tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50293281455964115502012-02-16T03:08:12.668-06:00Coram DeoDonald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.comBlogger2291100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-3092663022492673292011-10-10T09:00:00.001-06:002011-10-10T09:00:33.045-06:00

In his book, Letters to New Pastors, Michael Jinkins writes the following story: George MacLeod once told the story of a sailor, a latter-day Robinson Crusoe, shipwrecked on a lonely tropical island. When he was rescued many years later, he gave his rescuers a tour of his island home. He showed them his camp, the straw hut he lived in, and not far from his hut, his own little church, where

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-27408680980081319642011-10-06T05:13:00.002-06:002011-10-06T05:13:21.560-06:00

As the sailor locates his position on the sea by “shooting” the sun, so we may get our moral bearings looking at God. We must begin with God. We are right when, and only when, we stand in a right position relative to God, and we are wrong so far and so long  as we stand in any other position. Much of our difficulty as seeking Christians stems from our unwillingness to take God as He is

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-23219131935167355792011-09-22T08:06:00.001-06:002011-09-22T08:06:18.483-06:00

We have to smile from time to time when we read the bloopers that have appeared in church bulletins: Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.  Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help. Miss Charlene Mason sang 'I will not pass this way again,' giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-7615234388231577112011-09-16T09:30:00.004-06:002011-09-16T09:31:14.847-06:00

Last Sunday marked the 10th anniversary of an event that forever changed the history of our great nation. Many of us remember what we were doing that day 10 years ago as we witnessed the horror of the terrorist attacks on our own soil. Last month the mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg, decided not to include clergy in the 10th anniversary remembrance of the 9/11. This reminds me of

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-32844642014334764032011-09-08T14:14:00.001-06:002011-09-08T14:17:57.249-06:00

• Its unity. A book with 40+ authors, written over a period of 1500 years, by men of different occupations living in different countries, under different circumstances and conditions, yet the Bible has one overarching theme: Jesus Christ and His redemption. • Its preservation. There are some 24,000 copies of the Greek New Testament (5300 Greek manuscripts including Latin, Coptic, Syriac, etc)

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-31591405799674320432011-07-30T14:45:00.000-06:002011-07-30T14:46:52.917-06:00

Now that we have seen where the word church is first mentioned in the Scripture and how Jesus defined this new program, let’s fast forward about a year from Jesus’ statement in Matthew 16. The disciples are not in Caesarea Philippi but in Jerusalem. Jesus is no longer with them but He has died on the cross, rose from the grave, and ascended to the Father. Before He left His disciples, He told

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-45246578042397646132011-07-20T06:47:00.001-06:002011-07-20T06:53:10.050-06:00

Jesus replied, “…upon this rock [Peter’s confession of Jesus as the Messiah] I will build My church” Matthew 16:18.The last word of Jesus’ statement is church. This is the first time the word church is mentioned in the Bible. The Greek word for church is ekklesia which is a compound word from ek, which means “out, from,” and kaleo, which means “to call.” Putting the two elements together, the

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-1862714587129641432011-07-14T06:56:00.002-06:002011-07-14T06:59:04.279-06:00

Several weeks ago we examined Peter’s confession of Christ in Matthew 16. When Jesus questioned His disciples about the community’s perspective of Himself, they responded that the people saw Jesus as nothing more than a great teacher or prophet.But it is Peter’s confession that changed the entire conversation. Peter said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!” (Matthew 16:16). Jesus

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-609934842008895932011-07-07T06:49:00.003-06:002011-07-07T06:51:31.251-06:00

What is the church? The word is first mentioned in Matthew 16. Interestingly, it was not Peter or any of the other apostles who used the word. It was Jesus!In the context of Matthew 16, Jesus takes his disciples into the Gentile area of Caesarea Philippi. Once arriving in the area, Jesus asks the disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” (Matthew 16:13). Here we find Peter’s great confession of

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-7402297529634294772011-06-15T08:11:00.001-06:002011-06-15T08:15:09.727-06:00

I Remember PapaWhen I was a kid, a father was like the light in a refrigerator. Every house had one, but nobody knew what either of them did once the door was shut.My dad left the house every morning and always seemed glad to see everyone at night.He opened the jar of pickles when nobody else could.He was the only one in the house who wasn't afraid to go to the basement by himself.He cut himself

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-78417397063920132272011-06-01T09:23:00.000-06:002011-06-01T09:24:07.766-06:00

Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic. Memorial Day was first observed on May 30, 1868 as flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. In 1915, inspired by the poem “In Flanders Fields,” Moina Michael replied with her poem:We cherish too, the Poppy

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-49194812544822601152011-05-29T07:23:00.002-06:002011-07-07T06:49:26.754-06:00

The Lord is my Shepherd = That's Relationship!I shall not want = That's Supply!He maketh me to lie down in green pastures = That's Rest!He leadeth me beside the still waters = That's Refreshment!He restoreth my soul = That's Healing!He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness = That's Guidance!For His name sake = That's Purpose!Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death = That's

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-34342964320776206272011-05-07T14:26:00.000-06:002011-05-07T14:28:20.820-06:00

Quotes by Erma Bombeck on mothers:"When your mother asks, "Do you want a piece of advice?" it's a mere formality. It doesn't matter if you answer yes or no. You're going to get it anyway.""When my kids become wild and unruly, I use a nice, safe playpen. When they're finished, I climb out.""I love my mother for all the times she said absolutely nothing.... Thinking back on it all, it must have

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-6840246405366130392011-05-05T12:46:00.000-06:002011-05-05T12:47:31.796-06:00

I am continually amazed with Corrie ten Boom. She was in her 80’s when she penned her autobiography, In My Father’s House, about the events that God used that would forever shape her. She tells a story about her father, Casper ten Boom.She recollects a time when the ten Boom family was facing a real financial crisis. A large bill arrived in the mail but there wasn’t enough money to pay it off.

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-35432126771783180902011-04-27T09:41:00.001-06:002011-04-27T09:41:48.399-06:00

Joseph Bayly in "Psalms of My Life," which appeared in Christianity Today magazine, shares this excellent perspective on Easter (www.christianitytoday.com; accessed on 04/18/2011):Let's celebrate Easter with the rite of laughter. Christ died and rose and lives.Laugh like a woman who holds her first baby. Our enemy death will soon be destroyed.Laugh like a man who finds he doesn't have cancer, or

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-2864542713663896222011-04-10T04:17:00.002-06:002011-04-10T04:22:37.462-06:00

Once upon a time, the animals decided they should do something meaningful to meet the problems of the new world. So they organized a school. They adopted an activity curriculum on running, climbing, swimming, and flying. To make it easier to administer the curriculum, all the animals took all the subjects. The duck was excellent in swimming; in fact, better than his instructor. But he made

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-48257804560012812972011-04-05T09:53:00.000-06:002011-04-05T09:55:50.016-06:00

Life can be compared to an embroidered tapestry. At first glance there is no discernible pattern. One only sees a jumble of colors, threads, and stitches. We see our lives in the same way at times. Confusion! Doubt! Pain! Suffering! There seems to be no apparent reason why we face the seasons of our lives. However, when the weaver completes his needlepoint, he turns the tapestry over and reveals

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-81502557621370036422011-03-22T08:03:00.002-06:002011-03-22T08:14:17.637-06:00

Corrie ten Boom intrigues me. I am drawn to individuals who have faced enormous difficulties in life, yet come out of these experiences with an inspiring testimony.She reminds me of the verse in James 1:12: “Blessed is a man [or woman] who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” Much like the

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-84117063735180371822011-03-17T12:18:00.000-06:002011-03-17T12:19:02.586-06:00

Area: Four large islands (Honshu, Hokkaido, Shikoku, Kyushu) and 3,000 small islands in NW Pacific. Mountainous; only 13% can be cultivated.Population: 126,995,411Government: parliamentary governmentCapital City: TokyoPeoples: 34 people groups (68% unreached)Official language: Japanese Languages: 16 (12 languages do not have a copy of the Bible in their language).Religion: Largest Religion:

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-59990294295620879672011-03-13T04:12:00.000-06:002011-03-13T04:13:47.964-06:00

One way to enhance your spiritual walk is to read the biographies of godly men and women who have lived for Jesus. You can learn so much from their lives, and you will gain a deeper appreciation for the Christian truths and principles.For example, one such individual was C. T. Studd. He was one of England’s greatest athletes in the 1800s. Studd was a world champion cricket player who came to

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-29988669910010817662011-03-03T05:01:00.000-06:002011-03-03T05:02:02.185-06:00

It’s hard to believe that the same man who wrote the book of Ecclesiastes also wrote Psalm 127. Solomon did not put God at the center of his life. He chased down rabbit trails to find meaning and fulfillment only to discover that he had been chasing the wind. Only later did he realize that “unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-60398585107724995022011-02-23T10:21:00.001-06:002011-02-23T10:23:08.518-06:00

Let’s face it. As much as we struggle with Solomon’s outlook on life, his journal is a reality check for many of us. As he struggles with the frustrations and conundrums of life, we often find ourselves in his shoes asking the hard questions and trying to find answers. However, we quickly realize that life is not always black and white. All too often there is more gray in life.Because these

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-86828518876985975142011-02-17T08:37:00.001-06:002011-02-17T08:44:07.545-06:00

I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of his friend, he referred to the dates on her tombstone from beginning –-- to the end.He noted that first came her date of birth and spoke of the second with tears, but he said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.For that dash represents all the time that she spent alive on earth, and now only those who loved her know what

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-77186138863663849482011-02-08T09:07:00.000-06:002011-02-08T09:09:19.315-06:00

The Lord’s Supper is a celebratory occasion. As you take of the elements, remember what our Lord did when He committed Himself as the sacrificial Lamb of God. All of sin was poured on Him and He drank of the cup which the Father poured out as an expiation for our sins. “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15).Read the following excerpt from My Utmost for His Highest by

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-85666638057512027832011-02-03T04:35:00.001-06:002011-02-03T04:37:24.651-06:00

I read a recent column in a bulletin from my home church in Orangeburg, SC, and I want to share some of the pastor’s thoughts.The apostle John tells us that when we are connected to Jesus and bearing fruit, it will be evidence that we are disciples of Jesus Christ.“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-27762771096628180192011-01-26T09:07:00.002-06:002011-02-03T04:36:42.871-06:00

As we dig deeper into the subject of worship, my prayer is that our time together will not result only in an academic exercise. What good is it if all we seek is more information? It is futile unless the information motivates and spurs us to action.Some practical ideas have been suggested to assist you to walk closer to God. In his book, Celebration of Discipline, Robert Foster gives numerous

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-33669385055421456412011-01-19T13:35:00.000-06:002011-01-19T13:36:52.131-06:00

The first question of the Westminster Catechism is this: “What is the chief and highest end of man?” Its answer: “Man's chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy him forever.” We have been created by God to worship and glorify Him. In his book, Worship: The Missing Jewel of the Evangelical Church, A. W. Tozer writes,Now we were made to worship, but the Scriptures tell us

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-52180792699786939542011-01-05T14:29:00.003-06:002011-01-05T14:32:00.110-06:00

I love the title of Marva Dawn’s book on worship: A Royal “Waste” of Time. If the church is ever going to understand the meaning of worship, we must begin by losing ourselves in the splendor of our wonderful God. She begins her book with the following insight:"To worship the Lord is—in the world’s eyes—a waste of time. It is, indeed, a royal waste of time, but a waste nonetheless. By engaging in

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-47531249369445858002010-12-21T13:40:00.002-06:002010-12-21T13:48:31.489-06:00

Worship can be described as the proverbial “elephant” in the church. We know that worship is vital to our time together but what should it look like. In what ways do we know that we are truly worshipping God? How should it feel? These are questions that have plagued the church and unfortunately created some dissension.In his book, Exploring Worship, Bob Sorge gives a few definitions of worship (

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-56106782399555496812010-12-01T06:19:00.002-06:002010-12-01T06:23:00.351-06:00

There is an interesting little verse in the book of Titus that you should memorize. It is found in Titus 2:9-10: “Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.”In Eugene Peterson’s

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-90523717290557774952010-11-21T05:25:00.000-06:002010-11-21T05:26:26.213-06:00

Thanks to God for My RedeemerWords by August L. StormThanks to God for my Redeemer,Thanks for all Thou dost provide!Thanks for times now but a memory,Thanks for Jesus by my side!Thanks for pleasant, balmy springtime,Thanks for dark and stormy fall!Thanks for tears by now forgotten,Thanks for peace within my soul!Thanks for prayers that Thou hast answered,Thanks for what Thou dost deny!Thanks for

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-82235485188338505212010-11-14T05:18:00.000-06:002010-11-14T05:21:25.278-06:00

If you haven’t noticed by now studying the Bible requires time, sacrifice, and hard work. No treasure hunter would leave his home without expecting to sacrifice sufficient time in order to find his prize. When you come to the Word of God, it will require sacrifice and time to faithfully search and mine the gems that lie beneath the surface.Don’t misunderstand! God is not hiding anything from you.

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-54938690095175489662010-11-07T05:15:00.001-06:002010-11-07T05:18:45.011-06:00

As you continue to go through these steps of reading your Bible, remember that you are in the observation phase. In this phase, it is important that you allow the Bible to speak for itself. When you present the Bible with the questions listed below, you are allowing the passage to be interpreted correctly. This process is referred to as exegesis. When the Bible speaks for itself, you will

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-21288584667980307092010-10-31T04:03:00.000-06:002010-10-31T04:04:55.280-06:00

My greatest fear for you is not that you fail, but that you succeed— to succeed at doing the wrong thing! Many Christians will spend their whole life chasing their dreams and carrying out the goals of their life, but many will find that the ladder they were climbing was leaning against the wrong wall. Proper observation, interpretation, and application of the Word of God will become a compass

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-76969556494455892682010-10-18T08:15:00.001-06:002010-10-18T08:25:07.882-06:00

When a certain man found a treasure in a field, he hid it and went and sold all that he owned. With joy, he sold it all and bought the field (Matthew 13:44). When you read the Bible selectively, you carry out a similar act. Understanding that there is a great treasure found within God’s Word, with joy you abandon everything to read and study His Word.You set aside time. You commit to give God the

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-29075434053912934542010-10-14T12:09:00.002-06:002010-10-14T12:19:01.732-06:00

Anyone who knows anything about fishing or hunting understands the importance of being at the right place at the right time. Even though you scope out a particular place and find the right time, it is pointless unless you have the right equipment. You need the necessary gear and tools to net your big catch.It is the same with reading. You may have a specific place and time where you read your

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-75469926155739193892010-10-05T09:28:00.001-06:002010-10-05T09:29:55.359-06:00

One of the greatest virtues you can possess in your life is patience. We live in an “instant” culture where we rush through fast food restaurants, place food in a microwave and within seconds have a meal, or sit before a television and flip through channels at the touch of a finger. We move easily from one activity to another. We want things right now! It is no surprise that we approach our

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-90381911762369486042010-09-29T05:30:00.002-06:002010-09-29T05:33:01.565-06:00

Reading well is an essential to effective Bible study. You need to learn how to read repeatedly. Don’t worry. You will not exhaust the Word of God if you read it over and over again. Unlike other literature which you can understand with one reading, the Word of God can never be drained of its application. You may read a passage today and come back to it later and still find more to glean. Paul

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-64353910333029175162010-09-23T08:41:00.001-06:002010-09-23T08:44:34.544-06:00

The first method in Bible study is observation. In order to develop this step, you need to hone your reading skills. In order to improve your reading, you need to learn to read thoughtfully.In his insightful work on studying the Bible Howard Hendricks writes, “Thoughtful reading involves study. Not boredom. Far from it. When you come to the Bible, put your thinking cap on. Don’t throw your mind

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-65549664639063170212010-09-16T05:50:00.002-06:002010-09-16T05:53:57.924-06:00

Two reasons have been stated why we need to study the Bible: spiritual growth and spiritual maturity. The third reason why studying the Bible is so vital to your walk with the Lord is spiritual usefulness. In a world that is inundated with words, people have fallen into a mental stupor. The mass media is filled with slick-looking, smooth-talking couriers with their sales pitches. It is difficult

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-38200294614522498392010-09-08T09:37:00.000-06:002010-09-08T09:38:39.366-06:00

Studying the Bible will help you become a more mature person. What is maturity? Webster defines maturity as “achieving or completing a state of natural growth and development; to be ripe.” At the beginning of the summer, the Kirby’s decided to try their hand (again!) at farming. We bought four tomato plants. Originally we placed the tomato plants in the front yard, but the local Marietta deer

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-47951079624931349902010-09-01T04:57:00.002-06:002010-09-01T05:03:28.228-06:00

If you want grow spiritually, you must be in the Word of God. One of the reasons that many Christians are not growing in their spiritual walk is because they neglect time in God’s Word. Peter tells us that the one who is progressing in his/her walk with the Lord is the one who spends time in the Bible. He writes, “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-1629876046133041922010-08-19T09:03:00.002-06:002010-08-19T09:06:10.329-06:00

We believe in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father by whom all things were made; who for us men, and for our salvation, came

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-82540731520136011912010-08-15T06:31:00.000-06:002010-08-15T06:32:02.299-06:00

"When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die." Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-61402584033152711872010-08-10T13:47:00.000-06:002010-08-10T13:48:03.338-06:00

“I believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord: Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell. The third day He arose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-7670746895752917862010-08-04T08:28:00.002-06:002010-08-04T08:38:50.292-06:00

“I believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord: Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell. The third day He arose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-27611975166455046342010-07-28T09:11:00.002-06:002010-07-28T09:15:34.567-06:00

It cannot be stressed enough how important it is that you learn to get alone with God. Many have confused activity and religion with intimacy. It is not! Scripture clearly teaches that God desires obedience rather than sacrifice; relationship rather than ritual (1 Sam 15:22; Hosea 6:6; Micah 6:8).Tozer explains, “There are some things that you and I will never learn when others are present. I

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-88287433533484107252010-07-22T14:49:00.005-06:002010-07-22T14:55:27.321-06:00

“Solitude is good for us. Our natural tendency is to always have people around, always have stuff going on, but let me be candid: I've never learned anything all that significant in a crowd. I love to be with people, but solitude helps filter out the essentials and sift away the nonessentials. Life kind of makes up its mind in solitude” Charles R. Swindoll, "Solitude: A Vital Factor in Growing

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-20025956801593336802010-07-16T08:37:00.002-06:002010-07-16T08:40:20.986-06:00

Where is God when you really need Him? Does He ever feel far away? Does it ever feel that He is not with you at the moment that you desperately need Him? Many of us feel that way at times. He seems a million miles away.The Bible tells us that God is never far away. There is never a minute in your life that He is not with you. Theologians have given us a term to describe God’s presence in every

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-66324563154363234502010-07-04T05:37:00.000-06:002010-07-04T05:38:26.758-06:00

Christianity is often confused as a list of do’s and dont’s. Though Christianity has its list of regulations, Christianity is a love relationship. No matter what you do or do not do, it will not fashion you any closer to the image of the Lord. You are only transformed and changed into the image of Christ when you spend time with Him. It is a loving, intimate relationship where you give your

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-47307119793570798542010-06-16T09:05:00.002-06:002010-06-16T09:23:14.509-06:00

Over the last month, we have only scratched the surface on our identity in Christ. You could spend months exploring the depths of what these verses mean to the believer. Including the characteristics listed below, you have seen 42 different aspects about who you are in Christ. Once you study and believe what the Bible says about you, it will radically change your thinking and your behavior. For

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-63496624799799255812010-06-09T12:43:00.004-06:002010-06-09T12:54:37.319-06:00

Identity has to do with becoming more like Christ. When we accept Christ as our personal Savior, the following is what your identity has become:You have been led to a life of triumph through Christ – 2 Corinthians 2:14Your mind has been softened by God– 2 Corinthians 3:14You have been made one with everyone in Christ – Galatians 3:28You have been set free in Christ – Galatians 5:1You have been

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-49618596625116269892010-06-08T06:26:00.000-06:002010-06-08T06:27:32.290-06:00

"There is nothing more centered than a self-emptied life, and there is nothing more empty than a self-centered life."

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-19383073558883259602010-06-03T07:55:00.000-06:002010-06-03T07:56:34.369-06:00

Many people struggle with their identity. They define themselves by everything except what God says about them. We define ourselves by the number of friends we have, by the amount of money we have in our bank account, by the house we live in or by the car we drive. God does not define us by these things. He could care less how much money we possess or how popular we are. He is more concerned

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-83188432623134733642010-06-02T11:45:00.005-06:002010-06-02T13:35:11.943-06:00

How many of you have problems with remembering names? When you meet a person, how do you remember their name? One method I use to help me remember someone’s name is through association. I use mnemonics to help me remember names like using Roy G. Biv to help me remember the colors of the rainbow. A similar method of identification is used in the Bible. God gives us pegs to help us to remember His

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-72277097798078834882010-05-27T06:22:00.001-06:002010-05-27T06:25:00.323-06:00

In his book Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis writes the following concerning Jesus Christ: “I am trying here to prevent anyone from saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: 'I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept His claim to be God.' That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-29591189961348399082010-05-26T09:27:00.004-06:002010-05-26T09:53:40.243-06:00

In his book, Our God is Awesome, Tony Evans illustrates, “Once upon a time a scorpion needed to cross a pond. Wondering how he would get to the other side, he noticed a frog nearby. ‘Mr. Frog, will you please hop me across this pond?’ The kind, gentle frog said, ‘Certainly, Mr. Scorpion. I will be glad to do so.’So Mr. Scorpion jumped onto Mr. Frog’s back as Mr. Frog hoped from pod to pod,

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-21778075608580705132010-05-23T15:36:00.004-06:002010-05-23T15:44:44.169-06:00

It was the enraptured Rutherford who could shout in the midst of serious and painful trials, "Praise God for the hammer, the file and the furnace."The hammer is a useful tool, but the nail, if it had feeling and intelligence, could present another side of the story. For the nail knows the hammer only as an opponent, a brutal, merciless enemy who lives to pound it into submission, to beat it down

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-46507518953629820672010-05-20T10:46:00.001-06:002010-05-20T13:31:16.906-06:00

Understanding who you are in Christ is vital to your walk with God. At the core of the Christian’s message is the belief in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Bible states that Christ’s death is a picture of our death to sin. And when He rose again, we, too, have been raised to a new life under His headship.Before your identity in Christ, your life was controlled and

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-38882968209711167562010-05-18T06:42:00.002-06:002010-05-18T06:53:42.181-06:00

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-80286494998556841082010-05-12T06:31:00.002-06:002010-05-12T06:39:32.733-06:00

At the moment of your salvation, many things occurred that were unseen. The Bible says that prior to your salvation, you were an enemy of God (Romans 5:6-10; James 4:4). However, after you trust in Jesus alone for your salvation, the Bible states, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). You have a new spiritual position

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-5379695538566921872010-05-05T12:28:00.006-06:002010-05-05T12:41:48.446-06:00

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” Galatians 2:20. Knowing your identity in Christ makes all the difference in your life. Don’t be deceived by the enemy. Your identity is not defined by your wealth or possessions. Your identity is not defined by your

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-56513727442446384662010-05-02T04:27:00.000-06:002010-05-02T04:28:39.539-06:00

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:7-8A tool to help you to pray (A.C.T.S.)A (adoration):C (confession):T (thanksgiving):S (supplication or intercession):Intercessory prayer is

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-78411838438992865282010-04-25T05:30:00.000-06:002010-04-25T05:32:24.672-06:00

We are constantly on a stretch, if not on a strain, to devise new methods, new plans, new organizations to advance the church and secure enlargement and efficiency for the gospel. This trend of the day has a tendency to lose sight of the man or sink the man in the plan or organization. God’s plan is to make much of the man, far more of him than of anything else. Men are God’s method.

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-11871724083862435922010-04-19T14:44:00.001-06:002010-04-21T05:07:32.590-06:00

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:7-8A tool to help you to pray (A.C.T.S.)A (adoration):C (confession):T (thanksgiving):S (supplication or intercession):In our acronym, we come to

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-39443992373283362092010-04-14T14:04:00.000-06:002010-04-14T14:05:28.656-06:00

"The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings." - Eric HofferA tool to help you to pray (A.C.T.S.)A (adoration):C (confession):T (thanksgiving):Imprisoned in a Siberian gulag (prison) for criticizing the Russian premier Joseph Stalin, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn later wrote the following words, "Thank you, prison, for having been in my life." Isn’t it interesting

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-24115080248895367982010-04-07T07:18:00.001-06:002010-04-07T07:21:03.204-06:00

“Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name.” Psalm 100:4A tool to help you to pray (A.C.T.S.)A (adoration): C (confession): T (thanksgiving): A spirit of ungratefulness is toxic and a mark of a spiritually immature Christian. When you are unthankful, it dishonors God and leads to a self-exalted life. An unthankful person is one who depends

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-39702659618941189892010-03-25T08:08:00.000-06:002010-03-25T08:51:45.159-06:00

“Pray always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18A tool to help you to pray (A.C.T.S.)A (adoration):C (confession):T (thanksgiving):The attitude of thankfulness is prevalent in the Scripture. We are told to express our gratitude and appreciation to God. The word thankfulness is used in the Greek New Testament in

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-27225166196224865722010-03-11T11:27:00.001-06:002010-03-11T11:28:53.022-06:00

Reasons why the church matters:1. The church is the only institution that our Lord promised to build and to bless (Matt 16:18).2. The church is the gathering place of true worshippers (Phil 3:3).3. The church is the most precious assembly on earth since Christ purchased it with His own blood (Acts 20:28; 1 Cor 6:19; Eph 5:25; Col 1:20; 1 Pet 1:18; Rev 1:5).4. The church is the earthly expression

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-22871529816650706842010-02-28T05:33:00.000-06:002010-02-28T05:34:52.040-06:00

“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, and whose sins have been covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account” (Romans 4:7-8). A tool to help you to pray (A.C.T.S.) A (adoration):C (confession): With adoration, there are “You are” statements (“You are a holy God”), but in confession, there are “I am” statements (I am a sinner). The word “confess”

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-70915073815270442672010-02-18T11:39:00.002-06:002010-02-18T11:42:28.665-06:00

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 A tool to help you to pray (A.C.T.S.) A (adoration):C (confession): The verb “confess” means “to agree with or say the same thing.” When we confess our sins, we don’t deny it, blame it on others, or cover it up. When we confess our sins, we agree with God and what

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-26088975023725700202010-02-17T13:25:00.001-06:002010-02-17T13:27:04.873-06:00

"More people have been brought into the church by the kindness of real Christian love than by all the theological arguments in the world, and more people have been driven from the church by the hardness and ugliness of so-called Christianity than by all the doubts in the world." -William Barclay

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-63075688213118128442010-02-16T08:01:00.001-06:002010-02-16T08:03:13.436-06:00

“I believe…that the proper study of God's elect is God; the proper study of a Christian is the Godhead. The highest science, the loftiest speculation, the mightiest philosophy, which can ever engage the attention of a child of God, is the name, the nature, the person, the work, the doings, and the existence of the great God whom he calls his Father.” Quoted in J. I. Packer, Knowing God, 17.A tool

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-14658380749558738712010-02-15T13:26:00.001-06:002010-02-15T13:31:46.104-06:00

When I find myself in fear of anything, I am reminded of a Swedish adage which says: “Worry gives a small thing a big shadow.” Fear has a way of gripping our lives; therefore, paralyzing us from any movement. It was Edmund Burke who wrote “No passion so effectively robs the mind of all its powers of acting and reasoning as fear.” Every one of us has some phobia. Whether it is the fear of

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-71625707604125404082010-02-09T06:36:00.001-06:002010-03-01T11:21:36.550-06:00

“I feel it is far better to begin with God, to see His face first, to get my soul near Him before it is near another. In general it is best to have at least one hour alone with God before engaging in anything else.” E. M. Bounds, Purpose in PrayerA tool to help you to pray (A.C.T.S.)A (adoration): Before thinking of anything else, focus on the person of God first. Begin your prayer with praise

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-66058512995391141402010-02-03T13:05:00.000-06:002010-02-03T13:07:23.971-06:00

"Contrary to what might be expected, I look back on experience that at the time seemed especially desolating and painful with particular satisfaction. Indeed, I can say with complete truthfulness that everything I have learned in my seventy-five years in this world, everything that has truly enhanced and enlightened my experience, has been through affliction and not through happiness, whether

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-38563484797421628792010-01-28T13:23:00.001-06:002010-01-28T13:26:56.063-06:00

“The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” James 5:16 A tool to help you to pray (A.C.T.S.)A (adoration): Before thinking of anything else, focus on the person of God first. Begin your prayer with praise and admiration of our God. The Bible gives us some metaphors that will help us learn more about our great GodHere are some examples:• God is characterized as a father (Ps 103:

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-56746877012615304612010-01-19T07:56:00.000-06:002010-01-19T07:57:24.891-06:00

"Talking to men for God is a great thing, but talking to God for men is greater still." E.M. Bounds A tool to help you to pray (A.C.T.S.)A (adoration): Before thinking of anything else, focus on the person of God. Begin your prayer with praise and admiration of our God. Start with some music that reflects the character of God and His goodness. Look at various Psalms that

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-90809327944106049842010-01-12T11:56:00.006-06:002010-02-09T06:38:55.325-06:00

"The men who have done the most for God in this world have been early on their knees. He who fritters away the early morning, its opportunity and freshness, in other pursuits than seeking God will make poor headway seeking Him the rest of the day. If God is not first in our thoughts and efforts in the morning, He will be in the last place the remainder of the day."- E.M. Bounds, Power Through

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-86609002763730278902010-01-07T15:21:00.002-06:002010-01-07T15:23:09.170-06:00

In her memoir, Corrie Ten Boom explains the meaning of forgiveness through a powerful illustration. In a time of her life when she was struggling with anger and bitterness, she found it difficult to forgive those who hurt her. No matter what she did to forget the hurt committed against her, she continued to stew over the matters in her life until they festered into a poisonous cancer eating at

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-71687304048916967902009-11-19T15:14:00.003-06:002009-11-19T15:23:49.554-06:00

F. B. Meyer asks, “God, why is your hand ALWAYS on the other person?” Notice the emphasis is on the word “always.” Why does it seem that God’s hand is always on the oppressor? Why do we as the saints of God go through suffering and pain? If the Bible is true (and it is) and it tells us that God loves His people, then why does He let us go through tribulations? What makes it worse is when you do

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-90055654238563817662009-11-11T14:43:00.000-06:002009-11-11T14:45:07.739-06:00

W. Harold Mare, in the NIV Study Bible, “The Greek word for this word [love] indicates a selfless concern for the welfare of others that is not called forth by any quality of lovableness in the person loved, but it is the product of a will to love in obedience to God’s command. It is like Christ’s love manifested on the cross.” This agape love is a total abandonment to the will of God to love

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-70397944247364857002009-07-08T07:01:00.001-06:002009-07-08T07:06:40.025-06:00

While preparing a lesson on the eternal security of the believer, I came across this great quote from Tony Evans book, Totally Saved. What a wonderful thought about the greatest plan of God: to redeem man from His sins and bring him into an eternal relationship with Him for His glory. “For God so loved.” That’s the greatest degree. “The world.” That’s the greatest

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-72310452202479001382009-05-19T10:40:00.002-06:002009-05-19T10:46:16.128-06:00

“Preachers are specially exposed to the danger of flattery. I fear the whole frame of mind in which some Christian people go to church is wrong. They do not go to worship God or hear God’s Word. They go to hear a man. So it is not the message to which they listen, but as if they relished some tasty morsel in their mouths. They say afterwards how much they enjoyed or did not enjoy it. But sermons

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-31228451529129348762009-04-20T12:30:00.003-06:002009-04-20T12:35:51.706-06:00

“Our external delights, our earthly pleasures, our ambition and our reputation, our human relationships, for all of these things, our desires are eager, our appetites strong, our love, warm and affectionate. When it comes to these things our hearts are tender and sensitive, deeply impressed, easily moved, much concern and greatly engaged. We are depressed at our losses and we are excited and

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-49091519212793732092009-01-27T09:07:00.000-06:002009-01-27T09:08:57.105-06:00

I am beginning a new series in our morning service on the book of Acts. Over the last few months, I have felt a need to teach and preach on a series related to speaking the gospel to our culture. It is nothing new to any of us to realize our great need to discover meaning in this life. So many have been touched by the economic downturn of our day, have witnessed the futility of our government

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-44780517220114194622008-11-18T15:41:00.000-06:002008-11-18T15:42:53.127-06:00

“Remove relational prayer from the center, and every other kind of prayer goes bad. Worship becomes blasphemy—we reduce God to our errand boy; He’s there to serve us. Thanksgiving becomes a disguised expression of entitlement—we thank God for what we think He really should have given us anyway. Intercession is rooted in self-interest—we plead with God on behalf of family, friends, government, and

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-69646844963715817792008-10-31T12:30:00.002-06:002008-10-31T12:40:54.964-06:00

If you had the opportunity to meet Jesus Christ in person, what questions would you ask Him? Would you ask him about the passing of a love one? Or would you ask Him why He allowed certain things to happen to you in your life? Maybe you have a perplexing question from His Word that you have been unable to resolve? One theological dilemma for me is how to balance election and free will. We should

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-77449082871810635292008-10-28T13:26:00.001-06:002008-10-29T06:29:24.347-06:00

Claire as a Green Bay Packer cheerleader!

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-12222040293943608672008-09-30T14:33:00.001-06:002008-09-30T14:37:49.493-06:00

Author Larry Crabb says that we Christians often communicate to each other one of these two solutions: “Do what’s right” or “Fix what’s wrong.”Instead, the New Testament holds up a better way: “Release what’s good.” What’s good is the Holy Spirit, already living in us, with all the resources of God at his command.Philip Yancey, Reaching for the Invisible God, 177.

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-8694321567440427192008-09-23T08:08:00.002-06:002008-09-23T08:50:42.709-06:00

Remember the popular bracelet WWJD (What Would Jesus Do)? It was a vivid reminder to the one who wore the bracelet the actions, words, and thoughts of Jesus. When the individual was tempted to view something on television or in a magazine, the bracelet would prompt the person to think about whether Christ would spend time viewing the material. If the person was tempted to respond with anger or

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-50226548788402694512008-08-19T12:26:00.002-06:002008-08-19T14:53:19.225-06:00

Usually when you hear about ordinations, you typically think of doctrinal questions or statements such as the following: “Give me your position on Calvinism versus Arminianism.” Though such questions were asked during our deacon ordination on Sunday, the greatest question to the candidate was, “How will you make God famous in your life and the church?” Wow! As I listened to the candidate’s answer

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-24713785642097638242008-08-04T15:37:00.003-06:002008-08-05T05:47:40.389-06:00

We took a few days last week to visit Pittsburgh for a short vacation and enjoyed seeing a couple of friends from Dallas. In addition to looking at the historical sites downtown, Claire enjoyed her time at the Pittsburgh Zoo.

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-89748380835392324552008-07-16T09:07:00.001-06:002008-07-16T09:09:02.857-06:00

Scott Dawson writes, “A majority of believers in this country do not have enough confidence in their knowledge of their faith to share it with another individual. Could it be that we have assigned evangelism, which is the natural outflow of knowing Christ, to an elite of believers who have achieved something special? My fear is that programs that were developed to enhance evangelism have now

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-43370261140823384502008-06-26T07:56:00.001-06:002008-06-26T08:24:30.639-06:00

Nothing excites me more than hearing the laughter of children ringing through the halls of North Hills. During our Vacation Bible School we have been celebrating the number of children who have come to hear about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As I walked through the hall of our educational wing, I was reminded of Jesus’ rebuke to the disciples when he reprimanded them, “Permit the children to come

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-22978326549364076452008-06-16T13:26:00.002-06:002008-06-16T13:41:56.322-06:00

REFLECTIONS OF A PARENTI gave you life, but cannot live it for you.I can give you directions, but I cannot be there to lead you.I can take you to church, but I cannot make you believe.I can teach you right from wrong, but I cannot always decide for you.I can buy you beautiful clothes, but I cannot make you beautiful inside.I can offer you advice, but I cannot accept it for you.I can give you love

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-52032610625783183732008-06-14T17:48:00.001-06:002008-06-14T17:51:14.476-06:00

WHY MEN ARE HAPPIER THAN WOMEN· The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades. · Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat.· Car mechanics tell you the truth.· Same work, more pay.· Wedding dress $5000. Tuxedo rental - $100.· One mood all the time.· A five-day holiday requires only one suitcase.· You can open all your own jars.· You get extra credit for the slightest act of

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-18256461123892112842008-05-28T18:35:00.000-06:002008-05-28T18:46:04.815-06:00

Redemption. At the heart of the word is the idea of paying a price to release something or someone from slavery. The people of Israel understood this concept when they remember the Lord delivering them from the Egyptian stronghold. The Exodus is a vivid reminder to every Jew that they have been released from captivity. It is recorded in Deuteronomy 24:18, “You shall remember that you were a slave

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-39097747062972429042008-05-27T05:25:00.001-06:002008-05-27T05:28:03.461-06:00

Check out our new website. Visit us at northhillsbaptistchurch.org.

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029328145596411550.post-78794559756670625452008-05-20T12:20:00.003-06:002008-05-20T12:24:27.629-06:00

“Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us.” 2 Thessalonians 3:6We can look to the writings of the apostle Paul to understand the importance of powerful and relevant words. When words are used that people can connect with, the message has a way of

Donald Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17654145945068150100noreply@blogger.com0