tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987271399653590272.comments2023-10-29T19:03:11.547-04:00 A Pilgrim's ProgressErichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07306854704766653209noreply@blogger.comBlogger5008125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987271399653590272.post-90841629809946618552018-01-18T11:23:38.402-05:002018-01-18T11:23:38.402-05:00Well put, thanks for the blog post. Randomly foun...Well put, thanks for the blog post. Randomly found it while looking for a good pic that says United in Christ.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09020773155834330858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987271399653590272.post-89650211751916208842018-01-12T02:27:15.826-05:002018-01-12T02:27:15.826-05:00I will say right off the bat I am reformed but I d...I will say right off the bat I am reformed but I do not like any biased in translation of holy scripture. With that being said when I first came across the ESV was in e-Sword I was witnessing in a chat room but the KJV wasn't cutting it the person was struggling with it. I seen the ESV was free and at the time I was in between work so I had no spare money to get and NKJV or NIV module for it, so I used to ESV. I started to notice how well it was translated because at that time translations that were free were either outdated in English or were just bad. Anyways to make a long story short I got online to start comparing it with other translations and found I really liked it so I needed up buying it since my NKJV was falling apart. This was a time when I wasn't Reformed yet and it was before I knew it was cool to have one. I don't find any bias in it at all, the NLT does seem to have a biased because it is a dynamic translation. If it was about biased that would probably be the Bible for Calvinists, I don't think it has anything to do with bias though. The reason I like it is because it is not a dynamic leaning translation and it is a very well done translation. Readability has a lot to do with it as well because if the NASB was easier to read I believe most Calvinist would use it but like me most find it to wooden. Most Calvinist tend to lean more towards a formal equivelance so that has a lot to do with it being so popular, plus they seem to offer it for free download on kindle as well as most all of the Bible apps which is nice in my area where in some places we don't even have data. Anyways I don't think it has anything to do with bias it has everything to do with the type of translation method that is used. As for the ESV Study Bible I have never read it or owned one I am not a fan of study Bibles anyways. The typical verses we Calvinists seem to use tend to be the same in any translation so I don't see how it is biased unless you want to say that of all of them. I will stand by what I said above though the NLT (2015 version) that I have does seem to have a bias, like forknew tends to be translated as knew in advance which is not how Non Calvinists would interpret it. So I will say that is one modern translation that has a bias though I would say it was translated correctly. If I were you I wouldn't worry stick with the ESV it is a solid translation but so is the NIV to me the criticism the NIV is getting is largely undeserved and it seems like a solid translation if you like a more dynamic leaning translation. The NKJV would be great except for the manuscripts they used for it. Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02303467714654987893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987271399653590272.post-67073063723853372672017-08-17T18:18:18.195-04:002017-08-17T18:18:18.195-04:00Thanks Tim,
I'm going to leave the blog up fo...Thanks Tim,<br /><br />I'm going to leave the blog up for anyone to read it who wants to. I'll also check back occasionally to moderate comments. I'm happy if it has been a blessing to anyone. Thank you for your consistent comments.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07306854704766653209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987271399653590272.post-31049625803317774242017-08-03T17:24:56.220-04:002017-08-03T17:24:56.220-04:00Do people still respond to old postings because th...Do people still respond to old postings because they did a google search that led to one of your articles?<br />i used to watch the little gauge on the side that showed the different locations in the world that were reading and which articles, even old ones. <br /><br />I'm sure this effort has been powered by God's work in your soul. The rewards will be eternal though perhaps unseen today.Timhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06869272176391202061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987271399653590272.post-46036849815047721412017-07-16T11:04:17.518-04:002017-07-16T11:04:17.518-04:00Thanks Norm!
Blogging has been a lot of fun and w...Thanks Norm!<br /><br />Blogging has been a lot of fun and worthwhile. I'm glad if anything I wrote helped you or anyone else. I still hold all the same convictions, especially about the church. However, I don't have anything new to say right now. I'm going to leave the blog up so anyone can look back through it if they want to. I hope your family is doing well brother!Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07306854704766653209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987271399653590272.post-74535395541929551392017-07-15T18:54:47.625-04:002017-07-15T18:54:47.625-04:00Eric,
Your blog has been a blessing to me for sev...Eric,<br /><br />Your blog has been a blessing to me for several years, and it's been tremendously influential in my pursuit of a relationship with Jesus and fellowship with His followers. I'll definitely miss your posts, but I know that sometimes one effort must end before another can begin. May God bless your future endeavors.<br /><br />Upward and onward!Norm M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13815226076416150154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987271399653590272.post-52919294076553260342017-05-13T10:55:28.505-04:002017-05-13T10:55:28.505-04:00Tim,
Sorry it has taken me so long to respond.
O...Tim,<br /><br />Sorry it has taken me so long to respond.<br /><br />Option A.<br />Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07306854704766653209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987271399653590272.post-38581151169963936102017-05-06T20:17:46.501-04:002017-05-06T20:17:46.501-04:00I'm confused. What do you mean by "it doe...I'm confused. What do you mean by "it does mean church planters can receive monetary support" for church planters?<br />A. Occasional support from other churches when your marketplace work does not cover expenses. You start with marketplace work knowing that the time invested in the marketplace is a strategic benefit to relationships in ministry and forces reproduction of all leadership elements instead of building perpetual dependency. <br />B. Full Pay check from anywhere - other churches, saints in your new work. Marketplace work is bad. It takes time away from preparing weekly Bible lectures and one persons driven outreach efforts. <br />C. As much money as you can get from somewhere, then work in the marketplace to make up the rest. Marketplace work is ok, it's just the last resort and makes the leader feel like he's not really a "full time minister", and his church is a "struggling church" if it can't pay a full salary. <br /><br />I'm suggesting these 3 but you might have another. <br />In my book I show Paul only taught and modeled A. Timhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06869272176391202061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987271399653590272.post-38416883587445645202017-04-24T17:56:01.386-04:002017-04-24T17:56:01.386-04:00Eric,
So right! I have met self-styled "chur...Eric,<br /><br />So right! I have met self-styled "church planters" whose agenda was kingdom building.Aussie Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16199918171163666399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987271399653590272.post-44222272301439794402017-04-23T10:15:13.500-04:002017-04-23T10:15:13.500-04:00heeheeheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!heeheeheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04751372497067446536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987271399653590272.post-75955330994116355442017-04-17T22:04:16.349-04:002017-04-17T22:04:16.349-04:00Tim,
Well said. Thank you. Christ's crucifixi...Tim,<br /><br />Well said. Thank you. Christ's crucifixion and resurrection indeed enable us to be the church He expects. We can be thankful that He has shown us in scripture just what that church should look like.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07306854704766653209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987271399653590272.post-64384537541791551682017-04-17T20:31:29.566-04:002017-04-17T20:31:29.566-04:00There is a specific practice that flows from the &...There is a specific practice that flows from the "focus" that Jesus exemplified. "‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’” <br /><br />Hebrews 10:19 - 25 The practice of "the new and living way" opened up for us through the curtain..."by the blood of Jesus is culminated in the "meeting together" of God's people, fully prepared to "stir up one another to love and good works" and "encourage one another". They are preparing all week by "let us draw near with a true heart"; let us hold fast our confession of faith"; and "let us consider how we can stir up..." Step 4 is meet together and deliver. <br /><br /><br />19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.<br /><br />When God's people gather for an alternative practice of meeting, they reject the practice of the "new and living way" purchased by the "blood of Jesus". Every week is to be "focus" and "practice". "And all the more as we see the day approaching."Timhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06869272176391202061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987271399653590272.post-54843310830123332462017-04-17T19:32:03.294-04:002017-04-17T19:32:03.294-04:00Very true, Eric. Very true, Eric. Ruthie Ross McClellandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04226472123058435689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987271399653590272.post-80749857589990166742017-04-17T13:11:02.382-04:002017-04-17T13:11:02.382-04:00Yes, this is our blessed foundation!
PeteYes, this is our blessed foundation!<br /><br />PeteAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04751372497067446536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987271399653590272.post-82188439499132758512017-04-12T19:15:50.941-04:002017-04-12T19:15:50.941-04:00John,
How true. It is a statement of the church&#...John,<br /><br />How true. It is a statement of the church's ineffectiveness that people feel comfortable going to church twice per year. What a ridiculous tradition!Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07306854704766653209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987271399653590272.post-23677082880288868852017-04-12T19:14:50.520-04:002017-04-12T19:14:50.520-04:00Peter,
Exactly! Much of the year the church seems...Peter,<br /><br />Exactly! Much of the year the church seems preoccupied with lesser things. I suppose this should be a warning to us as well. Let's keep our focus on what is of most importance.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07306854704766653209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987271399653590272.post-71524310635253514472017-04-12T16:57:33.299-04:002017-04-12T16:57:33.299-04:00Eric,
"The institutional church loves high, ...Eric,<br /><br />"The institutional church loves high, holy days." Reminds me of the "Christmas Christians" and "Easter Christians" who never darken the door of the building at other times (except,maybe,a funeral).Aussie Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16199918171163666399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987271399653590272.post-88382384708904761122017-04-12T12:10:13.127-04:002017-04-12T12:10:13.127-04:00Eric,
Isn't it so true that after all the dog...Eric,<br /><br />Isn't it so true that after all the dog and pony shows are over, then so often, the world and a majority of today's Christians go back to business as usual and lose their focus on the meaning of the Lord's death and resurrection. Quite the shame!<br />PeteAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04751372497067446536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987271399653590272.post-4585729924181787262017-04-09T11:27:49.583-04:002017-04-09T11:27:49.583-04:00Tim,
Thank you for responding. It is edifying to ...Tim,<br /><br />Thank you for responding. It is edifying to me to see all the different ways you meet with the body of Christ. I appreciate your consistency in promoting the activity of all members. I'm sure it is a struggle at times since so much of the church in this country is dominated by the clergy/laity divide. Keep it up brother!Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07306854704766653209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987271399653590272.post-57073683845867348382017-04-05T19:37:21.649-04:002017-04-05T19:37:21.649-04:00On Monday nights I meet for BSF - Bible Study Fell...On Monday nights I meet for BSF - Bible Study Fellowship. I have a two sided sheet of Questions I am answer from a selected portion of John. When we meet, the brothers are led through the questions by the facilitator. He guides all in being participants. There is not enough time because they reserve time for everyone to be in one room for a lecture on the text by a business man. No one gets paid. Everyone comes prepared to share from time studying God's word. Simple and effective.<br /><br />On Sunday I attend corporation church, usually with my 96 year old mother, but sometimes at a church where I know someone. I ask God to connect me with someone that I can introduce the concepts of 100% participation church. I am planting seeds. I try to follow up with them afterwards. Just this Sunday a woman that has known for 40 years asked me how how I was doing. The conversation turned to church life. She was very open to considering what the scriptures say. Sitting next to her was the woman who taught me in 2nd grade so they both took in my introduction. I have shared with perhaps 5 other people in this church. This is the church where I was baptized when I was 13. <br /><br />Yesterday and today my mother and I went to a conference of pastors from a certain Baptist association. I know people there and my mother knows people there for 70 years. I was able to share with 4 pastors, one pastors wife, and one missionary about what I call 100% church. Two of the pastors went to college with me. My parents helped to start this college, now university before I was born. One pastor, the youngest one, was not open at all to interact. His church is less than a mile from my work and he grew up with me in my home church for the 4 years I attended there. He is open to meet to pray together. I'll accept that option. He has a deep respect for my father since the time he was a child. The missionary was the most open and eager to know more. I gave him a copy of my book. He is helping Brazilian churches to send missionaries to other countries. He sees the problem of trying to send missionaries when the local church is set to consume 95% of their giving just to get their own "needs" met. They are merely repeating the American form of church that consumes 84% of the giving. He also understood the tragedy of men claiming they have authority over other believers. <br /><br />I meet at other times with believers in google hangouts. This is with an organic group of people who are connected through LK10.com. We use Google hangouts to meet. They feature a form of church called CO2 or church of two. They teach a very simple form of two believers connecting at the heart level as many times a week as possible. It can be done over the phone. It is a very reproducible form that is easy to teach others. I have one issue with their "leaders" but I don't need to address that here. This form is great for even a husband and wife to establish short, intimate heart updates for building a strong spiritual bond in marriage. Timhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06869272176391202061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987271399653590272.post-31264939863822770002017-04-02T21:09:36.669-04:002017-04-02T21:09:36.669-04:00Tim,
The lecture has to be spiritualized in some ...Tim,<br /><br />The lecture has to be spiritualized in some way to get people to think they have to sit through one each week. Therefore it's given a special name: the sermon. How sad it is!Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07306854704766653209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987271399653590272.post-45582109305352894412017-04-02T20:44:15.752-04:002017-04-02T20:44:15.752-04:00Hey Eric,
Isn't it interesting, from my backg...Hey Eric,<br /><br />Isn't it interesting, from my background as a teacher, the lecture is the least most effective way of learning. Too bad that many individuals in the ic don't even really go to the trouble of researching the truth. They are like lemmings following each other over the cliff.<br /><br />God's Love<br />PeteAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04751372497067446536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987271399653590272.post-32813735011098225042017-04-02T07:34:28.329-04:002017-04-02T07:34:28.329-04:00AMEN, AMEN and AMEN.AMEN, AMEN and AMEN.manthanohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16278718492999520900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987271399653590272.post-58125755330660428952017-04-01T23:44:12.970-04:002017-04-01T23:44:12.970-04:00It seems to me there is only one person who could ...It seems to me there is only one person who could pull off deceiving the most highly trained and highly paid Bible experts the world has ever known to lead the most highly lectured (called teaching) believers in the world at such a massive yearly cost with such anti-godly results. And they are all blind to the obvious corruption. The preachers blame the carnal layfolk as only wanting their ears tickled, and the layfolk blame the preachers for being authoritarian looking for a bigger pay check. How is it that so few of us have it figured out?Timhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06869272176391202061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987271399653590272.post-10417432820415393192017-03-27T21:01:55.244-04:002017-03-27T21:01:55.244-04:00"... the church today functions in a very sim..."... the church today functions in a very similar fashion to Rome." I know exactly what you mean but anyone who doesn't can easily dismiss this statement because you give no specific basis for it. One or two points is all you need. The hymn is amazing.Timhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06869272176391202061noreply@blogger.com