What Christian faith is not:
- The ability to manipulate God. This approach only sees faith as having one aim -one fruit - a life of ease and blessing.
- The adherence to a set of beliefs. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed. 2 Timothy 1:12 (NIV)
- A blind leap into the dark. Reason is our soul's left hand, Faith her right. -John Donne
What Christian faith is:
- A biblical definition: Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. -Hebrews 11:1-3 (NIV)
- A gift from God. And now these (gifts) three remain: faith, hope and love. -1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV)
- Faith is like radar that sees through the fog. -Corrie Ten Boom
Salvation
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast. -Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)
Compassion
What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. -James 2:14-17 (NIV)
Power
“You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.” -Matthew 17:20 (NIV)
Faith makes things possible, not easy. -Unknown
Faith is raising the sail of our little boat until it is caught up in the soft winds above and picks up speed, not from anything within itself, but from the vast resources of the universe around us. -W. Ralph Ward
Faith enables persons to be persons because it lets God be God. -Carter Lindberg
Faith can move mountains, but don't be surprised if God hands you a shovel. -Unknown
Hope
By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. -Hebrews 11:7 (NIV) and “But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark, and he sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded.” -Genesis 8:1 (NIV)
A little faith will bring your soul to heaven, but a lot of faith will bring heaven to your soul.
Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase. -Martin Luther King Jr.
Training Update
Another bad bad. I don't know why, but I'm just not feeling it lately. And easy 8 this morning with Dave and Dave through Elmwood and Memorial Parks long before the sun came out. 59 minutes.
Kid's Update
David on the Mac
Benjamin getting ready 50s Day at School
2 comments:
hi craig--missing the FWW crew lately--your research notes are fantastic and the pictures of your kids are so cute--hope all is well with you guys!
take care--i have a huge e-mail thank-you i've been working on and i will send it soon (promise!)
but until then THANK YOU for everything this summer. it was a wonderful experience and i talk about it often!
hope all is well.
Hey Cayla,
Thanks for your note. I have something to get to you as well in appreciation for all your hard work and good work this summer. You don't have any idea how much of a blessing you were to me and to the church. We all miss having you around! Hope school is going well. We look forward to having you visit us when you are back in town.
Craig
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