Owner: Gripping Thoughts with Dr. Chuck Betters URL:http://www.markinc.org/client/index.cfm/Welcome Join Date: Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:26:46 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: I'm excited to have a forum where I can connect with you as I process thoughts on various subjects. I invite you to share this journey with me as we walk through life's pressing issues. Site statistics:Click here
The Shack by William Young 2008-06-25 23:46:00 There is a book that is number nine on USA Today's Top 50 list with over 500,000 copies sold in less than one year. The author, William
Young, tells the fictional story of Mackenzie Phillips, a father whose child Missy was abducted and brutally murdered while they were together on a camping trip. In his grief and guilt journey, he receives a letter from God (a real letter in his mailbox mind you Read more:Shack
Defending the Reformed Faith 2008-06-23 22:33:00 I am praying God will use the economic crisis along with the energy crisis and the world at war to bring a great revival to this land. I do not believe that will happen without a renewed interest in the great doctrines of grace, that is, the doctrines of the reformed faith. Historically, this is the stuff true revivals are made of. I distinguish between revival and revivalism. The latter involv Read more:Faith
, Reformed
Suicide victims will still go to heaven. 2008-06-10 22:18:00 Hi Bloggers! Here I share with you a question from another reader.
If a person has given their life to Christ, however, they take their own life will they still go to heaven?
ds
Dear DS,
Suicide
is at once both an act of desperation and extreme selfishness. Some denominations consider suicide unforgiveable since, they reason, a true believer would not murder (himself). But there are great myst
life - ABORTION - death 2008-05-16 10:31:00 Some time ago I counseled a young woman not to have an abortion. She had one anyway and it grieved me that I could not persuade her to choose life. In her case it was a matter of convenience. The issue of abortion has clearly divided a nation along ideological lines. Name calling and politically worded "surveys" on both sides of the issue is the menu for the day. Questions abound for which the Read more:death
Four Weeks with God and Your Neighbor - Week Four 2008-05-14 19:35:00 This is week 4 of our journey through change. By now you will notice that the author has basically cut you loose to do the work with little or no help from him. At the beginning of this adventure I warned you that change is tough. The disciplines of scripture study and prayer require that we use spiritual muscles that over time may have atrophied. Any new habit requires consistency and persevera Read more:Neighbor
, Weeks
Four Weeks with God and Your Neighbor - Week Three 2008-05-08 21:08:00 I am so excited. My challenge to you has netted a vast network of hungry souls eager for change. I estimate there are over 250 of you involved in the 28-day journey through Four Weeks
with God and Your Neighbor
. I also estimate that likely 1/3 of you have been 100% faithful, another 1/3 wants to quit, and another 1/3 have already quit. Please keep this in mind as you struggle through this process Read more:Three
The Racism of Wright 2008-04-29 22:34:00 The "Reverend" Wright
is at it again. This time he seems to be throwing his man, Barack Obama, under the bus by insisting in a speech before the National Press Club that anyone who disagrees with his hate filled sermon that has received such notoriety is directly attacking the black church. It is as if he is determined to be THE spokesman for black churches in America. It seems to me there are peo Read more:Racism
Four Weeks with God and Your Neighbor - Week Two 2008-04-27 20:08:00 Some of you by now are on your second week of the 28 day exercise, Four Weeks
With God and Your Neighbor
. Others are just beginning the process. Be sure to follow this blog and my four articles in the Redemptive Presence newsletter. The challenge of Week 1 was (and for those of you just beginning is) "We must change." That is why I directed all of us to Psalm 51 for an introspective look at your o
Four Weeks with God and Your Neighbor - Week One 2008-04-21 22:20:00
It is Monday, and now is the time to begin a 28 day journey of change as a congregation. We will utilize the little book by Dr. Jay Adams written back in the seventies entitled Four Weeks
with God and Your Neighbor
. I have used this exercise over the years with many families to effect true Biblical change. I define Biblical change this way - there are sin patterns we must put off and Godly quali
Sex Before Marriage? 2008-04-10 01:04:00 Hi Bloggers! Here I share with you a question from another reader, as well as, my response. This topic seems to be prevalent in the world we live in today...
I have been dating my boyfriend for 4 months now. We know that God has given us to each other. We are both Christians, pray together, worship together and read the word together. We are not engaged yet, but it is coming. The only way I can d
Free Will - Part IV 2008-07-06 21:13:00
Therefore, the nature must be changed supernaturally, and that is the work of the Holy Spirit called regeneration.
JER 13:23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil.
The Ethiopian is by NATURE black. No matter how much he is commanded to be white he cannot become white. The leopard is by nature spotted. IT cannot bec
Free Will - Part II 2008-07-05 00:17:00
When Adam fell, like the fallen angels, he lost the ability to choose salvation since he died in his trespasses.
There is no greater picture of this than the vision God gave to the prophet Ezekiel in the valley of the dry bones.
EZE 37:1-14 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me ba
Free Will - Part I 2008-07-03 19:36:00 One reason I enjoy blogs is because they are typically short and to the point. Answering questions about the Reformed Faith is anything but short! It's also a lot to digest and think about. I could make these posts shorter if I just reference scripture, but I want you to see the scripture in context so I'm including the full passage under discussion. So instead of posting one long answer to s
Moment of Truth 2008-04-05 11:55:00 I must admit, I was drawn into a new television program just to see what the hoopla was all about. I am always wary to tell anyone what I watch or do not watch so as not to offend anyone if possible. But, here goes. A very popular number one show in the USA this year is "Moment
of Truth
." Contestants win up to $500,000 for truthfully answering deeply personal questions. Each contestant has severa
Senator Barak Obama and His Pastor 2008-03-18 23:24:00 I was just interviewed by the Wilmington News Journal asking for my reaction to the speech on race relations delivered by presidential candidate BarakObama
in Philadelphia on the heels of his pastor's racially incendiary and divisive sermons. Here are the points I tried to make:
From an oratorical perspective his speech was brilliant in that he was able to weave his theology with his brand of Read more:Pastor
, Senator
Economic Crisis 2008-03-17 15:13:00 "This is bad," I thought as I watched the news this morning. Bear Stearns, one of the largest investment banks in America, narrowly escaped bankruptcy. That's the good news. The bad news is that it was bought for $2.00 per share when a little over a year ago it was priced at $150.00 per share. In Europe, the dollar is worth half of what it was. Gold and other commodities are spiraling upward i Read more:Crisis
, Economic
How the Mighty Have Fallen 2008-03-13 09:27:00 Eliot Spitzer resigned as the governor of New York yesterday. The news of ongoing involvement with high-priced call girls and prostitution ring with potential violation of federal laws caught up with him. News media reports that Spitzer spent over $80,000 of his family fortune of over $5 million to feed his out of control sexual appetite. The initial reaction to this behavior was shock and awe th Read more:Fallen
, Mighty
Biblical Preaching 2008-03-12 23:42:00 The character of a nation is not shaped and nurtured by Washington, D.C. It is shaped by the pulpits of America. When the truth is proclaimed without apology and the scriptures are central, then and only then, can lives and hearts truly be changed. It is the age old question - do we preach a Gospel of heart change or a Gospel of social change? You might think the answer is that we should do both. Read more:Biblical
The Myth of Political Labels 2008-03-06 21:48:00 As the primaries continue the evangelical vote has been marginalized. Before we pull out our hair perhaps we should assess why this happened. When Mitt Romney was the frontrunner his Mormon faith became an issue for evangelical Christians. That fueled the debate as to whether or not Mormons are really Christians just because they say they are. Radio talk show host Glen Beck, a Mormon, angered many Read more:Labels
Welcome to Gripping Thoughts, the blog of Dr. Chuck Betters..... 2008-03-06 21:16:00 I'm excited to have a forum where I can connect with you as I process thoughts on various subjects. I invite you to share this journey with me as we walk through life's pressing issues. Feel free to make yourself comfortable and join in with comments, questions, etc...I would love to hear what you're thinking.
I am the Senior Pastor of Glasgow Reformed Presbyterian Church in Bear, DE. That does Read more:Chuck
, Welcome
Barack Obama: Can We Talk? 2008-07-12 22:50:00 BarackObama
, in a speech given to the Call to Renewal's Building a Covenant for a New America conference, made a worthy attempt to open a dialogue between evangelical conservatives and liberals on the place of faith in the shaping of pubic policy. He did so with a brilliant blend of theology with a decidedly philosophical twist. In the speech entitled "Call to Renewal," Obama spent considera Read more:Barack Obama
Free Will - Part V 2008-07-07 22:36:00
Only after one comes to faith in Christ do they truly possess a free will, that is, only then do their "works" become pleasing to God.
JOH 5:21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it.
ROM 5:12-17 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all me
Longing for the Good Ole Days 2008-08-06 05:00:00
It is all over the news. Little Caylee Anthony, a toddler has been missing for a couple of months. Her mother did not report it for a month or so and now is charged with lying to investigators. Originally she claimed that the baby sitter stole her daughter. Yet, two days or so after this alleged abduction she is seen in photos at a night club dancing and having a grand old time. She is a mer Read more:Longing
Role Models, Stars and Toenails 2008-07-28 23:01:00
It is football season! Well, not quite, but close. Training camp is under way and the next Super Bowl Champs, the Philadelphia Eagles (I can dream can't I?) are beginning their two workouts a days in the intense heat of the Lehigh Valley. And what would training camp be without the darling story of the sports media, the star player holdout? Enter the franchise player Brian Westbrook. A few ye
Teaching Them Young - Part 4 2008-07-28 22:18:00
Part 4 of my current sermon series Teaching Them Young - The Slippery Slope to Moral Failure - Part 2.
Video not yet available.
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Teaching Them Young - Part 3 2008-07-28 22:15:00
Part 3 of my current sermon series Teaching Them Young - The Slippery Slope to Moral Failure.
Click here to view now.
Click here to listen now.
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Teaching Them Young - Part 2 2008-07-28 22:09:00
Here is Part 2 of my current sermon series Teaching Them Young - Marks of a God-fearing Person.
Click here to view now.
Click here to listen now.
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Teaching Them Young - Part 1 2008-07-28 20:16:00
I am currently preaching through the first nine chapters of Proverbs on the topic, Teaching Them Young - What You Need to Teach Your Kids Before They Reach the Age of 12.
This will be part of a summer-long emphasis on marriage and family. However, this is a series merely for parents. The core values of Proverbs 1-9 apply to all of us and determine in large part the spiritual depth and matu
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