Month: July 2017

Episode 15

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Disciple Up #15
Why You Can’t Create Your Own Purpose
Think It Through, #1

Where Does An Atheist Find Purpose – Neil Carter

Using Science Not Religion To Find Your Purpose By Gleb Tsipursky

Quotes on Logic, thinking things through

 Logic is the beginning of wisdom, not the end. Leonard Nimoy
A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices – William James 1842-1910

 “Reason obeys itself: ignorance submits to what is dictated to it.” – Thomas Paine

“Whatever is begun in anger, ends in shame.”  ― Benjamin Franklin

“I can give you a six word formula for success: Think things through – then follow through.” Attributed to Sir Walter Scott, Eddie Rickenbacker

A Biblical View of Purpose in Life

 2  I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me. Psalm 57:2 (ESV)

 13  Then the LORD said to Moses, “Rise up early in the morning and present yourself before Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, “Let my people go, that they may serve me. 14  For this time I will send all my plagues on you yourself, and on your servants and your people, so that you may know that there is none like me in all the earth. 15  For by now I could have put out my hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, and you would have been cut off from the earth. 16  But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth. Exodus 9:13-16 (ESV)

 8  The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands. Psalm 138:8 (ESV)

21  Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand. Proverbs 19:21 (ESV)

 30  but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.) Luke 7:30 (ESV)

8  For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9  not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10 (ESV)

 4  For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5  Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 2 Corinthians 5:4-5 (NIV)

 The Disciple Up Low Down On Why Our Culture Opposes Us Thinking Things Through Logically.

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Episode 14

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Love Defined or The Return of Dr. Love

By Louie Marsh, 7-19-2017

The Beatles recorded a song in 1967 with was then and in many ways continues to be the anthem of our culture. Yet look at the lyrics and you’ll see that like everything else, love needs some definition.

Lyrics – John wrote this as is clear from the lyrics.

Love, Love, Love.
Love, Love, Love.
Love, Love, Love.
There’s nothing you can do that can’t be done.
Nothing you can sing that can’t be sung.
Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game.
It’s easy.
Nothing you can make that can’t be made.
No one you can save that can’t be saved.
Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you in time.
It’s easy.

All you need is love.
All you need is love.
All you need is love, love.
Love is all you need.

Nothing you can know that isn’t known.
Nothing you can see that isn’t shown.
Nowhere you can be that isn’t where you’re meant to be.
It’s easy.

All you need is love (All together, now!)
All you need is love (Everybody!)
All you need is love, love. Love is all you need (love is all you need).

1 Cor. 13

1 Cor. 13 in context,

Written about spiritual gifts, not inspirational love poem.

It’s called a gift BUT… Love is also in the Fruit of the Spirit as well in Galatians 5:22-23

In fact if you understand the Fruit of the Spirit like I do Love IS the fruit of the Spirit – the rest of the qualities in that list are what love is made up of. It’s a shorthand description of the character of Christ.

This is different because now days most people teach that the fruit of the Spirit is completely different from the gifts. Gifts are God given abilities to do things while Fruit are characteristics the Spirit develops in us.

But – that’s not true of Love. And note that in 1 Cor. 13 Paul talks about faith, hope and love, and that hope is also a fruit of the Spirit.  Paul says love is kindness, here its kind in the fruit is kindness, but very close. So in THIS context – there is crossover between the gifts and the fruit of the Spirit

After making the point that love is the most excellent gift of all Paul goes on to define it.

IS Patient – literally long suffering, takes a long time to burn, this word used primarily of patience with people.

IS Kind – Not found elsewhere save in Clement of Rome and Eusebius. “Perhaps of Paul’s coining” (Findlay). Perhaps a vernacular word ready for Paul. Gentle in behaviour. – Word Pictures in the New Testament.

DOES NOT Envy– Love isn’t envious of others because love only compares itself with God.

DOES NOT Boast – Rare word means one who sounds his own praises.

NOT Arrogant –  literally “puffed up.”  Similar to Boast but perhaps more aimed at how we feel inwardly while boasting is outward. Someone to constantly tells themselves how great they are. How does this relate to what we teach on building self-esteem?

NOT Rude – Not acting in a way that is unseemly or indecent. Love does not act out the attitudes of envy, boasting or arrogance.

NOT – Insist on its own way – Love does not act out of self-interest alone.

CHRISTIAN QUOTES ON LOVE

To love someone means to see him as God intended him – Fyodor Dostoevsky

The best use of life is love. The best expression of love is time. The best time to love is now. – Rick Warren

You will never really love until you love someone who hates you. – Jack Hyles

The chains of love are stronger than the chains of fear.- William Gurnall

Do not waste time bothering whether you “love” your neighbor; act as if you did. – C.S. Lewis

The world does not understand theology or dogma, but it understands love and sympathy. – Dwight L. Moody

In biblical thinking, genuine love exists only when good works are done in a context where God rather than the doer gets the credit. – Daniel Fuller

1 Cor. 13 Again:

NOT Irritable –  Rare word used of Paul by Luke. 16  Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. Acts 17:16 (ESV)

So Paul must mean not provoked out of selfish needs.

NOT Resentful – Easily provoked to anger.

NOT  Rejoicing with Evil BUT DOES rejoice in the Truth – true love comes from God and agrees with God’s assessment of what good and evil and is always happy to see truth triumph.

DOES – bears all things – old word for roof. Love protects all things, covers a multitude of sins 1 Pet. 4:8

DOES –  believes all things – not in the sense that love is gullible, but in the sense that love is hopeful, it tries to see the best in everyone, knowing God will bring good from evil. Love takes risks on people because not being selfish it fears no loss.

DOES –  hopes (fruit of the Spirit) all things – hope stems from God and truth. Love never gives up on God working in any and all situations. It looks forward to what God will do, not back on past failures or lives in past successes.

DOES – Endures all things – to stay under or remain, Love doesn’t quit, it’s steadfast and reliable.

DOES – love never fails. Never falls off, used of actor booed off the stage. Love never gives up and remains.

The Disciple Up Low Down

Closing

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Episode 13

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Disciple Up #13
What Is Love? Pt 1 Or…When Dr. Love Comes To Town
By Louie Marsh, 7-12-2017

Drivel from Psychology Today article.

Greek words

E-Harmony’s Definitions

The ancient Greeks used seven words to define the different states of love we can experience:

  • Storage: natural affection
  • Philia: friendship
  • Eros: sexual and erotica
  • Agape: unconditional, divine love
  • Ludus: flirting
  • Pragma: committed, married love
  • Philautia: self love

Oxford Dictionary’s Definition of Philautia

In a classic book titled Colors of Love (1973), J. A. Lee defined six varieties of relationship that might be labeled love.

Eros is romantic, passionate, love—what Tennov labeled limerence. In this type of relationship, love is life’s most important thing. Lee said a search for physical beauty or an ideal type also typifies this type of love.

Philia – friendship love.

Ludus is a game-playing or uncommitted love. Lying is part of the game. A person who pursues ludic love may have many conquests but remains uncommitted.

Storge (STORE-gay) is a slow developing, friendship-based loved. People with this type of relationship like to participate in activities together. Often storge results in a long-term relationship in which sex might not be very intense or passionate.

Pragma is a pragmatic, practical, mutually beneficial relationship. It may be somewhat unromantic. A person who leans toward this type of relationship may look for a partner at work or where the person is spending time. Sex is likely to be seen as a technical matter needed for producing children, if they are desired.

Agape (a-GOP-aye) is a gentle, caring, giving type of love, brotherly love, not concerned with the self. It is relatively rare. Mother Theresa showed this kind of love for impoverished people.

A Jewish Perspective

Segment Two – When did we get so crazy about love?

My candidate – The Beatles signed a contract to represent the BBC, and Britain, on Our World, the world’s first live television satellite link-up to be seen by approximately 400 million people across five continents.

The Beatles’ appearance was announced four days later, on 22 May. John Lennon wrote the song All You Need Is Love especially for the occasion, to the brief given by the BBC: it had to be simple so that viewers around the world would understand it.

Our World took place on 25 June 1967. Video of Beatles singing, “All You Need Is Love during Our World 1967.

Lyrics – John wrote this as is clear from the lyrics.

I’ll get into this Next Week

What Love is from Biblical Perspective.

God is love.

15  If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. 16  And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 1 John 4:15-16 (NIV)

“When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, ‘Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?’” (Luke 9:54), (Mark 3:17).

  • God only wants the best for everyone

9  For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10  Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. Romans 13:9-10 (ESV)

  • Love does no harm, therefore it only does good.

 36  “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37  And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38  This is the great and first commandment. 39  And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40  On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:36-40 (ESV)

 Love is the fulfillment of the Law.

Therefore: Love is doing what’s best for the object of your love.

Love is the Golden Rule

 12  “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 7:12 (ESV)

Note: Both love for God and love of others is said to fulfill the Law.

Christian love has nothing to do with feelings one way or the other. It’s not about liking someone or disliking them because of a personality clash. Love is acting towards others as God would and Jesus did.

The Disciple Up Low Down on Love, Confusion & Loving Confusion

Video of Larry Norman song mentioned.

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Episode 12

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Disciple Up #12
Real Truth Not “My Truth”
By Louie Marsh, 7-5-2017

Segment 1 – WHY do the cults deny these truths?

3  But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4  For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough. 2 Corinthians 11:3-4 (ESV)

12  And what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. 13  For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14  And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15  So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds. 2 Corinthians 11:12-15 (ESV)

6  I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7  not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8  But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9  As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. 10  For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:6-10 (ESV)

Segment 2 – Truth Quotes:

“The greatest friend of truth is time; her greatest enemy is prejudice, and her constant companion humility.” – Chuck Colson

“If I speak what is false, I must answer for it; if truth, it will answer for me.” – Thomas Fuller

“Jesus Christ Himself is the final exegesis of all truth. He is all that we need to know about God, and He is all that we need to know about man.” – Major Ian Thomas

“If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end; if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin, and in the end, despair.” – C.S. Lewis

“One never errs more safely than when one errs by too much loving the truth.” – Augustine

Source for the Above Quotes

The Absolute Value of Truth

31  So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32  and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33  They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” John 8:31-33 (ESV)

 6  Surely you desire integrity in the inner self, and you teach me wisdom deep within. Psalm 51:6 (CSBBible)

18  The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. Psalm 145:18 (NIV)

 23 Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding. Proverbs 23:23 (ESV)

14  And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 (ESV) 17  For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:17 (ESV)

22  You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23  But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24  God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:22-24 (ESV)

6  Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 (ESV)

13  When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. John 16:13 (ESV)

17  Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18  As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19  And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. John 17:17-19 (ESV)

38  Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him. John 18:38 (ESV)

The Disciple Up Low Down on “My” Truth

My Truth Urban Dictionary Quote

Closing

 Next week – I might talk about love.

 Please Get In Touch!

Email – louie@discipleup.org

 

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