Second update of our church plant for Jesus House Duluth … enjoy!
Church Plant Update Part 2
September 29th, 2011Church Plant Update #1
September 23rd, 2011First update on the church plant for Becca and me … enjoy!
This Sunday, the first meeting, 10-1 at Bethak Banquet Hall. God bless!
Interpretive Rants Part 4 – Philippians 4:13
September 15th, 2011Yep … you can do all things through Christ … but what does that mean? Philippians 4:13 … enjoy!
Interpretive Rants Part 3 – Ephesians 3:8-9
September 13th, 2011Here is the next one … Ephesians 3:8-9 … enjoy! This one was REALLY difficult to keep down under four minutes … so much to say!
And keep those ideas coming in for blog names … still thinking about them …
Interpretive Rants Part 2 – 1 Corinthians 14:33/40
September 12th, 2011Part 2 of my interpretive rants … I’ll have at least one more like this … keep other ideas coming if you can think of them. This one is on 1 Corinthians 14:33/40. Enjoy.
Seriously … difficult keeping these around four minutes … have to get shorter videos!
Book Review of In the Beginning was the LOGOS
September 12th, 2011Paul Pavao’s self-published book, In the Beginning was the LOGOS, reviewed here … enjoy!
And to get more info or buy, go to this link:
http://www.christian-history.org/ibwl-purchase.html
For the inspiring updates on Paul’s victory over leukemia, go here:
http://yippee-leukemia.blogspot.com/
Interpretive Rants Part 1 – 1 Corinthians 2:9
September 7th, 2011New series that I’m starting on scriptures that are continuously taken out of context. This is part 1: 1 Corinthians 2:9. Enjoy!
By the way, it ended up being four minutes long. I’ll try to do better!
Intro Video – New Name for the Blog?
September 6th, 2011First of what I hope will be many videos …
What is up with the MOONEYS?
July 19th, 2011
This is a quick update to let everyone know about an important move that our family is about to make in the next few months.
We’re starting a church.
When Becca and I were moving back from Korea, five years ago, God told me that we would be missionaries to the United States. That we would live like missionaries, like an Abraham on the earth. If that seems vague and difficult to understand, you know how we felt, but we had some idea that one day that would translate into starting/planting churches.
There’s a lot that goes along with this, but this is a very important next step for Becca and I in God growing us into the people He wants us to be. We have a heart to go out and make new disciples, gather them into being the family of God, and train them to be disciple makers themselves. We’ve never had to be more dependent upon God than we are right now, which is a good thing.
This church will be in the Duluth area, so not far from where we are now, and we are still in the stage of laying a foundation of prayer to spread the good news of the kingdom of God. And it is good news. God ruling and reigning in the hearts of men is the best news around. We know from experience, especially with the group of people we’ve called a spiritual family for the last ten to fifteen years, both here and in Korea, helping to mold and teach us and love us to this point.
If this excites you and you’d like to know more, message me or email me. If you’d like to commit to pray for us, let me know, get me a good email address and you’ll get the updates so you can stand and go to war with us in prayer. And believe me, starting a church is picking a fight with the spiritual enemy. And he’s a pretty serious dude. Good thing I already know the winner.
Otherwise, just know that to all our friends, we love you and I continue to count myself the richest man I know to have the church and friends and family that I do. Beyond what I could possibly deserve or imagine.
As a last note, Becca has been, and continues to be, the best partner in life and ministry a man could ever ask or hope for. Thank you, my love, for going to war with me.
Peace.
Godly Sorrow vs. Condemnation
June 24th, 2011
I’ve written about this before (I think), but I was reminded again in our last men’s meeting and wanted to share this simple teaching again.
Someone asked, “What’s the difference between godly sorrow and condemnation?”
Simply, one leads to repentance and change (and life!) and the other leads to hopelessness.
It is godly to grieve over sin, whether your own or others. God grieves over it because he loves people and He understands the destructive nature of sin. To be like God is to grieve over sin, and unfortunately the influence of our American culture makes us resistant to this truth. But whether sexual immorality or oppression of the poor, grieving over sin shows an understanding of its effect.
But ultimately, God’s heart is for people to turn and repent. He is longsuffering in this area and I praise Him for it. God brings conviction, which implies condemnation if there is no change, but conviction is not condemnation. Conviction is being found guilty. Condemnation is the final decision of punishment, irreversible. God brings conviction so we will turn and He won’t have to condemn.
But here’s the trick from our spiritual enemy, the Devil and his angels. Remember, while our spiritual enemy can afflict and bind in many ways, his primary weapon is lying, twisting what is true just enough to destroy you.
So while God is convicting through His Word and calling you to repent, the enemy is in your ear, turning the warning of future condemnation into present reality. “God doesn’t love you. You’ll never overcome. You have failed and there’s no hope for you. Just give up.” Believing these lies leads to depression and hopelessness.
As angry as God ever was at the nation of Israel for their heinous deeds (idolatry, human sacrifice, extreme oppression of the poor, sexual perversion), He always promised to return and restore EVERYTHING back to them and more if they would repent and return to Him. He communicates this in the prophets WITHOUT FAIL.
Hopelessness is not from God. You can trace it back to condemnation and lies but not conviction or godly sorrow. And you can trace condemnation and lies back to the enemy.
You are not hopeless. There is hope for you. Turn to Jesus and give Him everything you are and have and watch Him work His wonders of love and restoration.
Peace.