html'>For a variety of reasons, I have not been preaching at St. John this last two weeks, and the week before the recording of the sermon (done outside at the Church picnic) was too poor to make out.  I will return to the pulpit and the Old Testament series next weekend, the 2nd of October.  Meanwhile, I did preach last weekend in Minneapolis, at Glory of Christ Lutheran Church, while I was there promoting &lt;a href="www.phillyministries.org"&gt;Philadelphia Lutheran Ministries&lt;/a&gt;.  That sermon is what you have here:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Luke11PLM.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Luke11PLM.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-5182393046307539394?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/5182393046307539394/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=5182393046307539394' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/5182393046307539394'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/5182393046307539394'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2011/09/pentecost-14-luke-11.html' title='Pentecost 14 - Luke 11'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-6642768718868566819</id><published>2011-09-05T09:45:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2011-09-05T09:47:56.853-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Pentecost 11 - 2 Kings 23</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/2Kings23.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/2Kings23.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-6642768718868566819?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/6642768718868566819/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=6642768718868566819' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/6642768718868566819'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/6642768718868566819'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2011/09/pentecost-11-2-kings-23.html' title='Pentecost 11 - 2 Kings 23'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-943945246958830184</id><published>2011-08-24T09:48:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2011-08-24T09:49:44.398-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Pentecost 10 - Isaiah 36 and 37</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Isaiah36and37.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Isaiah36and37.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-943945246958830184?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/943945246958830184/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=943945246958830184' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/943945246958830184'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/943945246958830184'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2011/08/pentecost-10-isaiah-36-and-37.html' title='Pentecost 10 - Isaiah 36 and 37'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-360722711983124995</id><published>2011-08-15T17:14:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2011-08-15T17:15:37.357-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Pentecost 9 - Jonah</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Jonah.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Jonah.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-360722711983124995?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/360722711983124995/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=360722711983124995' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/360722711983124995'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/360722711983124995'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2011/08/pentecost-9-jonah.html' title='Pentecost 9 - Jonah'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-4759581161973596730</id><published>2011-08-10T09:57:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2011-08-10T09:58:12.974-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Pentecost 7 - 2 Kings 2</title><content type='html'>A week late.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/2Kings2.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/2Kings2.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We had our District President visit as guest preacher for Pentecost 8, so there will be no sermon made available for that date.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-4759581161973596730?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/4759581161973596730/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=4759581161973596730' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/4759581161973596730'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/4759581161973596730'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2011/08/pentecost-7-2-kings-2.html' title='Pentecost 7 - 2 Kings 2'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-24320105464906854</id><published>2011-07-24T17:37:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2011-07-24T17:37:50.762-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Pentecost 6 - 1 Kings 22</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/1Kings22.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/1Kings22.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-24320105464906854?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/24320105464906854/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=24320105464906854' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/24320105464906854'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/24320105464906854'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2011/07/pentecost-6-1-kings-22.html' title='Pentecost 6 - 1 Kings 22'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-3366081377944335564</id><published>2011-07-17T10:39:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2011-07-17T10:39:28.955-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Pentecost 5 - 1 Kings 19</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/1Kings19.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/1Kings19.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-3366081377944335564?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/3366081377944335564/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=3366081377944335564' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/3366081377944335564'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/3366081377944335564'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2011/07/pentecost-5-1-kings-19.html' title='Pentecost 5 - 1 Kings 19'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-7117727295908916334</id><published>2011-07-10T09:21:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2011-07-10T09:22:03.597-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Pentecost 4 - 1 Kings 18</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/1Kings18.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/1Kings18.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-7117727295908916334?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/7117727295908916334/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=7117727295908916334' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/7117727295908916334'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/7117727295908916334'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2011/07/pentecost-4-1-kings-18.html' title='Pentecost 4 - 1 Kings 18'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-3495411698055355918</id><published>2011-07-03T13:32:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2011-07-03T13:32:40.905-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Pentecost 3 - 1 Kings 17</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/1Kings17.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/1Kings17.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-3495411698055355918?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/3495411698055355918/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=3495411698055355918' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/3495411698055355918'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/3495411698055355918'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2011/07/pentecost-3-1-kings-17.html' title='Pentecost 3 - 1 Kings 17'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-812814563718609332</id><published>2011-06-27T10:22:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2011-06-27T10:26:00.991-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Pentecost 2 - 1 Kings 16</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/1Kings16.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/1Kings16.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-812814563718609332?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/812814563718609332/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=812814563718609332' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/812814563718609332'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/812814563718609332'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2011/06/pentecost-2-1-kings-16.html' title='Pentecost 2 - 1 Kings 16'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-1972731433192027827</id><published>2011-06-24T13:23:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2011-06-24T13:24:51.842-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Trinity Sunday - 1 Kings 12</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/1Kings12.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/1Kings12.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-1972731433192027827?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/1972731433192027827/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=1972731433192027827' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/1972731433192027827'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/1972731433192027827'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2011/06/trinity-sunday-1-kings-12.html' title='Trinity Sunday - 1 Kings 12'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-5248322312063729922</id><published>2011-06-15T12:54:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2011-06-15T12:56:44.996-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Easter 7 and Pentecost</title><content type='html'>Easter 7 (in Illinois) - Luke 24 - Ascension&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Luke24c.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Luke24c.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Pentecost - 1 Kings 8&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/1Kings8.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/1Kings8.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-5248322312063729922?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/5248322312063729922/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=5248322312063729922' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/5248322312063729922'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/5248322312063729922'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2011/06/easter-7-and-pentecost.html' title='Easter 7 and Pentecost'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-1099736646825266882</id><published>2011-06-03T18:02:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2011-06-03T18:03:11.342-07:00</updated><title type='text'>A Heads Up on Hosting</title><content type='html'>Hey to all of you who get a little extra sermon umph here every week.  My old hosting domain is about to expire and I do not plan to renew it.  I will probably be hosting any new sermons on the new domain: worldvieweverlasting.com.  What will be changing &lt;span style="font-weight:bold;"&gt;here&lt;/span&gt; is that the last three years of back sermons which can be streamed and downloaded from this site will no longer be available (at least, not for the time being.) I hopefully will get them switched over eventually as an archive file, but I will not be able to manually fix all the old links.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So, if you want any of those sermons, start your donwloads now!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Future sermons will continue to be posted as regularly as usual.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;+pax+&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-1099736646825266882?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/1099736646825266882/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=1099736646825266882' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/1099736646825266882'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/1099736646825266882'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2011/06/heads-up-on-hosting.html' title='A Heads Up on Hosting'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-8146824628007384596</id><published>2011-05-29T12:07:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2011-05-29T12:07:47.981-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Easter 6 - 2 Samuel 12 Part II</title><content type='html'>2 Samuel 12b&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/2Sam12b.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/2Sam12b.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-8146824628007384596?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/8146824628007384596/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=8146824628007384596' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/8146824628007384596'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/8146824628007384596'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2011/05/easter-6-2-samuel-12-part-ii.html' title='Easter 6 - 2 Samuel 12 Part II'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-7965522013046532013</id><published>2011-05-23T05:36:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2011-05-23T05:38:00.197-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Easter 4 and 5</title><content type='html'>2 Samuel 7&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/2Sam7.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/2Sam7.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;2 Samuel 12&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/2Sam12.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/2Sam12.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-7965522013046532013?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/7965522013046532013/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=7965522013046532013' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/7965522013046532013'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/7965522013046532013'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2011/05/easter-4-and-5.html' title='Easter 4 and 5'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-6181974645186831014</id><published>2011-05-09T10:33:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2011-05-09T10:38:04.875-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Easter 3 - 1 Samuel 28</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/1Sam28.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/1Sam28.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-6181974645186831014?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/6181974645186831014/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=6181974645186831014' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/6181974645186831014'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/6181974645186831014'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2011/05/easter-3-1-samuel-28.html' title='Easter 3 - 1 Samuel 28'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-6978549979616643167</id><published>2011-05-01T13:52:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2011-05-01T13:52:59.365-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Easeter 2 - 1 Samuel 24</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/1Samuel24.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/1Samuel24.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-6978549979616643167?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/6978549979616643167/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=6978549979616643167' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/6978549979616643167'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/6978549979616643167'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2011/05/easeter-2-1-samuel-24.html' title='Easeter 2 - 1 Samuel 24'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-850792499989553611</id><published>2011-04-21T18:40:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2011-04-21T18:42:07.194-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Maundy Thursday</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/1Peter.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/1Peter.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-850792499989553611?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/850792499989553611/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=850792499989553611' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/850792499989553611'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/850792499989553611'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2011/04/maundy-thursday.html' title='Maundy Thursday'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-5285966889416885996</id><published>2011-04-17T16:00:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2011-04-17T16:01:05.297-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Palm Sunday - 1 Samuel 12</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/1Samuel12.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/1Samuel12.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-5285966889416885996?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/5285966889416885996/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=5285966889416885996' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/5285966889416885996'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/5285966889416885996'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2011/04/palm-sunday-1-samuel-12.html' title='Palm Sunday - 1 Samuel 12'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-2583733384963499097</id><published>2011-04-10T18:19:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2011-04-10T18:19:22.335-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Lent 6 - Ruth</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Ruth.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Ruth.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-2583733384963499097?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/2583733384963499097/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=2583733384963499097' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/2583733384963499097'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/2583733384963499097'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2011/04/lent-6-ruth.html' title='Lent 6 - Ruth'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-4875625922380338148</id><published>2011-04-03T17:05:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2011-04-03T17:05:52.573-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Lent 4 - Judges 16</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Judges16.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Judges16.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-4875625922380338148?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/4875625922380338148/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=4875625922380338148' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/4875625922380338148'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/4875625922380338148'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2011/04/lent-4-judges-16.html' title='Lent 4 - Judges 16'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-6355568642135132671</id><published>2011-03-27T09:44:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2011-03-27T09:44:52.604-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Lent 3 - Judges 2</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Judges2.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Judges2.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-6355568642135132671?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/6355568642135132671/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=6355568642135132671' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/6355568642135132671'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/6355568642135132671'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2011/03/lent-3-judges-2.html' title='Lent 3 - Judges 2'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-712246304999962797</id><published>2011-03-20T10:44:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2011-03-20T10:48:43.979-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Lent 2 - Joshua 24</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Joshua24.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Joshua24.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-712246304999962797?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/712246304999962797/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=712246304999962797' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/712246304999962797'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/712246304999962797'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2011/03/lent-2-joshua-24.html' title='Lent 2 - Joshua 24'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-6594135865330539715</id><published>2011-03-13T10:48:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2011-03-13T10:49:18.029-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Lent 1 - Joshua 7</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Joshua7.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Joshua7.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-6594135865330539715?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/6594135865330539715/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=6594135865330539715' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/6594135865330539715'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/6594135865330539715'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2011/03/lent-1-joshua-7.html' title='Lent 1 - Joshua 7'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-7335749363231355159</id><published>2011-03-06T10:30:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2011-03-06T10:33:18.893-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Transfiguration (and belated Epiphany 8)</title><content type='html'>Transfiguration - Matt 17 (preached at Martin Luther Chapel, NJ)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Matt17.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Matt17.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Epiphany 8 - Deuteronomy 11 (preached at St. John, Pa)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Deut11.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Deut11.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-7335749363231355159?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/7335749363231355159/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=7335749363231355159' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/7335749363231355159'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/7335749363231355159'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2011/03/transfiguration-and-belated-epiphany-8.html' title='Transfiguration (and belated Epiphany 8)'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-2934330770849809389</id><published>2011-02-20T11:26:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2011-02-20T11:27:40.273-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Epiphany 7 - Numbers 22</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Numbers22.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Numbers22.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-2934330770849809389?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/2934330770849809389/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=2934330770849809389' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/2934330770849809389'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/2934330770849809389'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2011/02/epiphany-7-numbers-22.html' title='Epiphany 7 - Numbers 22'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-3584102541066208381</id><published>2011-02-06T11:10:00.001-08:00</published><updated>2011-02-06T11:10:48.842-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Epiphany 5 - Lev. 16</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Lev16.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Lev16.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-3584102541066208381?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/3584102541066208381/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=3584102541066208381' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/3584102541066208381'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/3584102541066208381'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2011/02/epiphany-5-lev-16.html' title='Epiphany 5 - Lev. 16'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-5400705724263370058</id><published>2011-01-30T11:47:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2011-01-30T11:48:06.293-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Epiphany 4- Exodus 24</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Ex24.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Ex24.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-5400705724263370058?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/5400705724263370058/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=5400705724263370058' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/5400705724263370058'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/5400705724263370058'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2011/01/epiphany-4-exodus-24.html' title='Epiphany 4- Exodus 24'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-3273104237545649237</id><published>2011-01-24T13:56:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2011-01-24T13:57:47.969-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Epiphany 2 - Exodus 16</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Ex16.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Ex16.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This sermon is from last week, before I left for Fort Wayne.  There was no recorded sermon this week, as I was significantly ill, and the sermon was read from the lecturn by one of our deacons.  My apologies.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-3273104237545649237?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/3273104237545649237/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=3273104237545649237' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/3273104237545649237'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/3273104237545649237'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2011/01/epiphany-2-exodus-16.html' title='Epiphany 2 - Exodus 16'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-3358568893368273580</id><published>2011-01-09T12:06:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2011-01-09T12:07:04.511-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Baptism of our Lord - Exodus 14</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Exodus14.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Exodus14.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-3358568893368273580?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/3358568893368273580/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=3358568893368273580' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/3358568893368273580'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/3358568893368273580'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2011/01/baptism-of-our-lord-exodus-14.html' title='Baptism of our Lord - Exodus 14'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-3648227484056400723</id><published>2011-01-02T10:22:00.001-08:00</published><updated>2011-01-02T10:22:47.414-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Christmas 2 - Exodus 7</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Exodus7.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Exodus7.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-3648227484056400723?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/3648227484056400723/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=3648227484056400723' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/3648227484056400723'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/3648227484056400723'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2011/01/christmas-2-exodus-7.html' title='Christmas 2 - Exodus 7'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-7537851517511576642</id><published>2010-12-26T11:14:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-12-26T11:15:01.245-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Christmas 1 - Genesis 50</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Genesis50.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Genesis50.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-7537851517511576642?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/7537851517511576642/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=7537851517511576642' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/7537851517511576642'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/7537851517511576642'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/12/christmas-1-genesis-50.html' title='Christmas 1 - Genesis 50'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-6862257997060685704</id><published>2010-12-25T13:29:00.001-08:00</published><updated>2010-12-25T13:32:50.205-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Christmas Eve - Isaiah 35</title><content type='html'>Christmas Eve - Isaiah 35&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Isaiah35.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Isaiah35.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;(I lost Christmas mornings sermon - my apologies.  Somehow I turned off the recorder rather than turning it on.  Too bad. It was the better of the two!)&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-6862257997060685704?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/6862257997060685704/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=6862257997060685704' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/6862257997060685704'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/6862257997060685704'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/12/christmas-eve-isaiah-35.html' title='Christmas Eve - Isaiah 35'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-8248988435884501348</id><published>2010-12-19T10:19:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-12-19T10:20:19.560-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Advent 4 - Genesis 22</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Genesis22.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Genesis22.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-8248988435884501348?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/8248988435884501348/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=8248988435884501348' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/8248988435884501348'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/8248988435884501348'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/12/advent-4-genesis-22.html' title='Advent 4 - Genesis 22'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-8357387218584712127</id><published>2010-12-12T10:31:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-12-12T10:32:24.588-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Advent 3 - Genesis 12 and 15</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Genesis1215.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Genesis1215.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-8357387218584712127?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/8357387218584712127/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=8357387218584712127' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/8357387218584712127'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/8357387218584712127'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/12/advent-3-genesis-12-and-15.html' title='Advent 3 - Genesis 12 and 15'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-14336490204094472</id><published>2010-12-05T10:44:00.001-08:00</published><updated>2010-12-12T10:31:02.675-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Advent 2 - Genesis 8</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/genesis8.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/genesis8.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-14336490204094472?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/14336490204094472/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=14336490204094472' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/14336490204094472'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/14336490204094472'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/12/advent-1-genesis-8.html' title='Advent 2 - Genesis 8'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-395097176045796397</id><published>2010-11-28T11:11:00.001-08:00</published><updated>2010-11-28T11:11:30.311-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Advent 1 - Genesis 3</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Gen3.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Gen3.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-395097176045796397?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/395097176045796397/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=395097176045796397' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/395097176045796397'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/395097176045796397'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/11/advent-1-genesis-3.html' title='Advent 1 - Genesis 3'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-1590579962306035380</id><published>2010-11-24T18:32:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-11-24T18:33:16.590-08:00</updated><title type='text'>The Eve of Thanksgiving</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Genesis1and2.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Genesis1and2.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-1590579962306035380?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/1590579962306035380/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=1590579962306035380' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/1590579962306035380'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/1590579962306035380'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/11/eve-of-thanksgiving.html' title='The Eve of Thanksgiving'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-1909154982692598908</id><published>2010-11-21T10:45:00.001-08:00</published><updated>2010-11-21T10:46:30.391-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Lessons and Carols</title><content type='html'>We held a special service of Lessons and Hymns today to celebrate the fulfillment.  With the abundance of Scripture readings, I did not preach "a sermon," today, and thus, one is not offered for your listening here.  But you'll get one Wed for Thanksgiving. :)&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-1909154982692598908?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/1909154982692598908/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=1909154982692598908' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/1909154982692598908'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/1909154982692598908'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/11/lessons-and-carols.html' title='Lessons and Carols'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-6898316214217931886</id><published>2010-11-14T11:04:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-11-14T11:05:52.593-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Pentecost 25 - Luke 21</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Luke21.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Luke21.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-6898316214217931886?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/6898316214217931886/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=6898316214217931886' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/6898316214217931886'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/6898316214217931886'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/11/pentecost-25-luke-21.html' title='Pentecost 25 - Luke 21'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-5562894705283997137</id><published>2010-11-07T12:08:00.001-08:00</published><updated>2010-11-07T12:08:25.343-08:00</updated><title type='text'>All Hallows - Matt 5</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Matt5b.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Matt5b.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-5562894705283997137?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/5562894705283997137/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=5562894705283997137' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/5562894705283997137'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/5562894705283997137'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/11/all-hallows-matt-5.html' title='All Hallows - Matt 5'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-5117937843400418933</id><published>2010-10-31T10:33:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-10-31T10:34:14.592-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Reformation Sunday - 2 Tim 3</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/2Tim3.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/2Tim3.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-5117937843400418933?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/5117937843400418933/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=5117937843400418933' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/5117937843400418933'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/5117937843400418933'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/10/reformation-sunday-2-tim-3.html' title='Reformation Sunday - 2 Tim 3'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-9094821072745913271</id><published>2010-10-24T10:46:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2010-10-24T10:46:41.963-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Pentecost 22 - Luke 18</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Luke18c.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Luke18c.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-9094821072745913271?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/9094821072745913271/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=9094821072745913271' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/9094821072745913271'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/9094821072745913271'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/10/pentecost-22-luke-18.html' title='Pentecost 22 - Luke 18'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-8158189494279801550</id><published>2010-10-17T12:58:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-10-17T13:00:41.789-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Pentecost 21 - Luke 18</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Luke18.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Luke18.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-8158189494279801550?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/8158189494279801550/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=8158189494279801550' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/8158189494279801550'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/8158189494279801550'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/10/pentecost-21-luke-18.html' title='Pentecost 21 - Luke 18'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-9080651381270380110</id><published>2010-10-10T11:40:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2010-10-10T11:40:47.177-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Pentecost 20 - Luke 17b</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Luke17b.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Luke17b.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-9080651381270380110?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/9080651381270380110/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=9080651381270380110' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/9080651381270380110'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/9080651381270380110'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/10/pentecost-20-luke-17b.html' title='Pentecost 20 - Luke 17b'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-592711865445633584</id><published>2010-10-03T16:29:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2010-10-03T16:29:33.885-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Pentecost 19 - Luke 17</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Luke17.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Luke17.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-592711865445633584?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/592711865445633584/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=592711865445633584' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/592711865445633584'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/592711865445633584'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/10/pentecost-19-luke-17.html' title='Pentecost 19 - Luke 17'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-3434295026090163878</id><published>2010-09-26T09:21:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-09-26T09:23:36.918-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Pentecost 18 - Luke 16b</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Luke16b.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Luke16b.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-3434295026090163878?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/3434295026090163878/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=3434295026090163878' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/3434295026090163878'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/3434295026090163878'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/09/pentecost-18-luke-16b.html' title='Pentecost 18 - Luke 16b'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-1682697554856347950</id><published>2010-09-12T16:20:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-09-12T16:21:55.580-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Pentecost 16 - Luke 15</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Luke15b.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Luke15b.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-1682697554856347950?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/1682697554856347950/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=1682697554856347950' title='8 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/1682697554856347950'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/1682697554856347950'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/09/pentecost-16-luke-15.html' title='Pentecost 16 - Luke 15'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>8</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-1372100081130461994</id><published>2010-09-05T09:15:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-09-05T09:17:59.032-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Pentecost 15 - Luke 14b</title><content type='html'>Luke 14b&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Luke14b.mp3"&gt;Quicklink 12&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Luke14b.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-1372100081130461994?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/1372100081130461994/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=1372100081130461994' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/1372100081130461994'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/1372100081130461994'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/09/pentecost-15-luke-14b.html' title='Pentecost 15 - Luke 14b'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-7389173243774547962</id><published>2010-08-29T09:48:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2010-08-29T09:49:01.931-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Pentecost 14 - Luke 14</title><content type='html'>Luke 14&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Luke14.mp3"&gt;Quicklink 12&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Luke14.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-7389173243774547962?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/7389173243774547962/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=7389173243774547962' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/7389173243774547962'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/7389173243774547962'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/08/pentecost-14-luke-14.html' title='Pentecost 14 - Luke 14'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-4987566122922270250</id><published>2010-08-24T15:35:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-08-24T15:36:48.863-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Better Late than Never - Pentecost 12 and 13</title><content type='html'>Luke 12&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Luke12c.mp3"&gt;Quicklink 12&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Luke12c.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Luke 13&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Luke13b.mp3"&gt;Quicklink 13&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Luke13b.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-4987566122922270250?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/4987566122922270250/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=4987566122922270250' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/4987566122922270250'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/4987566122922270250'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/08/better-late-than-never-pentecost-12-and.html' title='Better Late than Never - Pentecost 12 and 13'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-7407757529066837818</id><published>2010-08-15T09:06:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2010-08-15T09:08:04.615-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Works of Extreme Stupidity</title><content type='html'>Ok, so today I was more than dumb.  After recording the sermon, I closed the software program without saving it.  I immediately had one of those crushing feelings, like when you just met some one and have forgotten their name, and then call them "Barb," and they say, "No dear, I'm Debbi."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I was like that.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So.  My apologies.  Next week we'll be back on the air.  Until then, our Lord is with you in your Baptism, even to the very end of the age!&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-7407757529066837818?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/7407757529066837818/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=7407757529066837818' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/7407757529066837818'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/7407757529066837818'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/08/works-of-extreme-stupidity.html' title='Works of Extreme Stupidity'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-1883717472431008369</id><published>2010-08-08T08:47:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2010-08-08T08:53:16.334-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Pentecost 11 - Luke 12</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/TF7SH0A7pvI/AAAAAAAACDU/SK8S2eTDpi0/s1600/ar120182643009351.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 235px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/TF7SH0A7pvI/AAAAAAAACDU/SK8S2eTDpi0/s320/ar120182643009351.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503066826356795122" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/luke12.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/luke12.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-1883717472431008369?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/1883717472431008369/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=1883717472431008369' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/1883717472431008369'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/1883717472431008369'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/08/pentecost-11-luke-12.html' title='Pentecost 11 - Luke 12'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/TF7SH0A7pvI/AAAAAAAACDU/SK8S2eTDpi0/s72-c/ar120182643009351.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-6767700135686739890</id><published>2010-08-01T09:51:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-08-01T09:53:52.140-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Pentecost 10 - Luke 11 and 12</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Luke11a12.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Luke11a12.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-6767700135686739890?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/6767700135686739890/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=6767700135686739890' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/6767700135686739890'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/6767700135686739890'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/08/pentecost-10-luke-11-and-12.html' title='Pentecost 10 - Luke 11 and 12'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-7664626696813159200</id><published>2010-07-25T09:11:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-07-25T09:14:30.661-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Preaching Fail</title><content type='html'>Well, not exactly.  But I'm back in Philly and did preach today (a whopping 33 minutes in 90 degree weather - that was dumb of me!) But worst of all, I failed to record it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;My apologies to those of you who are still coming here in search of supplemental Word.  I will do my best to get it back on track next week.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;+pax+&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-7664626696813159200?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/7664626696813159200/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=7664626696813159200' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/7664626696813159200'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/7664626696813159200'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/07/preaching-fail.html' title='Preaching Fail'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-1146117949249607502</id><published>2010-07-13T13:44:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-07-13T13:44:05.530-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Goal Malady gLAWspel</title><content type='html'>&lt;object style="background-image:url(http://i4.ytimg.com/vi/kgjA7Honh4A/hqdefault.jpg)"  width="480" height="295"&gt;&lt;param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/kgjA7Honh4A&amp;amp;hl=en_US&amp;amp;fs=1"&gt;&lt;param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"&gt;&lt;param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/kgjA7Honh4A&amp;amp;hl=en_US&amp;amp;fs=1" width="480" height="295" allowScriptAccess="never" allowFullScreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;/object&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-1146117949249607502?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/1146117949249607502/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=1146117949249607502' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/1146117949249607502'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/1146117949249607502'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/07/goal-malady-glawspel.html' title='Goal Malady gLAWspel'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-6733458440173130714</id><published>2010-06-23T13:20:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-06-23T13:24:41.523-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Times of Testing - Hard News Reminds u of the Powerful Gospel</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/TCJtI3F4nCI/AAAAAAAACC8/0s-JIdh2pyA/s1600/wc_grave.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 291px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/TCJtI3F4nCI/AAAAAAAACC8/0s-JIdh2pyA/s400/wc_grave.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486067295085698082" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;p&gt;I've  heard several horrible stories of deaths this past week which leave one  awed, humbled and all too aware of the kind of world we live in.   First, a classmate of mine who lives in South Carolina, was on the way  to a funeral with his wife and her family when they were hit by a  semi-truck.  His mother-in-law died instantly, and his brother-in-law is  still in a coma.  He and his wife appear to have sustained only minor  injuries, but that does not make for much comfort.  Then, last night I  heard from another friend who pastors a small congregation in the  northwest, about a family who pulled off the side of the freeway for a  moment.  One of the children dropped something out of the window, and  the oldest boy, in gradeschool, said, "I'll get it," and opened the side  door to hop out.  A moment later he was gone, hit by a swerving truck.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Even recounting this story swells within me tremendous amounts of pain  and fear.  In selfishness I think first of my own children and my desire  to protect them.  In charity my heart goes out to this family and their  pastor who tries to comfort them.  Where to begin?  What to say?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This alone demonstrates the vast importance of learning the faith we  have believed in the here and now, when things seem at their best.  What  we believe, teach and confess is that no matter how good things appear,  at any moment the chaotic sins of the world can bring destruction and  death upon us.  Such times will try and shake us, even to the very roots  of what we have believed.  How could God let that happen?  Why wasn't I  more prepared?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The faith which we are given by the resurrection of our Lord Jesus is  one which can and will stand against all the powers of sin, death and  the devil, even in the face of tragedies like these.  But tragedies like  these are not the best time for evangelism.  Evangelism happens now,  building the foundation of our faith so that when the storms come, the  rock of Christ holds true for us.  If we neglect this need of ours to  feed and sustain our faith with the pure Word and Sacraments of our  Lord, we will find that the storms come and we rest on nothing but sand.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There are no platitudes to take away these tragedies that this week  touched your lives through my own connection to them.  But I share them  with you for a very real purpose.  I share them so that you and I and  all will once again be equipped to say, "God's own child, I gladly say  it.  I am baptized into Christ.  Death you cannot end my gladness, I'm a  child of paradise."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/TCJtdhFwrUI/AAAAAAAACDE/Z7rw-cqVD-U/s1600/resurrection_icon.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 276px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/TCJtdhFwrUI/AAAAAAAACDE/Z7rw-cqVD-U/s400/resurrection_icon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486067649956851010" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;Fellow Christians who die in auto wrecks, whether elderly or children,  all have the same, singular, one, real hope - that in Jesus death is  defeated.  No matter what our ending, or how our bodies finally meet  decay, we each have the same, confessed, true, absolute hope - that in  Jesus death is defeated.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This is the promise of baptism.  This is what the shattering of the  gates of death by Jesus mean.  Now is the time.  Today is the day of  salvation.  Learn what you believe and why you believe, because you  never know the hour of testing.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Remember the point of it all: He is risen, and with  him we shall rise.  Alleluia!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;the Lord is with you, as always, in your Baptism,&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Pastor&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-6733458440173130714?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/6733458440173130714/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=6733458440173130714' title='9 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/6733458440173130714'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/6733458440173130714'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/06/times-of-testing-hard-news-reminds-u-of.html' title='Times of Testing - Hard News Reminds u of the Powerful Gospel'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/TCJtI3F4nCI/AAAAAAAACC8/0s-JIdh2pyA/s72-c/wc_grave.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>9</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-912826729124520849</id><published>2010-06-20T10:13:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-06-20T10:31:07.918-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Luke 7 and 8, and Luke 8 - Pentecost 3 and 4</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/TB5M26BOrJI/AAAAAAAACC0/Yh-oGPlt8oE/s1600/Demons_concept.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 288px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/TB5M26BOrJI/AAAAAAAACC0/Yh-oGPlt8oE/s400/Demons_concept.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484905902354902162" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" &gt;Pentecost 4&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Luke8.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Luke8.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" &gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;Pentecost 3 (a little late)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Luke78b.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Luke78b.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-912826729124520849?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/912826729124520849/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=912826729124520849' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/912826729124520849'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/912826729124520849'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/06/luke-7-and-8-and-luke-8-pentecost-3-and.html' title='Luke 7 and 8, and Luke 8 - Pentecost 3 and 4'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/TB5M26BOrJI/AAAAAAAACC0/Yh-oGPlt8oE/s72-c/Demons_concept.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-6360472796612776710</id><published>2010-06-06T11:50:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-06-06T12:03:01.200-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Luke 7 - 2nd of Pentecost</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/TAvuesK9OzI/AAAAAAAACCs/aC3HMRgjl9Q/s1600/6a00d8341d638e53ef00e553eb7f8a8834-800wi.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/TAvuesK9OzI/AAAAAAAACCs/aC3HMRgjl9Q/s400/6a00d8341d638e53ef00e553eb7f8a8834-800wi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479735582646942514" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Luke7b.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Luke7b.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-6360472796612776710?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/6360472796612776710/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=6360472796612776710' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/6360472796612776710'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/6360472796612776710'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/06/luke-7-2nd-of-pentecost.html' title='Luke 7 - 2nd of Pentecost'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/TAvuesK9OzI/AAAAAAAACCs/aC3HMRgjl9Q/s72-c/6a00d8341d638e53ef00e553eb7f8a8834-800wi.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-7553064230657183148</id><published>2010-06-02T06:38:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-06-02T07:01:09.732-07:00</updated><title type='text'>End of an Age - On Paradigm Shifts and Thinking Out Loud</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/TAZfWxJafYI/AAAAAAAACCE/UUojHLb51DE/s1600/shirky.jpeg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/TAZfWxJafYI/AAAAAAAACCE/UUojHLb51DE/s400/shirky.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478170841497369986" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I wrote the following this morning as a private letter to a colleague in response to a question he had asked of me a week or more ago.  I thought I would share it here because the ramifications are much bigger than he and I.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;---&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I was reminded of some of your thoughts during my morning reading today.  The following quote from &lt;a href="http://www.amazon.com/Here-Comes-Everybody-Organizing-Organizations/dp/1594201536" target="_blank"&gt;Here Comes Everybody:&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Social effects lag behind technological ones by decades; real revolutions don't involve an orderly transition from point A to point B.  Rather, they go from A through a long period of chaos, and only then reach B.  In that chaotic period, the old systems get broken long before new ones become stable."&lt;/i&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A blip in the book, but an important one for anyone   wrestling with the implications of decaying institutions.  We have been here before at other historical times of paradigm shift.  What is important to recognize is that it is not all institutions that will decay always and forever, but, rather, institutions built upon the old paradigm (in this case, pre-internet/global-flattening coupled with the descent of the American economy from global prominence.)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There will be institutions in the future.  They just won't look like the ones we have now.  My generation has been characterized by the Boomers, et. al., as being lazy.  Are we really lazy?  No.  (Well, yes.) &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt; But&lt;/span&gt; it is more that we put a premium on efficiency because we've realized that&lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt; we can&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;.  We're operating naturally/culturally in a shift&lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;ed&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt; paradigm.  The globe still must catch up, but it won't happen until the old paradigm generations pass away.  The question is, how much capital can be lost before that happens?  What truly useful institutions will go down with the old paradigm ship?  How can we get them onto the lifeboat of at least partial new models?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/TAZiBN3ioUI/AAAAAAAACCM/hHM-QicwWg4/s1600/bad_powerpoint_postcard_front_card2.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/TAZiBN3ioUI/AAAAAAAACCM/hHM-QicwWg4/s400/bad_powerpoint_postcard_front_card2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478173769784795458" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;Let me give a concrete example from the recent English District convention.   (I have no wish to besmirch anyone.  This is about models, not people.)  The Board of Directors report to the convention is an excellent example of an old institution not making the shift.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;From what I've seen, the BoD is a very  small body which holds the tremendous task of setting  the policy and agenda for an entire national district.  Their official report to the convention consisted of a power-point (15 to 20 minutes - hours to put together?)  showing pictures of the board and staff, with bullet points of an abstract list of attributes claimed about the board by the board:  "we are joyful," "we are prayerful."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In the new paradigm, &lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;that &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;is lazy and completely wasteful.   It was an advertisement for the BoD making very poor use of the latest tech from 15 years ago.  Whether true or not, it &lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;looked&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; like an institution which is (at best) useless to real work in the parish/field.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/TAZiPfkXKPI/AAAAAAAACCU/SSv9RHSKT0I/s1600/school-transparency.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 366px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/TAZiPfkXKPI/AAAAAAAACCU/SSv9RHSKT0I/s400/school-transparency.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478174015054358770" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;What the BoD should be doing in today's enviromenment, at the very least, is keeping concrete minutes of its real time decisions on a monthly basis, and publishing them via a social network page.  (And this should be being done by a local volunteer, or the secretary of the BoD.)  Even better, a clear representation of debated/disagreed upon points might be presented so that all concerned parties might hear how the events which affect us all are being decided/defended.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This would be moving towards an institution which might survive because it would be attempting to operate in the new paradigm. "Authentic" is only one of the words about the new paradigm - and by itself means very little, but a key aspect of authenticity is &lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;transparency&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;. Institutions which are not transparent will decay in the age of the internet when the globe has been lain flat.  People will choose to follow new institutions which are at the very least trying to be transparent in the way the new networks allow/force them to be.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Those are just ideas.  The point I'm trying to share is this: it is not &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt;institutions &lt;/span&gt;that are&lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt; &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;going to die. It is institutions that insist on the old paradigm as their paradigm that are going to die &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt;with&lt;/span&gt; the old paradigm.  In this, the greatest hindrance will be (as it always has been in history) those who confuse the old order with the essence of our existence.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/TAZigFzowSI/AAAAAAAACCc/WsSpKSfwHOs/s1600/6a00d8345157d269e200e54f44ee798834-640wi.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 396px; height: 345px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/TAZigFzowSI/AAAAAAAACCc/WsSpKSfwHOs/s400/6a00d8345157d269e200e54f44ee798834-640wi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478174300196880674" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;Example from the book: Abbot Johannes of Sponheim who published "In Praise of Scribes" in 1492 in order to defend their necessity to the future of society.  But he published the book using the printing press.  The medium destroyed the message.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;How will "administrators" adapt to an age in which administration can no longer be considered a "profession" because it doesn't need to be?  The social networking and media tools have taken their place, just as the printing press took the place of the scribes.  Keeping the network ("district" "synod" etc) together no longer "needs" an office.  It can an will happen automatically via the new tools.  If it doesn't happen under the leadership of those who are in the offices now, it will happen under the leadership of those who are outside the offices but leading naturally through adaptive existence in the new paradigm.  (Another example is the unifying effectiveness of Issues, Etc, which, without a wit of actual authority, continues to lead the LCMS &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt;precisely&lt;/span&gt; in the area of adapting to the new networking medium.)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/TAZj_aAihOI/AAAAAAAACCk/AKhlMFfsdT8/s1600/shipashore.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/TAZj_aAihOI/AAAAAAAACCk/AKhlMFfsdT8/s400/shipashore.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478175937707279586" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;The true visionary leader will see this clearly.  He will not publish printed books on scribal necessity.  He will not use the new technologies to defend and prop up the old administrative ordering.  Instead, he will strive to order the administration according to the model of the new paradigm: the global, social network of hyper/mass-communication.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;(As an aside, I believe there is a 2nd part to this future model, and is the return to locality as the center of life.  Whereas the radio, TV and the expensive phone calls moved us to "nationalization," I believe that the internet and cheap phone calls will return us to neighborhood and city as microcosmic-parallel of/in-step-with the global network [which itself will be held together by actual/tangible shared ideology/theology/worldview].)&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-7553064230657183148?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/7553064230657183148/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=7553064230657183148' title='8 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/7553064230657183148'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/7553064230657183148'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/06/end-of-age-on-paradigm-shifts-and.html' title='End of an Age - On Paradigm Shifts and Thinking Out Loud'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/TAZfWxJafYI/AAAAAAAACCE/UUojHLb51DE/s72-c/shirky.jpeg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>8</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-5786042407425228801</id><published>2010-05-30T10:45:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-05-30T10:50:08.173-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Holy Trinity Sunday - John 8</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/TAKk8iPyQCI/AAAAAAAACB8/_HNxwSdtUe0/s1600/wisdom.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 225px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/TAKk8iPyQCI/AAAAAAAACB8/_HNxwSdtUe0/s320/wisdom.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477121456728064034" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/John8.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/John8.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-5786042407425228801?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/5786042407425228801/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=5786042407425228801' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/5786042407425228801'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/5786042407425228801'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/05/holy-trinity-sunday-john-8.html' title='Holy Trinity Sunday - John 8'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/TAKk8iPyQCI/AAAAAAAACB8/_HNxwSdtUe0/s72-c/wisdom.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-5643186294177979342</id><published>2010-05-23T11:37:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-05-23T11:55:51.322-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Pentecost Sunday - John 14</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S_l6E68779I/AAAAAAAACB0/6lb2BVCIEtU/s1600/the-power-of-words.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S_l6E68779I/AAAAAAAACB0/6lb2BVCIEtU/s320/the-power-of-words.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474541047008456658" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/John14.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/John14.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-5643186294177979342?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/5643186294177979342/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=5643186294177979342' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/5643186294177979342'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/5643186294177979342'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/05/pentecost-sunday-john-14.html' title='Pentecost Sunday - John 14'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S_l6E68779I/AAAAAAAACB0/6lb2BVCIEtU/s72-c/the-power-of-words.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-8816228963405444370</id><published>2010-05-16T12:16:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-05-16T12:22:14.168-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Easter 7 + Acsension + Psalm 23</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S_BFuPdVJqI/AAAAAAAACAc/rrWTIYwjlpQ/s1600/moneyhouse.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S_BFuPdVJqI/AAAAAAAACAc/rrWTIYwjlpQ/s320/moneyhouse.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471950207981004450" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Psalm23.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Psalm23.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-8816228963405444370?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/8816228963405444370/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=8816228963405444370' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/8816228963405444370'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/8816228963405444370'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/05/easter-7-acsension-psalm-23.html' title='Easter 7 + Acsension + Psalm 23'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S_BFuPdVJqI/AAAAAAAACAc/rrWTIYwjlpQ/s72-c/moneyhouse.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-2418274727313118815</id><published>2010-05-09T10:18:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-05-09T10:44:13.264-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Easter 6 - Romans 7</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S-bulexJ_iI/AAAAAAAACAU/tBKHUUFdEQE/s1600/goga94_legShackles2_exb.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 294px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S-bulexJ_iI/AAAAAAAACAU/tBKHUUFdEQE/s320/goga94_legShackles2_exb.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469321125169856034" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Romans7.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Romans7.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-2418274727313118815?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/2418274727313118815/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=2418274727313118815' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/2418274727313118815'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/2418274727313118815'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/05/easter-6-romans-7.html' title='Easter 6 - Romans 7'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S-bulexJ_iI/AAAAAAAACAU/tBKHUUFdEQE/s72-c/goga94_legShackles2_exb.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-1684884089389837641</id><published>2010-05-02T11:01:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-05-02T11:03:13.742-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Easter 5 - Matt 5</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S92-VkblekI/AAAAAAAACAM/G3U-qQnRCCM/s1600/salt.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S92-VkblekI/AAAAAAAACAM/G3U-qQnRCCM/s320/salt.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466734800463559234" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Matt5.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Matt5.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-1684884089389837641?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/1684884089389837641/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=1684884089389837641' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/1684884089389837641'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/1684884089389837641'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/05/easter-5-matt-5.html' title='Easter 5 - Matt 5'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S92-VkblekI/AAAAAAAACAM/G3U-qQnRCCM/s72-c/salt.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-1755331862912454409</id><published>2010-04-27T19:18:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-04-27T19:18:40.034-07:00</updated><title type='text'>It's, like, God, man.  (Grek2sday)</title><content type='html'>&lt;object style="background-image:url(http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/tckGpOaLgr0/hqdefault.jpg)"  width="480" height="295"&gt;&lt;param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/tckGpOaLgr0&amp;amp;hl=en_US&amp;amp;fs=1"&gt;&lt;param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"&gt;&lt;param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/tckGpOaLgr0&amp;amp;hl=en_US&amp;amp;fs=1" width="480" height="295" allowScriptAccess="never" allowFullScreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;/object&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-1755331862912454409?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/1755331862912454409/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=1755331862912454409' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/1755331862912454409'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/1755331862912454409'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/04/its-like-god-man-grek2sday.html' title='It&apos;s, like, God, man.  (Grek2sday)'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-8336689277593489426</id><published>2010-04-25T10:32:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2010-04-25T11:08:49.348-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Easter 4 - John 10</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S9R9cnq5VPI/AAAAAAAAB_8/bOq38h97WaE/s1600/picture1.jpg_full_600.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 169px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S9R9cnq5VPI/AAAAAAAAB_8/bOq38h97WaE/s320/picture1.jpg_full_600.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464130178545964274" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/John10.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/John10.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-8336689277593489426?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/8336689277593489426/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=8336689277593489426' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/8336689277593489426'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/8336689277593489426'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/04/quicklink.html' title='Easter 4 - John 10'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S9R9cnq5VPI/AAAAAAAAB_8/bOq38h97WaE/s72-c/picture1.jpg_full_600.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-5812033773703063422</id><published>2010-04-23T16:23:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-04-23T16:23:23.766-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Tooth Decay and Protons</title><content type='html'>&lt;object style="background-image: url(&amp;quot;http://i4.ytimg.com/vi/ov3Qk5rxNkY/hqdefault.jpg&amp;quot;);" width="480" height="295"&gt;&lt;param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ov3Qk5rxNkY&amp;amp;hl=en_US&amp;amp;fs=1"&gt;&lt;param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"&gt;&lt;param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ov3Qk5rxNkY&amp;amp;hl=en_US&amp;amp;fs=1" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="295"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;/object&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-5812033773703063422?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/5812033773703063422/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=5812033773703063422' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/5812033773703063422'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/5812033773703063422'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/04/tooth-decay-and-protons.html' title='Tooth Decay and Protons'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-6300960282317235441</id><published>2010-04-18T11:36:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-04-18T11:38:07.497-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Easter 3 - John 21</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S8tRf1GxSbI/AAAAAAAAB_k/RrSCO-ASn60/s1600/loavesfishes.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 224px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S8tRf1GxSbI/AAAAAAAAB_k/RrSCO-ASn60/s320/loavesfishes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461548580390128050" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/John21.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/John21.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-6300960282317235441?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/6300960282317235441/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=6300960282317235441' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/6300960282317235441'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/6300960282317235441'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/04/easter-3-john-21.html' title='Easter 3 - John 21'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S8tRf1GxSbI/AAAAAAAAB_k/RrSCO-ASn60/s72-c/loavesfishes.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-5947798361942948329</id><published>2010-04-14T10:29:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2010-04-14T10:30:12.874-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Mock - Mock - ing - ing - bird - bird - yeah - yeah</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S8X7nm4aTrI/AAAAAAAAB_M/PzGMAwrHe2c/s1600/northern_mockingbird_web.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 312px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S8X7nm4aTrI/AAAAAAAAB_M/PzGMAwrHe2c/s320/northern_mockingbird_web.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460046781127216818" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Tomorrow morning I will be packing and piling up the van, heading off on  a three hour drive, drop off Meridith and the girls at her sisters, and  make my way via subway into the heart of Manhattan in order to attend  the Mockingbird 2010 conference.  What is the Mockingbird conference?   Mockingbird is an Anglican group who a while back discovered the  Lutheran distinction between Law and Gospel, and has made it their  mission to pass on this teaching which God has given the Church.  From  their site:   "&lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt;WHY:  Are we called Mockingbird? The name was inspired by the mockingbird’s  peculiar gift for mimicking the cries of other birds. In a similar way,  we seek to repeat the message we have heard - God’s Word of grace and  forgiveness.&lt;/span&gt;"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Among other presenters at this conference  will be the Rev. Dr. Rod Rosenbladt, professor of theology at Concordia  University in Irvine, California and an ordained minister in the LC—MS.  He has contributed to several books including Christianity for the &lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Tough Minded&lt;/span&gt;, &lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;The Agony of Deceit&lt;/span&gt;, and &lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Christ the Lord&lt;/span&gt;.  His lecture “The  Gospel For Those Broken By The Church” was inspirational in the  formation of Mockingbird. (This lecture is available for download for a  very fair price at &lt;a href="http://www.newreformationpress.com/soco/the-gospel-for-those-broken-by-the-church-mp3.html"&gt;New  Reformation Press&lt;/a&gt;.)  Rod has served as a co-host of the seminal &lt;a href="http://www.whitehorseinn.org/"&gt;White Horse Inn &lt;/a&gt;radio program  since its inception twenty years ago.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-5947798361942948329?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/5947798361942948329/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=5947798361942948329' title='5 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/5947798361942948329'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/5947798361942948329'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/04/mock-mock-ing-ing-bird-bird-yeah-yeah.html' title='Mock - Mock - ing - ing - bird - bird - yeah - yeah'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S8X7nm4aTrI/AAAAAAAAB_M/PzGMAwrHe2c/s72-c/northern_mockingbird_web.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>5</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-2315991399871419079</id><published>2010-04-11T11:07:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-04-11T11:20:45.118-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Easter 2 - John 20</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S8IQrbPaicI/AAAAAAAAB-Y/xwCmuNTu7rw/s1600/34thomas.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 231px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S8IQrbPaicI/AAAAAAAAB-Y/xwCmuNTu7rw/s320/34thomas.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458944036559292866" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/John20.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/John20.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-2315991399871419079?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/2315991399871419079/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=2315991399871419079' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/2315991399871419079'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/2315991399871419079'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/04/easter-2-john-20.html' title='Easter 2 - John 20'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S8IQrbPaicI/AAAAAAAAB-Y/xwCmuNTu7rw/s72-c/34thomas.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-2214508991332515556</id><published>2010-04-09T13:33:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-04-09T13:39:57.617-07:00</updated><title type='text'>On the Goodness of the Law</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7-P94noGlI/AAAAAAAAB-A/u_T0SEH7rt8/s1600/breaking-the-chains-of-debt.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7-P94noGlI/AAAAAAAAB-A/u_T0SEH7rt8/s320/breaking-the-chains-of-debt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458239566729714258" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;More Q&amp;amp;A from pastoral life:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;Q: You wrote:  This is the freedom of a Christian: not to be a slave to the law, kept under it as a guardian, but to be freed to pursue it with a clean conscience in the blood of Christ.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;I don't know that I answer it fully, for I do not get into "guardianship" in Paul's writings, or the "clean conscience" of 1 Tim 1 and 1 Pet 3, but it is a vast topic!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A:  The Law is "good."  It's not just good because it shows us our sin.  It  does that, and that is God's ultimate use of the in terms of  redemption.  But the Law is first good because it is good.  It is good  not to kill people.  It is good not to steal.  It is good to love.  It  is good to protect our neighbor's possessions, etc.  The proper  distinction of Law and Gospel is about many things, but part of it is  being able to look at the Law and see how good it is to do - not for  salvation, not because I must, but because the result is goodness &lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;for  someone else&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;.  This is Luther's great insight:  "God doesn't  need your good works.  But your neighbor does."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7-QSx2PmGI/AAAAAAAAB-I/P4UtpaAigBU/s1600/the_lion_and_the_lamb-199853-1229655081.jpeg"&gt;&lt;img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7-QSx2PmGI/AAAAAAAAB-I/P4UtpaAigBU/s320/the_lion_and_the_lamb-199853-1229655081.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458239925689227362" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;Or think of it this way, the Ten Commandments are promises of what life  will be like with Jesus' once we're freed from these body's of death.   In paradise, forever, you will have no other gods.  You will keep pure  worship, always.  You will live in perfect harmony under a King.  You  will never hurt nor harm.  You will never lust or envy or lie or  despise.  This is the law &lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;kept&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;.  But it will not be to  earn rewards or so that we can look at ourselves and say, "Ha, aren't we  good."  It will be God's gift of peace and bliss and innocence forever -  and it will forever be in and from Jesus.  The Lamb at the center will  be our light.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This view of that is received through faith alone now.  Christ is the  end of it.  He fulfills it, and in him, as Peter says, we do have an  example of what humanity not merely was supposed to be, but what we are &lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;in  Him&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;.  Thus, having in him died to sin, how can we live in it  any longer?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7-Qf0PmGBI/AAAAAAAAB-Q/xWcV9I054ts/s1600/image016.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 227px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7-Qf0PmGBI/AAAAAAAAB-Q/xWcV9I054ts/s320/image016.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458240149670729746" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;Well...we have to, but we don't have to like it.  That is learning to  love the Law.  Not because I have to keep it, but because it is the  definition of love.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Granted: this makes  it sound all nice and easy.  It's not.  Romans 7.  The thing I want to  do (the goodness of the law) I do not do, etc.  The Law still must and  will point us back to our need for Christ.  But that's exactly why we  must also hear it and be reminded of it, not merely, "You're a sinner,"  but "Do this.  It is good to do this."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This is the properly distinguish Law and Gospel.  Don't make the Law into the Gospel, for that will kill souls.   But keep preaching the Law as the Law, otherwise you will make the Gospel into the Law in its stead, and that will kill souls, perhaps even more quickly.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-2214508991332515556?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/2214508991332515556/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=2214508991332515556' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/2214508991332515556'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/2214508991332515556'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/04/on-goodness-of-law.html' title='On the Goodness of the Law'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7-P94noGlI/AAAAAAAAB-A/u_T0SEH7rt8/s72-c/breaking-the-chains-of-debt.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-7209831477970261999</id><published>2010-04-07T10:19:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-04-07T10:31:24.951-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Lutherans and Idols</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7zBM3chEXI/AAAAAAAAB9o/2yqQnO68KLc/s1600/snake+on+a+pole.png"&gt;&lt;img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 317px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7zBM3chEXI/AAAAAAAAB9o/2yqQnO68KLc/s320/snake+on+a+pole.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457449275252347250" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;This week I was blessed to be asked another theological question via email which I thought I'd share the answer to publicly:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;Q  Why does Luther separate the 10 Commandments as he does?  He seems to  leave out "have no idols" and makes the "do not covet your neighbor's  stuff" into two commandments.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A  Luther doesn't.  &lt;img goomoji="360" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/360" /&gt;   Luther  numbers the commandments the way the the entire Christian tradition  numbered them until protestants like John Calvin renumbered them in  order to make "not making graven images" the second commandment. This is  an important point to grasp: protestantism likes to change things and  then act as if it's others who have changed things.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Theologically,  Luther and Christian tradition have understood that "not having idols"  is the same as "not having other gods."  One way or other, you end up  with a two commandments that seems repetitive on the surface.  The  question is whether or not you prefer to change things that make no  difference, or let things that make no difference remain the same for  the sake of stability.  This is the difference between a Lutheran  approach to tradition and a protestant one:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7zA6FK8RUI/AAAAAAAAB9g/vhqhk5BAMJ8/s1600/20.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7zA6FK8RUI/AAAAAAAAB9g/vhqhk5BAMJ8/s320/20.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457448952519214402" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;a.  Lutheran: If it  ain't broke, don't fix it.&lt;br /&gt;b.  Protestant: It might not be broke, but  let's fix it anyway.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This is just a trend, or a normal way of  approaching things, but it is highlighted by the way we approach the  commandments.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The real trick with the commandments is an  exegetical one.  The text of Scripture does not number them, nor does it  actually call them commandments.  In the Hebrew, it simply says that  the Lord spoke 10 words and then it has a paragraph/list of text,  including other portions such as "I am the Lord your God who brought you  out of Egypt, etc."  Along with the traditional and protestant ways of  numbering, the Jew's have a third way which leaves "I am the LORD your  God" as the first "word."  (I'm partial to that personally as an  exegetical interpretation.)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7zAtO5pqEI/AAAAAAAAB9Y/yrxLvcJ0cto/s1600/pdtl-1500413001.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 246px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7zAtO5pqEI/AAAAAAAAB9Y/yrxLvcJ0cto/s320/pdtl-1500413001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457448731792746562" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;But, when it comes to the catechism,  if it ain't broke, don't fix it.  The Lutheran catechism covers the  gambit, as well as avoids the legalistic pitfall of "iconoclasm" or the  teaching that having images is breaking the "2nd commandment."  The  iconoclastic controversies date as far back as the early church, are  blamed for the split between east and west (statues vs. flat icons), and  now leave protestant churches bare of statuary and fine artwork while  our homes are flushed with pictures (not to mention tv images.)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The  Lutheran understanding is that God is not against images (hence,  carvings on his temple, on the ark of the covenant, etc.) but against  having other gods.  That's what we teach our children to beware of.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Hope  that answers it.  We can talk about it more Friday.  Just remember the  general rule: if something is different, it wasn't (unless its having  the Bible in the native tongue) it probably wasn't the Lutherans who  changed it.  More than likely it is the protestant tradition that has  inserted the novelty.  One might even say that is it inserting novelties  which &lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;is&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt; the protestant tradition.  &lt;img goomoji="364" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/364" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;---&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Rev.  Jonathan Fisk&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, Springfield,  PA&lt;br /&gt;http://www.stjohnspringfield.blogspot.com&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Look carefully  into the Scriptures, which are the true utterances of the Holy Spirit."  Clement, Bishop of Rome. c. 110 AD&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-7209831477970261999?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/7209831477970261999/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=7209831477970261999' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/7209831477970261999'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/7209831477970261999'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/04/lutherans-and-idols.html' title='Lutherans and Idols'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7zBM3chEXI/AAAAAAAAB9o/2yqQnO68KLc/s72-c/snake+on+a+pole.png' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-6906718680487768293</id><published>2010-04-04T10:16:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2010-04-04T10:22:18.724-07:00</updated><title type='text'>The Day of Resurrection - Luke 24</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7jJwJGoLDI/AAAAAAAAB9I/dR85aI6zWkE/s1600/resurrection%285%29.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 285px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7jJwJGoLDI/AAAAAAAAB9I/dR85aI6zWkE/s320/resurrection%285%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456332777473977394" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Luke24.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Luke24.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-6906718680487768293?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/6906718680487768293/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=6906718680487768293' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/6906718680487768293'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/6906718680487768293'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/04/day-of-resurrection-luke-24.html' title='The Day of Resurrection - Luke 24'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7jJwJGoLDI/AAAAAAAAB9I/dR85aI6zWkE/s72-c/resurrection%285%29.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-1130264460858766303</id><published>2010-04-02T12:26:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2010-04-02T12:30:21.452-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Maundy Thursday - Luke 22</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7ZFW2MjqLI/AAAAAAAAB9A/iGcFtLi-r4Q/s1600/Matt22aJesusPharisees.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7ZFW2MjqLI/AAAAAAAAB9A/iGcFtLi-r4Q/s320/Matt22aJesusPharisees.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455624257413556402" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Luke22.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Luke22.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-1130264460858766303?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/1130264460858766303/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=1130264460858766303' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/1130264460858766303'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/1130264460858766303'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/04/maundy-thursday-luke-22.html' title='Maundy Thursday - Luke 22'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7ZFW2MjqLI/AAAAAAAAB9A/iGcFtLi-r4Q/s72-c/Matt22aJesusPharisees.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-5992695147864013180</id><published>2010-03-31T11:19:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2010-03-31T11:19:25.711-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Twitter</title><content type='html'>Follow me on Twitter now: RevFisk&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-5992695147864013180?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/5992695147864013180/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=5992695147864013180' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/5992695147864013180'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/5992695147864013180'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/03/twitter.html' title='Twitter'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-4676492980947705303</id><published>2010-03-30T16:27:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-03-30T16:40:57.486-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Is Baptism Necessary?</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7KJ4hup0uI/AAAAAAAAB7w/VVxbAMHKmrA/s1600/688.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 237px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7KJ4hup0uI/AAAAAAAAB7w/VVxbAMHKmrA/s400/688.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454573702918820578" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I was recently asked the question: do Lutherans say "one must  be baptized in order to be saved."  I thought I might share the answer I gave here as well: It comes in response to the perception that Lutherans say "one must be baptized in order to be saved."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;-----&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The trouble comes when we start pitting baptism and faith against each  other, or pitting them both against Jesus.  The only way to be saved is  to have Jesus save you.  Jesus saves you by atoning for your sins  through his death on the cross.  He gives you that righteous gift by  preaching it to you, by baptizing you into it, and by feeding you with  his own body and blood as bread and wine.  These gifts are a whole,  through which your faith clings to Jesus.  They are &lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;means&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;  of grace - carriers, holders, bringers.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Or, think of it this way: "faith" does not save by itself.  Muslims  have "faith."  Even demons have "faith" of a sort (Ja. 2:19)  Faith by  itself is merely trust in something.  Faith does not enact salvation.   &lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7KKQzjbrtI/AAAAAAAAB74/GXhFB3tBBsE/s1600/34794142_58da379657.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7KKQzjbrtI/AAAAAAAAB74/GXhFB3tBBsE/s400/34794142_58da379657.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454574120020455122" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;Saving faith &lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;receives &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;the gift of salvation &lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;from  Jesus&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;.  Saving faith believes in who Jesus is, what Jesus has  done, and what Jesus says.  This is all to say, &lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;faith &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;must  have an &lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;object of faith.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;  Christian faith has Jesus as  our object - Jesus, his person, work and &lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;words&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;.  And...his  words say (paraphrasing)  &lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;"I want you baptized into my name (Mt.  28,) and this will kill and raise you with me (Rom 6) by giving you the  forgiveness of sins (Acts 2), and in this way saving you (1 Pet. 3.)"&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;   Faith &lt;u&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;believes &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/u&gt;all these words.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/b&gt;The Biblical truth is that the manner in which Jesus told his  Church to go and make disciples was by baptizing them into the faith  which they would also be taught.  Apart from this promise, there is no  assurance that anyone anywhere will be saved.  (The thief on the cross  was saved the exact same way - by a direct promise from Jesus.  Baptism  is &lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;your&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt; "today, you will be with me.")&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7KKhxRBFEI/AAAAAAAAB8A/StY0dz6Gog4/s1600/jesus-to-the-thief-on-the-cross.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 370px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7KKhxRBFEI/AAAAAAAAB8A/StY0dz6Gog4/s400/jesus-to-the-thief-on-the-cross.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454574411464119362" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;Against faith, doubt always says "what if...."  There are many what  if's.  "What if someone hears the preaching and believes, but is killed  before they are baptized.  Will they be saved?"  To this we should reply  with Jesus, "With man it is impossible, but with God all things are  possible."  None who believe in him will be put to shame.  But it is  precisely because we believe in him that we hold as a great and  cherished treasure the blessed assurance of baptism.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Thus, to get very technical, the Bible is very clear that baptism &lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;u&gt;into  &lt;/u&gt;Christ &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;is the &lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;normal&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt; way in which Jesus gives  people assurance of their election into the free gift of his death and  resurrection for forgiveness, life and salvation, and thus, baptism  strengthens and sustains their faith.  It is not separate from faith.   It is &lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;for&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt; faith.  It is to give faith something to  believe.  "I am baptized."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7KLBHI0olI/AAAAAAAAB8I/jDIfFHtReZ0/s1600/mecca2.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 123px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7KLBHI0olI/AAAAAAAAB8I/jDIfFHtReZ0/s400/mecca2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454574949911274066" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;This is the only way that this particular "choosing of us" has been  given from Jesus.  There is none other.  Many search for their election  in fasting, tithing, obedience, fruit of the Spirit, "spiritual" gifts,  tongues and the like.  But there are no such promises in these things.   Yet, the sad fact remains that if one refuses to believe Jesus' promises  in baptism, one will need to find some other object for faith.  But  Jesus has given no other object.  In the end, one must then look  somewhere other than Jesus.  Ultimately, one will turn back to oneself.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7KLc29RvuI/AAAAAAAAB8Q/ltXaLeEj4Cs/s1600/jesus-teaching.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 349px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7KLc29RvuI/AAAAAAAAB8Q/ltXaLeEj4Cs/s400/jesus-teaching.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454575426604220130" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;Baptism elects.  But that hardly means that preaching does not elect  also.  It does.  And the Supper elects as well.  These are Jesus' means  of giving you grace.  They were his ideas.  He sent them.  They are  surely not mere water, bread, wine or vocal gutterals, but the &lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;Words&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;  of Christ by which the heavens and earth were formed out of nothing.   Surely, he who made us with Words has the power to redeem us however he  likes.  We ought to have a little more faith in him, no?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Saving faith, then, believes what the Savior says.  What he says is,  "Be baptized, every one of you, and you will receive the forgiveness of  your sins.  This promise is for you and your children...." (Acts 2).   This is the New Testament, the New Covenant, the power of salvation for  all who believe.  It is one Truth - the Way and the Life.  Baptism is  Jesus.  Once you believe that, it all falls into place.  If you don't  believe that, then why are you getting baptized at all?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7KLuJivF3I/AAAAAAAAB8Y/xy7tFbIqJtM/s1600/sola_scriptura_shirt-p235791340667903107q0vu_400.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="float: left; margin: 10pt 10pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7KLuJivF3I/AAAAAAAAB8Y/xy7tFbIqJtM/s320/sola_scriptura_shirt-p235791340667903107q0vu_400.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454575723650946930" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;"&lt;i&gt;In him also &lt;b&gt;you were  circumcised &lt;/b&gt;with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off  the  body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, &lt;b&gt;having  been buried with him  in &lt;u&gt;baptism, &lt;/u&gt;in which you were also raised with him through &lt;u&gt;faith  &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/b&gt;in the  powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And  you, who were dead in  your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive  together with him, having &lt;b&gt;&lt;u&gt;forgiven &lt;/u&gt;us all our trespasses, &lt;/b&gt;by  canceling the record of  debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside,  nailing it to &lt;u&gt;&lt;b&gt;the cross. &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/u&gt;&lt;span&gt;15 &lt;/span&gt;He  disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them &lt;u&gt;&lt;b&gt;in him.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span&gt;"    Col. 2:11-14&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-4676492980947705303?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/4676492980947705303/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=4676492980947705303' title='7 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/4676492980947705303'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/4676492980947705303'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/03/is-baptism-necessary.html' title='Is Baptism Necessary?'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7KJ4hup0uI/AAAAAAAAB7w/VVxbAMHKmrA/s72-c/688.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>7</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-7278474333923535219</id><published>2010-03-28T10:36:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-03-28T10:55:27.928-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Palm Sunday - Luke 19</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S6-VYrOnOqI/AAAAAAAAB7o/6C8RRotndDo/s1600/rembrandt3.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 257px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S6-VYrOnOqI/AAAAAAAAB7o/6C8RRotndDo/s320/rembrandt3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453741924922374818" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Luke19b.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Luke19b.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-7278474333923535219?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/7278474333923535219/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=7278474333923535219' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/7278474333923535219'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/7278474333923535219'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/03/palm-sunday-luke-19.html' title='Palm Sunday - Luke 19'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S6-VYrOnOqI/AAAAAAAAB7o/6C8RRotndDo/s72-c/rembrandt3.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-467187168112441427</id><published>2010-03-25T09:18:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-03-25T09:31:14.334-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Amtrak Ignition</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();}  catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S6uLGidf5wI/AAAAAAAAB7g/p8teFC_uR74/s1600/polar-express-20040921035820280-000.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 207px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S6uLGidf5wI/AAAAAAAAB7g/p8teFC_uR74/s320/polar-express-20040921035820280-000.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452604718308124418" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Last night in our final evening study of "churches in America," we  got into a discussion on the final state of affairs on the American  religious landscape.  We live in a "buffet religion" society, where  people pick and choose what they want to belief, often combining a host  of various religions/denominations/philosophies.  Ironically, for all  the variety involved, studies have also shown that people end up  believing very colorful versions of the same thing, and it's not  Christianity.  One scholar and author who has studied American religious  youth culture has called it "Moralistic, Therapeutic Deism."&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;I  also mentioned last night a very bizarre conversation I had several  years ago on an Amtrak training speeding across the midwest after  spending Christmas with my family in Missouri.  The piece has never been  published, although I submitted it to several periodicals.  After the  curiosity last night, I thought I might pass it on for your benefit.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;---&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, honor Christ, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you, with gentleness, and respect. ~1 Peter 3:14-16 excerpts&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“I worship the God and Goddess,” said the Celtic pagan. (He was Irish by descent.)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;He set down his cane and slumped into the booth across from us as the train hurtled through some part of late night Ohio. He was thirty one, on his way home from visiting his six year-old daughter in Chicago. Nice guy.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“And all my tattoos are symbols of my heritage. They express fertility, life, success.” He smiled through his punk rock glasses.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“Right on,” I said in the affirming cliché of my generation. It’s hard for people my age to invalidate other's views, and, usually when you’ve just met a person, it’s not all that bad an idea. To be sure, running through my mind were thoughts of how this well-intentioned chap had a one-way ticket to some place a whole lot warmer than Akron in January. But it was also easy enough to see by his smile that he’d heard all that before, and was slightly daring me to say it again. Clearly, the thought didn’t bother him much. Why should it? He was convinced the Scriptures of the Christian faith are foolish. So, I didn’t lambast my new friend the Irish heathen. Instead, I showed a little interest. I mean, it’s not everyday that people from the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod meet Celtic pagans.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“So, exactly what kind of paganism is it?” I asked.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“What do you mean?” he said. “Do you mean like Wicca or something? No. It’s not like that.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“No,” I said. I had figured as much. Anyone practicing modern pop-witchcraft would have said as much the same way junior high girls boast about the boy bands they listen to. “I mean, well…I’m not familiar with Celtic lore. Is it related to the druids?”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“No,” he smiled. “Not druids. Just &lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;Celtic&lt;/span&gt;. I guess the closest thing to it would be Norse paganism. We were influenced by it.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“Crazy,” I said, which means something more like, “far out,” to us under forty-somethings. Shaking my head, I laughed a little. What else you going to do? “So,” I hesitated, eyeing the others at the table, who had broken impromtu world religions dialog to make room for the new participant, “how do you find other people to practice with? I mean, are you in the phone book?”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Now he laughed. “Oh, no. But there are lots of us around. Just use the internet, and you’ll find someone.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Google knows, I thought.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The conversation had been rather unexpected to begin with, even before this point, between the nineteen year-old, ex-Presbyterian now new-age-baby-neo-hippy (more than ready to confess herself “one” with the cosmos,) to the ex-Bible-Church-Christian-DCE turned homosexual and free-though relativist, (who kept getting frustrated with me for insisting that facts mean something,) to the ex-Roman Catholic, humanist-philosophical-secular-materialist (who was in the middle of his post-teen-angst-life-crisis as he tried to decide how he might possibly pursue a life of pure hedonism without driving himself into the despair that philosophy had already already taught him his worldview demanded he eventually create,) to the front-man of a Seattle grunge band (who looked to the eye a curious blend of Marilyn Manson and Tom Petty, and whose music produced a similar effect.) There was little doubt that I was immersed in a fantastic thunderstorm of ideas and conversation in the midst of the demographic most evangelism programs are simply incapable of reaching as they go door-to-door in the suburbs on Sunday afternoon.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It had all started when I heard the hippy and the philosopher embroiled in a conversation over how she was kicked out of her Christian congregation for asking too many questions. Myself being ordained clergy but who, for all his thirty years, still looks just over eighteen, I couldn’t refrain from chiming in and offering to answer some of her unanswered “taboo” questions. Before long, we weren’t alone. The evident animation of our conversation had soon become an all-inclusive cattle-call for the lounge car, drawing each of the seven residents straight into a good-natured battle of worldviews (except the passed-out drunk, fifty-year-old lesbian biker with the vocabulary of Calamity Jane – she was...well...passed out).&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;While everyone was enjoying it, I have to confess that my seminary training was serving me very well – contrary, I must add, to the many brothers in my circuit who seemed to think I still had a lot to learn about the real world and real “ministry”. I felt like a theological Chuck Norris, staving off a torrent of Wikipedia-informed combatants with practiced martial skill, careful never to take the green-belts to the mat with a bone-crushing, one-shot blow to the head, but nonetheless countering their every attack with just enough deftness to keep them coming back for more. Reject(er)s of mega-church society as they mostly were, the last thing they needed was the pat answers they’d already heard. What they needed was to spar, to have a chance to win, to test their streetwise moves and find the value (or lack thereof) of their own disciplines.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This is where “evangelism” as a concept, I believe, so often goes so terribly wrong. Power-point bullet points and Watchtower-style scripted hot-boxing work well enough with older women staying home in the mid-afternoon, but to the post-modern/semi-emerging generation, these approaches not only don’t work so hot, to the contrary, they tend to do more damage than good. Lauding on about your personal relationship with Jesus only further convinces these “unchurched” that Christians really all are the idiots TV portrays them as. These friendly, intelligent, trendy-counter-culture, grown-up “kids” were fed up with the “will you go to heaven” sales pitch. They’d left worries about heaven and hell far behind, with the crayons they’d used to color in Happy Jesus and and his side-kick Alls-Well-as-Ends-Well Job. To them, to us – we the buste(d)rs trapped bewteen X and Millenial – to us hell only exists for people like Adolph Hitler and George W. Bush. My new friend, the nineteen year-old hippy, (a very sweet girl who was returning from having just met her long lost sister, put up for adoption twenty years prior,) was actually looking forward to death. She thought it would be cool. At last she’d be able to become nothing and everything at once, her body dying, but her soul and consciousness living on in the elements of Mother Nature, communing spiritually with flowers and animals and even other people, who would feed on her life essence.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;No. These emerging adults didn’t need evangelism exploding in their faces. They didn’t need the message nearly all the denominations of Christianity have learned from Warren and Hybels and Jakes and Oprah (and they from Finney.) Their all-supernal sixth-sense of “feelings” had long ago convinced them such superficial religion couldn’t possibly be real. They wanted to find something more authentic, something completely divorced from the secularized gloom of pop-Christianity. Church growth had more than Church-depleted them. They’d been raised to seek “spirituality,” not “religion,” and it was clear that if anything is religion, (defined by legalism, anti-intellectualism and cheap-feelings) it’s American Christianity.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Most of them had had a devotional relationship with “their” Bible. They had tried “believing” in Jesus. But their contribution to the mass-exodus from American congregations was because this “faith” had proven itself a &lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;fraud&lt;/span&gt;. It didn’t make them feel better like it promised. They didn't experience more of God every day. And the most appealing purposes in life involved adultery and cigarettes.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;What this generation hadn’t heard, what it needs to hear, what they somehow missed hearing despite their many previous connections to the “Church”, was, amazingly, something as simple as the rule of faith held by the once-universal creeds. They did not need a ritualized babbling of the ancient words as the second-most boring part of worship, but the confession of meaning-filled theology that touches mind, heart and will combined. They needed words that martyrs died to keep, whispering them to their children before going to the executioner. They needed to know the purpose, not of themselves, but of Jesus Christ. They needed not the antiquated “doctrine” of memorized lists and bodiless Bible verses, but the antiquous dogma of believing what those ancient words really mean.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Or, put it this way. If we want to find real so-called “missional” thinking for the 21st century, we need to get the heart out of the drivers’ seat where it’s been ever since the boomers enthroned it over the mind. Putting the heart in the back-seat, and letting the good brains our Lord gave us sit shot-gun, the Word of God is more than capable of driving the mission to reach the countless post-modern versions of paganism. These seven heathen didn’t need to hear me talk like Billy Graham. They didn’t need to hear me talk about a “God” or a “Jesus” or a “heaven” that they just had to believe in “because.” If they wanted mysticism, they much preferred Celtic paganism, which holds far more beauty and depth than “faith” in the platonic-buddy Jesus dressed up like a carrot in a manger.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;These grown-ups in sketchers actually &lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;wanted&lt;/span&gt; to hear – &lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;couldn’t get enough of hearing &lt;/span&gt;– about Christianity spoken of objectively. &lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;Historically&lt;/span&gt;. They wanted a chance to believe that Christianity really is as stable as Celtic paganism, grounded in a God who shows up in places other than my heart, and trustworthy for more reasons than that the Bible (which fell out of heaven) “says so.” Hearing about a God who once broke into the world physically, tangibly and unavoidably, shattered their defenses against all the “God-things” and “Divine-moments” they’d been told about before, all the more so because, beyond believability, they’d never actually heard of it! They had never heard that the Christianity isn’t about the Ten Commandments being posted in schools or homosexuality being banned from marriage or earth being only six-thousand years old. They had never heard that the reason to be a Christian is actually because there was this man named Jesus, who was real, and who really died on a cross under the Roman Empire, and after three real days, really &lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;rose from the dead&lt;/span&gt;.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“Dude. That’s gnarly.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Through all the critical moments that these children of fading Christendom had encountered over a lifetime of expensive measures and props for conversion, they had never been given the real answers of discipleship: they had never heard that “There was this guy in history who beat death….And, oh, by the way, he said a few things that are pretty challenging to hear.” That was why the young Irishman was now a Celtic moon-worshiper and not a Roman Catholic: Celtic pagans have &lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;doctrine&lt;/span&gt;, and they &lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;believe it&lt;/span&gt;. That is why the recent ex-Roman philosopher hadn’t bothered to read the New Testament since the eighth grade, but was now looking to Aristotle and Kant for the answers to the world’s questions: Aristotle and Kant never bothered to dumb it down for him. They challenged him to find the answers in well-thought arguments and turns of phrase. That is why the homosexual post-DCE was content to let all truths be true: Woodstock Jesus, who just wanted him to be happy, had no good reasons for preventing him from having sodomy with whomever he desired. If the “Church” had forgotten the real message of Woodstock Jesus, about love and freedom to pursue pleasure, too bad for them.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Every single one of them had been-there/done-that a long, long time ago. And they’d learned from it. They’d learned they're various forms of anti-Christianity from&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt; Christians&lt;/span&gt;. We had taught them “Jesus makes me happy,” and they had realized we had taught them &lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;lies&lt;/span&gt;.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So how did it all end on that night train through Ohio, my wife asleep with my two kids in coach and me sitting up “partying” until three am? We covered the gambit, from “why should I believe what the Bible says,” (Answer: because Jesus is risen from the dead, so what he says is probably right,) to “why is abortion wrong?” (Answer: because Jesus is risen from the dead, and he likes babies to stay alive,) to “how is the morality of Christianity any better than the moral teachings of Islam or Buddhism?” (Answer: it isn’t so much, but Jesus is risen from the dead, and that means something far more important than moralism!) And for all the times they’d been told to believe in Jesus so they could be saved, through all the Sunday school and VBS and youth group parties, with all the pressure tactics and emotional manipulation of charismatic worship, amidst the history-channel/Dan-Brown misinformation of the age, not one of them had ever been forced to reckon with the all important claim that the reason to be a Christian is because history is on the side of the empty tomb, and it is that fact alone which creates faith in the one True God.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Justification? Atonement? Salvation? These things came up, to be sure. But these meanings which explain the deeper “whys” of the history danced in and out of the conversation only to support the main point: creation is dying and the new creation has already been born in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He changed the rules, and he did it in a way which inevitably leaves the honest critic and historian either completely stumped or converted. Everything else has become a moot point. Being the only man in history to die and not stay dead, Jesus of Nazareth now more or less owns the trump card on what’s true and what’s false. Proving his own claim to the Sonship of God, the impending issue ceases to be whether or not you bother to accept him as your personal Lord and Savior. Instead, the issue is suddenly whether or not he accepts you as one of his sheep.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;On the flip side, if Jesus &lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;didn’t&lt;/span&gt; walk out of that tomb, the game is over. Christianity just can’t win. Karl Barth once tried to fight that losing battle by separating the Christ of history from the Christ of faith, only to create a new Christianity, one which served only to support your preferred personal assumptions – not much of a discipline for spiritual enlightenment. But that is exactly where those seven people on that train had gone! Children of the spirituality of Barth, they had never even heard of the Christ of history from Christians. So what? Their faith was simply not about real things. It was all mythology after all, like Celtic paganism, or nature-love, or mammon. For them the “faith in faith” in which they still believed, was the end goal of all religions after all. Wasn’t it?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Well, it was, at least, until this upstart young pastor walked into their philosophosizing and made the audacious claim that Christianity isn’t about believing in Jesus “so that” you can get into heaven. It’s about Jesus dying on a cross and rising from the grave because creation sucks and he refuses to leave it mired that way.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Christianity is not about “faith.” It’s about Jesus. It’s about what he said about &lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;himself&lt;/span&gt;. It’s about what he did &lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;by himself&lt;/span&gt;. And it’s about the reasons and effects of what he said and did: to give you no other choice but to believe that what he said and did is the cornerstone of human history, without which there is no real reason to be alive at all. Or, if you must, to self-admittedly live in a world of ignorance, chance, empty answers and eventual defeat.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If only this solitary fact could be understood by all the strategists and leaders of today’s “missional” congregations! If only the people who are yet in the Christian sub-culture might themselves be forced to wrestle with it. If only how we live, how we worship, and how we evangelize could stop missing the point. Our children tell the story of the results. They’re not abandoning our parishes in droves because the liturgies are out of date or because we’ve spoken too much true doctrine, or because creedal Christianity doesn’t have real answers to real questions. They’re abandoning the ship because they’ve listened to and watched very carefully all that we’ve been saying and doing. And, as if we’d planned it, we’ve convinced them that we either don’t believe what we’re saying ourselves, or we don’t know one wit what we’re actually talking about.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A recent professional poll has shown that most born to Christian families can’t recite the Ten Commandments, much less try to live by them. We can’t recite the Creed without droning, much less explain its significance for the mission field. And if we say the “Our Father” in worship, it’s more often than not the only time in the week that we pray with our families at all, much less pray for food that we don’t already have, for doctrine to be pure among us, or for the end of the world to come as quickly as possible.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It was a small crusade that night on a train from Chicago to Philadelphia, me and that underrepresented under-thirty crowd, all of them more or less committed to abandoning Christianity because of its self-righteous-sounding, heaven-peddling, historically ignorant evangelism – not to mention the mammon-corrupted promotional bureaucracies manipulating the strings for the sake of profit – yes, these kids new the Church is simply “incorporated”. The good news of it? We talked about the resurrection of Jesus Christ so much that eventually the philosopher began being the one to say to the others, “To understand his point about homosexuality or Islam, you have to remember that it’s based on the fact that Jesus is risen from the dead.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Mission accomplished.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The bad news? Well, there was no mass conversion. To begin with, most of them were baptized once or twice already. That wasn’t going to happen anyway. And at three a.m., when the Irishman got off in Akron, I’m pretty convinced that he was still cheerily undeterred by anything that I’d said.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Then again, anyone who thinks that one night on a train is going to undo two and a half decades of cultural indoctrination, evangelistic blow-back-antagonism and straight up embittered unbelief, she’s got another thing coming.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The good news again? The Great Commission wants us Christians to go and make disciples, not by any means possible, but by teaching the reality of the Gospels. If and when the emerging pagans hear the story, are confronted by the real message, and reject it for the time being, that is the Holy Spirit’s prerogative. We can confess our faith well enough to get an atheist to admit that the historic claim is that Jesus is risen from the dead. But we will &lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;never&lt;/span&gt; argue him into believing it. The point of this article is that if we don’t learn again how to speak it, the rest of the next neo-normal generation will never even &lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;hear it&lt;/span&gt;.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;All seven of those young busters left that train with the choice to either decide that this kid-pastor was certifiably insane (and my sanity was a part of the discussion at one point!) or, to wrestle with the fact that every thing they had ever thought about “God” before needed to be questioned again, because, apparently, he was bigger and more challenging then they’d ever imagined.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;More than likely, they walked away with a little of both. Like I said, mission accomplished.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://philadelphialutheran.blogspot.com/2010/03/in-name-of-jesus-323.html"&gt;You can read it at the St. John Website by clicking this link.&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-467187168112441427?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/467187168112441427/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=467187168112441427' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/467187168112441427'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/467187168112441427'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/03/amtrak-ignition.html' title='Amtrak Ignition'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S6uLGidf5wI/AAAAAAAAB7g/p8teFC_uR74/s72-c/polar-express-20040921035820280-000.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-8061027302980367376</id><published>2010-03-21T10:52:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-03-21T11:14:21.418-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Lent 5 - Luke 20</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S6ZdUieZy3I/AAAAAAAAB7Q/4zH8sk-ST3E/s1600-h/bulletin.png"&gt;&lt;img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 294px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S6ZdUieZy3I/AAAAAAAAB7Q/4zH8sk-ST3E/s320/bulletin.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451147006411656050" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Luke20.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Luke20.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-8061027302980367376?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/8061027302980367376/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=8061027302980367376' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/8061027302980367376'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/8061027302980367376'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/03/lent-5-luke-20.html' title='Lent 5 - Luke 20'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S6ZdUieZy3I/AAAAAAAAB7Q/4zH8sk-ST3E/s72-c/bulletin.png' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-521320840474271594</id><published>2010-03-17T08:18:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-03-17T09:03:50.855-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Chapter 6: Orientation</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S6D0zcN9jmI/AAAAAAAAB5Q/nmdzsTTApng/s1600-h/SpawnGoodEvil.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S6D0zcN9jmI/AAAAAAAAB5Q/nmdzsTTApng/s320/SpawnGoodEvil.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449624713703558754" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p style="text-indent: 0.08in; margin-bottom: 0.1in; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;"&gt;Of late my schedule has been quite the obstacle course, with extra  lessons to plan for our Lenten series on "Churches in America," trying  to work in a routine for weekly preparations for the Mainline Church  Project (including scanning, digital editing and dressing up Luther's  sermons in powerpoint,) with the PLU Young Adults group meeting in the  UPenn area again and seeing some new membership and growth as we march  through St. John's Apocalypse, experiencing the joy of engaging a young  pastor-to-be (an Ethiopian named Tesfaye) with the fullness of our  Lutheran confession, trying to stay on top of reading such books as "&lt;a href="http://www.amazon.com/Your-Jesus-Too-Safe-Outgrowing/dp/0825439310"&gt;Your  Jesus is too Safe&lt;/a&gt;" and "&lt;a href="http://shop.logia.org/product.sc?productId=356"&gt;At Home in the  House of My Fathers,&lt;/a&gt;" (without neglecting daily time in the Greek NT  and the Book of Concord,) prepping bulletins for Holy Week. being a  guest on Issues, Etc twice (and winning sound byte of the  week,).......So many good things (and there are more of them, believe  you me!)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Amazingly, in the middle of it all, I also was able to  polish off what I think is a decent chapter of "The Wisdom of  Foolishness," the practical book on Christian systematics which I was  sharing with you this past fall and winter.  I say "amazing" because  most of the time writing is tremendously painful work.  It requires a  great deal of energy to plod out all the right words in all the right  order, and then to go back and read and edit them again, and then again,  and then again - purging the places that fail to communicate clearly,  striving to bring understanding and meaning to the forefront.  But this  chapter felt like it flew out of the pen (figuratively, that is, ...I  typed it.)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Of course, my seminary mentor Dr. Jeff Gibbs once quipped that, "Any  time you feel like that, it means its probably worthless." True enough.   I can't say the number of times I've "caught the muse" and flourished  off pages of "great stuff" - you know, world-shattering, epic-level  writing that is both entertaining and deep - only to go back later to  read it and exclaim, "What on earth does that mean?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;That being  said, I hope this weeks chapter fits the special bill of those times  when the gears really did just click.  Focused on "&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;Orientation&lt;/span&gt;" we finish up our imbibing  of the Biblical theology of Election and Predestination, letting the  reality of original sin rise to the surface in order that the reality of  our Lord's crucifying of that sin in himself also comes to the fore.  &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-indent: 0.08in; margin-bottom: 0.1in; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;"&gt;-----------&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-indent: 0.08in; margin-bottom: 0.1in; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;"&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S6D1OA54NXI/AAAAAAAAB5Y/oD1uqdN21Dc/s1600-h/baddad_thumb.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S6D1OA54NXI/AAAAAAAAB5Y/oD1uqdN21Dc/s320/baddad_thumb.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449625170228032882" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The perilous danger of evil is that once it exists, it is it's very nature to never be good again.  Evil hates good.  That's what it does best.  When Scripture teaches us that Adam decided to be evil by going against God's Words to him, he changed the very &lt;i&gt;ethos&lt;/i&gt; of what it means to be human.  It's not that once he jumped into evil, neither he or I or you “could” ever choose to be truly good again.  It's that we never &lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;would&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt; choose to be truly good again.&lt;a class="sdfootnoteanc" name="sdfootnote1anc" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote1sym"&gt;&lt;sup&gt;1&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-indent: 0.08in; margin-bottom: 0.1in; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;"&gt;&lt;a class="sdfootnoteanc" name="sdfootnote1anc" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote1sym"&gt;&lt;sup&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/a&gt;   &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="text-indent: 0.08in; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;"&gt; &lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This is  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;Sin &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;"&gt;as the Bible teaches it.  It is much bigger than the little rights or wrongs we might or might not choose every day.  Sin is your bound commitment to your own will, your inbred affection for yourself, your standard deviation of all things back to you.&lt;a class="sdfootnoteanc" name="sdfootnote2anc" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote2sym"&gt;&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/a&gt;  You never once in your entire life have sinned “against your will.”&lt;a class="sdfootnoteanc" name="sdfootnote3anc" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote3sym"&gt;&lt;sup&gt;3&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/a&gt;  It is your will that is always the problem.&lt;a class="sdfootnoteanc" name="sdfootnote4anc" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote4sym"&gt;&lt;sup&gt;4&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/a&gt;  You inherited an orientation towards “not good,” which bends your every thought, word and deed.&lt;a class="sdfootnoteanc" name="sdfootnote5anc" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote5sym"&gt;&lt;sup&gt;5&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/a&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;This is the fundamental root of every problem, not just in your life, but in the history of the entire world&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;"&gt;.&lt;a class="sdfootnoteanc" name="sdfootnote6anc" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote6sym"&gt;&lt;sup&gt;6&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;p style="text-indent: 0.08in; margin-bottom: 0.1in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none;"&gt; &lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S6D1evIAuRI/AAAAAAAAB5g/7d85MVqemzU/s1600-h/led-zeppelin-stairway-to-heaven.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 279px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S6D1evIAuRI/AAAAAAAAB5g/7d85MVqemzU/s320/led-zeppelin-stairway-to-heaven.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449625457513249042" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;b&gt;Originality&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p style="text-indent: 0.08in; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;"&gt;While the  entire world runs around in a kind of sick madness, either trying to escape the jaws of death or affecting that it does not mind death, (but all the while trying to make some kind of &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;goodness&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;"&gt; capable of overcoming the obvious threat of death,) all we ever actually manage to do is compound our error over and over again.&lt;a class="sdfootnoteanc" name="sdfootnote7anc" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote7sym"&gt;&lt;sup&gt;7&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/a&gt;  We are deceived (and work hard at deceiving ourselves) into thinking that if we just try hard enough, we can make some kind of actual “&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;goodness&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;"&gt;.”  To be a sinful human is to believe that somewhere deep within still lingers the innate ability to become good in the most unique way, to reach enlightenment or holiness, to become capable of fixing all of our own problems.&lt;a class="sdfootnoteanc" name="sdfootnote8anc" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote8sym"&gt;&lt;sup&gt;8&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="text-indent: 0.08in; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;"&gt; &lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But this &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;is &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;"&gt;the problem.  The original sin which Adam created was crafted in his own image, an attempt to divine a private, personalized, one-of-a-kind, like-god “goodness.”  What he achieved was truly something new, something uncreated by God, but it was hardly worth the trouble.  For all the effort, all that he did was conjure up the terribly useless attribute of &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;doubt&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;"&gt;.  Doubting that God is the only source of real goodness is the only original thing humans have been able to manufacture by our private, spiritual efforts. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;Unbelief&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;"&gt; in the Godness of God is our one creative legacy.&lt;a class="sdfootnoteanc" name="sdfootnote9anc" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote9sym"&gt;&lt;sup&gt;9&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="text-indent: 0.08in; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;"&gt; &lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S6D1_5h7y3I/AAAAAAAAB5o/ZzqExybhTDY/s1600-h/dragons--burning-yin-yang.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 242px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S6D1_5h7y3I/AAAAAAAAB5o/ZzqExybhTDY/s320/dragons--burning-yin-yang.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449626027242015602" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The devil once convinced Adam that he would be “free” to do a new “good” which was completely independent from God.  This ingenious ploy not only worked on him.  It works on us.  Every day.  The greatest proof is our own warrior-like insistence on keeping some toe-hold at all costs in the exercise of our wills.&lt;a class="sdfootnoteanc" name="sdfootnote10anc" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote10sym"&gt;&lt;sup&gt;10&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/a&gt;  The best of us, even Christians, daily succumb to this ambush.  Every time you are hurt, every time something makes you angry – when you get cut-off in traffic or spill a glass of milk – that boiling rage that wells up so naturally from within you does so because &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;your will has not been done&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;"&gt;.  For a brief moment, it is clear that you are a slave to some power beyond yourself, the universe, another driver, chance circumstance, and there is almost nothing worse than this in the entire world than that.  Nothing matters so much as that &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;your will be done&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;"&gt;.  You are bound to this.  It doesn't matter what the difference between good and evil is.  It doesn't matter who gets hurt, or what stands in the way.  You want to be the one who gets to decide that difference.  You want to be the one who chooses what is and is not the right way to respond.  Depending on what you choose to do, in all natural normalness, you will defend and justify your choices till you are blue in the face.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="text-indent: 0.08in; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;"&gt; &lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This is  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;your&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;"&gt; ongoing &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;original&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;"&gt;&lt;i&gt; &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;"&gt;sin.  This is your &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;orientation&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;"&gt;.  You want to be the one who makes justice.  You want to define it from your gut, with your own heart smack in the center.  This native doubt in the Godness of God is a reality that breeds from the core of your soul, a natural belief in self which is a supernatural unbelief in God.  And, it is the root of all evil.  It is &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;original&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;"&gt; sin.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="text-indent: 0.08in; margin-bottom: 0.1in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none;"&gt; &lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S6D2NtFrzxI/AAAAAAAAB5w/Nwy5GLYAO9E/s1600-h/dead-end.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S6D2NtFrzxI/AAAAAAAAB5w/Nwy5GLYAO9E/s320/dead-end.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449626264420470546" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;b&gt;Turned Around&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="text-indent: 0.08in; margin-bottom: 0.1in; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;"&gt; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Our desire to be the source of goodness is a pipe dream.  A false hope.  The root of all evil is trying to make anything but God the source of goodness.  Being the source of goodness is what God does.  It's his day job.  It's his self-definition.  Our belief that we can change this, while perhaps never confessed with the mouth, is lived out with the heart and hands through the annals of the catastrophe that is human history.  Leaving behind the passive gift of original goodness that comes from God alone in search of our own actively-created original goodness, we have become actively and &lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;originally evil&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;.  Our compasses are all messed up.  Our orientation is unnatural twisted about.  We are poor, miserable &lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;sinners&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="text-indent: 0.08in; margin-bottom: 0.1in; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;"&gt; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It is really quite amazing.  We are so infatuated with being capable of creating our own goodness that we've developed countless religions and spiritualities to try to help us do this.  Even within Christendom, the grand bulk of teachings have tended toward setting up yet one more system for &lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;working&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt; our a way into pleasing God with some internal goodness born from the power of the human will.  The superfantastic irony is that, anything but actually good, this is a &lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;double sin&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;.&lt;a class="sdfootnoteanc" name="sdfootnote11anc" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote11sym"&gt;&lt;sup&gt;11&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/a&gt;  It's an attempt to out-God God right under God's own nose, an expecting God to be happy about it.  A man says, “I want to please God,” and then he goes about trying to “be good,” as if this could created the goodness that only God has and that God himself wants &lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;to give&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;.   &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="text-indent: 0.08in; margin-bottom: 0.1in; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;"&gt; &lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S6D2uhn0nuI/AAAAAAAAB54/G03nIyHJDTg/s1600-h/happy-bunny24.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 223px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S6D2uhn0nuI/AAAAAAAAB54/G03nIyHJDTg/s320/happy-bunny24.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449626828278111970" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The deep reality is that man does not want to please God.&lt;a class="sdfootnoteanc" name="sdfootnote12anc" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote12sym"&gt;&lt;sup&gt;12&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/a&gt;  He wants to be pleasing to God by means of his own self-defined, self-willed “goodness.”  He says, “I want to please God,” and then he sets about trying to please &lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;himself&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;.  He doesn't want God's will to be done – not if it gets in &lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;his will's&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt; way.  He doesn't want to be saved – not if it means being saved &lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;from himself&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;.  He doesn't want to be fixed – not if it means being fixed means he won't be able to improve himself any more, and doubly so if being fixed means getting killed so that God can start and finish the project with his own blueprints once and for all.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="text-indent: 0.08in; margin-bottom: 0.1in; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;"&gt; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Because of what the Bible describes in Genesis chapter 3, it is a high and central teaching of all real Christianity that ever since the fall, “free will” has only existed as an empty concept, like an old bone for junkyard dogs to fight over.  What really matters to humanity is “your will,” and this orientation has bound the you into self-separation from God.  It's not that you “cannot” unite your will back to God's.  You &lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;will&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt; not.  It would be “free will” suicide.&lt;a class="sdfootnoteanc" name="sdfootnote13anc" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote13sym"&gt;&lt;sup&gt;13&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/a&gt;   &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="text-indent: 0.08in; margin-bottom: 0.1in; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;"&gt; &lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S6D275AnHdI/AAAAAAAAB6A/pAtw9_dcYLM/s1600-h/Christdale.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 350px; height: 640px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S6D275AnHdI/AAAAAAAAB6A/pAtw9_dcYLM/s320/Christdale.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449627057894399442" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;All of this, audacious as it may seem, horrible as it is (and has proven itself to be in the actions of our race,) remains a high and central truth of authentic Christianity because it is the dark prelude to the epic Answer.  Man can only choose evil.  So, God is faced with saving man against man's own will.  We're so bad that even in this we still think we would be better off if he left us a choice in the matter.  But that didn't dissuade God.  Before we could think to pray (and we never would have prayed for the right things anyway) the answer was already on God's lips.  He elected it upon himself to save mankind, even if it meant getting his hands a little dirty in the process.  &lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;Even if it meant becoming one of us and taking the punishment we had chosen for ouselves&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="text-indent: 0.08in; margin-bottom: 0.1in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none;"&gt; &lt;b&gt;Original Salvation &lt;/b&gt; &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="text-indent: 0.08in; margin-bottom: 0.1in; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;"&gt; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In Jesus Christ, God elected to save mankind, every man, woman and child.&lt;a class="sdfootnoteanc" name="sdfootnote14anc" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote14sym"&gt;&lt;sup&gt;14&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/a&gt;  He chose his creation, picked it up again, and bound it to his own will in himself, in a  new Man to be its Head, in a new will to be its source of re-orientation.&lt;a class="sdfootnoteanc" name="sdfootnote15anc" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote15sym"&gt;&lt;sup&gt;15&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/a&gt;  He decided to save the world, (and that includes you,) and neither you nor I nor any one else really has any choice in the matter.&lt;a class="sdfootnoteanc" name="sdfootnote16anc" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote16sym"&gt;&lt;sup&gt;16&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/a&gt;  It's already done.&lt;a class="sdfootnoteanc" name="sdfootnote17anc" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote17sym"&gt;&lt;sup&gt;17&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/a&gt;  If we had had a choice, we would have turned the offer down.&lt;a class="sdfootnoteanc" name="sdfootnote18anc" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote18sym"&gt;&lt;sup&gt;18&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/a&gt;  Either we would have killed him before he could do what needed to be done, or we would have prevented him from dying (which is what needed to be done) as if our life depended on it!&lt;a class="sdfootnoteanc" name="sdfootnote19anc" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote19sym"&gt;&lt;sup&gt;19&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/a&gt;   &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="text-indent: 0.08in; margin-bottom: 0.1in; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;"&gt; &lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S6D3o-b6abI/AAAAAAAAB6Q/5fhF7uM7Ux0/s1600-h/Resurrection+%282%29.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 252px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S6D3o-b6abI/AAAAAAAAB6Q/5fhF7uM7Ux0/s320/Resurrection+%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449627832445200818" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Ignoring our own wills in the matter, Jesus came and saved the world.&lt;a class="sdfootnoteanc" name="sdfootnote20anc" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote20sym"&gt;&lt;sup&gt;20&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/a&gt;  He didn't just come to give us information about God, or to show us a way to work out a goodness that was worth having.  He came to take mankind into his own Godness in order to do what needed to be done with it: kill it, and raise it anew.  Take the breath out.  Let the sin die.  Force the devil's laws to release their hold.  And then, breath the life back in, leaving the sin in the grave and the devil powerless.&lt;a class="sdfootnoteanc" name="sdfootnote21anc" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote21sym"&gt;&lt;sup&gt;21&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/a&gt;   &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="text-indent: 0.08in; margin-bottom: 0.1in; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;"&gt; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Salvation means being born again, and Jesus did it first, for all of us, because none of us could have managed it coming out of the womb a second time.  Before you were even born the first time, before you had done either good or evil, before any of your decisions, actions, thoughts, words or deeds, God &lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;chose&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt; to save you, and he sent Jesus Christ to get it done.&lt;a class="sdfootnoteanc" name="sdfootnote22anc" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote22sym"&gt;&lt;sup&gt;22&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/a&gt;  This is &lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;election&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;.  It is your &lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;pre-destination&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;.  It is the saving of the ones who would never have allowed salvation to happen if God hadn't simply decided to do it first.  It is your own death and resurrection in the person and work of Jesus the Christ.  Not just all men, not just all women and children, but &lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;mankind&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt; himself has become a blessed elite, a chosen people, an atoned for creation, &lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;saved&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="text-indent: 0.08in; margin-bottom: 0.1in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none;"&gt; &lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S6D32PCtKdI/AAAAAAAAB6Y/f4R5EpZ14XE/s1600-h/scales-of-justice.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 245px; height: 299px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S6D32PCtKdI/AAAAAAAAB6Y/f4R5EpZ14XE/s320/scales-of-justice.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449628060241177042" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;b&gt;The Problem of the Cross&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt; &lt;p style="text-indent: 0.08in; margin-bottom: 0.1in; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;"&gt; But not all men (and women and children) will be saved.  Scripture speaks this way as well.  Because of the great binding of the human will, some will resist God's grace even to the point of perdition.  Worse yet, some will believe in the Christ only to throw it all away.  Some will trample on their Lord and deny the Savior who bought them.  Some will crucify the Son of God all over again.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="text-indent: 0.08in; margin-bottom: 0.1in; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;"&gt; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Much ink has been spilt over this Biblically unanswerable question, the “why some, not others,” dilemma that bubbles to the surface whenever God's predestination runs into man's interminable will.  When we see what the Bible says about how God desires all men to be saved, and compare it with what the Bible says about how not all men will be saved, we run into a profound mystery over which even the Apostles themselves could only marvel, and, eventually, &lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;ignore in faith&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;.  “&lt;i&gt;For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he might have mercy on all.  Oh!  The depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?  Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?  For from him and through him and to him are all things.  To him be glory forever.  Amen.&lt;/i&gt;”&lt;a class="sdfootnoteanc" name="sdfootnote23anc" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote23sym"&gt;&lt;sup&gt;23&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="text-indent: 0.08in; margin-bottom: 0.1in; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;"&gt; After eleven chapters written to Rome, detailing God's plan of salvation in the one man Jesus Christ, and after two chapters wrestling with this paradox of “why some, not others,” eventually the Apostle can only throw up his hands and say. “Jesus is risen!  Praise God and believe it!”&lt;a class="sdfootnoteanc" name="sdfootnote24anc" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote24sym"&gt;&lt;sup&gt;24&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="text-indent: 0.08in; margin-bottom: 0.1in; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;"&gt;   &lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S6D4wZ8hBZI/AAAAAAAAB64/88yhOA6o8oQ/s1600-h/_45033898_coin_512.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S6D4wZ8hBZI/AAAAAAAAB64/88yhOA6o8oQ/s320/_45033898_coin_512.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449629059600418194" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It is like one has who found a coin with one side heads and the other tails.  No matter how hard you try, you can never look at both sides of the coin at once.  Taken separately, they are utterly contradictory.  They don't paint the same picture.  They are &lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;different &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;faces.  But they are the &lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;same &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;coin.   If you were to find a mirror, you might be able to hold it up and “see” both sides of the coin, but at that moment it would not be the same coin.  It would be a false construction used to help you understand something which is beyond your nature to achieve.   &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="text-indent: 0.08in; margin-bottom: 0.1in; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;"&gt; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In the history of theology on this point, this mirror is what the two great camps have used to draw their lines around the Scriptures.  Whether we call it “Calvinism vs Arminianism,” or “decision theology vs. predestination,” it doesn't matter.  Both systems ways of thinking about God are fabrications that use a mirror to avoid the full mystery of simply holding the coin in your hand.  The coin is what happens when a God presdestined by himself to have mercy, save and give goodness comes upon an irredeemable man who is self-destined to have enmity, die and make evil.  The real answer can only be believed on in the literal body of the redeeming man Jesus Christ, in the Words about him and from him sent to be preached in the nations, and in the mysterious rituals he has left as hallmarks of what he has done for the sake of the life of the entire world.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="text-indent: 0.08in; margin-bottom: 0.1in; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;"&gt; &lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S6D4gQBxcHI/AAAAAAAAB6w/C3UjN8sNJD4/s1600-h/IMG_9860-Mirror.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S6D4gQBxcHI/AAAAAAAAB6w/C3UjN8sNJD4/s320/IMG_9860-Mirror.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449628782060204146" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If we let ourselves get trapped in the mirror, one way or another our theology will get trapped in the image we see – not the real coin, but our own face looking intently at the coin.  Our own nature will distract us again, pull us away from the fact that we are actually holding the coin in our hands to begin with.  He is ours!  He is risen!  It is done!   &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="text-indent: 0.08in; margin-bottom: 0.1in; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;"&gt; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If we begin trying to dissect what this means beyond what has been clearly revealed, we are bound to start asking the wrong questions all over again: we are bound to start &lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;doubting&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;. “&lt;i&gt;But who then can be saved?&lt;/i&gt;” we will say.  If, as Scripture teaches, we are bound to resist God's grace and actually have the power to do so, what is left for us to do in ourselves to make certain we are saved after all?  &lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;The answer to that is the entire point&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;.   &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="text-indent: 0.08in; margin-bottom: 0.1in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none;"&gt; &lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S6D5EYnOxgI/AAAAAAAAB7A/AwKbdjYRQXQ/s1600-h/scan0022.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 241px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S6D5EYnOxgI/AAAAAAAAB7A/AwKbdjYRQXQ/s320/scan0022.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449629402840090114" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;b&gt;Nothing&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p style="text-indent: 0.08in; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;"&gt; &lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;"&gt;You deserve to be damned and should be.  There is nothing you can do about it.  But Jesus &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;can &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;"&gt;and &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;has&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;"&gt;&lt;i&gt; &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;"&gt;done something about it.&lt;a class="sdfootnoteanc" name="sdfootnote25anc" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote25sym"&gt;&lt;sup&gt;25&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/a&gt;  Period.  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;Believe&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;"&gt; it.  You are &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;freed &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;"&gt;to do so by the very promise he worked by achieving it on the cross.  There is no question.  There is no “how do I know” or “are you certain” or “but don't I have to.”  There is only God who has elected you in Jesus.&lt;a class="sdfootnoteanc" name="sdfootnote26anc" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote26sym"&gt;&lt;sup&gt;26&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/a&gt;  God is &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;preaching &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;"&gt;this to you right now.&lt;a class="sdfootnoteanc" name="sdfootnote27anc" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote27sym"&gt;&lt;sup&gt;27&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/a&gt;  These Words &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;are &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;"&gt;the Holy Spirit.&lt;a class="sdfootnoteanc" name="sdfootnote28anc" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote28sym"&gt;&lt;sup&gt;28&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/a&gt;  The promises of God remain steadfast even when we are unfaithful.&lt;a class="sdfootnoteanc" name="sdfootnote29anc" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote29sym"&gt;&lt;sup&gt;29&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/a&gt;  “Baptism saves” even when an entire world drowns because they refuse to believe it.&lt;a class="sdfootnoteanc" name="sdfootnote30anc" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote30sym"&gt;&lt;sup&gt;30&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/a&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="text-indent: 0.08in; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;"&gt; &lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In upcoming chapters we will spend more time letting Scripture speak where it has long been silent on the assurance of election we have received in the instituted rituals of God Almighty.  For now, just enjoy the Gospel side of the coin: even thought your stubborn will could and would reject salvation (tails), Jesus isn't going to let that happen (heads).  God has already &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;justified &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;"&gt;you.&lt;a class="sdfootnoteanc" name="sdfootnote31anc" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote31sym"&gt;&lt;sup&gt;31&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/a&gt;  He did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all.  How will he not also give us all things?&lt;a class="sdfootnoteanc" name="sdfootnote32anc" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote32sym"&gt;&lt;sup&gt;32&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/a&gt;  He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion on the day of Christ Jesus.&lt;a class="sdfootnoteanc" name="sdfootnote33anc" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote33sym"&gt;&lt;sup&gt;33&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/a&gt;  That's his purpose.&lt;a class="sdfootnoteanc" name="sdfootnote34anc" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote34sym"&gt;&lt;sup&gt;34&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/a&gt;  That's his point.  That's his job.  He's &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;God&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;"&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="text-indent: 0.08in; margin-bottom: 0.1in; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;"&gt; &lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S6D6EVK0FsI/AAAAAAAAB7I/dsT36sDsMaA/s1600-h/4058151112_7337c368bc.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S6D6EVK0FsI/AAAAAAAAB7I/dsT36sDsMaA/s320/4058151112_7337c368bc.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449630501427222210" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So rejoice and be glad.&lt;a class="sdfootnoteanc" name="sdfootnote35anc" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote35sym"&gt;&lt;sup&gt;35&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/a&gt;  You're still reading.  You're ears have heard.  Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, even when we are not.  His steadfast love endures forever.&lt;a class="sdfootnoteanc" name="sdfootnote36anc" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote36sym"&gt;&lt;sup&gt;36&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/a&gt;  It wasn't even a small step, but it is the greatest step in all of mankind.  God has oriented himself toward you in the insurmountable person and work of his only Son, and in that Christ, crucified for your sins and the sins of the entire world, he has re-affixed your orientation to himself with a promise that's purer than gold.&lt;a class="sdfootnoteanc" name="sdfootnote37anc" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote37sym"&gt;&lt;sup&gt;37&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="text-indent: 0.08in; margin-bottom: 0.1in; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;"&gt; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The greatest beauty, the freedom in it all, is that thanks to Jesus you never even had to have a choice.&lt;a class="sdfootnoteanc" name="sdfootnote38anc" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote38sym"&gt;&lt;sup&gt;38&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="text-indent: 0.08in; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;"&gt; &lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;"&gt;An Endnote on the Lonely  Way&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;"&gt;&lt;a class="sdfootnoteanc" name="sdfootnote39anc" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote39sym"&gt;&lt;sup&gt;39&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="text-indent: 0.08in; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;"&gt; &lt;i&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;"&gt;An Endnote Brief Review&lt;a class="sdfootnoteanc" name="sdfootnote40anc" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote40sym"&gt;&lt;sup&gt;40&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-indent: 0.08in; margin-bottom: 0.1in; border-width: medium medium 1px; border-style: none none solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0in 0in 0.03in; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;a class="sdfootnotesym" name="sdfootnote1sym" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote1anc"&gt;1&lt;/a&gt;  Genesis 8:21 “&lt;i&gt;The intention of man's heart is evil from his  youth.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;”&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt; &lt;/i&gt;  &lt;div id="sdfootnote1"&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;div id="sdfootnote2"&gt;  &lt;p class="sdfootnote"&gt;&lt;a class="sdfootnotesym" name="sdfootnote2sym" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote2anc"&gt;2&lt;/a&gt;  Titus 3:3 “&lt;i&gt;For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led  astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days  in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.”&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;div id="sdfootnote3"&gt;  &lt;p class="sdfootnote"&gt;&lt;a class="sdfootnotesym" name="sdfootnote3sym" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote3anc"&gt;3&lt;/a&gt;  James 1:14 “&lt;i&gt;Each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed  by his own desire.&lt;/i&gt;”&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;div id="sdfootnote4"&gt;  &lt;p class="sdfootnote"&gt;&lt;a class="sdfootnotesym" name="sdfootnote4sym" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote4anc"&gt;4&lt;/a&gt;  Matthew 23:37 “&lt;i&gt;How often would I have gathered your children  together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would  not!&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;”&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;div id="sdfootnote5"&gt;  &lt;p class="sdfootnote"&gt;&lt;a class="sdfootnotesym" name="sdfootnote5sym" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote5anc"&gt;5&lt;/a&gt;  Romans 1:22 “&lt;i&gt;Claiming to be wise, they became fools.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;”&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;div id="sdfootnote6"&gt;  &lt;p class="sdfootnote"&gt;&lt;a name="v45001021-1"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a name="p45001018.05-1"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;  &lt;a class="sdfootnotesym" name="sdfootnote6sym" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote6anc"&gt;6&lt;/a&gt;  Romans 1:21,24 “&lt;i&gt;For although they knew God, they did not honor  him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their  thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. … Therefore God  gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the  dishonoring of their bodies among themselves.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;”&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;div id="sdfootnote7"&gt;  &lt;p class="sdfootnote"&gt;&lt;a class="sdfootnotesym" name="sdfootnote7sym" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote7anc"&gt;7&lt;/a&gt;  Revelation 18:7-8 “&lt;i&gt;Since in her heart she says, I sit as a  queen, I am no widow, and mourning I shall never see.’ For this  reason her plagues will come in a single day, death and mourning and  famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for mighty is the Lord  God who has judged her.”&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;div id="sdfootnote8"&gt;  &lt;p class="sdfootnote"&gt;&lt;a class="sdfootnotesym" name="sdfootnote8sym" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote8anc"&gt;8&lt;/a&gt;  Isaiah 14:13 “&lt;i&gt;You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to  heaven; above the stars of God.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;”&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;div id="sdfootnote9"&gt;  &lt;p class="sdfootnote"&gt;&lt;a class="sdfootnotesym" name="sdfootnote9sym" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote9anc"&gt;9&lt;/a&gt;  Hosea 6:7 “&lt;i&gt;Like Adam they transgressed the covenant; there they  dealt faithlessly with me.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;”&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;  &lt;/i&gt;  &lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;div id="sdfootnote10"&gt;  &lt;p class="sdfootnote"&gt;&lt;a class="sdfootnotesym" name="sdfootnote10sym" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote10anc"&gt;10&lt;/a&gt;  Acts 7:51 “&lt;i&gt;You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and  ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do  you.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;”&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;div id="sdfootnote11"&gt;  &lt;p class="sdfootnote"&gt;&lt;a class="sdfootnotesym" name="sdfootnote11sym" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote11anc"&gt;11&lt;/a&gt;  Romans 8:8 “&lt;i&gt;Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;”&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;  &lt;/i&gt;  &lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;div id="sdfootnote12"&gt;  &lt;p class="sdfootnote"&gt;&lt;a class="sdfootnotesym" name="sdfootnote12sym" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote12anc"&gt;12&lt;/a&gt;  Romans 8:7 “&lt;i&gt;For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to  God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;”&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;div id="sdfootnote13"&gt;  &lt;p class="sdfootnote"&gt;&lt;a class="sdfootnotesym" name="sdfootnote13sym" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote13anc"&gt;13&lt;/a&gt;  Matthew 13:15 “&lt;i&gt;For this people's heart has grown dull, and with  their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed,  lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and  understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;”&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;  &lt;/i&gt;  &lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;div id="sdfootnote14"&gt;  &lt;p class="sdfootnote"&gt;&lt;a class="sdfootnotesym" name="sdfootnote14sym" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote14anc"&gt;14&lt;/a&gt;  Whether or not every man, woman and child will believe this  salvation is a different question, and a difficult one.  First, it  is important to recognize the central promise: Jesus came to save  &lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;you&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;"&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;div id="sdfootnote15"&gt;  &lt;p class="sdfootnote"&gt;&lt;a class="sdfootnotesym" name="sdfootnote15sym" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote15anc"&gt;15&lt;/a&gt;  Colossians 1:18, 20 “&lt;i&gt;He is the head of the body, the church. He  is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he  might be preeminent ... and through him to reconcile to himself all  things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of  his cross.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;”&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;div id="sdfootnote16"&gt;  &lt;p class="sdfootnote"&gt;&lt;a class="sdfootnotesym" name="sdfootnote16sym" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote16anc"&gt;16&lt;/a&gt;  Luke 9:53 “&lt;i&gt;The people did not receive him, because his face was  set toward Jerusalem.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;”&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;div id="sdfootnote17"&gt;  &lt;p class="sdfootnote"&gt;&lt;a class="sdfootnotesym" name="sdfootnote17sym" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote17anc"&gt;17&lt;/a&gt;  John 19:30 “&lt;i&gt;He said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his  head and gave up his spirit.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;”&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;  &lt;/i&gt;  &lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;div id="sdfootnote18"&gt;  &lt;p class="sdfootnote"&gt;&lt;a class="sdfootnotesym" name="sdfootnote18sym" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote18anc"&gt;18&lt;/a&gt;  John 1:11 “&lt;i&gt;He came to his own, and his own people did not  receive him.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;”&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;div id="sdfootnote19"&gt;  &lt;p class="sdfootnote"&gt;&lt;a class="sdfootnotesym" name="sdfootnote19sym" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote19anc"&gt;19&lt;/a&gt;  Mark 15:31-32 “&lt;i&gt;The scribes mocked him to one another, saying,  'He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Christ, the King  of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and  believe.'” &lt;/i&gt;  &lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;div id="sdfootnote20"&gt;  &lt;p class="sdfootnote"&gt;&lt;a class="sdfootnotesym" name="sdfootnote20sym" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote20anc"&gt;20&lt;/a&gt;  Matthew 16:23 “&lt;i&gt;He turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind me,  Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind  on the things of God, but on the things of man.'” &lt;/i&gt;  &lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;div id="sdfootnote21"&gt;  &lt;p class="sdfootnote"&gt;&lt;a class="sdfootnotesym" name="sdfootnote21sym" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote21anc"&gt;21&lt;/a&gt;  Romans 7:1 “&lt;i&gt;Do you not know, brothers—for I am speaking to  those who know the law—that the law is binding on a person only as  long as he lives?” &lt;/i&gt;  &lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;div id="sdfootnote22"&gt;  &lt;p class="sdfootnote"&gt;&lt;a class="sdfootnotesym" name="sdfootnote22sym" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote22anc"&gt;22&lt;/a&gt;  Romans 9:9, 11 “&lt;i&gt;This is what the promise said: ...though they  were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order  that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works  but because of him who calls.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;”&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;div id="sdfootnote23"&gt;  &lt;p class="sdfootnote"&gt;&lt;a class="sdfootnotesym" name="sdfootnote23sym" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote23anc"&gt;23&lt;/a&gt;  Romans 11:32-36&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;div id="sdfootnote24"&gt;  &lt;p class="sdfootnote"&gt;&lt;a class="sdfootnotesym" name="sdfootnote24sym" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote24anc"&gt;24&lt;/a&gt;  Romans 12:1&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;div id="sdfootnote25"&gt;  &lt;p class="sdfootnote"&gt;&lt;a class="sdfootnotesym" name="sdfootnote25sym" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote25anc"&gt;25&lt;/a&gt;  Matthew 19:25-26 “&lt;i&gt;When the disciples heard this, they were  greatly astonished, saying, 'Who then can be saved?' But Jesus  looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God  all things are possible.'”&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;div id="sdfootnote26"&gt;  &lt;p class="sdfootnote"&gt;&lt;a class="sdfootnotesym" name="sdfootnote26sym" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote26anc"&gt;26&lt;/a&gt;  2 Corinthians 1:19 “&lt;i&gt;For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we  proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and  No, but in him it is always Yes.”&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;div id="sdfootnote27"&gt;  &lt;p class="sdfootnote"&gt;&lt;a class="sdfootnotesym" name="sdfootnote27sym" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote27anc"&gt;27&lt;/a&gt;  1 Corinthians 1:21 “&lt;i&gt;In the wisdom of God, the world did not  know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we  preach to save those who believe.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;”&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;div id="sdfootnote28"&gt;  &lt;p class="sdfootnote"&gt;&lt;a class="sdfootnotesym" name="sdfootnote28sym" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote28anc"&gt;28&lt;/a&gt;  John 6:63 “&lt;i&gt;It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no  help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and  life.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;”&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;div id="sdfootnote29"&gt;  &lt;p class="sdfootnote"&gt;&lt;a class="sdfootnotesym" name="sdfootnote29sym" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote29anc"&gt;29&lt;/a&gt;  2 Timothy 2:13 “&lt;i&gt;If we are faithless, he remains faithful— for  he cannot deny himself.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;”&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;  &lt;/i&gt;  &lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;div id="sdfootnote30"&gt;  &lt;p class="sdfootnote"&gt;&lt;a name="v60003018-1"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a class="sdfootnotesym" name="sdfootnote30sym" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote30anc"&gt;30&lt;/a&gt;  1 Peter 3:18, 20-21 “&lt;i&gt;For Christ also suffered once for sins,  the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, …  because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in  the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few,  that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism,  which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt  from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through  the resurrection of Jesus Christ.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;”&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;div id="sdfootnote31"&gt;  &lt;p class="sdfootnote"&gt;&lt;a class="sdfootnotesym" name="sdfootnote31sym" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote31anc"&gt;31&lt;/a&gt;  Titus 3:7 “&lt;i&gt;Being justified by his grace we might become heirs  according to the hope of eternal life.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;”&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;div id="sdfootnote32"&gt;  &lt;p class="sdfootnote"&gt;&lt;a class="sdfootnotesym" name="sdfootnote32sym" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote32anc"&gt;32&lt;/a&gt;  Romans 8:32 “&lt;i&gt;He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up  for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all  things?”&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;div id="sdfootnote33"&gt;  &lt;p class="sdfootnote"&gt;&lt;a class="sdfootnotesym" name="sdfootnote33sym" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote33anc"&gt;33&lt;/a&gt;  Philippians 1:6 “&lt;i&gt;I am sure of this, that he who began a good  work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;”&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;div id="sdfootnote34"&gt;  &lt;p class="sdfootnote"&gt;&lt;a class="sdfootnotesym" name="sdfootnote34sym" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote34anc"&gt;34&lt;/a&gt;  Ephesians 1:5 “&lt;i&gt;He predestined us for adoption as sons through  Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;”&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;div id="sdfootnote35"&gt;  &lt;p class="sdfootnote"&gt;&lt;a class="sdfootnotesym" name="sdfootnote35sym" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote35anc"&gt;35&lt;/a&gt;  Matthew 5:12 “&lt;i&gt;Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in  heaven.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;”&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;div id="sdfootnote36"&gt;  &lt;p class="sdfootnote"&gt;&lt;a class="sdfootnotesym" name="sdfootnote36sym" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote36anc"&gt;36&lt;/a&gt;  Jeremiah 33:11 “&lt;i&gt;The voice of mirth and the voice of gladness,  the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voices  of those who sing, as they bring thank offerings to the house of the  Lord: “‘Give thanks to the Lord of hosts, for the Lord is good,  for his steadfast love endures forever!”&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;div id="sdfootnote37"&gt;  &lt;p class="sdfootnote"&gt;&lt;a name="p04006022.03-1"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a name="v04006025-1"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a name="v04006027-1"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a name="p04006027.01-1"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;  &lt;a class="sdfootnotesym" name="sdfootnote37sym" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote37anc"&gt;37&lt;/a&gt;  Numbers 6:23-27 “&lt;i&gt;Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you  shall say to them, 'The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make  his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up  his countenance upon you and give you peace.' So shall they put my  name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.”&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;div id="sdfootnote38"&gt;  &lt;p class="sdfootnote"&gt;&lt;a class="sdfootnotesym" name="sdfootnote38sym" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote38anc"&gt;38&lt;/a&gt;  John 15:16 “&lt;i&gt;You did not choose me, but I chose you and  appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit  should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may  give it to you.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;”&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;div id="sdfootnote39"&gt;  &lt;p class="sdfootnote"&gt;&lt;a class="sdfootnotesym" name="sdfootnote39sym" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote39anc"&gt;39&lt;/a&gt;  Rare, indeed, has been the theological system or movement that has  attempted to walk the lonely way between these two factions.  Some  sections of Lutheranism, particularly as confessed in the Book of  Concord of 1580, have made the effort, although we have used the  mirror in our own way.  So long as one wants to talk “about”  election, predestination and salvation, rather than experience it  through the pure hearing of the Word of God that comes only when  Scripture left to do its organic and whole work, our systems will  usually serve to remove the offense, whether it is predestination,  the resistibility of irresistible grace, the ability of the root of  faith to starve to death or the simple fact that a dead man on a  cross is the salvation of all mankind.  The strength of the Lutheran  tradition, for all its own failings, has been its insistence that  whatever Scripture says, it is best to believe it, even if, at the  moment, it leaves some questions unanswered.   &lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;div id="sdfootnote40"&gt;  &lt;p class="sdfootnote"&gt;&lt;a class="sdfootnotesym" name="sdfootnote40sym" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3731602902984244160#sdfootnote40anc"&gt;40&lt;/a&gt;  &lt;b&gt;Both/And – a Brief Review of the Doctrine of Election&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="sdfootnote"&gt;&lt;b&gt;     &lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;"&gt;The   last two chapters have dealt largely with the difficult paradox of  salvation that is at the center of the Christian faith.  For  millenia theologians have disputed it.  For centuries it has been  called the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;crux telegorum&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;"&gt;,  or, “&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;the Problem of the Cross&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;"&gt;.”   “Why some, not others?”  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="sdfootnote"&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;"&gt;      It is a matter which cannot be simply resolved in the human mind  without denying large portions of Scripture.  The human will is  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;depraved&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;"&gt;  (Genesis 6:5, Jeremiah 17:9, Romans 7:18, etc.)  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;Only   God can save &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;"&gt;us  (Isaiah 45:21, Hosea 13:4, Luke 1:47, 1 Timothy 2:5, etc.)  God  saves those &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;he elects/chooses &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;"&gt;to  save (Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 8:29-30, 9:10-18, etc.)  But those men  and women who will receive damnation receive it because &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;they   have elected &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;"&gt;that  destiny for themselves (Matthew 16:27, 25:31-46, Romans 2:6-16, 2  Corinthians 5:10, 1 Peter 1:17, Revelation 20:12, 22:12.)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="sdfootnote"&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;"&gt;      &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;God saves by grace alone &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;"&gt;(John  3:16.)  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;Man damns by unbelief alone &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;"&gt;(1  Corinthians 16:22.)  God is transcendent. Man has a will.  This is  the Word of the Lord revealed to his elect in Holy Writ.  To try to  resolve the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;crux&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;"&gt;  he has given us, to make the cross go away, to hide the scandal in  terms which our minds can understand only eventually serves to keep  the resurrected man buried from our sight.  It is to try, once  again, to assert our will over God's, to limit the infinte wisdom of  God to our finite reason, to say that we can make a good which is  better than &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;his&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: normal;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;"&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="sdfootnote" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"&gt;       True Christianity is always in accordance with the entire  revelation of Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16, Hebrews 4:12, Proverbs  5:30, Psalm 18:30.)  False teaching will arise and has always  arisen, but it will never prevail (Proverbs 21:8, 2 Peter 2:1.)   Salvation by grace through faith in the work of the Son of God,  Jesus Christ, will go forward through its confession/preaching, and  the gates of hell shall not prevail against it any more than the  gates of hades prevailed against the body of our Lord (Matthew  16:16-18.)  It is good to tremble in humility before this reality,  both our utter inability to be saved, and in the goodness of Jesus  who promises that he has saved us anyway (James 4:10, Acts 2:37-38,  16:30.)  the Lord is good, and his steadfast love endures forever  (Psalm 106.)  So good and so forever that he didn't even ruin your  chances by leaving you even a hint of a choice in the matter.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:130%;" &gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-521320840474271594?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/521320840474271594/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=521320840474271594' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/521320840474271594'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/521320840474271594'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/03/chapter-6-orientation.html' title='Chapter 6: Orientation'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S6D0zcN9jmI/AAAAAAAAB5Q/nmdzsTTApng/s72-c/SpawnGoodEvil.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-2751791009783076754</id><published>2010-03-14T10:29:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-03-15T18:56:53.345-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Lent 4 - Luke 15</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S50hSD6IDEI/AAAAAAAAB5A/QKjPOYERbHk/s1600-h/what+is+truth.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 254px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S50hSD6IDEI/AAAAAAAAB5A/QKjPOYERbHk/s320/what+is+truth.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448547718358633538" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Luke15.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Luke15.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-2751791009783076754?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/2751791009783076754/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=2751791009783076754' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/2751791009783076754'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/2751791009783076754'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/03/lent-3-luke-15.html' title='Lent 4 - Luke 15'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S50hSD6IDEI/AAAAAAAAB5A/QKjPOYERbHk/s72-c/what+is+truth.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-7133945477906532286</id><published>2010-03-07T11:42:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-03-15T18:56:40.117-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Lent 3 - More Luke 13</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S5QCQxlTk6I/AAAAAAAAB4o/cis27D39yRs/s1600-h/pieta.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 254px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S5QCQxlTk6I/AAAAAAAAB4o/cis27D39yRs/s320/pieta.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445980336608744354" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Luke13a.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Luke13a.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-7133945477906532286?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/7133945477906532286/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=7133945477906532286' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/7133945477906532286'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/7133945477906532286'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/03/lent-2-more-luke-13.html' title='Lent 3 - More Luke 13'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S5QCQxlTk6I/AAAAAAAAB4o/cis27D39yRs/s72-c/pieta.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-8497824563540103618</id><published>2010-03-03T11:18:00.001-08:00</published><updated>2010-03-03T11:28:56.113-08:00</updated><title type='text'>A Little Unexpected (and Apocalyptic) Joy</title><content type='html'>Just a few notes about the goings on in the world this past week.  Along  with having the privilege of &lt;a href="http://issuesetc.org/podcast/434022510H1p.mp3"&gt;being a guest &lt;/a&gt;on  the radio show &lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;&lt;a href="http://issuesetc.org/"&gt;Issues, Etc&lt;/a&gt;. &lt;/span&gt;last week, &lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;and&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;,  being nominated for &lt;a href="http://issuesetc.org/podcast/sbotwfisk02-25.mp3"&gt;"Sound Byte of  the Week"&lt;/a&gt; &lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;and&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; winning Sound Byte of the  Week &lt;a href="http://issuesetc.org/podcast/435022610H2S2.mp3"&gt;by popular  vote of the listeners&lt;/a&gt;, I was &lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;also&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; privileged to be asked  back this week to spend &lt;a href="http://issuesetc.org/podcast/437030210H1p.mp3"&gt;an hour talking  about the structure of the Book of Revelation &lt;/a&gt;(which I have been &lt;a href="http://issuesetc.org/podcast/437030210H1p.mp3"&gt;teaching in depth  to the young adults&lt;/a&gt; on Thursday nights for the last 8 months or so.)    It's great to get the chance to be on a nationally listened-to radio  show.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;What a blessing!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Oh...and if you're a regular follower of this blog and you haven't yet checked out my new weeklyish podcat, then hop over to &lt;a href="http://www.worldvieweverlasting.blogspot.com"&gt;Worldview Everlasting&lt;/a&gt; (or look for it in the itunes store) and give it a try.  Only one caveat: if you're over 40, you might not like the music.  Fair warning given!&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-8497824563540103618?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/8497824563540103618/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=8497824563540103618' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/8497824563540103618'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/8497824563540103618'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/03/little-unexpected-and-apocalyptic.html' title='A Little Unexpected (and Apocalyptic) Joy'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-803521682219228247</id><published>2010-02-28T11:42:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-02-28T11:43:59.806-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Lent 2 - Luke 13</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S4rHdQM-OiI/AAAAAAAAB4Q/JQGzRD7MXbc/s1600-h/pieta.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 254px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S4rHdQM-OiI/AAAAAAAAB4Q/JQGzRD7MXbc/s320/pieta.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443382405010176546" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Luke13.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Luke13.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-803521682219228247?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/803521682219228247/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=803521682219228247' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/803521682219228247'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/803521682219228247'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/02/lent-2-luke-13.html' title='Lent 2 - Luke 13'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S4rHdQM-OiI/AAAAAAAAB4Q/JQGzRD7MXbc/s72-c/pieta.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-8308562017000684015</id><published>2010-02-24T13:52:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-02-24T13:53:04.490-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Forthcoming Writings...</title><content type='html'>With the onset of Lent, heightening responsibilities with PLM, and an  otherwise fairly packed schedule, I'm going to be approaching the  further eNews "theological musings" a bit differently, at least for a  little while.  First off, rather than publishing "bits" of a chapter  weekly, I'm going to wait until I have an entire chapter to put forth at  a time.  But this means I will only be putting out a chapter, at best,  once a month.  Sometimes it might be faster, sometimes not, but for now,  that's the way it will be.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I also hope to be bringing out some other materials in the near future, so don't stop checking in.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-8308562017000684015?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/8308562017000684015/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=8308562017000684015' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/8308562017000684015'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/8308562017000684015'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/02/forthcoming-writings.html' title='Forthcoming Writings...'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-5817502872766300793</id><published>2010-02-21T11:10:00.001-08:00</published><updated>2010-02-21T11:25:41.075-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Lent 1 - Luke 4</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S4GFYA9_hxI/AAAAAAAAB4A/PzX2E-zpY-s/s1600-h/Temptation_of_Christ.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 222px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S4GFYA9_hxI/AAAAAAAAB4A/PzX2E-zpY-s/s320/Temptation_of_Christ.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440776472463640338" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/luke4tempt.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/luke4tempt.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-5817502872766300793?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/5817502872766300793/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=5817502872766300793' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/5817502872766300793'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/5817502872766300793'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/02/lent-1-luke-4.html' title='Lent 1 - Luke 4'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S4GFYA9_hxI/AAAAAAAAB4A/PzX2E-zpY-s/s72-c/Temptation_of_Christ.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-3366575870282873532</id><published>2010-02-17T11:41:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-02-17T11:42:21.197-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Freedom Pt. IVand V - You(')r(e) Problem and His Answer</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S3xEQzeec_I/AAAAAAAAB24/odNyy9fd4m4/s1600-h/AllAboutMeLarge.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S3xEQzeec_I/AAAAAAAAB24/odNyy9fd4m4/s320/AllAboutMeLarge.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439297505443345394" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;This week's section is the last in the chapter on "Freedom." If you've been diligently reading along, all the puzzle pieces should start of all into place. We aren't robots after all, and we are free in a sense, but how does any of that help us? Where is the Gospel in it? And when does my freedom from God become slavery to myself? Those are the questions we've been driving towards. Those are the answers we will look for in this week's installment.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;-----&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It has been clearly revealed to all the world that the Almighty God intends to be the Savior of mankind.1 But this means that now he is faced with the problem of having to free sinners from their freedom to commit sins. He must make slaves of sin into slaves of righteousness.2 Humanly speaking, this is simply an &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt;impossible&lt;/span&gt; task.3&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It isn't rational. What sane, selfish human would ever willingly give up his will's freedom to decide things for itself? Remember: “But we are not robots!” This is our great defense against the God who has said he will do everything divinely possible in order to save us from our robotic commitment to freedom from him. So utterly corrupt is the human will that we think that God's grace extended in order to save us from our corrupted wills is actually a great evil. So blighted is human nature that we hasten to believe that anything which might be done “against my will” is the very definition of evil. For us, there is no other option. We have placed “what I want” on the throne of God.4&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S3xEkyHndZI/AAAAAAAAB3A/hCaJLfP6oFg/s1600-h/copyremix.gif"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 313px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S3xEkyHndZI/AAAAAAAAB3A/hCaJLfP6oFg/s320/copyremix.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439297848676414866" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;That is the problem with sinners. Sinners don't repent. They can't. It's against their nature. Addicts do not quit. Slaves are not free.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Here we sit, making our constant, daily choices over every little aspect of life. But not a one of these choices is actually “free” in the full sense of the word, precisely because &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt;you &lt;/span&gt;have to make every single one of them.  This means that every free choice is “bound” to be the choice that you &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt;want &lt;/span&gt;to make, and in this ironic sense, you actually don't have a choice in the matter. Then, if you roll into this equation how the God of Holy Scripture has said that he has destined himself to hold you accountable for every last one of these thoughts, words and deeds, whatever freedom does exist in all of your wants and desires ends up being a matter of debt on a scale before the Judgment seat of the Almighty.5&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This is hardly liberating. Life is lived on borrowed capital, and the owner of that capital is going to demand more than a little interest earned from a savings account.6 All this being true, the pretend “freedom” to do whatever we want whenever we want, which we defend so vociferously, stops looking like its really the best apple on the tree. To the contrary, a will that is totally free to make all choices is only free enough to receive the full consequences of those choices.7&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S3xExdHg5TI/AAAAAAAAB3I/SR8yFFmm7A0/s1600-h/dumb.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S3xExdHg5TI/AAAAAAAAB3I/SR8yFFmm7A0/s320/dumb.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439298066377139506" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;With exponential fury, the freedom begins to mount up a supernatural weight of slavery played out in the guilt we feel day by day.8 Even a minimal amount of restriction starts to look pretty helpful – like gutter-rails on a bowling lane. It's like the difference between being given two different types of quizzes by your high school teacher – you'll remember these. The first was the simple multiple choice quiz, with four options, “A, B, C, D.” No matter what, you always had a 25% chance of getting the answer right (50% if you marked “C”!) But then there were those horribly cruel examines with questions something like, “The teacher's favorite non-primary color is _________.” Oh, what a curse was that freedom! How much more every one of us longed for some boundaries to our answers!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Not all freedom is so very helpful. On those tests in high school, we were set free to receive the worst grade possible. But in real life, the freedom that we do have in our choices is all part of a series in which we are compelled to answer, “The teachers favorite color is &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt;my&lt;/span&gt; favorite color.” We hand in test after test and pop-quiz after pop-quiz with the open ended answers flush to the brim with only what we &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt;want &lt;/span&gt;the answers to be, bit by bit binding ourselves into a defintion of freedom and goodness that is merely the gravitational pull of &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt;me&lt;/span&gt;.   And, this happens to be God's very definition of &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt;evil&lt;/span&gt;.9&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S3xFDtWSPJI/AAAAAAAAB3Y/2h2wUujhsxw/s1600-h/AdamEve.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 218px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S3xFDtWSPJI/AAAAAAAAB3Y/2h2wUujhsxw/s320/AdamEve.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439298379971706002" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;Ever since Adam ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, having known only good before, we are getting quite a lesson in evil. But this lesson does not end in a pop-quiz. It ends in receiving the full wages which are earned.10 Payment for the knowledge of evil is death.11 Death is no doorway to something better, no portal to a spirit world, no developing too for the fittest to survive. Death is the beginning of something much worse. Death is the foretaste of hell.12&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;How free does all this make you feel?  This is the problem – &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt;your &lt;/span&gt;problem.  A truly free will is a profound and terrifying idea, and you are, in a very real sense, &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt;bound &lt;/span&gt;to it.  This freedom is slavery.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But this is also why learning to believe what Scripture reveals about how we are all possessors of such a bound will is the prelude to some profoundly &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt;good news&lt;/span&gt;. Remember, God has said that he considers this freedom we have grabbed not merely to be evil and the worst kind of slavery, but that it will be his great glory to save us from it.13 He is Almighty and free in all the best senses of the terms, and he has promised that he is using this Almightyness and freeness according to his own plan, directing everything and anything in all of the cosmos' history (including the fall which &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt;we &lt;/span&gt;chose and the constant poor decisions which we make) according to this &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt;good &lt;/span&gt;will.14&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S3xFTuCTk8I/AAAAAAAAB3g/rTNeOre7Yzw/s1600-h/070912_Jesus.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S3xFTuCTk8I/AAAAAAAAB3g/rTNeOre7Yzw/s320/070912_Jesus.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439298655034250178" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;God also tends to do only what he wants. The difference is that what he wants is always what is best for everyone else – and, he is powerful enough to pull it off every time.15 What God wants, in your case, is to save you from every last one of your very worst (most freed from him) decisions, choices and actions. And &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt;this&lt;/span&gt; is the root of the Gospel.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Imagine it: the entire universe is being moved and worked by God according to his designs to save &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt;you&lt;/span&gt;.&lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;There is still no “oops.” There is only his plan, his pre-destiny. Our little rebellious “wills” are running around doing whatever it is that we “will” do, but none of us ever manages to get outside that transcendent completing of salvation which God has set in motion. Not as a robot, but as a sinful human, you make all your decisions, good and (more often) bad, free and (because of it) bound, yet all the while God is being God, not relinquishing one inch of his claim to be your King, and, for that reason, not budging an inch on his intention to save you from the death and hell you have bound yourself into freely choosing (unless he intervenes.)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"&gt;His Answer&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S3xFs9_gMKI/AAAAAAAAB3o/w4oRGIHR47E/s1600-h/ace3.gif"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 195px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S3xFs9_gMKI/AAAAAAAAB3o/w4oRGIHR47E/s320/ace3.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439299088814190754" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;Scripture reveals that God is much more God than our natural reason would ever wish to believe, &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt;and &lt;/span&gt;this is an imperially &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt;good &lt;/span&gt;thing. He has enough Godness that he can even overlook our silly disputes about the extent of our “free” wills until where we actually draw the line becomes a wonderfully moot point.16 Whatever you choose, on your own it can never amount to the ultimate right thing.17 If you were given even once chance to save yourself by choosing to give up your freed will, you could be stood up at the gates of hell and you still wouldn't back down. So it is right at that point that God is playing the trump card of his ultimate Sovereignty in order to save you from that most terrible, childish decision you are freely bound to make.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S3xF8ddTgAI/AAAAAAAAB3w/gb5x2wtL_Ek/s1600-h/nes_rob.gif"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 315px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S3xF8ddTgAI/AAAAAAAAB3w/gb5x2wtL_Ek/s320/nes_rob.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439299354958725122" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;Yet, there is one last piece to this “willful” puzzle. God has planned to save you from your will that will never choose to be saved from. But he also knows that he cannot force that decision either. The bent will cannot be made straight. That would not be salvation. That &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt;would &lt;/span&gt;be making you a robot, compelling you to live against your everlastingly selfish will for the rest of an eternity. All the good you might do you would actually hate. That wouldn't be any kind of real good at all.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“Aha!” the old flesh in you now must say. “God will not force me to love him. This is a great defense. It appears that must be free choose after all.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S3xGJ_amQrI/AAAAAAAAB34/WXWyKEILpW8/s1600-h/resurrection%285%29.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 285px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S3xGJ_amQrI/AAAAAAAAB34/WXWyKEILpW8/s320/resurrection%285%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439299587412476594" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;Oh no. It is far worse (and better) than that. God knows that there is no way to force a sinner to genuinely repent. He knows that setting rules and laws doesn't help wicked men become good men. So now, in his Godness, in order to save his creation, he has taken the kind of radical tact and action which none of us could have foreseen, much less chosen. Man needs to be set free from his free (from God) will. Man needs his worst enemy (himself) to be gotten out of the way. So, God has elected to kill Man. That will do the trick. Once Man is dead, he can no longer say “no.” Dead and buried, his sinful will can be stripped away, purged, cleansed and made new. Once dead, he can be regenerated into freedom from himself, from his selfishness, from his bound tyranny. Only once Man is dead, can he be&lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt; resurrected&lt;/span&gt;.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Here is the heart of the matter. Here is the profound reality of what has in fact happened in the death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ.18&lt;br /&gt;---------&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;1. 1 Timothy 4:10 “We have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;2. Romans 6:20 “When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;3. Mark 10:26-27 “They were exceedingly astonished, and said to him,'Then who can be saved?' Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man it is impossible...' ”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;4. Romans 7:14 “I am of the flesh, sold under sin.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;5. Revelation 20:12 “And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;6. Matthew 25:77 “Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.” cf. 25:14-30&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;7. Ezekiel 25:35 “Thus says the Lord God: Because you have forgotten me and cast me behind your back, you yourself must bear the consequences of your lewdness and whoring.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;8. Psalm 25:11 “For your name's sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;9. James 3:16 “For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;10. Psalm 5:10 “Make them bear their guilt, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out, for they have rebelled against you.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;11. Romans 6:23 “The wages of sin is death.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;12. Revelation 20:14 “Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;13. Isaiah 30:18 “The Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;14. Ephesians 3:10-11 “Through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;15. Exodus 34:6-7 “The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;16. Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;17. Psalm 14:3 “They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;18. Romans 8:3-4 “For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh....” &lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-3366575870282873532?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/3366575870282873532/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=3366575870282873532' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/3366575870282873532'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/3366575870282873532'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/02/freedom-pt-ivand-v-youre-problem-and.html' title='Freedom Pt. IVand V - You(&apos;)r(e) Problem and His Answer'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S3xEQzeec_I/AAAAAAAAB24/odNyy9fd4m4/s72-c/AllAboutMeLarge.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-2740298071909497353</id><published>2010-02-14T12:00:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-02-14T12:02:37.850-08:00</updated><title type='text'>A Sermon Lost...</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S3hW0g-f5cI/AAAAAAAAB2w/dRsANBgTBEQ/s1600-h/enjoy_the_silence_by_wickednox.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 246px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S3hW0g-f5cI/AAAAAAAAB2w/dRsANBgTBEQ/s320/enjoy_the_silence_by_wickednox.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438192010255132098" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;My apologies to all.  I have yet again managed to misplace the recording of this mornings sermon.  Somehow, I have recorded well over an hour's worth of silence.  Not exactly sure what happened, but I will hopefully have it fixed by next week.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-2740298071909497353?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/2740298071909497353/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=2740298071909497353' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/2740298071909497353'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/2740298071909497353'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/02/sermon-lost.html' title='A Sermon Lost...'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S3hW0g-f5cI/AAAAAAAAB2w/dRsANBgTBEQ/s72-c/enjoy_the_silence_by_wickednox.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-3285961036128819328</id><published>2010-02-09T13:26:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-02-09T13:46:21.938-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Freedom Pt. 3 - Will You</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S3HVdkYQFNI/AAAAAAAAB2o/SRZURWSA6FE/s1600-h/enchiridion-titre.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 340px; height: 420px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S3HVdkYQFNI/AAAAAAAAB2o/SRZURWSA6FE/s320/enchiridion-titre.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436360929171215570" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;In the meditations on "Freedom" I've been sharing with you, we've been wrestling with the Biblical teaching of what Martin Luther called "The bondage of the will." This week, we build on the foundation laid in the previous two sections.&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The theology of "the will" is a hot point of debate in many circles of Christianity. Even the so-called "non-denominational groups (who will tell you, "I'm just a Christian," or "Our church just teaches what the Bible says,") still end up sitting in one of the classic denominational-dogmatic camps (usually a slightly Baptist Methodism.)  No matter that they might think, all churches and all Christians believe something about the human will.&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The Lutheran position on the will stands alone like an eye in a storm, a middle ground between to towering mountains on either side. The purpose of this chapter is to try and bring out the uniquely Lutheran contribution to the table, precisely because by holding up all the passages of Scripture, the Lutheran view finds that the teachings on our will press us once more back into the Good News about Jesus.&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;For that very reason, this chapter (along with the entire book) is written as something of a gimmick.  It doesn't come out blasting, "We are Lutherans! We have the answers!" (Or, at least, it tries not too.) Rather, it's written so that, if it falls into the hands of those people who like to say, "I'm just a Bible-believing Christian," they will be confronted with everything that the Bible actually says.&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It's a gambit, to be sure.  As I pointed out last week, writing a book is a somewhat loony thing to do to begin with.  On top of that, as I said in the first section on freedom, this chapter is the breaking point for the entire book, at least, for any one who is not already a Lutheran.  The earlier chapters on "Vanity" (original sin,) "Entropy" (the cursed world,) "Aliens" (resurrection) and "Goodness," (justification) are topics that most Christians will be able to engage in, if only with an "Oh yeah, I remember that!" approach.   That's the hook. But then, with "Freedom," the reel starts to tug. If the reader fights it the hook down and swallows it, then the hope is that, from that point on, the Bible will be a newly opened book once again: the depths of the good news in baptism, forgiveness, the Supper, and much more, will all start to slip into place.&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In that sense, this "book" is trying to be something of a post-modern large catechism for popular consumption (or, more precisely, [and perhaps ironically!] an &lt;/span&gt;"&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enchiridion_of_Augustine"&gt;enchiridion&lt;/a&gt;"&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;).&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So...last week's "You're Will" moves into this week's "Will You," continuing to delve into the dilemma of discovering exactly what being a "will" means, especially a "will" that is now "free" in all the wrong ways, particularly from the constraints of God, and hisown (much more perfect) will.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;------&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S3HPb5_JaSI/AAAAAAAAB1w/pPVu_4DDHjg/s1600-h/apple-university.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 309px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S3HPb5_JaSI/AAAAAAAAB1w/pPVu_4DDHjg/s320/apple-university.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436354303541995810" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;The struggle over understanding what Scripture has to teach us about the relative “freedom” of our wills often stems from those passages which clearly state that God does and will hold all humans accountable for their rebellion against him.1  If God is going to hold us accountable for our deeds, then it seems reasonable that we must have some way of pleasing him, of choosing him, or of avoiding the condemnation which he threatens to bring.  In a sense, humanity did have that chance.  The problem is, that choice was already made a long, long time ago.2&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There is an old saying: “The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.”  When my grandparents used to say this, what they meant was that a daughter is always the product of his parents.  “He's a real chip off the old block.”  The son is no different than his father.  Although this conventional wisdom doesn't always hold true in every corner of our lives, it is a wonderful description of the Biblical truth that “all mankind fell in Adam's fall.”3  We are all chips off the old block.  We have fallen from the tree in more ways than one.4  The entire predicament of humanity is wrapped up in one man's choice, so much so that now there is actually nothing that any of us can do about it.5&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S3HP4BFx3UI/AAAAAAAAB14/pCDqrZxAZh8/s1600-h/broken-world.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 286px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S3HP4BFx3UI/AAAAAAAAB14/pCDqrZxAZh8/s320/broken-world.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436354786485198146" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;Adam originally sinned.  That means that he rebelled against God.  This choosing of evil over good was not a part of God's plan.  We know from Scripture that God didn't say “oops,” but we also know that this sin was not some sort of trojan program implanted on Adam's hard drive, as if humanity had no choice in the matter.6  We very much&lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt; had&lt;/span&gt; a choice, and there is the kernel of this entire paradox.  But it's a nut we are not quite able to crack, and Scripture never cracks it for us.7  Instead, Scripture reveals two sides of a coin that seem as different as heads and tails.  1.  God did not break the world.  It was not his idea.  He did not will it to be.8  2.  We broke the world by choosing abandon the Almighty God – a God so powerful that it is impossible to abandon him and live.9&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S3HQXTr3yxI/AAAAAAAAB2A/YYxHaBygIw8/s1600-h/candy+stone+chips.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S3HQXTr3yxI/AAAAAAAAB2A/YYxHaBygIw8/s320/candy+stone+chips.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436355324052753170" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;What this means is that Adam's original sin was the closest thing to an absolutely “free” choice that has ever been made in the history of the cosmos.10  He was not a robot.  He had a will, but he chose to corrupt it – horribly so! &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt; And&lt;/span&gt; the apple didn't fall far from the tree.  His children, each and every one, is a chip off the old block.  You have a will – the same one as your father before you.  Like him, your will has been bound to seek more freedom from God, so much so that you are an utter slave to it.11&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“You will be like God,” the serpent said to Eve.  “If you come to know both good and evil, your will will be free to choose, to make, to be. The true image of God is having a free will.”12 &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt; This was the great lie.&lt;/span&gt;  It's just not true.  You have a will that your ancestor segregated from his God, but it did not give him everlasting, god-like freedom.  Quite the opposite.  Like the proverbial monkey who puts his hand in a jar to grab a nut, he became trapped by his own greed, unable to let go of the nut even though it meant remaining caught in the trap.  This is the reality of your everyday struggle between God's good and the evil which ever seeks to be “freed” from him.  Such freedom is no freedom at all.13&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S3HQnw9keII/AAAAAAAAB2I/nhz-xQeU0I4/s1600-h/ballchain1.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 226px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S3HQnw9keII/AAAAAAAAB2I/nhz-xQeU0I4/s320/ballchain1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436355606789519490" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;All of us have far less freedom than we'd like.  You do not have the freedom to not die, no matter how hard you wish it.  Neither do you have the freedom to, should you accidentally die, choose to rise to life again.  Even in much smaller matters, say, for example, what you chose to wear this morning, you aren't very free.  Think about it.  Even if you had no constraints put upon you by anyone outside of yourself, you still couldn't bring yourself to wear that old shirt you once spent money on but now can't seem to stand.  (You know the one.)  But the reason you weren't “free” to put it on was because of no one but &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt;yourself&lt;/span&gt;.  You were bound to do nothing &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt;except&lt;/span&gt; your own will. Yet for that very reason, your own will was the only thing you could do.  In one very important sense, you didn't have any choice in the matter at all.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S3HRbUoouTI/AAAAAAAAB2Q/n_n19od-m1E/s1600-h/yogaimage.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 255px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S3HRbUoouTI/AAAAAAAAB2Q/n_n19od-m1E/s320/yogaimage.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436356492538722610" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;At first glance, being a slave to your own will might not seem like such a big deal.  But Scripture reveals it to be the one, great human predicament.14  We simply cannot “will” ourselves to prefer the things we don't prefer.15  I can't decide to dislike the things which I already adore (except when I realize that I'm enslaved to them, in which case I love them and hate them at the same time, all the while hating myself for loving them, and loving that I love them even though I hate doing so.)  Perhaps, by training and discipline, a person might be able to train himself to stop loving something – like, say, that cup of coffee I have every day.  Or, one &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt;might&lt;/span&gt; learn to like something he hates, like, say, running on a treadmill.  But this is the most&lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt; strange &lt;/span&gt;kind of freedom, for it is a case where one must &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt;work &lt;/span&gt;(and very hard at that) in the hopes of thwarting &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt;your own will&lt;/span&gt;.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;At the end of this road likes the fact that you are not so free as you would like, most especially when it comes to the tyranny you hold over yourself.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;All of this is to show once more that any freedom that you do have is an incredibly &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt;relative &lt;/span&gt;thing.  Your will is always as much in bondage as it is free.  This comes to bear powerfully in the Biblical teaching that because you are segregated from God by the choice of Adam, you now are absolutely powerless to will yourself back into his good graces, most especially by trying harder and harder to exercise your free will to do so.16&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S3HSLeM3FUI/AAAAAAAAB2Y/bnlChqvidFA/s1600-h/34776777_quicksand1.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 225px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S3HSLeM3FUI/AAAAAAAAB2Y/bnlChqvidFA/s320/34776777_quicksand1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436357319740298562" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;It's like being trapped in quicksand.  The harder you struggle to choose the actually Almighty God, the more you are exercising your attempt to free yourself from an actually Almighty God – so much so that when Jesus comes and says things like, “I have chosen you,”17 and “you are predestined,”18 and “not because of anything you have done,”19 the “natural man” in us has the terrible audacity to think that we would have been better off if he'd left us some choice in the matter.20&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;On top of all of this, the truth remains that even the most ardently freed will – a will freed from God – is still not &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt;actually&lt;/span&gt; free from God.  God is still God, even if we don't believe it.  He still controls, upholds and propagates the universe.  You can't escape it.  The more you try, the more you will find yourself trying to escape you – and you are the one person you can't ever get away from – not a robot, but a sinner and a rebel “will” enslaved to your own freedom.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S3HSawew48I/AAAAAAAAB2g/ICn_qVreKD0/s1600-h/insp_mattheus.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 199px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S3HSawew48I/AAAAAAAAB2g/ICn_qVreKD0/s320/insp_mattheus.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436357582345266114" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;This is the&lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt; bondage&lt;/span&gt; of the human will, our collective chips off the old block.  There is not answer to it that you can choose or find.  Even the problem itself needs to be revealed to us.  The only hope is that there is someone left beyond ourselves who is powerful enough to save us from it.&lt;br /&gt;---------&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;1. Romans 2:6 “He will render to each one according to his works.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;2. Genesis 2:16-17 “The Lord God commanded the man, saying, 'You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.' ”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;3. Romans 5:12 “Sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;4. Genesis 3:24 “He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;5. Romans 5:14-15 “Death reigned from Adam....Many died through one man's trespass.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;6. Psalm 139:16 “Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.”&lt;br /&gt;Ezekiel 18:23 “Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;7. Romans 9:11,15 “They were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls...he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy.”&lt;br /&gt;Matthew 23:37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not!”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;8. 1 John 1:5 “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;9. Genesis 3:17,19  “And to Adam he said, 'Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree&lt;br /&gt;of which I commanded you...cursed is the ground because of you...till you return to the ground...for you are dust....”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;10. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;But “how did he, a good being, choose a bad choice”?  That is the nut we can't crack.  It is the great unanswerable mystery in all Biblical theology, called the “crux telegorum” or “the problem of the cross.”  It is the heart of the nagging question, “Why some, not others?” and it is at the root of all controversies we have in discerning the bondage of our wills.  God has not revealed in Scripture “how” Adam fell.  But he has revealed that Adam did in fact do so, and with petrifying results!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;11. Ephesians 2:1 “You were dead in the trespasses and sins.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;12. Genesis 3:4-5 “The serpent said to the woman, 'You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.' ”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;13. 2 Peter 2:19 “They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;14. cf. Romans 7:7 “I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, 'You shall not covet.' ”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;15. Romans 7:15 “I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;16. cf. Mark 10:17-31&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;17. John 15:16 “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;18. Romans 8:30 “Those whom he predestined he also called...”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;19. Ephesians 2:8 “This is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;20. 1 Corinthians 2:14 “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-3285961036128819328?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/3285961036128819328/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=3285961036128819328' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/3285961036128819328'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/3285961036128819328'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/02/freedom-pt-3-will-you.html' title='Freedom Pt. 3 - Will You'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S3HVdkYQFNI/AAAAAAAAB2o/SRZURWSA6FE/s72-c/enchiridion-titre.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-7179063743326654011</id><published>2010-02-07T10:06:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-02-07T10:27:04.723-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Epiphany 5 - Luke 5</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S28Bl1_vBiI/AAAAAAAAB1o/BKzibMuViyo/s1600-h/churchship.gif"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S28Bl1_vBiI/AAAAAAAAB1o/BKzibMuViyo/s320/churchship.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435565024920667682" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Luke5.mp3"&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/Luke5.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-7179063743326654011?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/7179063743326654011/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=7179063743326654011' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/7179063743326654011'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/7179063743326654011'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/02/epiphany-5-luke-5.html' title='Epiphany 5 - Luke 5'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S28Bl1_vBiI/AAAAAAAAB1o/BKzibMuViyo/s72-c/churchship.gif' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-5484837363135468220</id><published>2010-02-04T11:45:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-02-04T11:52:19.678-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Writing: Thoughts about the Wisdom of Foolishness</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S2sk0X4K0oI/AAAAAAAAB1g/-CQmIqbN7Vg/s1600-h/writing-multiplesources.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S2sk0X4K0oI/AAAAAAAAB1g/-CQmIqbN7Vg/s320/writing-multiplesources.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434477857534038658" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;(If you're looking for the next installment, just scroll down to the next post!)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So why is it that I'm writing a book?  There are a number of answers to that question. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;For example, in the book &lt;span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:130%;" &gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" &gt;&lt;a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/1596381167/?tag=googhydr-20&amp;amp;hvadid=3141364181&amp;amp;ref=pd_sl_46v6whdqbq_e" target="_blank"&gt;"Why Johnny Can't Preach?" &lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; which the circuit pastor's conference just read for our January meeting, T. David Gordon, makes the case that a pastor who doesn't spend a good number of hours a week writing (it doesn't matter what - journaling, poetry, articles, etc.) is a pastor who will be a poor preacher.  (The same, he says, goes for reading and contemplation as well!)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Then there is that part of Pastor Fisk you might not know yet: I am a writer.  It's what I do.  Originally, it was my intention to make writing a career.  I didn't plan to be a pastor.  I planned to write, to teach English, to compose, to edit: I wasn't quite sure.  But my BA is in Creative Writing (which includes a minor in English Lit.)  From the time I was twenty I've been trying to write books - both fiction and theology.  (I do place some emphasis on that "trying" part. I did finish one fiction novel when I was 23, but...let's just say it'll stay in the files.  And I have several theological books in complete first draft forms, but not at a point ready for publication.)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So I love to write, which, (as George Orwell points out in his little book, &lt;span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:130%;" &gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" &gt;"&lt;a href="http://www.amazon.com/Why-Write-Penguin-Great-Ideas/dp/0143036351/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;s=books&amp;amp;qid=1265304625&amp;amp;sr=1-1" target="_blank"&gt;Why I Write&lt;/a&gt;,"&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;) means that I hate to write but I have no choice in the matter: I write.  In his words, "Writing a book is a horrible, exhausting struggle, like a long bout of some painful illness.  One would never undertake such a thing if one were not driven on by some [passion that] one can neither resist nor understand."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So, there's two reasons.  Pastors are supposed to write, and Pastor Fisk can't help but write.  And then, there is this: the eNews.  I started this eNews when we were in the midst of implementing the Revitalization process.  It became clear that we needed a central source for information as we "moved forward" week by week.  At that point, the writing I was doing for the eNews was an attempt to create some stability and purpose to the ideas we were pursuing.  Revitalization came and went, but the eNews lived on.  The new dilemma was that, without a goal to write about, the writing started to take a toll on me.  I started banging my ahead against a wall every Tuesday afternoon trying to figure out what to talk about to keep the eNews feeling eNewsy.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Then my eyes (somehow) drifted across an old, half finished book I kept in a three ring binder on my shelf.  "The Meaning of Life," I had called it.  "That's good stuff," I thought.  "It's mostly simple, has a purpose, and will give me a muse to pull ideas from."  So I started to pull my eNews topics from the chapters and sections of that book.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I fear that the publication has become less engaging since I went from publishing entire chapters, to publishing sections. You might remember that simple time-constraints have pressed me to write in bite-sized chunks.  I could, of course, not publish anything until a chapter is finished, but then, I wouldn't be serving the eNews.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Maybe you see a little of the dilemma?   It's even more bizarre, in that "The Wisdom of Foolishness" (the tentative new name for the book,) is not even the book I really am compelled to be working on!  (That book, if I'm lucky, I get to work on for about an hour on Thursday mornings - but I haven't touched it for two weeks and going.)  Wheels within wheels within wheels!   &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So I could (A) just stop writing this book and not include any theology in the eNews.  Or I could (B) write in bite-sized chunks, but only send out full chapters.  Or (C) just keep going along as it is.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I'm not sure.  What do you think?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I'm rather convinced bite-sized chunks is not the best way to read a book like the one I'm writing.  It is meant to be read a chapter at a time.  But it's a great way to write one because, with a deadline, its a good way to crank out a 1-2 pages a week.  There could even be some real advantages to the long term goals.  Think of it: the world really does need a Biblical counter to the massively popular "Purpose Driven Life" phenomenon.  And here we are, a writer and a group of readers who could, conceivably, provide immediate feedback every week.  We would not be the first congregation to see the writing of books as a valid and important part of Christian outreach and mission.  But even that would look a little different than what we're doing right now.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In any case, I just wanted to pass on some of my thoughts that are bouncing around my head as I labor to get a little "writing" done for the eNews. For now, I'm out of time!&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-5484837363135468220?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/5484837363135468220/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=5484837363135468220' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/5484837363135468220'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/5484837363135468220'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/02/writing-thoughts-about-wisdom-of.html' title='Writing: Thoughts about the Wisdom of Foolishness'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S2sk0X4K0oI/AAAAAAAAB1g/-CQmIqbN7Vg/s72-c/writing-multiplesources.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-34089708036658075</id><published>2010-02-03T16:50:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-02-03T17:03:47.569-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Freedom, Pt.2 -  You're Will</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S2oaXQWIecI/AAAAAAAAB1Y/iy4G-rgqtLM/s1600-h/writers-block13.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S2oaXQWIecI/AAAAAAAAB1Y/iy4G-rgqtLM/s320/writers-block13.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434184887203035586" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;I've had some trouble trying to keep my focus in writing the chapter "Freedom."  This is because wrestling with the doctrine of the bondage of the will (and it's counterpart teaching about where and how humans might have a "free will") is always a struggle.  That's part of the point.  The doctrine of election, which is one which is given in order to comfort us, often ends up giving us a great deal of duress.  This is because it takes the power out of our hands and puts it back into God's hands.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Trying to fit a book's worth of theology into a chapter of a few pages is then a significant challenge.  I keep having to ask, "What questions will the reader have?" and "What objections with the skeptic bring?"   This weeks section of the serial is almost entirely given over to one such question.  Before we can learn the value of believing in the bondage of the human will, first we must set the foundation of the claim.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;In order to strike as many birds with one stone as I can, I've settled on the argument which seems (to me) to some up all the arguments against the Biblical teaching of predestination: "But we aren't robots, are we?"  Even so, this week's section is very much the set up for what will follow.  Last week "&lt;a href="http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/01/freedom-pt-1.html"&gt;Deep Raving&lt;/a&gt;" introduced the relative nature of the words "freedom" and "slavery," that is, how these words can have different meanings in different contexts.  &lt;/span&gt;   &lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This week, that same train of thought continues.  Does not being a robot mean that we have a "free" will in all things?  Does having freedom mean that we are never slaves?  And, most importantly, is our tendency to resist the Bible's teaching that we do not have a fully "free" will bound up in our misunderstanding of what a "will" actually is?  These questions and more are at the heart of the next section, "&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt;You're Will.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;"&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;------&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S2nwrL9jG6I/AAAAAAAAB1A/1maYcsZaysI/s1600-h/johnny5-short-circuit.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 231px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S2nwrL9jG6I/AAAAAAAAB1A/1maYcsZaysI/s320/johnny5-short-circuit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434139050135198626" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;As soon as one begins talking about the Biblical teaching that humans do not have a “free will,” the devil will launch an immediate counter-attack. Like any good politician, he does not tell his lies outright, but he will mask every deception with a strong kernel of truth.1 “But...people are not robots,” he entices us to say. It is true. We are not robots.2 But this is not really an argument against what the Bible has to say about the problem of our wills. It is a classic tactic of deception: &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt;misdirection&lt;/span&gt;.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It is a misdirection because it pretends that we live in a reality in which everything is always, purely “either”...“or.”  &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt;Either&lt;/span&gt; we have complete, autonomous, free wills, capable of choosing all things for ourselves, both good and evil, life and death, right and wrong...&lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt;or&lt;/span&gt; we have no wills at all, but are only robotic creations of fatalism, every one of our thoughts, words and deeds prescribed for us before time and taking place, as it were, against our wills. In the Bible, God draws a line through the heart of our either/or syndrome. Are we free? Are we bound? Free &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt;from what&lt;/span&gt;?  Bound &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt;to what&lt;/span&gt;?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S2nw-8RA12I/AAAAAAAAB1I/-ZyHcSEPmUU/s1600-h/cup-coffee-daily1.png"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 256px; height: 256px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S2nw-8RA12I/AAAAAAAAB1I/-ZyHcSEPmUU/s320/cup-coffee-daily1.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434139389519255394" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;This morning, &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt;I &lt;/span&gt;got up, &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt;I &lt;/span&gt;put on clothes, and &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt;I &lt;/span&gt;headed out to do my reading over a cup of coffee.3  &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt;And&lt;/span&gt;, this morning, God Almighty breathed life into my flesh, protected my every step, sent his Spirit to enliven me through his Word, and providentially compels my works into the working of all things for the good of those who are in Christ.4 Was God Almighty? Yes.5 Am I still responsible for my actions? Yes.6 Am I a robot? No.7 Does that mean I have an absolutely “free” will in all things? Not exactly.8 Is there forgiveness? Of course.9 Does that forgiveness give me the freedom to choose evil? May it never be!10&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But all of this talk makes it much more complicated than it really is. The simple revelation is that God is an all-powerful, saving, predestining God,11 and I am one of his creatures who has unwittingly come to believe that there is nothing more threatening to my freedom than that simple answer.12 This makes things something of a mess. But my own discomfort with a God who chooses to save me even though I have chosen to rebel against him is also part of his revealed answer.13 Scripture teaches that the reason we struggle to believe what Scripture teaches is because it is the natural inclination of our wills to hate God's answers, because God's answer is that our wills have gotten themselves stuck looking for freedom in all the wrong places. &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt;like in ourselves&lt;/span&gt;.14&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S2nxpau9WUI/AAAAAAAAB1Q/sjJg8mkoNLQ/s1600-h/che-guevara1232976553.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 257px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S2nxpau9WUI/AAAAAAAAB1Q/sjJg8mkoNLQ/s320/che-guevara1232976553.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434140119252425026" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;God created humans to have wills. Jesus also had a will.15 The problem is that, in one sense, our wills have made an idol out of considering themselves free. Of course, the real question is, “Free from what?” When we ask that question in order to see what is lurking behind that voice of dispute, “But we're not robots!” what we find that we're defending is our right to be free from &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt;God&lt;/span&gt;.16&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In any revolution, “freedom fighters” are not robots. They are rebels. Rebels, by definition, oppose being slaves to the established authority. They are free. But they are &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt;not &lt;/span&gt;free. They are slaves to the rebellion.17 The reason Jesus teaches us that we cannot have two masters is not because having masters is evil. It is because, at the end of the day, you can only have &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt;one&lt;/span&gt;.  Humans do not have cosmically free wills because we must serve either God or mammon.  This time, there is no both/and.&lt;br /&gt;---------&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;1. 2 Corinthians 11:14 “And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;2. Genesis 2:7 “the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;3. Genesis 1:28“God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;4. Romans 8:28 “We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;5. Genesis 17:1 “The LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;6. Genesis 17:1 “The LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;7. Matthew 23:37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not!”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;8. Romans 9:16 “It depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;9. Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;10. Romans 6:1-2 “Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;11. Ephesians 1:11 “In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;12. Romans 1:22-23 “Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;13. Romans 9:20 “But who are you, O man, to answer back to God?”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;14. 1 Corinthians 2:14 “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;15.  John 6:38 “I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;16. Romans 2:21-23 “For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;17. 2 Peter 2:19 “They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-34089708036658075?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/34089708036658075/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=34089708036658075' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/34089708036658075'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/34089708036658075'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/02/freedom-pt2-youre-will.html' title='Freedom, Pt.2 -  You&apos;re Will'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S2oaXQWIecI/AAAAAAAAB1Y/iy4G-rgqtLM/s72-c/writers-block13.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-481419461754264662</id><published>2010-01-31T16:59:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-01-31T17:12:05.176-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Epiphany 4 - Luke 4b</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S2YpKNMdekI/AAAAAAAAB04/vJN0h3HGGkM/s1600-h/demons.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 242px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S2YpKNMdekI/AAAAAAAAB04/vJN0h3HGGkM/s400/demons.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433075255786437186" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/John2.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-481419461754264662?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/481419461754264662/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=481419461754264662' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/481419461754264662'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/481419461754264662'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/01/epiphany-4-luke-4b.html' title='Epiphany 4 - Luke 4b'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S2YpKNMdekI/AAAAAAAAB04/vJN0h3HGGkM/s72-c/demons.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-725514862844823613</id><published>2010-01-27T14:22:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-01-28T09:40:13.620-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Freedom, Pt. 1</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S2C8bq26L1I/AAAAAAAAB0w/GQMaASxzVsE/s1600-h/JACOB-ANGEL.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0pt 10pt 0px 10px; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 218px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S2C8bq26L1I/AAAAAAAAB0w/GQMaASxzVsE/s400/JACOB-ANGEL.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431548334155902802" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;This week we begin a new chapter in the serial book I am now tentatively naming, "The Wisdom of Foolishness."  This chapter is dedicated to the idea of freedom, with a focus both on the theology of the human will and the importance of grace to our conscience.  The introduction to the chapter begins our discussion with questioning the meaning of the word "freedom," while the section "Deep Raving," begins to explore what the Bible has to say about the goodness of both freedom and slavery.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;------&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S2C6LMgI1cI/AAAAAAAAB0A/JTgzlPaBXyw/s1600-h/cookie.GIF"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 223px; height: 187px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S2C6LMgI1cI/AAAAAAAAB0A/JTgzlPaBXyw/s400/cookie.GIF" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431545852106167746" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;There is no such thing as freedom.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Freedom is a &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt;relative &lt;/span&gt;term. Free with regard to what? Free to live? Free to die? Free to help others? Free to commit evil? While the Bible talks about freedom regularly, this freedom always has a &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt;reference &lt;/span&gt;– it is with regard &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt;to &lt;/span&gt;something. Anarchy, the freedom to do whatever you want whenever you want it, is a very different thing than the liberty of being forgiven for your sins by the sacrifice of the cross of Jesus Christ.1&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you want the first freedom, the anarchy, you might be free from God and societal ideas, but the irony is that you are still a slave – you are bound to yourself, trapped in the limits and confines of whatever it is you want.2 You might even find that what you want is so much a tyrant over you that you have no freedom at all, but are more like a mist driven by any storm that passes by.3&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S2C6gsThDvI/AAAAAAAAB0I/1TIzFgJOHlI/s1600-h/File_PassionMovie_NailHand.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 284px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S2C6gsThDvI/AAAAAAAAB0I/1TIzFgJOHlI/s400/File_PassionMovie_NailHand.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431546221420416754" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;The second freedom, the freedom which comes in Christ, is a freedom of conscience before God.4 It flows out of a faith in the pure goodness of Jesus which releases you with great liberty to good, to love and to serve others.5 Yet, here as well, this is the freedom of slavery, of being bound to Christ like a vine is to a branch, of being a servant to all that you meet.6 For humans there is no such thing as pure freedom. Every single one of us is a slave to something. The real question is not “How can I be more free?” The real question is “How can I be more of a slave to the &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt;right &lt;/span&gt;master?”7&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;Deep Raving&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This is all to introduce the idea that there is no such thing as a completely free will, at least, Biblically speaking. Especially in American Christian life, that little term has been the heart of no small debate, misunderstanding and, again ironically, much mental slavery. It also rests at the very root of what it means to receive and believe the Bible's pure teaching on the justification of our sin before God by his mercy through the promises we receive in faith. All of this is heartily wrapped up in what it means to be an American, to be a people who were forged in the casting off of monarchy and the power of self-reliance.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S2C6_F5n9WI/AAAAAAAAB0Q/LefgewVFgnQ/s1600-h/01+Command1.bmp"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S2C6_F5n9WI/AAAAAAAAB0Q/LefgewVFgnQ/s400/01+Command1.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431546743687214434" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;But the closest the Bible ever comes to teaching an absolutely “free will” is in the terrible section of Romans chapter one, where St. Paul tells us that God releases sinners to the freedom of their own sins, misdirected passions and reckless desires.8 That is the truly free human will. It is the worst kind of slavery. It is slavery to our own depravity.9&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Before we go further, it's only fair to give you a heads up: the purpose of this book, from start to finish, is not to tread lightly. The goal is to lay out as succinctly as possible the many fantastic revelations of the Holy Scriptures of Jesus Christ which have vanished from a majority of 21st century American pulpits. Every topic could have entire books written about it – they &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt;have &lt;/span&gt;had entire books written about them.10 This book is not written for skeptics who are looking to be wooed. It is for seekers, learners, disciples and the authentically curious. It is for those who just want to know “what the Bible actually says.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;With all of that said, it is more than likely that, whoever you are, this chapter will still be the most aggravating in the book for anyone who has grown up under the pioneer ethos of the American identity. The Bible's teaching on your “will” will rub against the grain of what seems most natural. It will test your metal in your willingness to be challenged. And, for these reasons, it will be the most powerful, life-changing, faith-giving, hope-inspiring chapter in the book.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S2C8SBg2W5I/AAAAAAAAB0o/iUhVm7Yq9qc/s1600-h/jacob.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 315px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S2C8SBg2W5I/AAAAAAAAB0o/iUhVm7Yq9qc/s400/jacob.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431548168438700946" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;True freedom &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt;with regard to what Jesus creates &lt;/span&gt;for us in himself marks is the true final breaking point in wrestling with the foolishness of God's Wisdom. It is all downhill from here. Like Jacob the Patriarch, who met God face to face at the Jabbok ford, it is a fight you will have to lose in order to win.11 It will put your spiritual hip out of joint. It will be a breaking that comes with a blessing. Here, to be injured is to be healed, to be weak is to be strong, and to submit to a yoke which is gentle and light is to be eternally released from the yoke of depraved slavery.12&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So keep reading! So far we have learned what the Bible teaches about how we humans are naturally obstinate, self-willed and egocentric. Such “wills,” held in bondage to their freedom to be selfish, &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt;will &lt;/span&gt;normally rebel against Jesus' free gift of slavery to goodness, which means the death of our wicked freedom to be selfish.13 Be forewarned: at this moment of true liberty, the devil's last line of defense will not be some spiritual voodoo-darkness floating out in the ether and aeons of the cosmos. Now he will retreat to his rag-tag fortress to man its bulwarks against Christ's full Gospel. That fortress is your (sort of) “free” will.&lt;br /&gt;---------&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;1. 2 Peter 2:16 “Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;2. John 8:34 “Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;3. 2 Peter 17, 19 “These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm.... They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;4. Hebrews 9:9 “The blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, [will] purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;5. 1 Timothy 1:5 “The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;6. Romans 6:22 “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;7. 1 John 5:4 “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” Luke 16:13 “No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;8. Romans 1:24, 26, 28 “God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity....God gave them up to dishonorable passions.... God gave them up to a debased mind....”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;9. Romans 6:15 “you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?”&lt;br /&gt;Titus 3:3 “For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;10. The bibliography at the back of the books provides a good starting point for those who want to do more research on classical Christian orthodoxy.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;11. Genesis 32:22-32&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;12. Galatians 5:1 “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”&lt;br /&gt;Matthew 11:29-30 “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;13. Romans 6:16 “Having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.”&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-725514862844823613?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/725514862844823613/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=725514862844823613' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/725514862844823613'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/725514862844823613'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/01/freedom-pt-1.html' title='Freedom, Pt. 1'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S2C8bq26L1I/AAAAAAAAB0w/GQMaASxzVsE/s72-c/JACOB-ANGEL.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652206.post-6088478827151164487</id><published>2010-01-24T11:30:00.001-08:00</published><updated>2010-01-24T11:34:19.577-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Epiphany 3 - Luke 4</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S1ygrpzXcfI/AAAAAAAABz4/CYt7Y4w33ps/s1600-h/1137489266848.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 274px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S1ygrpzXcfI/AAAAAAAABz4/CYt7Y4w33ps/s400/1137489266848.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430391922518094322" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/John2.mp3"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Quicklink&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.ecrevolution.com/mp3s/sermons/John2.mp3" showstatusbar="0" autosize="true" autostart="false" displaysize="0" loop="false" type="audio/mpeg"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/30652206-6088478827151164487?l=beallwashedup.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/feeds/6088478827151164487/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30652206&amp;postID=6088478827151164487' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/6088478827151164487'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/30652206/posts/default/6088478827151164487'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://beallwashedup.blogspot.com/2010/01/epiphany-3-luke-4.html' title='Epiphany 3 - Luke 4'/><author><name>RevFisk</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06019695047249137807</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S7OEu684OyI/AAAAAAAAB8g/t5j4J8xwwgs/S220/jrf.JPG'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3e4mehM1OMM/S1ygrpzXcfI/AAAAAAAABz4/CYt7Y4w33ps/s72-c/1137489266848.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry></feed>
