RUSSJONES.US

I haven't blogged about everyday events in the last 40 days because I wanted the 40 Days in the Book of Acts to stand on it's own.  But to say that there hasn't been a lot to blog about is an understatement.  Peodfiles Jared (the guy from those submarine sandwich commercials) pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography and to crossing state lines to pay for sex with minors.  He will probably serve  between five and 12½ years in prison, receive  sexual disorders treatment for his "medical condition" and his  wife wants to end marriage (no surprise there). No, I don't understand how grown men and  women can become ensnared by this kind of nightmare.  But the one thing that I do know is, treating this as a medical condition will most likely get you no where.  This isn't a "mental disorder" as much as it is a "spiritual disorder". The bottom line here is that Jared (and others) do not see God's Creation as He does.  Whe

CONGRATULATIONS!  YOU MADE IT! Taking time to be in the Word of God has been and always will be a sacrifice. The fact that you did this is tribute to your faith and determination to get closer to God. The reason why I choose the book of Acts was simple.  There is no other book in the Bible that can say more about today than the book of Acts.  It is my opinion and I am sure that there are others who would disagree, but my reasoning is simple.  There is no benediction to this book. In all of the other books of the New Testament the writers ended their writings with a benediction of some sort.  Not Acts.  Why?  Because is hasn't ended.  We are the living embodiment of the book of Acts today. What the early church did can still happen today.  More importantly, it can happen to you.  Following the Holy Spirit isn't necessarily the safest thing you can do (ask Paul).  But it is the most exciting thing you can do in your life. Praying for the sick and seeing them healed.  Pr

These last two days can either be used for catch up or reflection.  Let's ask a few questions in reflection about the book of Acts. What was the BIG idea that Luke was trying to convey through the book of Acts?  There are a lot of BIG ideas in Acts.  The Baptism in the Holy Spirit, the growth of the church, the theology of what church is, the theology of missions, etc.  But I think that what Luke wanted you to get from his writings was this.  It's all good.  Through the good times and the bad, Jesus never abandoned His people.  He never failed them.  He always had their best interests in mind.  He was always reaching to those who had never accepted Him.  We see a picture of success, but not from our point of view, from Christ's.  The growth and expansion of the church was a natural byproduct of a healthy church that pursued Jesus with all their heart, soul, mind and spirit. Was like fairer for these followers of Jesus than those who didn't follow Christ?  The sh

Acts 28:16 - 21 16 And when we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who guarded him.   17  After three days he called together the local leaders of the Jews, and when they had gathered, he said to them, “Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. 18  When they had examined me, they wished to set me at liberty, because there was no reason for the death penalty in my case. 19  But because the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar—though I had no charge to bring against my nation. 20  For this reason, therefore, I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is because of the hope of Israel that I am wearing this chain.” 21  And they said to him, “We have received no letters from Judea about you, and none of the brothers coming here has reported or spoken any evil about you. 22  But we desire to hear from you wha

Acts 28: 1 - 15 1 After we were brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Malta. 2 The native people showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold. 3 When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand. 4 When the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.” 5 He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. 6 They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.   7  Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitab

Acts 27:14-44 14 But soon a tempestuous wind, called the northeaster, struck down from the land. 15 And when the ship was caught and could not face the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along. 16 Running under the lee of a small island called Cauda, we managed with difficulty to secure the ship's boat. 17 After hoisting it up, they used supports to undergird the ship. Then, fearing that they would run aground on the Syrtis, they lowered the gear, and thus they were driven along. 18 Since we were violently storm-tossed, they began the next day to jettison the cargo. 19 And on the third day they threw the ship's tackle overboard with their own hands. 20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. Well it wasn't long before bad news blew their way.  A violent wind, like a hurricane, blew against them.  No matter what the sailors did, they couldn't steer the boat in the r

Acts 26:19-27:13 19 “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. 21 For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 22 To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: 23 that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.” He tells the King that he was not going to disobey Jesus in the vision that He  received.  FYI - vision here means literal appearing, not some kind of dream state.   He declares that he has been talking to Jews and Gentiles all over the place.  That they should repent o

Acts 25:23-26:18 23 So on the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city. Then, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. 24 And Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man about whom the whole Jewish people petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he ought not to live any longer. 25 But I found that he had done nothing deserving death. And as he himself appealed to the emperor, I decided to go ahead and send him. 26 But I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that, after we have examined him, I may have something to write. 27 For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to indicate the charges against him.” King  Agrippa  and his sister Bernice arrive, drawing a great  deal of attention to themselves.  Pr

Acts 25:1-22  1 Now three days after Festus had arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. 2 And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews laid out their case against Paul, and they urged him, 3 asking as a favor against Paul that he summon him to Jerusalem—because they were planning an ambush to kill him on the way. 4 Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea and that he himself intended to go there shortly. 5 “So,” said he, “let the men of authority among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them bring charges against him.”  6 After he stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought. 7 When he had arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges against him that they could not prove. 8 Paul argued in his defense, “Neither against the law of the

Acts 24: 1 - 27 1 And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a spokesman, one Tertullus. They laid before the governor their case against Paul. 2 And when he had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying:   “Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your foresight, most excellent Felix, reforms are being made for this nation, 3 in every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude. 4 But, to detain you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly. 5 For we have found this man a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 6 He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him. 8 By examining him yourself you will be able to find out from him about everything of which we accuse him.”   9  The Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that all these things were so. Five days after Pauls transfer to C aesarea  and the custody of Fe