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Something To Consider
2008-06-09 14:36:00
Here at TI we try to stay away from politics. This blog is about family and church issues. There are many politically oriented blogs out there and I applaud them for the great work that they are doing. Every so often, however, a political issue becomes a family issue and demands commentary. So with some ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Something To Consider", url: "http://www.twoinstitutions.org/?p=335" });
More About: Culture , Faith

The Baptismal Water Is Thicker Than Blood
2008-06-06 15:13:00
The word fellowship doesn’t quite do it justice. The church is more than a fellowship it is a family. I think, and I believe that I am in good company, that adoption is a much better word. At least that is what I am discovering as I am studying this doctrine. There are many passages in ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "The Baptismal Water Is Thicker Than Blood", url: "http://www.twoinstitutions.org/?p=334" });
More About: Church , Family , Bible , Gospel

The Key To Having A Great Summer Vacation
2008-06-05 14:38:00
It’s that time of year again where the family packs into the minivan and heads off to the lake or beach or the mountains. By now I’m sure that you have made out your list of things not to forget. Let me add one thing to your list and let me humbly ask you to ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "The Key To Having A Great Summer Vacation ", url: "http://www.twoinstitutions.org/?p=333" });
More About: Parenting , Families

We Need A Cold Snap, Quick!
2008-06-04 14:57:00
Later this week the projected temperatures are expected to hit the upper 90’s. Ugh! We need a cold snap, quick! I am not a fan of hot weather. I like fall and winter weather. I like college football and hunting and wearing coats and sweaters. I also like to keep my purity! Yes you heard me ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "We Need A Cold Snap , Quick !", url: "http://www.twoinstitutions.org/?p=332" });

Will The Real Family Please Stand Up?
2008-06-03 15:17:00
The Church is a family. In fact it is a family whose composition is exclusively dependent on adoption. This concept is discussed in a recent book by Joel Beeke entitled, “Heirs With Christ:The Puritans On Adoption.” I just started reading it yesterday and I look forward to sharing with you a full review in the ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Will The Real Family Please Stand Up?", url: "http://www.twoinstitutions.org/?p=331" });
More About: Parenting , Faith

The Smallest Spark
2008-06-02 15:26:00
There are days when I despair that there is no grace in my life. I may not feel saved, or I may feel as if my heart is cold and there is no “apparent” desire to pursue godly things. On days like these its hard to see that there is much hope for me spiritually. ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "The Smallest Spark ", url: "http://www.twoinstitutions.org/?p=330" });
More About: Christianity , Faith , Bible

Practical Preparation For Worship
2008-05-30 14:44:00
Within the past five years, I have been learning and am still learning what it means to worship God through song in a church service. How as believers should we in particular approach congregational worship? What should be the attitude of the heart? What practical steps can I take in preparation for ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Practical Preparation For Worship ", url: "http://www.twoinstitutions.org/?p=329" });
More About: Church

Getting Off The Ladder
2008-05-29 14:44:00
My study of godliness has also led me to consider the value of humility. Anyone seeking to be a good husband, father, wife, pastor, etc. should desire to be humble. For many years I can say that I have desired humility but that desire never translated into the type of humility exhibited so vividly by ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Getting Off The Ladder", url: "http://www.twoinstitutions.org/?p=328" });

Nothing Good Can Come From Me
2008-05-28 15:08:00
If anything good happens in my life it is by the grace of God alone. This is not a trite statement but a matter of fact. If what Paul teaches about the state of our flesh in Romans is true then every good thing I do, every act of spiritual obedience I make, every impulse ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Nothing Good Can Come From Me", url: "http://www.twoinstitutions.org/?p=326" });
More About: Gospel , Biblical

Can I Be A Godly Man?
2008-05-27 15:40:00
I am wrapping up yet another wonderful puritan classic entitled, “A Godly Man’s Picture.” The author, Rev Thomas Watson, in a very practical and exhaustive way unfolded the Biblical characteristics of a Godly man and application for how one may become godly. I came to one conclusion very early on in the book; in many ways I am not very godly. Yes, it was tough and somewhat discouraging to have that reality check but it opened the door to see something truly amazing. Near the end of the book when I felt like throwing up my hands and giving up, Rev. Watson broached the subject of grace. He encouraged his readers with the thought that any attempt to be godly, no matter how weak, is evidence of God’s grace and should not be despised but fostered. This concept sounds a lot like Sibbe’s “The Bruised Reed.” The grace that the Lord gave me through Rev. Watson and the scriptures that he quoted encouraged me to believe that despite my many shortcoming...

A Higher Freedom
2008-05-26 16:41:00
Today we remember the sacrifices of the brave men and women who died so that our land can remain free. I believe that we owe a debt to our service men and women that can never be paid in full. Yet for all the focus on freedom from oppression I hope that we do not forget a higher freedom: For freedom Christ has set us free;stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. - Galatians 5:1 ShareThis
More About: Freedom , Higher

Do We Know Him?
2008-05-23 15:18:00
Every semester, I go through the same tired cycle. I run hard to the finish all my course work and the mountain of reading that comes with it. Some times I feel like a professional student! It never fails, I long to finish classes so that I can have freedom to read ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Do We Know Him?", url: "http://www.twoinstitutions.org/?p=323" });

A Practical Guide For Life And Ministry
2008-05-22 15:04:00
A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of conducting an interview with my pastor about his new book entitled A Practical Guide For Life and Ministry . The video below is an abridged version of the lengthier interview. If you are in ministry or have a friend who is, this book is a must. I ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "A Practical Guide For Life And Ministry", url: "http://www.twoinstitutions.org/?p=322" });
More About: Church , Faith

It isn?t about you
2008-05-21 15:08:00
Ever enter a room only to be discouraged by the low number of participants? It isn?t about you. Ever feel your program did not receive the publicity or notoriety it warranted? It isn?t about you. Ever feel consumed with maintaining the proper image? It isn?t about you. “When you have a cause, it should never be about trying to measure ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "It isn?t about you", url: "http://www.twoinstitutions.org/?p=321" });

Getting Things Back Into Balance
2008-05-20 15:06:00
Wow, what a week I had last week. After a week off of work the week before, last week was like stepping into the middle of the blitzkrieg. There was not one day last week that I was not consumed and overwhelmed with work. Week?s like last week serve as a gentle ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Getting Things Back Into Balance ", url: "http://www.twoinstitutions.org/?p=320" });
More About: Church , Family , Gospel

The Cross and A Husband To Be?
2008-05-19 16:21:00
Jessica and I have been together for almost two years and the reality of Christ and his bride (the Church) has never been as steadily apparent in my life as it is now. My relationship with Jessica has amplified my attentiveness to the attributes and characteristics of Christ seen in my life. His ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "The Cross and A Husband To Be…", url: "http://www.twoinstitutions.org/?p=319" });
More About: Family , Faith , Gospel , The Cross

reThink Conference 08?A Great Beginning
2008-05-17 15:20:00
It’s so hard to believe that the reThink Conference 08 has come and gone. There is so much I want to share about God’s faithful provision and His blessing on this event. The following verses, however, say it all: Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights;I have put my Spirit ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "reThink Conference 08…A Great Beginning", url: "http://www.twoinstitutions.org/?p=318" });
More About: Parenting , Culture , Faith , Gospel

Less than 24 Hours?And Counting!
2008-05-15 15:47:00
It’s so hard to believe that the conference is upon us. I am pausing very briefly to hastily send you this update. We have 165 people pre-registered and we expect another 30 or so to show up unregistered tomorrow. God is so faithful! Please be praying for our out of town guests as they travel. Pray ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Less than 24 Hours …And Counting !", url: "http://www.twoinstitutions.org/?p=317" });

Don?t Take That Away!
2008-05-14 15:03:00
I have been reminded lately of the pain that comes from removal. God in His wisdom chooses to remove things from us. This removal can be very painful. Nonetheless, I am convinced that God never removes anything that He doesn’t intend to replace with something greater. Consider the following: Blessed be the God and Father of ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Don’t Take That Away!", url: "http://www.twoinstitutions.org/?p=316" });
More About: Church , Family , Faith

?With A Heaping Side Order Of Guilt
2008-05-13 15:15:00
When you grow up an independent, fundamental, Bible-believing, baptist like I did, guilt is very important. Many pastors and almost all evangelists of that stripe (especially the ones that preached at our youth camps) were great at it. I was saved probably 6 or 8 times and baptized twice as a kid. I didn’t want ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "…With A Heaping Side Order Of Guilt", url: "http://www.twoinstitutions.org/?p=315" });
More About: Jesus , Culture , Faith , Gospel

The Right Way To Do It
2008-05-12 15:22:00
I have been intrigued this week by an email exchange between Colin Hansen and Tony Jones. Christianity Today was able to work out a deal to publish on its website a conversation between these gentlemen, who both come from vastly different areas on the evangelical landscape. I am very leery of anyone, like ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "The Right Way To Do It", url: "http://www.twoinstitutions.org/?p=314" });
More About: Church , Culture

Great Customer Service
2008-05-09 15:05:00
I have spent the last few days in training for a part time job with a bank. Throughout training they have invested the majority of their time, resources, and money to reinforce the value of excellent customer service. Last night as I drifted off, I began to evaluate the “customer service” in most churches I’ve ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Great Customer Service ", url: "http://www.twoinstitutions.org/?p=313" });
More About: Church

A Minister of the Gospel?
2008-05-08 15:17:00
Politics certainly bring out the best and the worst in us. Here at TI we have steered away from talking much about politics because it is not our main focus. There has been an intersection between faith and politics this season, however, that warrants some commentary. I have watched with much frustration and dismay as the ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "A Minister of the Gospel ?", url: "http://www.twoinstitutions.org/?p=312" });
More About: Culture , Faith , Bible , Evangelism

Pulling Off The Mask
2008-05-07 15:17:00
Satan does not like it when people expose him. He is subtle and his subtlety keeps him in business. Why I feel compelled to expose him as much as I do, I will never know. I am not trying to be sensational or mystical. I don’t engage in fights with satan. I don’t pray him out ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Pulling Off The Mask ", url: "http://www.twoinstitutions.org/?p=311" });
More About: Faith , Gospel , The Mask

My Actions Are Always Copied
2008-05-06 14:58:00
The phrases have been coming back lately just as I stated them, both in word and tone. He?s hardly even two years old yet and my actions are always copied. He?s watching me all the time?.my son. Which causes questions to rise. Will he inherit my sinful habits as well as ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "My Actions Are Always Copied", url: "http://www.twoinstitutions.org/?p=310" });
More About: Family , Parenting

It Is Important
2008-05-05 18:44:00
I read a book review last week dealing with a new approach to the Atonement. This book basically made the claim that Christ?s substitutionary work on the Cross for us was not necessarily vital to the Christian faith. Obviously I feel that something is wrong with that. People throughout the ages have ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "It Is Important", url: "http://www.twoinstitutions.org/?p=309" });
More About: Faith , Bible

New Strategy, Same Problem
2008-05-02 15:12:00
I watched a webcast last week from a well respected ministry about a new strategy they have developed for reaching students. Reaching students for what I?m not sure, but boy do they have a strategy. As I sat and watched this video, I couldn?t help but laugh. Why do we as believers ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "New Strategy , Same Problem ", url: "http://www.twoinstitutions.org/?p=308" });
More About: Gospel , Biblical

When God Is Working
2008-05-01 14:42:00
When I am thinking of the duties that I have been given each day, I am often times plagued with question of ?How can I know that God is truly working in me and through me?? This is an important question to ask frequently for it keeps us close to the Cross. ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "When God Is Working ", url: "http://www.twoinstitutions.org/?p=307" });
More About: Faith

As Clear As Mud
2008-04-30 15:34:00
I aspire to be a good writer. I am learning that writing comes easy, but good writing is a gut-wrenching process. Few people ever learn what it means to be a good writer, but everyone enjoys reading what good writers produce. One of my mentors is a man named Chris Graves. Besides being a great writer, ...SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "As Clear As Mud", url: "http://www.twoinstitutions.org/?p=306" });
More About: Culture , Gospel

Bullseye…Every Single Time
2008-04-29 15:18:00
I like to win. I like to hit whatever I aim at. I like for the deer I shoot to drop with one shot. I also think that many of you out there are just like me. So how can we be assured that any message that we share will hit its mark? Well, that assurance comes quite simply from making your message the message of the gospel. Think about it. Does the gospel message ever miss the target at which God intends it? “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” - I Corinthians 1:18 This verse is a guarantee of three things: 1. Some are going to perish 2. Some are going to be saved 3. and, The gospel is the power to get those whom God chooses from group 1 to group 2 This is astounding. No matter what I may fail at in life, every time I proclaim the gospel I am hitting the bullseye…every single time. ShareThis
More About: Time , Single