Along the Way w/ Bro. Ryan

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”   - Hebrews 4:15 I must give credit for the following thoughts here.  Usually in this blog, the thoughts are my own however, after reading John Piper’s “50 Reasons Jesus Had to Die” and coming across ‘Reason 27: To Become a Sympathetic and Helpful Priest,’ I had to share his words directly.  The following thoughts are not my own, but Pastor and Theologian John Piper’s.  I pray that they will be an encouragement to you, reader. “A lifetime of temptation climaxing in spectacular abuse and abandonment gave Jesus an unparalleled ability to sympathize with tempted and suffering people.  No one has ever suffered more.  No one has ever endured more abuse.  And no one ever deserved it less or had a greater right to fight back.  But the apostle Peter said, ‘He committed no sin, neither was de...

" Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. "  - Job 42:6 If you've ever read Job before, you know how Job gets to this point of utter humility and even shame.  In the story of Job, Job was a man who had it all.  He was wealthy, he had a great family, and he was healthy.  He was also known as a " blameless and upright man ( 1:1 ), " the greatest of all the people in the East ( 1:3 )" and " a servant of the Lord ( 1:8 )."  Satan, after roaming the earth, which he is allowed to do until the End, comes to God and requests to attack someone who is faithful to Him to prove that man is only faithful to God when things are going good.  God allows Satan to attack Job's family, wealth, and health, but Job's life must be spared.  Satan attacks under those parameters. The vast majority of the book of Job after this episode is the scene of a very broken, depressed and physically miserable Job, surrounded by 3 "friends" w...

" Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.  This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but  you shall meditate in it day and night ,  that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it ." - Joshua 1:7-8a The baton has been passed on from Moses to Joshua and it’s time to enter Canaan and take the Promise Land.  It’s interesting to note that just before the Jews are to enter the land and take it by conquest, God commands the people to obey and observe what they've been given in the Scriptures (Genesis through Deuteronomy at that point), and not only that, but they are to  "meditate in it day and night."   Why are they to do that?  So that they  "may observe to do according to all that is written in it."   Here's the main idea an...

"Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways."  -Psalm 119:37 Pornography is one of the fastest growing and grossing industries in the world. Many people, even many Christians, don't see anything wrong with viewing it because "I'm not hurting anyone; I'm just looking." (and this includes both men AND women) Jesus said, "You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart." (Matt. 5:27-28) We make excuses and pacify our conscience when we decide to view pornographic material - and this doesn't go for actual pornography, but for movies/tv shows/images/video games, etc. that contain sexual content.   God doesn't just judge our actions but also our thought life . Its extremely difficult, and one could argue impossible, for an individual to look upon sex...