"Pillows are Sinful?" | Homosexuality & Greek

I really don’t make it a practice to write about the same subject for two days in a row. I just think there’s one more thing that needs to be discussed.
If you read yesterday’s post, you saw where I took an article titled “Ten Things I Wish the Church Knew about Homosexuality” and responded to it, point by point. There were a TON of views. My goal in writing the article was to help Christians have answers to some of the commonly used arguments in favor of homosexuality, and specifically, homosexual marriage. I think there’s one more point that I need to cover.

Before that, though, let’s have a story.

"Ten Things I Wish the Church Knew About Homosexuality" | A Response

Paul wrote the following words to the young preacher Timothy:

“(3) As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, (4) nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. (5) The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. (6) Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, (7) desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.” (1 Timothy 1:3–7, ESV)

Could Paul be referencing someone like Jim Rigby? I think so.

Enhancing Your Personal Bible Study with Olive Tree Bible Reader [T3]

In the past, most of my posts about using Olive Tree Bible Reader were really only beneficial to preachers. This post is one of those, though, which will benefit anyone who wants to study the Bible more (and better).
One of the things I really love about using Olive Tree Bible Reader is the ability that it gives me to organize my thoughts. You see, as a preacher, I can't just study for the sermon of the week. I have to grow in my own personal study, too. For that reason, I'm constantly attentive to what it is I'm finding and discovering as I read and study God's Word.

Four Unnamed Heroes | 4/15/12 AM Sermon

     On a brisk January evening, a 12-year old boy named Eric was on his way to the church in his small English village. He was riding his bicycle in the dark along the road, when he unexpectedly hit something in the road, sending him flying down an embankment into a flooded ditch.

     His bicycle landed on top of him, and the light on his handlebar went dark. He struggled to get his head above the water, but his feet became stuck in the deep mud at the bottom of the ditch. He was trapped. As he fought to stay alive, he screamed for help, for anyone nearby to come and rescue him.

Can You Land the Plane?

Running out of gas in a car can be an inconvenience. Running out of gas while flying in a plane can be deadly. Especially when you don't know how to fly a plane.
That's the very situation that Helen Collins almost found herself in a few days ago when her 81-year-old husband, who was piloting the twin-engined Cessna they were in, slumped over at the controls and died.

NEW and IMPROVED!

[Begin Billy Mays Voice]

I've spent a little time the past couple days "sprucing up" the blog. You may remember that a few weeks ago, my old blog, Clean the Cup Media blew up. It no longer exists. I have no idea what happened.

But alas, like a phoenix, we have risen again.

Why would I do this? Well because I love you. But not in that creepy sort of way. Here is a short list of the improvements:

• NEW Theme - The blog got a facelift in the form of a new theme, color scheme, header, and other art. Along with that I've also installed and enabled a mobile theme, to make it easier for you to read on a mobile browser. You're welcome!


• NEW Categories - I've added a link called "Sermons" to the menu bar. There you can find posts of my recent sermon manuscripts, all for your reading and study pleasure. In fact, there are already a couple posted there right now. Go check it out!


• NEW Functions - There are improved "share" buttons at the bottom of each post, as well as a "Click Here to Print" button. This button allows you to download a PDF version of any article or sermon, then save or print it out. Also, the social sharing tab at the bottom of each post includes a "More Options" button (looks like a plus sign) which will allow you to share the post through over a hundred outlets (including Evernote and Instapaper)!


• NEW Follow Options - Along with subscribing to the feed for this blog through an RSS reader or email, you can now follow ME on Facebook, Twitter, Skype, or even YouTube. Just click the social icon at the top of the page.

There will be EVEN MORE new things coming soon, so be sure to check back!

[End Billy Mays Voice]

-Daniel

TRADITION! | 4/8/12 PM Sermon

(The following is my sermon manuscript from 4/8/12 PM Service)
When Martha and I were dating, one of the things that we would do is go over to the other's house and spend time watching movies together. You can get to know a lot about a person by what they choose to watch and listen to. Maybe that's why I was a little confused when I found out that one of Martha's favorite movies of all time was the screen adaptation of the musical "Fiddler on the Roof." I'd heard about the book and the musical, but I'd never seen it. Since then, though, I've seen it many, many times, and I've grown to enjoy it a little myself.

I'm thinking that not many of you have seen it, either, so let me tell you about the opening scene of the movie.

Live Like They Were Dying | 4/8/12 AM Sermon

(The following is my sermon manuscript from April 8th, 2012, AM Service.)
A few years ago, Tim McGraw came out with a song titled "Live Like You Were Dying." I think most of you have probably heard the song, but in case you haven't, let me tell you a little bit about it.

The song reads like a conversation with a man who was diagnosed with some sort of terminal illness in his early forties. Of course when he finds out that time is limited in his life, he sets out to try to live life to the fullest. The chorus reads:

What Good is Being Good?

I'd like to think that nice guys "finish first." Unfortunately, the way the world works, many think nice guys "finish last." They believe that if you are really going to get somewhere in this world, you've got to be willing to sacrifice some courtesy.
I like to do good things for people. But I'm constantly warned with, "You know that people will try to take advantage of you." After all, no good deed goes unpunished. I'm reminded that people should learn how to take care of themselves, and pull their own weight (more exactly, what WE think is their own weight).

I'd also like to think that If I only do what's right and good, that everyone will like me. I'll be everyone's favorite person. Who doesn't like someone who is perpetually kind, good, and honest?

Well, it turns out a lot of people don't like that kind of person.

Formatting Notes for Preaching from Olive Tree [T3]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGR13kasak0&feature=youtube_gdata_player