"God has provided a way of escape by the Holy Spirit's power. When we give up the hopeless struggle of trying to overcome 'the law of sin and death' [Romans 7] with our own strength and in utter helplessness surrender to the Holy Spirit to do everything for us -- when we walk in his … Continue reading Quote of Note #38: Power to Set Us Free
Tag: redemption
Bible Note #31: Expecting to Be Astonished by Jesus (Mark 6:45-52)
After the experience of having Jesus walk up to them in the middle of the Sea of Galilee as they were struggling to row their boat across to the other side, Mark says this about the disciples, “They were completely astonished, because they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened” … Continue reading Bible Note #31: Expecting to Be Astonished by Jesus (Mark 6:45-52)
Bible Note #30: Making the World Good Again, through the Redeeming Love of Jesus (Mark 5:1-20)
Jesus has come to redeem us from our oppression under and participation in the evil of a fallen world and to give us the calling of following in his footsteps. I have a friend whom I see from time to time. He’s involved in the life of a church, though I’ve never really talked to … Continue reading Bible Note #30: Making the World Good Again, through the Redeeming Love of Jesus (Mark 5:1-20)
Bible Note #22: Facing the Evil
Facing the Evil The year 1944. The place, Nazi-occupied Poland. The narrator, Dr. Viktor Frankl, an Jewish psychiatrist from Austria. Fifteen hundred people had been traveling by train for several days and nights: there were eighty people in each coach. All had to lie on top of their luggage, the few remnants of their personal … Continue reading Bible Note #22: Facing the Evil
Prayer Note #58–Burnishing my Clay
Father of my hope: in life and in death I belong to you; in righteousness and sin, in the light and in the darkness, in all times and in all places, I am yours. I want the fullness of your Spirit. I want to be filled to overflowing. I want to know you, not as … Continue reading Prayer Note #58–Burnishing my Clay
Quotes of Note #15 — Forgiveness and Freedom
"Regardless of all the reasons why we might not want to forgive, the bottom line is that forgiveness is the best way to bring you into freedom. . . ." "The devil blinds us with the lie: I'm punishing my offender by not forgiving them. It is as if we think by our refusal to … Continue reading Quotes of Note #15 — Forgiveness and Freedom
Prayer Note #57 — Relying on God vs. Presuming upon God: A Prayer
I am utterly and in every way dependent on your mercy and grace. My life my salvation, my well-being all of it hangs by the thread of your merciful, kind, gracious disposition toward me. Your love and desire for my well-being is the only bulwark for me against catastrophe of every sort in my life. … Continue reading Prayer Note #57 — Relying on God vs. Presuming upon God: A Prayer
Quotes of Note #3 Cooperating with God
"'The first thing to do in responding to God's presence and Word,' Basil Pennington repeatedly told me, 'is to notice what God is doing and to keep out of God's way. The second is to align ourselves with and participate in God's transformational actions in the world.' God is active and present in the world. … Continue reading Quotes of Note #3 Cooperating with God
Quotes of Note #2 Discipleship
"The gospel is not a doctrine of the tongue but of life. It cannot be grasped by reason and memory only, but it is fully understood when it possesses the whole soul and penetrates to the inner recesses of the heart." John Calvin, Golden Booklet of the True Christian Life. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, … Continue reading Quotes of Note #2 Discipleship
Quotes of Note #1 Healing and Redemption
". . . Jesus is working to restore the original vision of creation. Jesus starts from the innermost part of us, the seat of our relationship with God, and works outward to include our physical being. This process is like what [C. S.] Lewis called 'death working backwards,' as the ravaging effects of the Fall … Continue reading Quotes of Note #1 Healing and Redemption
Gary Chorpenning's Notebooks 