tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64669272241691393922011-08-13T09:54:57.465-04:00exegetical exhortations and devotional thoughtsBen Douglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12192907699576467848noreply@blogger.comBlogger331100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466927224169139392.post-124742856029293092011-07-12T08:55:00.002-04:002011-07-12T08:58:10.460-04:00

John 6:15, when Jesus walks on the water, leads us into a pivot point in John, in that Jesus doesn’t use an instrument to perform a miracle – He is the instrument in the miracle. By walking on the water Jesus shows His disciples – the twelve that choose to continue following, not leave Him as the coming crowds are to do – water is nothing more than a bi-product of the earth. He is showing

Ben Douglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12192907699576467848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466927224169139392.post-17229317368876178782011-07-01T10:33:00.003-04:002011-07-01T10:46:59.027-04:00

While the introductory statements in John 1:1-13 serve as ambiguously bold claims about Christ Jesus by John the evangelist and author, let us take a moment and reflect further on the importance of the pivot point in this chapter as a whole: vv. 29-34. For the purpose of this interpretative work I will not be using the adjective “look” as is presented in the NIV. Instead, I will look at the

Ben Douglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12192907699576467848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466927224169139392.post-62853390263978395672011-06-26T18:26:00.000-04:002011-06-26T18:26:19.987-04:00

Ben Douglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12192907699576467848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466927224169139392.post-13701297172472647962011-03-26T22:31:00.000-04:002011-03-26T22:31:43.121-04:00

So here I sit. I gave up coffee for Lent this year. It's not the first time I've fasted, but it's the first time I've given up something that really hurts. Yes, I'm not like all biblical fasters: go into a closet, pour oil on your face and hide from everyone I am fasting. I cannot wait until Easter and I miss Starbucks, a lot. I used to think that Dave Ramsey was the enemy of Starbucks. Whenever

Ben Douglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12192907699576467848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466927224169139392.post-19869417133944181602011-03-22T11:01:00.001-04:002011-03-22T13:28:45.464-04:00

Historical context The story of the Tower of Babel in its historical context is still, in the opinion of this author, a little easier to comprehend. However, with some supplemental research, we can better-understand the motives behind the migration and settlement of these builders. The Expositor’s Bible Commentary (Salihamer, 2008) says this, “As early as Genesis 3 the author has shown an

Ben Douglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12192907699576467848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466927224169139392.post-90860849612486969052011-03-19T14:47:00.000-04:002011-03-19T14:47:40.330-04:00

Implications 1. What are the implications in making choices based on internal desires? We see that making choices based on internal desires is not pleasing to the Lord. The builders did not seek council from God (vv. 3 and 4), and as was the case with Adam and Eve, the Lord saw this self-reliant nature mixed with a very strong desire to rule perhaps all of mankind. This is, in the opinion of this

Ben Douglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12192907699576467848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466927224169139392.post-66217117414739373142011-03-18T19:54:00.001-04:002011-03-18T19:55:40.738-04:00

Inductive questions1. Can we define where this land was? We don’t know where they were, exactly, but we can see what scholars have had to say on this matter. While the text itself does not lend us to understand where the land is located, it does tell us that men were moving “eastward” (v. 2) so we can begin to make some guesses; perhaps near Mesopotamia? Gill (1746) says this, “This plain was

Ben Douglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12192907699576467848noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466927224169139392.post-89586070494289668152011-03-17T08:46:00.002-04:002011-03-17T12:45:31.639-04:00

Structural observations (immediate context) 1. Contrast The contrasting nature of this story is very prominent with two very important aspects: common language and unity. In v. 1c, the whole world had a “common speech” and in v. 4c they did not want to be scattered. However, the Lord came down from the heavens to confuse their language (v. 9b) and also scattered them across the earth (v. 8a). 2.

Ben Douglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12192907699576467848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466927224169139392.post-68122284434826137462011-03-16T08:30:00.002-04:002011-03-16T08:48:13.169-04:00

The following is part I of an exegesis on Genesis 11:1-8; observations and inductive questions. This work will seek to examine the larger story at work here within the story of the Tower fo Babel. Observing text, subsequent to prayer, is critical; first, and foremost to everything we do when we approach the Bible and attempt to understand what God is revealing to us. I'm not sure at this point

Ben Douglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12192907699576467848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466927224169139392.post-79869479085178727952010-10-01T08:54:00.003-04:002011-03-16T08:42:50.838-04:00

"In I Just Want You to Know, Kate reveals a less familiar spiritual side. She is a grateful and faith-filled mother who only wants the best for her children and is willing to sacrifice to make that happen.” Since the inception and moral decline of the popular TLC show “John & Kate Plus 8,” many questions have come to me. Upon finding Kate’s book I Just Want You to Know in a local Christian

Ben Douglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12192907699576467848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466927224169139392.post-77719692220481807212010-09-22T14:15:00.002-04:002011-03-16T08:43:23.075-04:00

As a follow-up to a previous post on sanctification (the continuous infilling and inward spiritual growth from the Holy Spirit; post-salvation), I wanted to expand a little on the role God can play in our lives when we continue to earnestly seek Him and by faith, live for His will in our lives. The Lord came into my life in a very profound manner. It happened on a Friday evening; Friday September

Ben Douglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12192907699576467848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466927224169139392.post-13901483838645453692010-09-21T15:03:00.002-04:002011-03-16T08:43:45.640-04:00

“We live in a fallen world and we’re all sinners; we just need to keep remembering that,” said the host of the morning Christian radio broadcast I recently heard. While the belief is that the world is fallen and we are all born into sin, the tone and manner with which we approach and discuss this topic is what is concerning to me. The tone that was in this broadcaster’s voice was a tone of defeat

Ben Douglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12192907699576467848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466927224169139392.post-24532329191381954462010-09-17T10:22:00.000-04:002010-09-17T10:22:25.165-04:00

Often times I gloss over things like: talking to my parents, in-laws, even really close friends, because of our ‘I had somewhere to be 20 minutes ago’ way of life. While praying with my son the other night before bed, I asked him if he wanted pray for us. He did, and quickly began rattling off names of his friends from Sunday school, his playgroup, classmates from his preschool, even our house

Ben Douglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12192907699576467848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466927224169139392.post-38214849917746618202010-09-14T08:07:00.000-04:002010-09-14T08:07:50.909-04:00

Here's a great video -- paying tribute to our service men and women; past and present.

Ben Douglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12192907699576467848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466927224169139392.post-6193150398663844652010-09-08T08:36:00.001-04:002010-09-18T08:47:10.345-04:00

I received the following story from a professor this week. I thought the message was so great that I wanted to share it with all of you. It resonated with me as I celebrated my TWO YEAR birthday of being a Christian this past Sunday. I hope you enjoy it. For a few years I had the privilege of working with The Salvation Army where I heard a story of an illiterate man who was converted through the

Ben Douglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12192907699576467848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466927224169139392.post-57149474477684095092010-09-03T08:52:00.000-04:002010-09-03T08:52:50.109-04:00

It's not as if there aren't enough websites and blogs for you to find exactly what you're looking for -- I still thought I'd share this one with you.  Cleverly titled "Nazarene Blogs" (blogs for nazarenes) this site offers many blogs that range from: Scripture devotions to holiness, God and theology -- you get the idea.  If you get a chance, stop by and check it out.  God bless.

Ben Douglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12192907699576467848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466927224169139392.post-69411123702560047192010-09-01T11:17:00.002-04:002010-09-01T11:18:39.133-04:00

Speaking as one who has not been a pastor, I think pastors are afraid to speak biblical convictions to their parishioners. Afraid how exactly? Let's keep in mind the pressures pastors are under these days: 1) worship attendance, 2) Sunday school attendance, 3) tithing, 4) meet and/or exceed missions giving goals, 5) spiritual council for their flock, 6) building maintenance, 7) vehicle

Ben Douglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12192907699576467848noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466927224169139392.post-1139073026686539262010-08-26T08:48:00.001-04:002010-09-01T13:54:56.307-04:00

Should the Church in the book of Acts be used as a paradigm for the church today? In short, I will say “yes.” However, one thing that occurred to me while thinking about this is how we only see small aspects of the church in the Scripture (cf. Acts 2:42-47). In saying that, there are significant changes that must be made today which I think – because of Western culture – would make it virtually

Ben Douglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12192907699576467848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466927224169139392.post-71805953600437792472010-08-20T09:42:00.001-04:002010-08-20T09:44:01.282-04:00

Pastor Rick Warren (Saddleback Church) sits down with Charlie Rose to discuss the direction of the Christian movement; globally as well as internationally. The second half of the interview is with Pastor Gregory Boyd (Woodland Hills Church) discussing his book The Myth of a Christian Nation. While this interview was conducted four years back, take some time to review it and ask yourself: How

Ben Douglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12192907699576467848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466927224169139392.post-20922559399542949042010-08-03T12:23:00.001-04:002010-08-03T12:24:21.323-04:00

Next, I felt was extremely important to examine, briefly, the fruit that makes us who we are; a follow-up to ‘Yes or no? Which is it?’ This Scripture comes to us, again from Jesus, in Matthew 7:15-20. Jesus says, “Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit” (Matt. 7:17, NIV). Throughout the entirety of this teaching, Jesus uses very harsh rhetoric to address the

Ben Douglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12192907699576467848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466927224169139392.post-57154659012820747352010-07-22T08:48:00.000-04:002010-07-22T08:48:42.415-04:00

That’s right folks, at this minute God’s Word may be ministering to a petty thief in the Haute. This morning I walked out to my car – which was sitting on the street – and noticed my glove box open, dome light on, and door slightly cracked open. Short of dusting for prints, I believe this adds up to nothing short of the handy work of a common criminal. But this servant found the sliver lining

Ben Douglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12192907699576467848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466927224169139392.post-46304157900141667292010-07-20T14:26:00.000-04:002010-07-20T14:26:58.988-04:00

“Extra, extra, read all about it!” shouts the newspaper vendor from a corner newsstand in downtown Manhattan. As the world shuffles-bye at break neck speed, today’s headlines are fast-becoming tomorrow’s history lessons. Topics that don the cover of semi news worthy outlets like the New York Times, will typically not survive tomorrow’s oil spill or political fraud in Washington, D.C. However,

Ben Douglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12192907699576467848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466927224169139392.post-17606292279373276352010-07-17T09:16:00.000-04:002010-07-17T09:16:21.772-04:00

“Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” (Deuteronomy 6:5, NIV) Once this was in place -- firmly ensconced in the fabric of my soul -- there became a proverbial automatic desire to seek God and all that He has for me. I say this not to speak on behalf of mankind, but rather speaking of my own experience(s). When I was living my life prior to

Ben Douglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12192907699576467848noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466927224169139392.post-84924958522486872472010-07-16T07:37:00.002-04:002010-07-16T07:56:07.851-04:00

What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?Romans 7:24, NIV I felt this Scripture very worthy of reflection in the life we must learn to understand – once clothed in Christ and adopted into His Body, as this verse resonates with me and how I wrestled with my new life -- saved in Christ. The apostle Paul is reflecting on his life – in Christ Jesus – and yet still writes “

Ben Douglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12192907699576467848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466927224169139392.post-86157348686611899852010-07-13T12:52:00.001-04:002010-07-13T12:55:19.859-04:00

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” (Mark 8:34-36) This to me is what it means to be a

Ben Douglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12192907699576467848noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466927224169139392.post-76903214958052358332010-07-10T22:00:00.003-04:002010-07-13T11:09:43.289-04:00

“We not only find instructions concerning the overseers and “deacons” of the church (I Tim./Tit.) but also guidelines for women, slaves, and worship” (Schenck, 2009, p. 413). I believe that there is something both missing, as well as slightly misleading in the author’s assessment here. While I don’t dispute the charge by Schenck, two things should be addressed: 1) The message in Titus actually

Ben Douglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12192907699576467848noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466927224169139392.post-1021492021551065692010-02-22T12:16:00.000-05:002010-02-22T12:16:12.896-05:00

At the beginning of the New Year, I posted that 2010 would be the year of the covenant; with God. I don't know if any of you have decided to join me in this or not - my loyal followers of eight - but I think it's good to stop and reflect on our personal goals during any journey; to see if we're still on the road or in need of a new map. I have been doing well I must say. One of the areas I

Ben Douglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12192907699576467848noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466927224169139392.post-76952523541353137812010-01-04T11:13:00.001-05:002010-01-05T07:33:02.126-05:00

This sunset was one of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen. I took this picture on the shore of Lake Erie, just outside of Erie, PA. The incredible thing about this scene however, is that I almost never saw it. My wife and I had traveled to Boston for a wedding. On the way back, after an impromptu visit to Niagara Falls, we planned to stop at Cleveland for the night. As we arrived near Erie, PA,

Ben Douglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12192907699576467848noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466927224169139392.post-8402816190899755182009-12-31T13:13:00.000-05:002009-12-31T13:13:21.942-05:00

It's time again - time to make the usual resolutions and lists, lists that many of us will not keep.  I initially planned to put in place a few lists and ideas of my own; hoping to keep them running strong for at least 2 or 3 months before I fail.  But in getting my lists ready I had an epiphany.  As I reflect on the covenants I've made with the Lord, I realized I have not failed Him.  Putting

Ben Douglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12192907699576467848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466927224169139392.post-26069290871483411232009-12-28T14:54:00.002-05:002010-07-13T11:10:37.595-04:00

I’ve often heard the expression: what goes in also comes out. I always believed that but never gave it too much thought beyond the mere premise. After all, if the music to which I listen purports violence, sex, drugs or alcohol – and there is no shortage of that format these days – then I’ll be more likely to want to trend that way while scanning the program guide on television or viewing the

Ben Douglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12192907699576467848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466927224169139392.post-86578278251753122192009-12-26T07:24:00.006-05:002009-12-27T14:51:31.097-05:00

Every morning I leave for work at 5:30 a.m.  The grueling nature of dark winter mornings can sometimes act as a sleep agent, while at other times it is perfectly peaceful and therapeutic.  After I finish my usual 7 – 4 shift at the office, I jump in the car and drive the seventy-two miles back to my driveway; collect the daily mail, run inside to a cozy house, happy wife, excited dog, and one

Ben Douglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12192907699576467848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466927224169139392.post-69107395608893525942009-12-23T09:16:00.007-05:002009-12-27T14:42:10.222-05:00

This Christmas season, many of us will gather in our homes and fellowship with family around a home-cooked meal, watch our children get excited about their presents, and perhaps even watch part of The Christmas Story together on TBS. It is one time each year where we share the blessings God has given each of us by offering gifts to our loved ones and catch-up with family members who have traveled

Ben Douglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12192907699576467848noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466927224169139392.post-77217479432506417232009-12-22T14:09:00.005-05:002009-12-27T14:42:28.671-05:00

These days, we have too many distractions in our lives as compared to even a decade-ago. Our days are consumed with getting to work early to beat the traffic, answering our cell phones whenever and wherever we are or feel as though we should have to. Combine this with the need to climb the corporate ladder in a dog-eat-dog world, and it’s easy to see why God takes a back seat in most of our lives

Ben Douglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12192907699576467848noreply@blogger.com1