We Love God!

God: "I looked for someone to take a stand for me, and stand in the gap" (Ezekiel 22:30)

Reasons why church discipline is ignored or neglected? 1. Ignorance of biblical teaching on the subject (many believe that it is infrequently mentioned in Scripture and therefore unimportant; others are ignorant of the purpose of discipline and see it only as destroying the person). 2. Calloused, insensitivity toward sin (unsanctified mercy). 2. The spirit of individualism ('Am I my brother's keeper?' Discipline is costly because my brother's/sister's business now becomes mine). 3. 'Judge not, that ye be not judged' (misunderstanding and misapplication of Mt. 7:1-5). 4. Fear of rejection (i.e., fear of being told by the offending party: 'Mind your own business. You have no authority to tell me what I can and can't do'). 5. Fear of reprisal (lawsuits). 6. Dislike of confrontation (talking directly about personal sin with an offender is difficult; it makes us feel uneasy and uncomfortable; why rock the boat?). 7. Fear of driving the person away (especially if the offending person is a major financial contributor to the church). 8. Fear of church splits. 9. Preference for avoiding problems (just ignore it long enough and it will go away; time heals all). 10. False concept of discipline because of observed abuses (discipline is associated in the minds of many with heresy hunts, intolerance, oppression, harshness, mean-spiritedness, self-righteousness, legalism, etc.). 11. Belief that preaching alone will be a sufficient remedy. 12. Fear of being labeled a cult. 13. Fear of change (the power of tradition: 'We've never done it before and we've done o.k. Why risk messing things up now?').

Sam Storms

Every single one of us has a heart that tends toward sexual sin. These tendencies produce different temptations in each of our lives. Some of us experience sexual desire for the same sex, and others of us are prone to fulfill [unbiblical] sexual desire with the opposite sex. Even the ways we want to fulfill those sexual desires vary among us. Without question, part of the mystery of this fallen world includes why certain people have certain desires while other people have other desires. We do not always choose our temptations. But we do choose our reactions to those temptations.

David Platt

We Love God!

God: "I looked for someone to take a stand for me, and stand in the gap" (Ezekiel 22:30)

Praline Crunch

January 24, 2023

CATEGORY	CUISINE	TAG	YIELD
		Snacks	10	Servings

INGREDIENTS

3/4	c	Sugar
2	c	Pecan pieces
3	tb	Butter; no substitutes
1	ts	Vanilla
1/8	ts	Cinnamon; optional

INSTRUCTIONS

Butter a baking sheet; set aside. Place sugar in a large skillet. Cook over
medium-heat, shaking pan occasionally, till sugar begins to melt. Reduce
heat to low and cook till sugar is golden brown, stirring as necessary. Add
pecans, buter, vanilla, and cinnamon, if desired. (Sugar may resolidify.)
Stir to remelt sugar and coat nuts evenly.
Spread the mixture onto prepared baking sheet. Cool completely. Break into
small clusters. Store in a tightly covered container in a cool dry place
for up to 3 weeks. Makes 10-12 servings.
Recipe by: Holiday Cooking 1996
Posted to MC-Recipe Digest V1 #839 by L979@aol.com on Oct 12, 1997

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