Stay the Course

'nuf said.

Something about forgiveness

Complete, unadulterated, unconditional forgiveness. The cross sure does bring a lot into perspective.

"If you can't forgive, the cross means nothing." (Gelok)



Now, Redemption . . . takes a lot more work.

There Are Two Things I Believe In:

Coffee and Chocolate.

Coffee not only tastes great, but it gives me that high / rush / buzz and a burst of perpetual energy. And makes me feel happy. And then chocolate also tastes amazing, but it makes me feel better on a bad day, and just gives me that feeling of satisfaction and contentment.

Yes, I believe in coffee and chocolate.

And then I realized something. I was thinking about Oxford (WHEE!!) and getting super excited. Not because it's England, but because it's apologetics on steroids. And as time passes, I'm learning more and more how much apologetics gives me this grand rush. It's like coffee.

Seriously, though. My first night in Israel, I had been awake for 2 days straight (because of the flight & time change) and was exhausted beyond measure. But as soon as theology came up in conversation, I went at it full throttle for an hour. Fully energized.

Therefore, this is the conclusion of the matter:

Apologetics is like coffee.
Love is like chocolate.



And then chocolate coffee is like Priscilla and Aquila in Acts. Apologetics and romance irrevocably intertwined.

Authentic Jade

"It's not just a feeling; it's a reason. We know a line is crooked 'cause we know what's straight."

All good things come from God
And all good things go back to God

"If he shrinks back . . ."

From This Day We Fight by Francis Frangipane


Everything God tells us to do will, at some point, require us to stand against seemingly impossible odds and believe courageously what He has said. True faith takes courage. In the midst of human struggle, courage must walk as the companion and expression of our faith.

In order for faith to mature it needs situations where faith alone can sustain us. For this reason God will allow us to go through times when we must trust Him in spite of how things appear. In those times, against the glaring face of a negative reality, true faith arises, appropriates courage and locks into the integrity of God's promise. We must let faith arise in the context of resistance.


For in just a very little while, He who is coming will come and will not delay. But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him. (Heb 10:37-38)

To Live By Faith

From This Day We Fight by Francis Frangipane:


For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.
See, he is puffed up; his desires are not upright— but the righteous will live by his faith. (Hab 2:3-4)


To "live by faith" is to believe God until the vision He gave comes to pass.

You see, this is not about the fulfillment of our lives but the fulfillment of God's Word. God's Word cannot return to Him void without fulfilling the purpose for which He spoke it.

Whom shall we believe? The report of the Lord or the words of those who refuse to see the light? Shall we take the counsel from the blind if they cannot see the potential we see? Let us take God at his word. Let me state this again: Jesus Himself assures us that "All things are possible to him who believes." Do you believe? Or are you just a nice believer who goes to church?

Beloved, if we fail, it is no great shame. We simply join the ranks of the spiritual heroes who went before us and "died in faith, without receiving the promises." In truth, it is better to die in faith than to live in doubt.

But consider: What if we succeed?