Buck Stoves and Other stuff

The stove is now in the house, thanks to the help of my buddy Shane. We have not used any propane heat in about three days. The savings should be substantial. I have burnt myself about thirty times putting in wood. The hardest part is getting the stove regulated. It is very sensitive and efficient, thus you can overheat the house very easily. Beth and I are very pleased with the stove. I have enjoyed a few great cups of coffee around the fire already and I look forward to many more. Here is a picture of what I put in. I will have actual photos of the stove in my house soon.

On a more spiritual note........

So this is christmas, and we are in the "spirit" of giving. Or is is the spirit of spending? Well whatever the case they are both wrong. Christmas is about the creator of the universe, the LORD of lords and the KING of Kings leaving his throne for a womb, leaving the womb for a manger, and the leaving the manger for the cross. Christ became a man to die for men. He became sin so that we could be forgiven. He took the punishiment of a just God so that I wouuld be reconciled. Christmas is the Gospel.

Wake up!!!

Wake up call
Colossians 1.21-23
I. Condition of Depravity
a. Alienated-non participate of Grace, estranged, under the law and prisoned by sin
b. Bent toward sin- mind is swayed to sin
c. Contaminated actions
This wake-up call is for Christians a reminder of their once depraved condition. It goes into a detailed description of our depravity. It should sober us to our true condition without Christ. We must realize that we were totally estranged, sin sick, and our actions are contaminated with our depravity. Can you describe how are sinfulness alienates us from God? How are our actions contaminated by sin?
II. Cost of Reconciliation
a. Humanity—(Christmas’s importance)
b. Brutality- death, crucifixion sacrifice
c. Fidelity- faithful, sacrificial
Here we have the cost of reconciliation that Christ purchased for us. Man sinned, man must atone for sin. This is why Christ had to become a man and die. You see,sense we were depraved we could not atone for our sins. Even if we were given the opportunity to save ourselves on the cross it would not be enough!!! It is impossible to save yourself. Christ suffered for us, in place of us, for the Glory of God. (key in on this section) What does this mean to you? How can we live a life worthy of his sacrifice?
III. Call to Accountability –life doesn’t stop at salvation
a. Foundation (stability)
b. Steadfast-unmovable, unshakable
c. Hope- finding your pleasure in Him
Paul ends by letting them Know that life doesn’t stop at salvation. You see, we are to continue on in the faith. Salvation is not insurance from hell, it is a life, it continues. We should be founded in the faith, or stable. This means that we should build our life on the Word of God. Our life should be unshakable and unmovable. We are called to live with our hope totally in him. Would you say that you are unshakable when it comes to your relationship with Christ? Why do we seem to put our hope in the wrong things? What does an unshakable life look like?

Doctrine:rooted part 2

Well in the mean time while I am waiting for my stove to come in I thought I would bring in some thoughts on true discipleship...

doc·trine
doc·trine [dóktrin]
(plural doc·trines)
n
What isa doctrine?
1. rule or principle: a rule or principle that forms the basis of a belief, theory, or policy
2. ideas taught as truth: a body of ideas, particularly in religion, taught to people as truthful or correct
As a Christian, why do you think that it is important to study the doctrine of our faith? (write down your answer)

Reasons why we should study doctrine
· Lack of theological conviction
· In days gone by, many believers were persecuted or burned at the stake because of their doctrinal convictions. People believed that one’s relationship with God was more important than all other considerations.
· Today many believers are so shallow in their convictions that as God’s sheep, they cant tell the difference between grass and Astroturf!
· Lack of Biblical Knowledge
· Today many Christians in America would rather be tolerant than have truth. Biblical and theological Accuracy are things that are left to scholars. This was not true in the past. Actually this is a new concept.
Biblical illiteracy is rampant
1. Half of Americans can’t name the first book of the Bible.
2. Only 1/3 know who delivered the Sermon on the Mount
3. 75% do not know what is celebrated at Easter.
4. 6 out of 10 can’t name half of the Ten Commandments
5. 12% of Christians think Noah’s Wife was Joan of Arc
6. 64% of Christians don’t read the Bible because they are too Busy
The Bible is the best-selling, least read and least understand book.
What does the word say????????????
Discussion
Colossians 2.6-8 (6) Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, (7) rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. (8) See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

( The outline is given to help you understand the scripture. Use it if you want, or make up your own)
A Charge to Know the Truth
I. Walk in Christ (vs6)
a. Live (everything)
b. Life (found)
II. Root your Mind (vs7)
a. Word
b. Prayer
III. Protect your Life (vs8)
a. Knowing the truth
b. Knowing the lies

The following Questions are to help aply the scripture to your life.
Discussion Questions-
I. Walk in Christ (vs6)
What are ways we walk in Christ?
Is this something you think your generation does well?
II. Root your Mind (vs7)
How can we be rooted in the faith?
Why is this important?
III. Protect your Life (vs8)
How can Knowing the truth protect us?
Do you think that knowing the lies can help a Christian stay protected?
(Give examples of when the truth is needed and important, use personal examples if you want)

Wood Heat!

So....in these trying times my wife and I have decided to try and save some money by adding another source of heat to our house. We currently have propane. The cost of propane is a record highs and is very trying on our budget. Since our house has an old buck stove that is unusable due to a crack in the firebox and bad ventilation in the chimney. We have decided to replace the wood stove and repair the chimney. Wood heat is cheap and very effective. We have obtained two chain saws to cut the wood provided by the wind on my papaw's farm. We will be documenting this process on this blog as well as other happenings on the mountain.

here is a picture of Emma with Poppa's cows

Rooted

Well its been a while since my last post...I have been going through the book of Colossians in my personal devotion time. Through this study I have seen how important it is to have your mind founded in the truth of the Gospel. Now this is not a prosperity Gospel or another fales beleif. This Gospel produces joy, love, love, disicpline, sacrafice, holiness. There is a battle of the mind going on in our world today. Even the church has been under attack. The emmergant church and the seeker sensitve movement are all signs of the war that is being waged in the church of Chirst. The world has influenced the chruch in ways it has never been before. Now this influence is not nessessarly a physical one or one of preference. This influence is a doctrinal issue. Mnay Churches have chosen to be abiguous on such issues as; inerency of scripture, holiness, depravity of man, and supremacy of Christ. We must know the truth. There are absolutes. When will we stop being influencd!!!!! One drop of sewage defiles the hole bottle of water.

Colossae was a region that was under may influences. It truly could be compared to the state of our world in which we live. The Colossians were under the influence. Paul had set his mind on making sure these people of Colossae understood they needed to have their minds rooted in the Lord.
In this lesson we will talk about influence.
The Colossians were under heavy influence. This can be seen when you get the Back ground of the region of Colossae. By understanding these characters in which Paul addressed we can get an idea of the Influence the Colossians were under.
Under the Influence: Introduction to Colossians
I. False Prophets/ Doctrines
a. Holiness
b. Christ
The Colossians were under many types of influence. One reason is because of the false prophets and the doctrines that they were speaking. The prophets had false ideas concerning holiness. In your opinion what does holiness mean to you? They also taught a wrong doctrine concerning Christ. Paul pays much attention in the letter to the Colossians to the Lordship of Christ. Why do you think that having the wrong view of Christ could lead you down the wrong road?
II. Ignorant believers
a. Prejudices
b. Unlearned of Holy Spirit and the Things of Christ
Some of the believers at Colossae were very young in the faith, many held on to the old Jewish laws of eating and drinking. These believers did not understand the ways of Christ and the Holy Spirit. Tradition was more important to these people than the things of Christ. First of all can someone describe tradition? Tradition is okay, when put before Christ it becomes legalism. How can tradition get in our way as believers?
III. Arrogant Philosophers
a. Greece (pagan, and humanistic)
b. Orient (new age)
Finally the most dangerous influencers of the Colossians were the arrogant philosophers. The men and women ranged in scale from free thinkers to non-thinkers. Greece was a hot bed for pagan thought and practice. Many Greeks had their own personal gods that portrayed a lifestyle the particular person adhered to. For example most warriors worshiped the god Hermes. Hermes was the god of war. This posed a great problem to the Colossians. Also there were many free thinkers, whose thought where surrounded in humanism. Humanism puts man and his happiness above all things, as the center of the universe. In God’s eyes this is idolatry. There were also influences from the eastern religions and philosophies. Which New Age comes from. This is religions like Taoism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and many others. This is also where Gnosticism and Agnostics come from. Now we could study these religion and philosophies forever. To simplify their falsehood comes from the placement of Christ. He is not considered Lord and King in any of these beliefs. Ask—How do you think these beliefs could influence a young believer? What kind of dangers do these beliefs bring in today’s world?

The Blazing Center

If we make much of God because he makes much of us, then WE are idolaters. But if we make make much of God because God makes much of God, then God is our God. Cultural Christianity will tell you that the greatest thing in life is salvation. Salvation is an amazing miracle that shows the grace of mercy of God, but it is one of the blessings of God. The Greatest thing in life is God. God is the Gift, God is salvation, God is the Gospel. When we find our joy, hope, fulfillment, satisfaction, and purpose in God, He is most Glorified. God should be the blazing center of our lives.

No Gas!

Will we have to go back to the Mountain Man days???? Well in all circumstances let us find joy. Paul reminds us of this in the end of Chapter 4 in the book of Philippians.

Philippians 4.10-19
I. Joy in Suffering (vs11-13)
a. Content
b. All circumstances
c. Strength in Christ
Ask—What is contentment to you? Do you think we can find it in all circumstances, why or why not? How does Christ give us strength to go through any situation?
II. Joy in Ministry (vs10,14-17)
a. Concern
b. Sharing
c. Partnership
d. Sacrifice
Ask—Look at verse 10, How did these people show concern for Paul? What exactly did they share in? How did they sacrifice? What can we do or already doing to find joy in ministry?
III. Joy in God’s Supply (vs18-19)
a. Use of God’s People
b. Supply of Personal needs
Ask—How does God use us to help others in need? How has God supplied your personal needs? Do you think that God cares for your needs?