« August 2003 | October 2003 »
Posted by David Carroll
Psalm 84:10-12 (NIV)Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you.This is a beautiful picture of the blessings of living a life pleasing to God. When the bible speaks of being blessed, it means happy. The word blameless does not
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Posted by David Carroll
2 Thessalonians 1:7b-10a (NIV)... when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed.Reading through the bible like this, I have to take the readings as they come. I probably
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Posted by David Carroll
- Flash Demo of DLP digital light processing technology
- Via Roy Osherove -- On June 17th, every year, the family goes through a private ritual: we photograph ourselves to stop a fleeting moment, the arrow of time passing by
- On Logic and Christianity
- The Double Helix Meets the Bacterial Flagellum -- An Argument for Intelligent Design
- Christdot - Review: Eternity in their Hearts, by Don Richardson
- Top ten Biblical Discoveries (washingtonpost.com)
- Xah: Special Plane Curves: Equiangular Spiral
- The Logarithmic Spiral
- Apologetics, God, Jesus, Creationism, Evolution, Archaeology, Faith, Christianity and Science: Evidence of God
- - Thermodynamics vs. Evolutionism -
Posted by David Carroll
Calendar.NET Control SampleDotNetMagic - The User Interface Library for .NET MS Visio CoolnessI've seen C# to VB.NET converters but here is a post about the search for one that goes the other way.
Sonic Stylus Studio: Products: Sonic SoftwareVisual Studio Magazine - The Software Architect - The Software Practitioner TriadThe New Methodology Agile Methodologies
NUnit V2.1 Final ReleaseFTPOnline - Perform XSLT Transformations in .NET 1.1An Extreme Programming EpisodeThe dangers of extreme programmingXProgramming.com - an Extreme Programming ResourceExtreme Programming: A Gentle Introduction.M2PolaroidSnapLayout-o-maticEncrypted Connection StringGet Directory Size in .Netnsh - A tool to run .NET source files like script files.What's Next for SQL Server?Microsoft
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Posted by David Carroll
1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 (NKJV)Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.In rapid fire like fashion, Paul lists vital Christian virtues that summarize the basic attitudes for life. Joy comes from the confidence in knowing your purpose and your destiny. You serve at the pleasure of the King of kings, the one who created all things. What could bring you more joy? You have direct access
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Posted by David Carroll
Jeremiah 17:9-10 (NKJV)The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.When the Bible speaks of the heart, it is talking about the seat of a man's will and emotion. In this verse he speaks of "the" heart, not any particular heart. He's talking about your heart and my heart. Have you ever noticed how we are able to rationalize almost any decision or behavior? Oh, we criticize others but
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Posted by David Carroll
Proverbs 24:30-34 (NIV)I went past the field of the sluggard, past the vineyard of the man who lacks judgment; thorns had come up everywhere, the ground was covered with weeds, and the stone wall was in ruins.I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw: A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest--and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.A group of researchers studying urban decay did a study of why some neighborhoods degraded to a terrible condition while other
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Posted by David Carroll
1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 (NIV)We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you.The three Christian graces--faith, hope and love--are the evidences of our election by God. Who are the chosen? The ones who have faith in God. Faith brings us to God's grace. Love is the sanctifying grace of God, which makes us like Christ. Our
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Posted by David Carroll
David Heddle from He Liveswrites:Man is endowed with a free will that is the same before or after regeneration. It will be the same free will that he carries with him to heaven or hell. That will is not violated. The will however, is like an engine. The input, or the fuel, is man's heart. The output is man's actions and deeds. It is not the will that is changed, but the heart. Same engine, but different inputs— which then results in different outputs.I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove
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Posted by David Carroll
Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV) Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.This is an important principle. God gave Adam work to do in the Garden. Work has dignity because of this. After Adam sinned, God made him work by the sweat of his brow. Work is still dignified, just a lot harder. Now if we serve Christ, why should we work so hard for that mean boss we've
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Posted by David Carroll
Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NIV)This is what the Lord says: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the Lord.Men are proud. It is easy to feel pretty good about ourselves when we have plenty of wisdom, strength or riches. If you can put that combination together, the world would say you
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Posted by David Carroll
Colossians 2:16-17 (NIV)Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.There are a number of different places in the New Testament that support the doctrine that for the Christian, Sabbath keeping is no longer a requirement. I have heard it said that the seventh commandment regarding the Sabbath is the only one riot repeated in the New Testament. In the Old Testament, the
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Posted by David Carroll
Colossians 2:2-3 (NIV)My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.I must say that I don't have complete understanding. But, the more I do understand from God's word, the more I appreciate the riches therein. True understanding comes from putting into practice the things in this book. Jesus summed up the things in this book: Love God. Love your neighbor. Love
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Posted by David Carroll
Colossians 1:15-17 (NIV)He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.The wonder of it all. That the almighty Creator of heaven and Earth would come down and become a human like you and me. When the Holy Council of the Trinity conferred together and said "Let us make man in our
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Posted by David Carroll
Philippians 4:8-9 (NIV)Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.I've been told I have a one track mind. I believe that we all do. As amazed as I am by women who can seemingly carry on multiple conversations at the same time and still hear her baby cry in the background, I believe all
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Posted by David Carroll
Interesting article via The Ole Miss Conservative about the differences between the way conservatives and liberals think. A few excerpts: My sense, from years of careful observation both as an engaged citizen and as a detached philosopher, is that liberals are far quicker to ascribe low intelligence to conservatives than conservatives are to ascribe low intelligence to liberals.Here's what has always puzzled me. It seems clear that intelligence is unrelated to (i.e., uncorrelated with) political ideology. For every brilliant liberal mind, there is a brilliant conservative mind. For every liberal dunce, there is a conservative dunce.Let us explore this liberal
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Posted by David Carroll
Philippians 3:18-21 (NIV)For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.This seems to be a common thread throughout
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Posted by David Carroll
Psalm 73:27-28 (NIV)Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.It is not a good thing to be far from God. Perish and destruction are the end of the unfaithful. On the other hand, near to God is good; it is a place of safety.Why such a wide gap between near and far? Is there no middle ground? Have you ever noticed that those who are far from
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Posted by David Carroll
Isaiah 61:1-2 (NKJV)The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mournIsaiah 61 is an important Messianic prophecy. Not only does it foretell of Jesus ministry but Jesus himself quoted from this verse to formally announce the beginning of his ministry. Of course
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Posted by David Carroll
Philippians 1:6b (NKJV)He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus ChristIn the movie City Slickers, Curly (Jack Palance) was an ornery old cowboy. When Billy Crystal asked him whether he had killed anybody today, Curly replied "Nope" and then paused for a moment and continued "day ain't over yet." That was a great movie line. Well silly as it is, you get the point, God's not finished with me yet, but when He looks at me, He sees the finished product.I must admit, I'd like to see more of the finished
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Posted by David Carroll
Isaiah 55:8-9 (NKJV)"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts."I like science. Science is all about knowing how things work. But knowing how something works is not the same as knowing how it came to be. For example we know a lot about how stars produce their energy, but scientists pretty much speculate on how they came to be. I know, astronomers talk very eruditely about how stellar evolution
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Posted by David Carroll
Isaiah 53:4-6 (NKJV)Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted.But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.This passage of scripture (chapter 53 of Isaiah) does not appear in the daily synagogue readings. The reason given is revealing: the rabbis say it
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Posted by David Carroll
Ephesians 4:29 (NKJV)Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.A few years back, I was doing some training at one of our offices and was poking a little fun at one of our employees. Later, one of my partners invited me lo lunch and we got talking about things of the Lord. It was a delightful lunch. Near the end of our meal my friend quoted this verse to me and mentioned that I had hurt this employee's feelings. All of a sudden I
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Posted by David Carroll
Ephesians 4:1-6 (NKJV)I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.This is all about unity in the Church. You see it in
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Posted by David Carroll
Isaiah 43:25 (NKJV)I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins.This is interesting, we get the idea that God has saved us to benefit us. And indeed an incredible benefit it is. But this verse says that he forgives our sins, not for our sake, but for His! What possible benefit could He get from saving unworthy people like us? He gets glory from it. It demonstrates His unspeakable love.I love the word "blots out" used here to describe how God removes our sin. I get the picture
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Posted by David Carroll
Ephesians 2:8-10 (NKJV)For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.I don't believe I have ever shared my faith without quoting this verse. It is packed with good theology. Grace is unmerited favor from God. Salvation starts with Him. Faith is the channel through which God's grace is received. Faith is hands and heart opening to receive God's gift of
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Posted by David Carroll
Isaiah 40:8 (NKJV)The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.The Lord says in verse six "All flesh is grass" and then says it won't last. Life is frail and short. About the time we get warmed up we wear out. Is that what life is all about? The word of God is forever. There is a solution to our frailty in the forever true word of God. It is found in a verse at the end of this chapter:Isaiah 40:31 (NKJV)But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; they shall mount
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Posted by David Carroll
Galatians 6:7-9 (NKJV) Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.My pastor gave a four point sermon one time called the Law of the Harvest. The first point is that you reap when you sow. In other words, if you don't
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Posted by David Carroll
Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.Notice how this verse does not speak of the fruits (plural) but only of the fruit (singular). Yet, it goes on to list all the fruits. This gives double emphasis on the first fruit in the list which is love. Out of this one fruit, love, come the others. Jesus warned about false prophets and said "You will know them by their fruits." Bad trees do not bear good fruit and good trees do not bear bad
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Posted by David Carroll
Psalm 63:2-5 (NIV)I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.John Piper has developed this idea of a Christian hedonist which at first seems like an oxymoron. After all aren't Christians supposed to be humble and prone to suffer? A hedonist is someone who pursues
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Posted by David Carroll
Isaiah 29:16 (NKJV)Surely you have things turned around! Shall the potter be esteemed as the clay; For shall the thing made say of him who made it, "He did not make me"? Or shall the thing formed say of him who formed it, "He has no understanding"?Can you see the arrogance of such questions? The unbeliever who says "There is no creator, I just am here by random chance." It past times, pagan religions would invent wooden idols or stone gods. What an insult to the Creator, to take one of our own creations and attribute our existence to it.
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Posted by David Carroll
Galatians 3:10-11 (NIV)All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith."The book of Galatians is like a little book of Romans. Packed in it are fundamental doctrines of the faith. Paul, the consummate theologian, is always quoting the Old Testament to prove the truths revealed in the New Testament regarding salvation by grace. Here he makes a clear and convincing
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Posted by David Carroll
Galatians 2:20 (NKJV)I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.This is my favorite memory verse. It is good to rehearse this verse often, not so you can quote it, but so you can understand it and live according to it. For the Christian, life is not lived for one's own pleasure but for the pleasure of our Lord. It is an exchanged life,
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Posted by David Carroll
Galatians 2:11-12,16 (NKJV)Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision.... knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law
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