Author: Nate

  • Be Prepared

    This makes me think of that song from Disney’s The Lion King. That crazy uncle Scar sang it to all his hyena friends, the traitor. But there’s a message from that song we can take, in a way. It’s kind of a stretch to say so, but in his preparation to successfully take over the…

  • Difficult Times Will Come

    Moving on to chapter 3 in 2 Timothy. It’s a continuation of everything else that moves Timothy into an understanding that it’s not going to be easy to convince people to pursue the things of God rather than the things of the world, youthful lusts. Paul begins prefaces the list of things men will do with…

  • A Useful Vessel Part 2

    This is a continuation of yesterday’s post. It was getting pretty long so I decided to cut it in half. And there was a lot to take in yesterday too. Here’s the passage I’m going through again: Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood…

  • A Useful Vessel

    Interesting title, but appropriate. I’m still in 2 Timothy 2. It’s been awhile since I’ve posted anything, but this just took some time to grasp for me. I’ve been trying to apply it to my life and have been watching it slowly take over and create a newer lifestyle. It’s like getting the long-awaited update…

  • Approved

    Remember when you got your first loan? Were you able to get it? I wasn’t. I had to have a co-signer. Then I remember the day that I finally got approved. Now I’m wishing I’d had better sense not to get a loan. But there was something great about getting approved. It was a feeling…

  • Not Imprisoned

    There are so many things that hold us back from sharing our faith with our friends. Fear of rejection, lack of confidence, to name a few. I believe that what it really comes down to is our commitment to Jesus, our conviction of the Truth in our lives being surrounded by the lies of the…

  • An Invitation To Suffer

    Doesn’t the title mess you up a little? In 2 Timothy 2, that exactly what Paul extends to Timothy. A couple posts back I mentioned the reason and motivation for our behavior as Christians: because of the promise of life. Here, at the beginning of the next chapter, Paul encourages Timothy with a greater invitation…

  • Mercy And Testing

    1 Kings 21-22This is an interesting account of Ahab, once king of Israel. Let’s start with this: In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab son of Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria over Israel twenty-two years. Ahab son of Omri did more <sup style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align:…

  • Beginning Real Marriage

    My wife and I are beginning Real Marriage together, by Mark and Grace Driscoll. Already we are beginning to see God working in our lives as we begin just the first chapter in the book. This is going to be a refining moment for us both. If you’ve read the book or haven’t, please keep…

  • Prayer Is About Relationship

    My wife went to a women’s prayer seminar this past weekend at our church building. She came back with something that stuck with me. I’ve known for a long time but have just ignored it and needed a reminder of what God is looking for in prayer. She said, “Prayer isn’t necessarily about asking God…