August 2, 2008. The featured speaker this year is Dan Schneider. Much is
offered during this spirit-filled event so visit the link below for more
information. Online registration is now available.
http://www.presentationministries.com/bibleinst
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Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Amos 5:14-15, 21-24, Psalm 50, Matthew 8:28-34
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/070208.shtml
CHRISTLESS NEIGHBORHOODS
"They begged Him to leave their neighborhood." —Matthew 8:34
Jesus has been thrown out of many neighborhoods, as He was thrown out of
the town near the Gadarene boundary. He usually gets thrown out for
"disturbing the war" instead of "disturbing the peace." Jesus comes into a
neighborhood and calls us to repent, forgive, and obey. Then He casts out
the devil and gives us peace.
In the neighborhood mentioned in today's Gospel, the road was closed
because of the savagery of two demon-possessed men (Mt 8:28). Jesus drove
out the demons, opened the road, and brought peace to the neighborhood.
You'd think the chamber of commerce would give Him an award. Instead, they
begged Jesus "to leave their neighborhood" (Mt 8:34).
Deep down many neighborhoods don't want the peace of Jesus because we must
accept Him as our Lord before we know Him as our Peace (see Eph 2:14). If
Jesus is the Lord of our lives, then we can't be the lords and do our own
thing; we must do His thing. We throw Jesus out of our neighborhoods
because we refuse Him entry into our hearts as Lord. If Jesus did what we
told Him to do, we would let him stay in the neighborhood. Since He
insists on being Lord and God, there's not room for both Jesus and us in
our neighborhood. Our pride, sin, selfishness, and rebellion must go, if
Jesus is to stay.
Prayer: Jesus, be Lord of my life, heart, home, and neighborhood.
Promise: "Hate evil and love good, and let justice prevail at the gate;
then it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts, will have pity on the
remnant of Joseph." —Am 5:15
Praise: It wasn't until having his own way proved disastrous that Philip
humbled himself before God and turned his life over to the Lord.
(For a related teaching, order our tape "Jesus, the Redeemer "on audio AV
50-3 or video V-50.)
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Rescript: In accord with the "Code of Canon Law", I hereby grant my
permission to publish "One Bread, One Body" covering the period from June
1, 2008 through July 31, 2008
†Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of
Cincinnati, January 4, 2008
The rescript is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be
free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have
granted ecclesial permission agree with the contents, opinions, or
statements expressed.
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