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Tuesday, February 19, 2008

New Home for the Zondervan Inspire Blog

We've Moved!

That's right...the Zondervan Inspire blog has moved to a new location. You can find the new and improved blog at

http://www.zondervan.typepad.com/zondervaninspire/.

New features include daily posts, articles, and a listing of all posts and articles by topic. Now you can stop by every day for fresh inspiration, encouragement, and comments. Be sure to tell your friends, and if you have a blog, we'd appreciate a link to ours. Thank you.

Blessings,

Keith Finnegan
Zondervan

posted by Keith Finnegan @ 12:45 PM.    0 comments

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Monday, February 11, 2008

God Is

The Faith: What Christians Believe, Why They Believe It, and Why It Matters by Charles Colson

Since all basic presuppositions begin with faith, "God is" is as rational as any other first premise. Evidence that points toward the intelligent design of the universe increases the probability that God is. The more that is learned of the structure of the billions of human cells that make up our body, the clearer it is that cells function based on intelligent information, DNA, that is more complicated, as Bill Gates has said, than any software ever written. And there is now abundant cosmological evidence that this planet is uniquely hospitable to human life—the unique orbit of the earth, the distance from the sun, and the like. It is as if, one scientist wrote, "the universe in some sense must have known that we were coming."

The presupposition "God is" is today not without abundant supporting empirical evidence. It requires no flight from reason to believe it.

—Charles Colson, The Faith: What Christians Believe, Why They Believe It, and Why It Matters

Any comments or testimonies today?

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posted by Keith Finnegan @ 9:45 AM.    0 comments

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Monday, February 04, 2008

Creation Reveals God's Love

The Faith: What Christians Believe, Why They Believe It, and Why It Matters by Charles Colson

Christians see the creation as an indicator of God's character. When we look at nature, we are immediately impressed by its creativity and beauty. Think for a moment of chameleons with their independently bobbling eyes, or deep-sea creatures that glow to light their own way. Apple blossoms and honey bees cooperate to assure that fruit develops and the bees are sustained. Nature is incredibly varied and astoundingly beautiful. Christians wonder why beauty should exist in such abundance if the creative reason did not mean to communicate love (see Psalm 19:1).

—Charles Colson, The Faith: What Christians Believe, Why They Believe It, and Why It Matters

Any comments or testimonies today?

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posted by Keith Finnegan @ 12:27 PM.    3 comments

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At 9:36 AM, Anonymous thor6653 said...

Just finished the book. It is the right message at the right time. It is more than another book on apologetics. It provides a wealth of historical information to helpthe reader understand where certain ideas have originated and why we embrace certain things in our Faith.

The argument for steadfastness in our Faith in a world of change and uncertainty is well formulated.

I, for one, am better for having read the book. I will incorporate its lessons into my role as a Youth leader in my church.

 
At 8:03 PM, Blogger john said...

I could read only the first 19 pages and what an experiencethis is. I beleive we take every thing for granted and live as MERE CHRISTIANS'. Indeed we do not have the FIRST love and do netiher love God nor show that quality love Jesus has expounded. We are all becoming trigger happy West or East we get our greatest joy by inflicting wounds but not inflicting he love of God.Let this book open our heart and understanding of God the Father who sent His Son Jesus Christ because He loved the World so much.

 
At 2:53 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

What the Bible has to say about Faith

(Hebrews 11:1 KJV)
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

(Romans 10:17 KJV)
So then faith {cometh} by hearing, and hear- ing by the word of God.

(Romans 12:3 KJV)
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think {of himself} more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

(Hebrews 12:2 KJV)
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of {our} faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

(Matthew 17:20 KJV)
And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this moun- tain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

(Mark 11:22-24 KJV)
(22) And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. (23) For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. (24) Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive {them}, and ye shall have {them}.

(Romans 1:17 KJV)
For therein is the righteousness of God re- vealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

(2 Corinthians 5:7 KJV)
(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

(Hebrews 11:6 KJV)
But without faith {it is} impossible to please {him}: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and {that} he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

(1 Peter 1:7-9 KJV)
(7) That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: (8) Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see {him} not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy un- speakable and full of glory: (9) Receiving the end of your faith, {even} the salvation of your {souls}.

(1 John 5:4 KJV)
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, {even} our faith.

(Matthew 9:20-22 KJV)
(20) And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind {him}, and touched the hem of his garment: (21) For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. (22) But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

(Matthew 9:28-29 KJV)
(28) And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. (29) Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.

(Mark 9:23 KJV)
Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things {are} possible to him that believeth.

(James 5:14-15a KJV)
(14) Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: (15) And the prayer of faith shall save the sick.

 

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Monday, January 28, 2008

Pursue Radical Christianity

The Faith: What Christians Believe, Why They Believe It, and Why It Matters by Charles Colson

Christians must see that the faith is more than a religion or even a relationship with Jesus; the faith is a complete view of the world and humankind's place in it. Christianity is a worldview that speaks to every area of life, and its foundational doctrines define its content. If we don't know what we believe—even what Christianity is—how can we live it and defend it? Our ignorance is crippling us.

If the Church has any hope of answering today's challenges, it must pursue what we call radical Christianity or orthodoxy. Radical is a good term; it means going back to the "root."

—Charles Colson, The Faith: What Christians Believe, Why They Believe It, and Why It Matters

Any comments or testimonies today?

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posted by Keith Finnegan @ 9:07 AM.    0 comments

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Monday, January 21, 2008

The Cost of Discipleship

Dangerous Surrender: What Happens When You Say Yes to God by Kay Warren

With no apologies, Jesus bluntly tells Peter that he will die for his faith in John 21:18-22. No comforting words, no pats on the back, no softening of the shocking prediction here. In fact, Jesus' next words issue Peter the hardest challenge he has ever faced: "Follow me. You're going to die, Peter, but first I want you to follow me."

Peter does what most of us would do. He turns and scans the group of disciples gathered around them, looking for a friendly face, and says, "Yeah? Well, what about him? What's going to happen to John? You got any shocking news to deliver to him today?" Jesus puts an end to any potential protests—"It's not fair!" "You've got favorites!" "You love him more than you love me!" He simply says, "Peter, if I want John to remain alive until I come back, what is that to you? You follow me."

—Kay Warren, Dangerous Surrender: What Happens When You Say Yes to God

Any comments or testimonies today?

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posted by Keith Finnegan @ 12:20 PM.    0 comments

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Wednesday, January 09, 2008

The Bible Experience FREE iTunes Podcast!


A FREE podcast on iTunes featuring The Bible Experience!

Sample the 2007 Audio Book of the Year on iTunes! The podcast runs weekly, and includes some behind-the-scenes video clips and special seasonal clips. Each regular weekly podcast will feature a 2-minute clip from the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The Bible Experience is produced by Inspired By... Media Group and published by Zondervan. The regular podcast clips are edited by Westar Media Group.

If you have iTunes loaded on your computer, click on this link to subscribe to The Bible Experience podcast:
http://www.itunes.com/podcast?id=208626850


If you don't have iTunes, you can subscribe to an RSS Feed of the podcasts in MP3 format at this link:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/TBEPodcasts

We hope these free podcasts will provide you with encouragement and growth in your spiritual life. Please share the news of these podcasts with your family and friends.

Visit The Bible Experience feature page at www.zondervan.com/tbe for even more audio clips, behind-the-scenes videos, and information.

posted by Mike Pritchard @ 2:52 PM.    0 comments

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Tuesday, January 08, 2008

It All Boils Down to Your Values

Take the Risk: Learning to Identify, Choose, and Live with Acceptable Risk by Ben Carson, MD

My experience has confirmed the wisdom of so much of what the Bible teaches. In my career I have seen how often ego and selfishness are the root of conflict in people's lives. Too many people are more concerned with their reputations and what other people think than they are about the best course of action or what risks they really ought to take.

It all boils down to your values. If your priority is to look good in front of people, your life will take a different direction than if your priority is to use the talents God has given you to make a positive difference in the world. Such values will influence what risks you choose to take.

—Ben Carson, MD, Take the Risk: Learning to Identify, Choose, and Live with Acceptable Risk

Any comments or testimonies today?

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posted by Keith Finnegan @ 10:25 AM.    1 comments

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At 11:09 AM, Blogger Bumr50 said...

I feel sorry for today's younger generation who seem to be more and more concerned about appearance and others perception than with morality and values. With the public school systems imbueing our youth with "political correctness" and out and out censorship of Christian ideology it is no wonder. I am 32 but work with several teenagers who are constantly worried about their looks and neglect to say the right thing or help people in need for fear of the way they might be viewed. It amazes me that the very same generation that fought so hard for their freedom to express themselves in the sixties have now turned their attention to Cristianity. I was raised Roman Catholic but am now attednding a Presbyterian church and thank God every day for allowing me to think critically about issues such as this and communicate my thoughts. Peace.

 

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