BJ Not BK

 Here is your weekly Church Steeple Picture.  I see Jesus as God reaching down to man, the steeple as man lifting up the cross to the community and reaching up to God.

 

I really like this picture.  Notice how the sun is reflecting off the steeple.

This picture comes to you courtesy of Mrs. Napalm. 

2.  That's right, today you get two.  This picture was sent in by Fluffy Cow.  This is one of the mega churches in Lake Lure, NC.

 

 

Want to see your steeple photo published here?  Submit all church steeple photos to bjnotbk@gmail.com for consideration.  Please note that I reserve the right to publish or not publish any submission.

 

  Another week gone, and another series of posts handed over in triplicate to the folks at iron mountain to be hauled via armored car to the hillside bunker for safe keeping.  This week I am happy to announce that I have reduced my carbon footprint as the armored car is now fueled entirely by bio-diesel.

1.  Friday is for photos: This one was taken the other night.  My little boy loves his mamma and kept staring at her through our office door.  Isn't he so cute!

 

2.  This photo comes to your courtesy of Uncle Jesse.  So what exactly are they trying to say here huh?

 

If you like great photography make sure to visit Steve Mckoy's Friday photos here [link] and Joe Thorn's here [link].

Want to see your photo published here?  Submit all family friendly photos to bjnotbk@gmail.com for consideration.  Please note that I reserve the right to publish or not publish any submission.  Fluffy, Heather of the Hills, I received your photos so be watchful as they should appear next week.

3.  I am still planning on finishing part 4 and 5 of the my discussion on the law but I am trying not to be religious about it...pardon the pun.

4.  I haven't heard from any pirates lately?  Have they all walked the plank?  I think a full scale invasion of all Steeple Blogs is in order.

5.  What are you reading?  This week I have spent each morning praying and preparing over the Bible Fellowship lesson so I haven't made time to read anything else.

6.  What are you listening to?  Who is your favorite band and what is your favorite album?  I can't pick just one so here is my top 5 in no particular order.  What am I saying...I can't pick just 5.  Here is a video...hope you enjoy.

Here is one of my favorite Elvis songs
 

7.  This spot is intentionally left blank for you.  Feel free to plug in any pithy, witty, funny comment you like...please no theology.

8.  Thanks everyone for reading bjnotbk this week.  My prayer is that you will be entertained and encouraged or challenged each time you stop by.  I am also praying for you, my readers, that is, so be encouraged in knowing that no matter what someone, somewhere is praying for you.  Now go read your Bible, love your family, lover your neighbor, get outside, and love Jesus!

 Ok, so this is my second pic taken in a bathroom, I hope this is not a trend as I often get very uneasy when I see guys snapping photos in public restrooms.

This photo comes to you courtesy of the friendly folks at Starbucks.

 

Not sure if you noticed this but not only does the sign state that employees must wash their hands but there are 6, count them, 6 illustrations explaining how to do this.  You mean to tell me that my Barista can make my Venti, 1/2 caff, Icee, Peppermint Moccha, skinny but he can't wash his hands without a picture?

I suppose the hiring process at Starbucks is pretty easy...look at this picture, what does it mean to you?

 

 

That is what I am repeatedly told and I beginning to get irritated.   Is life really so complicated?  Is the core of every problem the simple fact that we either don't have enough money or enough education to overcome?  Can we correct what is wrong with programs and initiatives or do we need a new sociology to help us find our way?

No, no, no

The root of every problem, every evil, every crisis is sin and the only antidote is Jesus.  Politicians, psychologists, economists, Fred Thompson, reformers, illegal aliens, none of these will solve any of our problems....if we go this route we are only addressing symptoms.

We don't seek to elect morale people so that they can enact moral legislation so that the country, the planet will come in line with morality.  In fact we shouldn't even seek to make people morale as that only lends itself to a false gospel.

What we should seek is to share Jesus with as many as possible so that He can begin a good work in them, so that He can change them, so that His very presence in their life will make them not want to have an abortion, show them how to spend their money correctly, educate them in His wisdom.

In a very high paced, complex world could the answer be so simple as...just Jesus?
 

Ok, so I see a tremendous amount of weird things in my daily travels across this great land, some funny, some sad, and some things I just have to shake my head at.  So today I decided to fight back.  If 1000 words are worth 1000 words and a picture is worth 1000 words why not use two pictures and a handful of words to say about 2500 words worth?

1.  These two photos were taken with my Verizon Razor camera phone so please pardon the poor image quality

I found it very comforting that the management provided toilet seat liners for my protection (in case you can't read the words it says....."provided by the management for your protection"  How cool is that?  I mean, how in the world did they know I would be there anyway...and to go so far as to think of me and my protection.  I was feeling pretty good for having visited this establishment what with their caring management and all until....

2.  

I see this right above.  If the manager really cared about me he would have kindly asked the gang members to remove themselves from the premises.   

 

 

 I am continually amazed at cell phone talkers and their inability to recognize that 1. they are in a public place carrying on a private conversation 2. the technology has advanced somewhat in recent years so it is not necessary to yell into the phone and 3. no one and I mean no one cares to listen in on your conversation.

I must fully disclose that I own a cell phone, I use my phone, and I often use my phone while driving, while shopping, while in public places but I try very hard to follow some simple rules.

1.  I never, never talk about body functions, recent trips to the doctor, or foul odors in any way, shape, form, or fashion.  I was in a shop the other day and right beside me a lady began going into great detail how taking a certain vitamin impacted her body in ways I wont dare share here.  I was in shock as she clearly saw me there beside her and had no disdain for my personal space or my stomach.  I left the area immediately and haven't been able to eat or sleep for several days since the ordeal.

2.  I always use my "indoor voice" when talking on my phone.  I realize that many of you think you have to yell because the towers are so far away and all but I assure you that the technology is so that you can speak clearly and calmly into the device and that yelling doesn't help carry the conversation to the tower.  Everyone knows that yelling only works when trying to talk with peoples from other nations who don't speak English...just make sure you speak loud and slow.  If that doesn't work try speaking louder and slower.  The person will appreciate your willingness to teach them a new language.

3.  I never wear a blue tooth as an accessory.  Why?  I see so many people walking around with their blue tooth in their ear as if at any moment they will receive that important call..."hey Jenny, I got my lab results back and guess what?"

4.  I never answer my phone at the table.  Don't be rude.  We came to dinner with you because we like you, not because we like you when you talk on your phone and ignore us.

5.  I always use silent or vibrate as my ringer style when in public.  I know you are a big Britney Spears fan, pre-psycho days, but please, for the love of dairy turn off that annoying ringer.  No one cares to hear pinball wizard by the who, Elton John, or 50 cent as your ring tone.  I know you roll that way in da club but please...not at the mall, not at the grocery store, not at church.  During the middle of a worship service or right in the middle of a sermon is not the right time to hear Lil Kim rant on about her intimate encounters with multiple partners.  

I realize that your conversations are important to you, your body odor is important to you, and Lil' Kim is important to you but the rest of us would rather not hear the minuscule details of your daily routine.....that is what blogging is for.

 

Several of you have asked..."Who is Bobby Flay and why did he design your new blog skin?"  The fact is that my brother-n-law is nicknamed Bobby Flay because he looks like Bobby Flay.  Bobby is a celebrity chef on one of the cooking shows.

Anyway, my brother-n-law is a web designer who will work on blog skins, site re-designs, or complete site designs from scratch as needed.

If anyone is interested in contacting Bobby you can email me at bjnotbk@gmail.com.

 

 Today is Monday right?  I just looked up, took a breath and noticed that the day is almost gone.  Here are a couple of things you can expect to see from me this week.

1. I hope to finish up my posts on Law and Disorder.

2. I plan on getting back to some of the fun stuff

3. The week in weird should be a given

4. I also want to get out and take some pictures, time permitting

 

I want to send a shout out to my homeboy, Bobby Flay who generously produced my new blog skin.

Word on the street is that Bobby may assist others with interests or in need of design help for a nominal fee.

Thanks again Bobby! 

 Another week gone, and another series of posts handed over in triplicate to the folks at iron mountain to be hauled via armored car to the hillside bunker for safe keeping.

1.  Friday is for photos:  My favorite city of all time has to be Chicago.  I have had the privledge of visiting the windy city on two different occasions and loved it both times.  This first picture was taken close to soldier field.  Later, M took this picture and painted it for me for my birthday.

2.  Still in Chicago, this picture was taken from a boat ride from Navy Pier over to the art museum where we got to see Seurat's Le Grande  Jette

If you like great photography make sure to visit Steve Mckoy's Friday photos here [link] and Joe Thorn's here [link].

Want to see your photo published here?  Submit all family friendly photos to bjnotbk@gmail.com for consideration.  Please note that I reserve the right to publish or not publish any submission.

3.  This week the mood here at bjnotbk has been a little stale and stodgy with all the talk about the law, sin, death, but the great thing is that I did get to talk about Jesus right?  How about a little punch line Friday to cheer everyone up?

4.  Who would have ever thought that lending $500k to someone who only makes 12k per year to buy a house would backfire?  I mean I just never saw this coming.  What happened and why?

5.  Busy, busy, the next few weeks, months, oh what am I saying...ok the next few years look to be pretty busy.  This weekend is already packed, next weekend we launch our new Bible Fellowship class, our church opens up the new education spaces for the first time, S is on the brink of crawling...can't take....help, gasp......we will be just fine.

6.  What are you reading these days?  I haven't read a just for fun book in a while, you know, something completely mind numbing with a picture of Fabio on the cover...did I just say that out loud?  Has anyone ever read David Copperfield?  This is one of my favorite books of all time.

7.  What are you listening to?  I really like Third Day and so I thought I would share this clip with you.

8.  Here is a great clip from my boys at U2 with a gospel choir from Harlem.  Watch how intense the ladies get, pretty cool.  I believe, in Kingdom come!

9.  This spot is intentionally left blank for you.  Feel free to plug in any pithy, witty, funny comment you like...please no theology.

10.  Thanks everyone for reading bjnotbk this week.  My prayer is that you will be entertained and encouraged or challenged each time you stop by.  I am also praying for you, my readers, that is, so be encouraged in knowing that no matter what someone, somewhere is praying for you.  Now go read your Bible, love your family, lover your neighbor, get outside, and love Jesus!    

Here is a quick recap of what we have already looked at.

The Bible is God's inspired word, without fault, and is our source of truth Genesis through Revelation.  I believe in the law and that it will not pass until the return of Christ no one (including myself, excluding Jesus) is capable of keeping the law so the real question is What purpose does the law serve?  We looked at the following statements as supported by scripture 

1.  The new covenant brings about righteousness apart from the law Romans 3:21-24
2.  The law testifies to the fact that there is righteousness apart from the law..confused yet?  Romans 3:21-24
3.  The Righteousness of God does not come from the law...it comes from Jesus and Jesus only.  Philippians 3:4-6

Before we move on to discuss the purpose of the law I want to close out what the law does not do with a bullet list of points.  Please note that there are more points as to what the law does not do but for brevity I am only pointing to a few in order to make my point.

4.  The law never has, does not, and never will do the following:

Create the Universe, give life, give meaning, give purpose, give joy, give hope, give or produce righteousness, give or produce holiness, love and give love, the law will never die in your or my place for your sins (either you follow the law completely never breaking it or you die to it as a law breaker), the law never rose from the grave conquering hell, death, and sin, the law doesn't sit at the right hand of the Father interceding on mine and your behalf, the law is not eternal, the law is not preparing a place in heaven for you or for me right now

So what exactly does the law do, what is the purpose of the law?  I am glad you asked.

5.  The law points out our sin to us, shows us our imperfections Romans 7:7-8

7What shall we say, then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed I would not have known what sin was except through the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, "Do not covet." 8But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire. For apart from law, sin is dead. 

The law is not bad, the law is not sin but what it does and one of it's main purposes is to clearly show us our imperfections, to show us how high God's standards are, the show us how holy God is and in turn show us how unholy we are, how unworthy we are, how sinful we are.  Scripture clearly states that as soon as we are told not to do something then immediately our hearts, minds, and bodies think of all the ways we can begin breaking the commandments.  The truth is that we are incapable of keeping the law because of the sin nature we all inherited from Adam and Eve. 

 6.  The law does not give us life, it takes our lives and puts us to death Romans 7:9-10

9Once I was alive apart from law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. 10I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death.

We are all born into the world as sinners, at odds against a Holy God, unable to please Him because of our sins.  We know this because God gave us the law and we know that we cannot keep the law and that the penalty for breaking the law must be paid through blood according to the law Leviticus 4:1-35.  In 2 Corinthians 3:7 the law is called the ministry of death.

7.  The law is a curse to all those who rely on it. 

 26 "Cursed is the man who does not uphold the words of this law by carrying them out."  Deuteronomy 27:26

If you have broken the law once you are cursed, if you break the law you are cursed period.  I know you have broken the laws because your mother and I spoke the other day and she told me all about your childhood so don't lie and tell me that you have never sinned, or have stopped sinning or that you have kept every jot or tittle of the law.

10All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law."11Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith."12The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, "The man who does these things will live by them."13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree."14He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

If you rely on observing the law and have broken it once then you are under the curse of the law.  Only through Jesus are we forgiven of our sins, made righteous before God, made Holy before a Holy God, justified before God.  When Christ died on the cross He took on our sins, became the curse in our place, poured out His blood to FULFILL the law that demands blood sacrifice found in Leviticus 4:1-35. 

8.  The law can alienate us away from God instead of bringing us closer Galatians 5:1-6

1It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

 2Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. 6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

 If you put your faith and hope in keeping the law and not in Jesus Christ alone you have put yourself under a curse because you cannot keep the law, are incapable of keeping the law, and have alienated yourself from God and the law will ultimately bring about your complete spiritual and physical death.

9.  The law points us to Jesus

All of scripture ultimately points us to Jesus. The gospel of John tells us how Jesus is the word, is God, has always been, and how Jesus created everything, how everything was created through Him, and how everything is for Him.  The books of the law reveal to us a Holy God and His standards, they show us our sins, and constantly remind us that we cannot keep the laws, we cannot measure up to God's standards and that we are in desperate need of a savior.  We need Jesus and that is exactly what the Holy, Righteous Law of God points us to if we will humble our hearts and accept that we can never do it ourselves...key word being humble.

Part 4 - What does Jesus do for us that the law can't?

Part 5 - What did Jesus have to say about the law and how are we to respond to the law?  Matthew 5:17 through 7:29 

 The text I see most often repeated in discussions here at Steeple as it relates to the law is from Matthew 5:17-20:

17"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Let me be the first to say that I believe in the law and I believe that the law will not pass until everything is accomplished including the return of Jesus.  I know the law is there because I break it and break it often.  In fact, even though I know the law, the commandments, I am incapable of keeping them and if I do not break them outwardly then I most certainly break them in my thought life and so do you which begs the question.....what purpose does the law serve?  Does it save us?  Does it guide us?  Does it put us in a right relationship with God the Father?  Can the law bring eternal life to us or help us to be righteous? 

Before we dig into the text, part ?, and go through Jesus' words and views on the law, let's see what scripture says about the law.

1.  The new covenant brings about righteousness apart from the law

 Before the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus men were to follow the law to obtain righteousness and to have a right relationship with God.  Blood sacrifices were made daily, multiple times a day in order to cover sins and to satisfy the wrath of a Holy God.  Yet because we are all incapable of keeping the law, sinning in either thought or deed, God sent His only son Jesus to fulfill His promise (Genesis 3:15), to redeem mankind, to lift the curse off of creation, and to destroy sin and death through the one time payment of sin on the cross. 

Romans 3:21-24
 21But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

In Luke's gospel (22:20) Jesus refers to the cup and His blood as the new covenant

20In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

This prophecy of this covenant is found in Jeremiah (31:31-32) hundreds of years before Jesus.

31 "The time is coming," declares the LORD,
       "when I will make a new covenant
       with the house of Israel
       and with the house of Judah.

 32 It will not be like the covenant
       I made with their forefathers
       when I took them by the hand
       to lead them out of Egypt,
       because they broke my covenant,
       though I was a husband to them,"
       declares the LORD.

The new covenant is not like the old covenant of the law.  Even though God took His people by the hand and led them they were incapable of keeping the law, breaking the old covenant even though God was very close to them.  Enter Jesus stage right. 

2.  The law testifies to the fact that there is righteousness apart from the law..confused yet?  Romans 3:21-24

 21But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

God gives us the very righteousness we could never obtain (by trying to keep the law) through our faith in Jesus Christ.  Paul goes on to confirm what we already know saying that everyone, ALL, have sinned and fall short of God's glory.  The point is no matter who you are you nor I can never keep the law, we can never be perfect, never be without sin. 

One of the main reasons why Jesus states that the law and prophets, not a jot or a tittle will pass away is because 1.  The prophecy, the return of Jesus, has not been completely fulfilled and 2. The law points out God's high standards of perfection and points people to Jesus. 

3.  The Righteousness of God does not come from the law...it comes from Jesus and Jesus only.

In his letter to the Philippians, Paul gives his own testimony before he met Jesus and how he pursued righteousness through the law, through the actions of his flesh in keeping the commandments, traditions, festivals, etc.  Paul even comments that if anyone can boast in keeping of the law, then he has more confidence than anyone to boast and he gives the reasons.....

Philippians 3:4-6
 If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.

"As for legalistic righteousness...faultless" but Paul goes on stating that all that was loss, that everything was a loss, that his circumcision, his knowledge of the law, and that his legalistic righteousness was rubbish in comparison with receiving the righteousness not of  his own but from Jesus and having the righteousness that comes from faith in Jesus...not by following the law.

Philippians 3:7-11
7But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Tomorrow....Part 3 What the law does not do continued and what it does do. 

 All comments have been turned off until I have had a chance to finish the series. 

 

 Thanks everyone for bringing all this food!  Kids, go over and play in the sprinklers.  Pull up a chair everyone. 

Before I begin the meat of my analysis as it pertains to some of the ongoing talk around Steeple about the law, part 2 tomorrow, I want to make a couple of stage setting statements so that you will know exactly where I am coming from, what my sources are, and the format for any comments or discussion.  Here goes:

1.  I believe that the Bible is God's inspired word, without error.  When I say the Bible I mean Genesis through Revelation, the Gospels, the letters of Paul, Psalms, the major and minor prophets, the books of Peter and John...all of it. 

2.  In following with my above statement I will use the following as sources for my discussion, The Bible NIV or ESV translation as well as a Greek text, Greek lexicon, Greek dictionary, and a Greek word study book.

3.  In following number 2.  I require that anyone posting a counterpoint/rebuttal use only The Bible, no long lengthy posts copied from some white dude living in a trailer with his mom or pulled from a website or google search.  If you can put your faith in the writings of some guy who isn't married or doesn't buy his own underwear surely you can believe in the Bible which is an eye witness account inspired by the Holy Spirit?  Your points have no validity if you can't pull your sources from scripture and your perspective is not welcomed if you do not follow this simple rule.  

4.  Text in context - Anyone call pull a verse out of the Bible and bend it to say whatever it is they choose.  All exegesis must be done in the context of the text sometimes of the entire book from which it is taken from and sometimes within the context of the entire Bible.   

5.  Please turn off all cell phones and pagers so as not to distract while others are talking.

Johnny!  Put your sister down right now!  Can someone watch the kids while we hang out for a while? 

See you tomorrow... oh, bring your Bibles and let's read Matthew 5:17 through 7:29.

 

 I have been walking around the Steeple Community for a couple of weeks now checking in on the various discussions through the other blogs, the forums, reading some of the comments out there in our community and learning quite a bit about the diversity and backgrounds of you.  One of the themes that has recently appeared over and over and over again is the law and legalism.  I have read what you have to say and have prayed over what to say in reaction and would like to share that with you in the next couple of posts.

So grab your lawn chairs neighbors, bring your best covered dish and one desert and head over to my place.  I will turn the sprinklers on so that kids can play while we discuss.

Look forward to seeing you in the days to come. 

I haven't bought any new music lately so I decided to add some new tunes to the library as follows:

Dean Martin's Greatest Hits, Nat King Cole's Greatest Hits, Jars of Clay - Redemption Songs.

I played some Dean Martin for L and she kept saying..."more gumbo daddy" meaning please play mambo italiano...enjoy!