tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071872512288815488.post5048256874144400284..comments2016-03-09T20:13:05.914-05:00Comments on Epic Online Class Blog: The Story God is Telling: EPIC: Act TwoHolly Muellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00476411667354933648noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071872512288815488.post-11856475354543403922015-07-19T15:26:47.110-04:002015-07-19T15:26:47.110-04:00Amen sister!Amen sister!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00610530609277014354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071872512288815488.post-84697572575142676512015-07-19T11:08:21.811-04:002015-07-19T11:08:21.811-04:00My teaching experience with special needs high sch...My teaching experience with special needs high school students confirms Heather's experience with 1st and 2nd graders. So I developed a process for addressing the "s/he made me do it" scenario: I asked students "What could you have done differently?" when "tempted" by someone else's example or suggestion. It's the free will thing--temptation is there; how we respond to it is a choice. Now, I understand that in our human weakness, resisting temptation is difficult. But as the children's hymn says, "I am weak, but He is strong." Standing on the power of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God is the only way we (and even Jesus as he was tempted in the desert after his baptism) can be victorious over Satan.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16957820599621664726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071872512288815488.post-79230155425392920272015-07-19T07:31:58.296-04:002015-07-19T07:31:58.296-04:00#6
I am the coordinator for before and aftercare ...#6 <br />I am the coordinator for before and aftercare for first and second graders. When disciplining them I always hear, "but she told me to!" or "he made me do it!" my response is always, " You have your own brain, the choice you made was your own." I try to live amongst this because i know the free will given by God and I can choose at any moment to follow him or like Tom was saying, follow the world. It is easy to say that the devil made me do it, it is rewarding to say, I am sorry, please forgive me.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00610530609277014354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071872512288815488.post-2439145034000505372015-07-19T07:23:13.049-04:002015-07-19T07:23:13.049-04:00This is some pretty deep stuff. Tom, thank you for...This is some pretty deep stuff. Tom, thank you for the reminder that despite our perspective God is ruler over all. And I resonate with that feeling Karen. That it requires a demonstration of faith from me. Don't forget that God doesn't require us to go alone. He sent his spirit to live among us, to guide us, strengthen, us and give us wisdom. So if this God who is ruler over all lives in us, haven't we already overcome?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00610530609277014354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071872512288815488.post-82350302045066236452015-07-19T07:14:09.721-04:002015-07-19T07:14:09.721-04:00# 2:
React naturally... I think my initial reacti...# 2:<br /><br />React naturally... I think my initial reaction to this was strangely enough-comfort. I and I think we have a great need to understand our lives. We need to have an identity, a purpose, a sense of security, etc. I personally need to know that there is something bigger than me going on. I need to know that all the stuff in the world is not happening out of flippancy but rather out of purpose. I need to know that the one who loves me has defeated the antagonists "purpose" and continues to fight for me. Comfort in understanding is my initial reaction, how can I help is my second...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00610530609277014354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071872512288815488.post-25142830575001791982015-07-15T06:52:04.517-04:002015-07-15T06:52:04.517-04:00It is always very encouraging to remember that God...It is always very encouraging to remember that God and Satan are not equals - God is and always has been in control. When I read this chapter, though, I got a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. I tried to analyze this feeling - it is not fear, but it is dread. Dread because I know that the fact of evil requires a response from me. We are called to stand against it. We need to be sure we put on our spiritual armor first, but then we are called to stand against evil. "...and the gates of Hell will not prevail against" the Church. Or, as Steven Curtis Chapman sang about, "be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good". Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09950612393836997163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071872512288815488.post-46729612385129402532015-07-14T09:28:04.111-04:002015-07-14T09:28:04.111-04:00Tom Way - Question 4 The reality of evil.
Evil is...Tom Way - Question 4 The reality of evil.<br /><br />Evil is in control only if you allow it to be. No where in the bible do I see evil acting independently. It only acts when God allows it to act. God allows the interaction with Job in the OT. Jesus allows Satan to sift the disciples in the NT.<br /><br />"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22: 31-32).<br /><br />Note: Satan must ASK permission to act. Hear the Good News, Jesus shows us the way to defeat evil is through faith. Allowing the action is the great mystery of the story that has yet to be revealed. I believe its revelation occurs once we enter God's Kingdom.<br />Never be thirsty!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071872512288815488.post-82737135039901534522015-07-13T22:29:47.570-04:002015-07-13T22:29:47.570-04:00Tom - what a wise response from your associate pas...Tom - what a wise response from your associate pastor!Holly Muellerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00476411667354933648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071872512288815488.post-22101858137452339202015-07-13T11:35:57.688-04:002015-07-13T11:35:57.688-04:00"Choose wisely"--a fabulous line from th..."Choose wisely"--a fabulous line from the epic film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade as Indy must select the "real" Holy Grail in order to save his father's life. Choosing what is real, what is true, as if our lives depend on it--because our eternal lives DO depend on it. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16957820599621664726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071872512288815488.post-21314842222066754782015-07-13T11:29:44.412-04:002015-07-13T11:29:44.412-04:00Tom Way Question #2: The Bible contains evidence ...Tom Way Question #2: The Bible contains evidence of spiritual warfare waged between beings allied with God and those allied with Satan, beings often unrecognized or unseen by people. We are not alone. This universe is inhabited by other beings; we share the stage with other players. <br /><br />2. React to this reality. What does this stir up in you? <br /><br />I remember when I first decided to study the bible seriously in the late 80's. I was taking a 2 year long class. The associate pastor of the church was teaching the class. One evening a student asked the associate pastor if he believed in Satan. His reply was, " I acknowledge his existence but I believe in Jesus Christ." Reminded me of Joshua, "But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” (Josh23:15).<br /><br />Last time I checked Jesus was undefeated and undefeatable. Be careful where you concentrate your efforts. Choose wisely.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com