Electricity, Hurricane Sandy and the Feast of Sukkot – Four lessons

Posted on November 2, 2012 Written by Mark McIntyre 6 Comments

After the brute force of Hurricane Sandy subsided, I had some time to reflect on what had just happened. I offer four observations in response to Sandy.

Working to get what we already have

The main point is that I don’t have to strive to achieve holiness; it is something that has already been granted to me. I don’t have to work to get holiness; I already have it by being in Christ. I had been working to get something that I already have.

On the source of your passion

Our passion cannot come from love of correct doctrine. We are not to be motivated by obligation. A desire for societal reform (however necessary) is not to control us. Our actions cannot be fueled by a desire to be seen doing the right thing. The one and only correct source of passion for ministry is the love of God.

Hugging Porcupines and Other Ostensibly Stupid Behaviors

The Porcupines Among Us Every church has one or more porcupines in attendance. The porcupine is the person who feels entitled to stand in judgment of the church and often acts in a way that is disruptive to body life through their sense of superiority and entitlement. They are not in open hostility, nor are […]

On money lenders and impure motives

This morning I read the story in Mark 11 of Jesus cleansing the Temple. He was angry with those who were using worship at the Temple for their own gain. Since most of us haven’t been guilty of selling birds or running a currency exchange in the back of the church, we are afforded the opportunity to smugly look down on those rascals that Jesus tossed out.

Barnhouse on the Love of God

But we must not be confused into thinking that God is love apart from any other attribute. In fact, if you say that God is love without realizing that God is hate of sin, you have no gospel at all because you do not have God.

Electricity, Hurricane Sandy and the Feast of Sukkot – Four lessons

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