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by John MacArthur
The Lord employs a variety of methods to bring about repentance in the lives of His people. Last time we looked at three positive means He uses to prod believers away from sin and back to His righteous standard.
But if the knowledge of God's Word, His goodness to us, and the nagging guilt of a troubled conscience fail to bring us to repentance, God has other ways of leading us there. Let's look at a couple negative ways He prods us back into a right relationship with Him.
First, He disciplines us. Revelation 3:19 says, "Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent." Do you know why God rebukes and chastens us? He sometimes puts us through crises to bring us to change. That happened in my life.
As a young man, I never would have denied a belief in God, and yet in my heart I was rebelling against what I knew He wanted in my life. God had tried knowledge, sorrow for sin and then goodness. Finally, He got to chastisement, and it worked.
After being thrown at seventy-five miles per hour from a car as it flipped and rolled, and then sliding on my backside approximately 100 yards down the highway, scraping off some sixty-four square inches of my back a half-inch deep, I knew God was dealing with me. My body was covered in abrasions and bruises. No one else in the car was injured, and I was able to get up and walk to the side of the road. It was a miracle that I was alive. Standing there immediately after the accident, I thought, "I know why this happened. I have been trying to ignore God's calling, and He is making sure He has my attention." Right then I said, "From now on, I'll do whatever You want me to do." That was the change in my life. That's when I really turned around.
While that kind of prodding from the Lord can be uncomfortable and disruptive, we need to consider the reminder of Hebrews 12:5-11, that He only disciplines those whom He loves. So even as He uses hardship, difficulty, and struggle to steer us back to His righteousness, it ought to give us assurance that we truly belong to Him.
Another negative way that God brings people to repentance is by warning us of judgment to come. Acts 17:30-31 says, "Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world." The message of judgment is all over Scripture, and it must be preached because God designed judgment to lead us to repentance. God placed guilt within the Israelites' hearts and chastised them with wars, famine, and exile. He displayed His goodness to them by bringing them back to their homeland after the chastening. And He preached judgment to them through the prophets. God had tried to prod the Israelites with knowledge through the Old Testament and then He sent Jesus to perform miracles in their faces. Jesus preached judgment to the Jews in Matthew 21, but they didn't repent.
Ignoring the prodding of the Lord puts you directly in the path of His judgment. Instead, you need to heed His warnings, root out the sin in your life, and repent. Unless you're regularly mortifying your sin, you can't have strong confidence in your salvation.
And that's where we'll pick it up next week.
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I laughed and cried when I read your post. It brought tears of joy to my eyes, because it reminded me of how God personally dealt with me. I too would not have denied God outwardly, but ran from the call on my life. I would not bend the knee in the one area I knew God was dealing with me. He brought on circumstances that humbled me to the point of praying the Lord's prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane "If there is any other way [to please you] remove this cup from me. Lord [if not] not my will be done, but thine." I still remember the tears of joy that early morning, and the weight that lifted when I finally submitted.
The laughter followed when I thought of how foolish it is for us to try to resist God. Perhaps this is only laughter you can share in when you take an honest evaluation of yourself. It seems to be that way for me.
I have a lot of respect for you and your ministry. May God continue to bless you all at Grace To You. Thanks so much.
In Christ,
Kristafal Miller
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I feel like the Lord's prodding leads me more into sin. So either I haven't experienced a negative enough prodding or I'm just hopeless. At 25, I feel like I should be more right than wrong, 24 not so much, but the 5 following the 2 changes a lot in my mind. I am repentant of my sin, in all the anguish and sorrow that lies in the aftermath, but I still return....like a stubborn mule I respond to nothing, but "standing directly in the path of His judgment" as you put it, is a frightening thought. It'll keep me at bay for some time, until stress levels peak or boredom creeps, then I'll return to those familiar sins, for comfort. So with the sadness that comes with sin, I now have lurking over my shoulder, a fear of the Lord's prodding. Thanks.
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I think you brought up an important point: how we react when our stress levels rise, and where our minds go when boredom creeps in reveals a lot about the condition of our hearts. The same is true of how we respond to God's prodding.
John's message from this past Sunday spoke directly to the issue of loving the Lord and responding to His truth in love. It's worth a listen: http://www.gty.org/resources/sermons/90-446/a-tale-of-two-sorrows
True repentance comes down to loving the Lord and hating sin. That's not a switch we can flip—it's a discipline we must cultivate over time. On its own, your heart will gravitate back to sin. Instead, you've got to train it to pursue God's holiness.
I understand what you mean by "the Lord's prodding". What you are talking about is some sin that you engage in to be able to cope with life. Christians don't have that luxury. Many people use excuses so that they can be able to have their sin and Christ as well. We don't need to make excuses for our sin. God has given us his word and a relationhip with him through his Holy Spirit. This was accomplished by nothing less that the death of His Son. That is all we need to be able to deal with every issue that life throws us. Who are we to say that the death of Jesus, the resulting gift of the Holy Spirit to his children and His word aren't enough? We need to humble ourselves and admit that we haven't been willing to go God's way and have instead chosen our own. That is why we have gone back to our sin.
1. A Christian have The Holy Spirit.
2. You can now be in one of two conditions.
a. In the flesh, (your old self) where sin reings. In this condition, you are in all bound to earthly things, and you read The Letters and the sin in you gives you an excuse to (mis)interpret according to your own sinful desires. (The law is a mirror, revealing your hearts true condition)
b. In the Spirit. Here your source is NOT the flesh, because you KNOW that nothing good comes from the flesh, therefore your self must die, and you must put on Christ. We must live according to Christ, as revealed in Scripture. He shows us the true meaning and interpretation of Gods Word.
3. Fruits as righteousness, love, joy, peace, holiness and all these things listed in Scripture are a clear test of whether you are in the Spirit, or still in the flesh.
That does not mean we are perfect, but we are "in the faith" if we are "in the Spirit".
This post may be a tad off subject but I guess it's how you look at Scripture as a Whole. I've taken a wonderful journey through Revelation by way of "Because the time is near" by Brother John. I have read the Book of Revelation out of duty, out of curiosity and because it's the last Book of The Bible as I read the Bible in full....but never have I been on so great a walk with God & Jesus Christ as I have reading this book. Step by step and moment by moment I have eaten up the words of this Blessed Book and I can't convey enough to everyone/anyone who wants to know the truth of real understanding about why & what Revelation is and why & what is to come too please read this book. I don't say this because of the admiration I have for Brother John and his God gifted explanation of Scripture, though that's a plus, but because I know The Holy Spirit that lives in me and the conformation of Truth He comforts me with, without fear of any misinterpreted messages. I'm not educated, so please forgive the misplaced punctuation mistakes. Thank you Brother John, God Bless your service to The King, Rhonda
Dear Mr.John right you are,but I would like to know if GOD may use even the death of a dear one as a chastisement to me.
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Blondie Tickets
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Legendary American rock band Blondie has been a pioneer of the American new Wave and Punk genres. Blondie has progressively introduced new styles and influences with each new album over the years. Though the band has seen its share of controversies but their contribution to music remains unparalleled which is why they have been inducted into the Rock and Roll hall of Fame. Watch Blondie in person and get your tickets today!
Blondie was founded by Deborah Harry and Chris Stein. They later added Band members Clem Burke, Jimmy Destri & Gary Valentine. Soon after Gary Valentine was replaced by Frank Infante on the Blondie lineup. Though they were always appreciated by critics for their unique style and sounds, Blondie gained success and popularity with their third studio album Parallel Line. Soon after Blondie tickets started being more and more popular. Part of the appeal of Blondie is their wide-range of influences, as band brought in other musical influences to their work–Electrical, Disco, Rap, reggae.
Some of their hit singles include : "Denis," "I'm Always Touched By Your Presence," "Dear", "Picture This," "Hanging on the Telephone," "Heart of Glass," "One Way or Another," "Sunday Girl and many more. Either way if you buy tickets for a Blondie concert you're sure to hear some of your faves. Their Single "Call Me" was also nominated for the Grammys. The band that was once an 'Underground' Band was churning out hit singles, albums and was touring all over the world. It didn't take long before everyone wanted to get to a Blondie concert. Deborah Harry received a lot of media attention and enjoyed celebrity status after a music video that portrayed Harry's playful personality.
The band Blondie has been controversy's child over its years of existence. The Brisbane riots over non-performance by Harry, lawsuits by former band members, Stein's life threatening illness, drug abuse, financial mismanagement, cancelled tours and slow ticket sales which all led to the band officially splitting in November 1982.
Thankfully for fans of good music, Blondie reunited and released a few albums and singles in the 90's. On account of their music being recognized all over again by a new generation of audiences, the band travelled to several locations for tours. Blondie has still remained active reuniting after decades of popularity, controversies and downfalls much to the delight of the legion of Blondie fans. Their last album released in the summer of 2011 and the band is reportedly working on their new single that is due to be released in 2012. Watch one of the most innovative bands of all time and get Blondie tickets before its too late.
Current Band members: Debbie Harry, Chris Stein, Clem Burke, Leigh Foxx, Matt Katz- Bohen, Tommy Kessler and Jimmy Destri.
Blondie is an American rock band that was started in the mid-1970s by singer Deborah Harry and guitarist Chris Stein. Although at their start they aimed to be an ironic update of trashy 1960s pop, they ended up becoming pioneers of the American New Wave and punk scenes. For decades now Blondie tickets have ben sought out by music fans across the country. Blondie combines elements of disco, pop, rap, and reggae while retaining a basic style as a New Wave Band.
A former waitress and Playboy Bunny, Deborah Harry had been a vocalist with the band The Stilettos when Chris Stein joined the band as their guitarist in 1973. Just a year later the two parted ways with the Stilettos, and along with drummer Clem Burke, keyboardist Jimmy Destri, and bass player Gary Valentine, formed a new band named Angel and the Snakes. They would rename themselves Blondie in 1975 after Harry received numerous catcalls of "Hey, Blondie" from truckers driving by.
Blondie's self-titled debut album was issued in December of 1976, and, after signing with Chrysalis Records, was re-released in October 1977. With this re-release came great success in Australia, with the album reaching the Australian top five and a successful tour in Australia. In the beginning of 1978 Blondie released their second album, Plastic Letters, which led to a British top ten hit and a subsequent United Kingdom tour. Although Gary Valentine had left the band prior to the recording of their second album, Frank Infante and Nigel Harrison joined in time to find the band a mainstream success in the United Kingdom and the two made the band a six-piece for the first time. Their first break out moment in the United States came in 1979 with the chart topping single "Heart of Glass" released from their third album Parallel Lines. Over the next two years Blondie found much more success both stateside and overseas, with multiple chart topping hits and many music videos. Blondie took a brief break in 1981 and, after a disappointing album release, cancelled 1982 tour plans and split up as a group. During the 1990s Blondie served as inspiration for such bands as No Doubt and Garbage, and after a brief run of performances by Harry, Burke, and Stein, attempts at a real reunion began. By 1997 they had successfully reunited, with Harry, Stein, Burke, Valentine, and Destri taking the stage at outdoor festivals at first and in 1998 and 1999 embarked on international tours. They have legion fans across the country and Blondie concerts are going to be hot events no matter what. Most recently Blondie released their album Panic of Girls in the summer of 2011 and had continued touring into 2012, despite personnel changes.
Blondie is best known for their first six albums released and the progression in their music styles from one to the next. They incorporate elements from varying genres of music including punk rock, New Wave, disco, Europop, and rap and in their performances are known for the striking stage persona and vocal performances of Deborah Harry. In 2006 Blondie were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as well as the Rock Walk Fame at Guitar Center on Hollywood's Sunset Boulevard.

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text: party pooper > > I bet you'd be quite surprised how many of these books get sold. > Really, this may sound completely trivial to all of us mechanically > minded people, but to somebody who just bought a Harley because > they want to be "in", they would probably get some use out of it. > And, frankly, anbody who is willing to pay the price of a Harley, > probably wouldn't bat an eye at $35 for a book telling them how to > change the oil instead of looking like a poser by asking somebody > else's help. Yeah, it seems rediculous to us, but I find all of > this knocking it a little uppity for my taste. Sorry to disagree, > but I disagree. > > --- On Thu, 12/18/08, David Beard <davidebeard at comcast.net> wrote: > > From: David Beard <davidebeard at comcast.net> > Subject: Re: An insult to intelligences everywhere... > To: gpzlist at micapeak.com > Date: Thursday, December 18, 2008, 8:30 PM > > How to Change Oil in a Harley Davidson Motorcycle > Step1 > Remove the filler cap from the oil tank. > Step2 > Place the catch basin directly below the drain plug on the oil tank. > Step3 > Hold a siphon between the oil tank and the catch basin. Some newer Harley > models may have their own drain hose that you can use. > Step4 > Use a socket wrench to remove the drain plug from the bottom of the oil > tank, while continuing to hold the siphon in place. > Step5 > Wait until all oil has drained into the basin, then screw the drain plug > back into the oil tank. > Step6 > Remove the seat of your motorcycle. Most Harley-Davidsons' oil filters > are > located in a cylinder under the seat. > Step7 > Take the lid off the cylinder's housing and remove the cylinder. > Step8 > Unlatch the clip that secures the cap on the cylinder using needle-nose > pliers and lift out the used oil filter. > Step9 > Replace the old filter with a new filter before locking the cap back onto > the cylinder. Put the cylinder back into its home and replace the lid. > Step10 > Bolt the seat securely back onto the Harley. > Step11 > Pour the new oil into your oil tank. Your service manual should designate > the proper amount for your specific motorcycle model. > Step12 > Put the filler cap back onto the oil tank. Fasten it firmly to > avoid a spray > of oil. > Please send $35.00 via Paypal to [1]davidebeard at comcast.net > Watch for my next book, How To Check The Tire Pressure On A Harley Davidson > Motorcycle - $55.00 > Thank You! > > Dave Daniels wrote: > > I have not problem with this. It might be helpful for a new owner. Get off the > soapboxes. > > --- On Wed, 12/17/08, Bill Magitz [2]<corbie at verizonmail.com> wrote: > > From: Bill Magitz [3]<corbie at verizonmail.com> > Subject: Re: An insult to intelligences everywhere... > To: [4]gpzlist at micapeak.com > Date: Wednesday, December 17, 2008, 9:45 PM > > Jerry I did it , please read my review !!! > > > Harleys for dummies? OMG...get the loctite out! > > Come on everyone, put in a nasty review with me. > > > ________________________________ > From: William K Denton [5]<wkdenton at verizon.net> > To: yam650 list [6]<yam650 at micapeak.com>; GPz List > [7]<gpzlist at micapeak.com>; CBX [8]<cbx at ucdavis.edu>; Yampus > [9]<yam650ot at yahoogroups.com> > Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2008 8:10:52 PM > Subject: An insult to intelligences everywhere... > > ...or the funniest book ever printed. You be the judge. > > [10]http://tinyurl.com/4769kh > > Bill in Yardley, PA > [11]wkdenton at verizon.net > > References > > 1. mailto:davidebeard at comcast.net > 2. mailto:corbie at verizonmail.com > 3. mailto:corbie at verizonmail.com > 4. mailto:gpzlist at micapeak.com > 5. mailto:wkdenton at verizon.net > 6. mailto:yam650 at micapeak.com > 7. mailto:gpzlist at micapeak.com > 8. mailto:cbx at ucdavis.edu > 9. mailto:yam650ot at yahoogroups.com > 10. http://tinyurl.com/4769kh > 11. mailto:wkdenton at verizon.net > -- -- you @ usa.com is available and 170 other free domains. Sign up at www.mail.com


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Very Marilyn Monroe Inspired Blonde Wavy Haircut
This hot blonde strikes a pose with this flattering hair style. A nice classy style that has plenty of volume giving this woman an incredible look.The cut is long and wavy. Her hair is pulled away at the face both at the forehead and at the sides. This is a layered hair cut.What a beautiful color. This shade is a medium golden blonde.
Rae Palmer Hair: Rae Palmer for Schwarzkopf Photography: Andrew O'Toole


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Dear Reader,
Thirty-three years in the flooring industry — 16 years with the American Floorcovering Association and 17 years with the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) — has given me a bird's eye view in good times and bad. There is a certain amount of wisdom that comes with living through history. In reality, there is not much new under the sun. Disasters and disastrous economies have occurred and reoccurred throughout the ages. And after such trying times, some companies emerge strong, some barely emerge and some don't emerge at all.
Depending on the risk tolerance of the owner, companies deal with economic storms in one of three ways.
Some companies move forward with "business as usual" and boldly ignore the changing economy. They are convinced that they have the winning formula that will enable them to outlast their competition.
The majority of companies develop the "hunker down" business plan. They analyze every area of their business with the goal of cutting expenses to the barest minimum. Only essentials continue to exist. Advertising budgets are drastically reduced, relationships with independent contractors and suppliers are renegotiated squeezing every penny for savings and staff is cut to skeleton levels. They are convinced they will survive to fight another day by ensuring expenses equal sales and not bleed red ink.
A handful of companies adopt an approach that balances minimization of expense with expansion of innovation. These "risk tolerant" innovators continue to develop new products and services. Even with usual advertising frequency, they take advantage of their competitors' reduced advertising and appear stronger. Although processing fewer sales, they maintain solid ties with their independent contractors, suppliers and employees reducing staff only as a last resort. These companies typically bleed red ink to the bottom line but consider it an investment to a more rapid recovery as the economic storm passes. And it always passes.
The posture a company takes to weather the storm will have a direct bearing on how the company revives after the recession.
The "business as usual" approach typically results in the company not surviving the economic storm and not seeing the economic recovery.
The "hunker down" business model will allow the company to survive to fight another day. Unfortunately, all the expense cuts, supplier relationship modifications and staff trimming result in a company that needs to quickly rebuild so it can reclaim the unique selling proposition it once had that attracted customers.
The "innovator" companies hit the recovery ground running. During the storm, they expanded their product and service offerings and have the latest, best products, advertising and product presentation in place. They maintained strong relations with suppliers, independent contractors and employees so they are supported and staffed for the recovery. Sure they suffered during the storm, but now they will see rapid immediate increases in sales recovering from the storm. These are the companies you read about in the industry ress reporting double digit sales and profit increases in the early stages of the economic recovery.
In a perfect world, you could pick one of the three scenarios and plan your recovery accordingly. But this is not that perfect world. Most likely your company is a combination of the above scenarios. The best you can do is analyze what you look like after you have survived the downturn. What are your strengths and weaknesses? Sell to your strengths. Identify your competitions' strengths and weakness. Sell to his weaknesses.
Most of all, as you emerge from the storm shelter, remember what you did and did not do. Take the lessons learned in this economic storm to plan for how you will handle the next one. As history has shown, there will be a next one.
I started in the flooring industry with the 150 member Retail Floorcovering Institute in 1978. I served that organization as executive director/president until it merged its 2,500 members with Western Floor Covering Association forming the World Floor Covering Association. I was honored to have worked with some of the greatest leaders in the industry. In 1994, I joined the NWFA as executive director/CEO. Working with a dedicated, energetic Board of Directors, NWFA grew from an 800 member association leasing 1,500 square feet to a major industry organization with more than 3,200 members owning a 40,000 square foot Headquarters and Training Center. I retired in 2011 and by the kind invitation of Sandy Montero, I have had the privilege of sharing thoughts and concepts with you as a columnist in FCW.
This is my last article. It is time to bow out and pass the baton. Throughout the years, I have been blessed with great friendships, many of which I shall carry to my grave. I have been humbled and honored to work with some of the greatest minds and leaders in the industry. It hasn't always been roses, nothing good ever is. But through it all I have been loyal to one principal: "Do what is best for the industry and the organization and focus with a passion."
As I leave the industry and say farewell, I urge you to stay passionate about the future even in the face of adversity. You can make the difference
God Speed and God Bless.