Tonights mussings (sp?)

I am to lazy to look up how to spell it correctly and I am paranoid about misspelling something. I know this comment will come back to haunt me someday.

So generational sins, ever thought about them? Is it true? Do the sins of the father really pass down to the third and fourth generations?

Tonight we were pondering passages from Ezekiel 18:1-4 and Exodus 34

My stance is that everyone is responsible for their own sins. That does not mean that you won't reap what you sow and it might be that the way you nurture and raise your kids the ramifications of your sins might continue in their lives as well, but our parents did not have to teach us how to sin, we do a great job of that on our own.

There does how ever seem to be a trend. Things run in the family. What you see your father or mother involved in alot of times you find the kids invovled in as well, sometimes even several generations.

The responsibility always falls on each individual, are they going to stop the sin patern. Are they going to be a curve in the generational patterns?

We then looked at Daniel 9: 3-5

Own the sin Dan 9:5
Confess the sin I John 1:9
Repent the sin Rev 2:5
Renew your mind Rom 12:2

That last step is critical and I think that is where I fall short. For if I do not replace what is in mind, if I do not change my thinking paterns, my worldview, then I will return to my old ways for I have nothing to keep me from going back. Just like the demons which are driven out and nothing is put in its place they come right back. So it is if we neglect to renew our minds. This can be a very difficult cocoon time which we must face. The amazing thing is that this is what Christ does in our lives. The testimony of a changed life by the power of Christ changing us from the inside out.

Being a Disciple of Christ

" In the modern world it seems so difficult to walk with absolute certainty in the narrow way of ecclesiastical decision and yet remain in the broad open spaces of the universal love of Christ, of the patience, mercy, and the ungodly. Yet somehow or other we must combine the two, or else we shall follow the paths of men. May God grant us jow as we strive earnstly to follow the way of discipleship. May we be enabled to say NO to sin and YES to the sinner. May we withstand our foes, and yet hold our to them the Word of the gospel which woos and wins the souls of men."

This is take from The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Draw near to God

http://www.cornerstonesimi.com/sermons
Listen to the sermon from 10-12-2008
Sermon by Todd Nighswonger
This is a sermon from Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley California. This church is pastored by Francis Chan. This sermon is from one of the pastors on the staff at Cornerstone.

October

So the pictures above are from the mens retreat that I went on this last weekend. It was a great time we had thirty guys go. We had a great time of getting in the word and talking. It was great because there were men who actually talked and converse about real life issues. Rather than the normal sports or work conversations. It was a great setting on one of the lakes at the base of Mt Fuji. There weather was incredible , so since we were right across the street from the lake I had to make sure I went for a swim. Those of you who know , understand that i like to go in every body of water that i get near.

The Passion Conference in Yokyo was amazing. It was great to be able to see 2000 people come out with probably 2/3 of those people being asian ( Japanees, Korean, Chineese, and more).

It was great to be able to help serve and help make it happen. If you look at the bottom picture my door was the one on the right and we were doing bag checks. There was no food or liquids allowed in and you should see how many bottles we had to dispose of.

Well that talks about a few of the big events which have happened in the last week. I am getting excited now to be going home in two weeks. I need to finish strong here but also need to start to plan my time back home.

Do I really believe

To believe is to act and to act is to show what you are believing in.

"To many of us are far more concerned about our standard of living than we are about others living." Francis Chan

The apostel Paul said look at my life and live as I have lived. Did the way Paul lived his life make sense if he did not believe in eternity with God?

Is the way I am living my life make since outside of a belief that this world is a temporary residence one where I should be active in meeting the needs of people both physically , but only because I care so much for them because i want to share ulitmately, the gospel with them so that I can meet their spiritual need. Dont get me wrong the physicall side is important but when you wiegh it in light of eternity with God or hell, it pales in comparison.

Sept 29th 2008

A day that is another step in my life in the pursuit of honoring and pursuing obediently, God. I have decided to stay in Japan for the next semester. My time in Japan will begin again in January and will probably run through into the summer months.

I am returning home in November 3rd, I will be home to lead the trip to Mexico and to put in order my arrangments for returning to Japan in January. I will then be setting up classes online to do during the next semester. It is my hopes to have that be the beginning of my continued pursuit of furthering my education and my ultimate pursuit of preparation for a life of ministry. I will be seeking enrollment into a school starting in the Fall of 09.

This is all of course dependent upon DV ( deo velencia ) - Lord Willing- This has been a struggle and a joy to be making this decision for the next stage of my journey.

For those of you who read this I just want to thank you for your prayers, support, and the encouragement that comes from knowing that you have been in support of me and the ministry here in Japan.

Please pray for the team which will be going to Mexico. I want lift up the preparations for the trip as well as the hearts of the people who will be going.

God is truly Immanuel

" So if we embrace the Christian teaching that Jesus is God and that he went to the Cross, then we have deep consolation and strength to face the brutal realities of life on earth. We can know that God is truly Immanuel - God with us- even in our worst sufferings."
The Reason for God Timothy Keller