tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23100776131892589042024-03-13T06:50:15.585-07:00Providential IronyChris Canuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05016466976957538468noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310077613189258904.post-79260874655955851532013-10-07T05:28:00.000-07:002013-10-07T05:29:27.850-07:00<a href="http://chriscanuel.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/ruminations.jpg"><img alt="Image" class="size-full wp-image" id="i-895" src="http://chriscanuel.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/ruminations.jpg?w=190" /></a><br />
<i><b>Ruminations: Reflections In The Midst Of The Journey </b></i><b> </b>is
a selection of my writings that I’ve written over the last four years.
I’m very proud of the way this collection came together, and excited to
share it with you. If you would like to grab a copy of the book you can
find it over on Amazon, the links are below.<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ruminations-Reflections-The-Midst-Journey/dp/1492909858/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1381146415&sr=8-2&keywords=Chris+Canuel">Paperback 5.99</a><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ruminations-ebook/dp/B00FO997ME/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1381146513&sr=1-2&keywords=chris+canuel+kindle">Kindle 3.99</a>Chris Canuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05016466976957538468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310077613189258904.post-375603462281298752013-10-04T15:41:00.000-07:002013-10-04T15:41:54.177-07:00Testimony<br />
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About three years ago I self published a book entitled “Testimony”
loosely based on my own personal testimony. I’ll be the first to
acknowledge that the writing in the book is far from wonderful. By the
grace of God, I’ve grown in both my abilities as a writer, as well as in
my knowledge of the faith. Because some of the writing is so raw, I was
hesitant to make the book available in the kindle format, as well as do
much to publicize it. The more I thought about it though, I decided to
put it out there. It does much to show where I was as I began seeking,
and it shows the grace of God in his pursuit of his blessed children.
Despite the fact that this book won’t win any literary awards, I still
enjoy the story and find myself getting sucked in,(Does this make me
vain?) and I have received much positive feed back. <br />
<br />
If you would like to purchase the Kindle edition of “Testimony” for only $2.99 please <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Testimony-ebook/dp/B00FMLN03Q/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1380924778&sr=1-1&keywords=chris+canuel">click here</a>. I pray it will bless you in some small way. Print editions of the book are also available through Amazon.<br />
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<br />Chris Canuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05016466976957538468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310077613189258904.post-41920740425835166592013-04-13T08:47:00.001-07:002013-09-02T20:37:14.088-07:00Decisions.Decisions...<div><br></div><div>Have you ever had to make a tough decision? If you're human I know you have. I am in the midst of one of those monumental decision making moments as we speak...it seems as if I've been here forever.</div><div><br></div><div>I tend to think all decisions have eternal consequences, even though some seem bigger than others, and I suppose they are at least in terms of felt impact. My current dilemma is rather huge. Definite eternal implications. For myself and certainly for my family. </div><div><br></div><div>What is one to do?</div><div><br></div><div>I'll be perfectly honest. I feel with (almost) every fiber of my being I know what the right decision is. </div><div><br></div><div>"Great!", you say, "So, what's the issue?"</div><div><br></div><div>Well, I suppose the (almost) is one of the issues. The fact that I'm not <i>totally</i> sure...though I don't know that it's entirely possible to be completely sure of much...But the bigger issue for me right now is that almost no one will be happy about this decision. The range of emotions and reactions from friends, acquaintances, and associates will range from anger to disbelief, and the one I fear most is disappointment. </div><div><br></div><div>Even myself...I can't lie. I'm not totally sure I totally love the choice I feel lead to make. A part of me will have to die. Long held dreams, desires, and ambitions I will need to let go of...At least for the foreseeable future. Im sure these hopes, dreams, desires, and ambitions will be replaced with new ones.(One can only hope, right?) Still...its not easy letting go. </div><div><br></div><div>But, I feel this is the decision I must make. For myself and my family as we seek to follow Jesus.</div><div><br></div><div>I'm still trying to get to that "More of Him, less of me" way of being...it's certainly a process.</div><div><br></div><div>Fear of man issues is something I've struggled with mightily...and these days it is weighing on my soul like a millstone around my neck.</div><div><br></div><div>But as he(Christ) hopefully increases, and as I hopefully decrease in my own heart and mind...I pray that the fears and anxiety I feel towards those I choose to associate with will be drowned out and replaced by love and adoration for the God and savior in whom I have no choice but to love and follow, and the family I have no choice but to love and lead in the way of Jesus.</div>Chris Canuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05016466976957538468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310077613189258904.post-23773579496730480122013-04-13T08:37:00.001-07:002013-04-13T08:37:39.398-07:00Brennan Manning & A Reflection On Grace<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WUI2VVWne_g/UWl6unA0mtI/AAAAAAAAAI4/GqDcNCWZBwM/s1600/BMGrace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WUI2VVWne_g/UWl6unA0mtI/AAAAAAAAAI4/GqDcNCWZBwM/s1600/BMGrace.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Last night I
learned that Brennan Manning had died. I will forever be grateful to Mr.
Manning for his writing. I believe I have read his full body of work, some
books more than once, and few authors, if any, have helped me understand grace
more clearly than Brennan. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">He was an
imperfect man who stumbled and limped through life. He wasn’t what many of us
would envision when we think of the ‘victorious Christian’, yet that’s exactly
what he was. He got up one more time than he stumbled, and this last time he
got up to enter into the arms of his Abba. Brennan Manning knew that he was
completely dependent on the grace of God, and the ‘relentless tenderness of
Jesus’…Only when you and I realize that too, will we truly be victorious. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Very often
as I read the writings of Mr. Manning I found myself cringing. I think grace
often does that. One would think that as we reflect on the good news of Jesus
Christ, and the grace with which he has lavished upon us, we would be quick to
embrace it. Far too often though, that isn’t the case. Sometimes grace is just
as hard to accept as it is to give. Most times we Christians talk a good game
about grace, but in practice we leave much to be desired. This is just as true
of ourselves as it is of others. We know God forgives…but does he really
forgive like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that? </i>God is full of
grace, but even when I’ve done <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">this?</i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Yes…even
then. This is truly the good news. The grace of God poured out through Jesus
Christ is even more amazing than we could ever have imagined. Perhaps a cringe
is often the proper response to a grace this amazing…it is meant to astound us.
But don’t stop there. Meditate on this cringe-worthy grace…this Gospel that is
utterly unbelievable…and fall on your knees before a God who loves and forgives
in a way that is completely beyond our understanding…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Thank you
Brennan Manning for helping me to see this a little more clearly…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Now to him
who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to
the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus
throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21</span></div>
Chris Canuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05016466976957538468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310077613189258904.post-46953944366859166142013-02-24T10:07:00.001-08:002013-02-24T10:10:50.828-08:00That's My KingBy Dr. S.M. Lockridge<br />
<br />
The Bible says my King is a seven-way king....He's the King of the Jews; that's a racial king....He's the King of Israel; that's a national King....He's the King of Righteousness....He's the King of the Ages.....He's the King of Heaven....He's the King of Glory....He's the King of kings, and He's the Lord of lords. That's my King. Well....I wonder, do you know Him?.... David said, "The Heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows His handiwork. My King is a sovereign King. No means of measure can define His limitless love. No far seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of His shoreless supply. No barrier can hinder Him from pouring out His blessings. He's enduringly strong....He's entirely sincere....He's eternally steadfast....He's immortally graceful....He's imperially powerful....He's impartially merciful....... Do you know Him?<br />
<br />
He's the greatest phenomenon that ever crossed the horizon of this world. He's God's Son....He's a sinner's Saviour....He's the centerpiece of civilization....He stands in the solitude of Himself....He's august....He's unique....He's unparalleled....He's unprecedented....He's the loftiest idea in literature....He's the highest personality in philosophy....He's the supreme problem in higher criticism....He's the fundamental doctrine of true theology....He's the cardinal necessity for spiritual religion....He's the miracle of the age.... He's the superlative of everything good that you choose to call Him....He's the only one qualified to be an all sufficient Saviour...... I wonder if you know Him today?<br />
<br />
He supplies strength for the weak....He's available for the tempted and the tried....He sympathizes and He saves....He strengthens and sustains....He guards and He guides....He heals the sick....He cleanses lepers....He forgives sinners....He discharges debtors....He delivers captives....He defends the feeble....He blesses the young....He serves the unfortunate....He regards the aged....He rewards the diligent....and He beautifies the meek....... I wonder if you know Him?<br />
<br />
Well, my King....is the King....He's the key to knowledge....He's the wellspring to wisdom....He's the doorway of deliverance....He's the pathway of peace....He's the roadway of righteousness ....He's the highway of holiness....He's the gateway of glory....... Do you know Him?<br />
<br />
Well....His office is manifold....His promise is sure....His light is matchless....His goodness is limitless....His mercy is everlasting....His love never changes....His word is enough....His grace is sufficient....His reign is righteous....and His yoke is easy, and his burden is light. I wish I could describe Him to you, but He's indescribable....He's incomprehensible....He's invincible....He's irresistible.<br />
<br />
Well, you can't get Him out of your mind....You can't get Him off of your hand....You can't out live Him, and you can't live without Him....The Pharisees couldn't stand Him, but they found out they couldn't stop Him....Pilate couldn't find any fault in Him....The witnesses couldn't get their testimonies to agree....Herod couldn't kill Him....Death couldn't handle Him, and the grave couldn't hold Him. Yea!!!, that's my King, that's my King.<br />
<br />
Father..."Thine is the Kingdom....and the Power....and the Glory....Forever"....and ever, and ever, and ever, and ever. How long is that? And ever...and ever...and when you get through with all the forevers, then.... AMEN!....AMEN!Chris Canuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05016466976957538468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310077613189258904.post-45377538200902552892013-01-01T09:33:00.003-08:002013-01-01T09:37:00.771-08:00Books Read 2012<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
A lot of folks have posted top 10 lists of the books they've read this year. I may do that in the next few days, but until then I decided to simply post a list of all of the books I read this year. Take a gander, did you read any of the same books? What books did you read this year that I should check out in 2013?</div>
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Generally every month I set the goal to read at least 4 books that month...Sometimes I'm able to read more, sometimes life gets too busy and I can't. Do you have any similar goals when it comes to your reading? When do you do your best reading?</div>
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Books Read 2012</div>
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January</div>
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1) By Grace Alone - Sinclair Ferguson</div>
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2) Gospel Wakefulness - Jared C. Wilson</div>
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3) On Christian Liberty - Martin Luther</div>
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4) Not A Fan - Kyle Idleman</div>
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5) So Beautiful - Leonard Sweet</div>
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6) Wordsmithy - Douglas Wilson</div>
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7) Veneer - Timothy WIllard/Jason Locy</div>
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8) Radical - David Platt</div>
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February</div>
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1) The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown</div>
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2) Radical Together - David Platt</div>
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3) Reflections On The Psalms - C.S. Lewis</div>
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4) Innocent Blood - John Ensor</div>
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March</div>
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1) Friends And Lovers - Joel R. Beeke</div>
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2) Jesus Wants To Save Christians - Rob Bell and Don
Golden</div>
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3) The Story of God, The Story of Us - Sean Gladding</div>
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4) Note To Self - Joe Thorn</div>
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April</div>
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1) Drops Like Stars - Rob Bell</div>
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2) Pursuing God - Jim Eliff</div>
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3) Gospel - J.D. Greear</div>
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4) Reliving The Passion - Walter Wangerine</div>
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5) Who Am I? - Jerry Bridges</div>
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6) The Stranger - Albert Camus</div>
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May</div>
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1) Lit - Tony Reinke</div>
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2) The Plague - Albert Camus</div>
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3) The Road - Cormac McCarthy</div>
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4) Explicit Gospel - Matt Chandler</div>
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June</div>
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1) Summer Wakes The Bear Who Sleeps - Aaron Youngren</div>
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2) Let Christ Be Magnified - J.H. Merle d'Aubigne</div>
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July</div>
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1) On the Incarnation - Athanasius</div>
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2) On Writing - Ernest Hemingway</div>
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August</div>
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1) Pastor - Eugene Peterson</div>
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2) Story - Steven James</div>
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3) Preach - Mark Dever, Greg Gilbert</div>
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4) Knowing Scripture - RC Sproul</div>
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September</div>
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1)Welcome To The Story - Stephen J. Nichols</div>
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2)Andrew Fuller - John Piper</div>
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3)Godspeed - Britt Merrick</div>
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4)Sacrilege - Hugh Halter</div>
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October</div>
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Many started, none finished</div>
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November</div>
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1)Wrecked - Jeff Goins</div>
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2)You Are A Writer - Jeff Goins</div>
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3)The God Of The Mundane - Matthew Redmond</div>
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4)The Writing Life - Annie Dillard</div>
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5)You Can't Go Home Again - Max Andrew Dubinski</div>
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6)The Fullness of Christ - John Preston</div>
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7)Harry Potter:The Chamber of Secrets – J.K. Rowling</div>
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8)Dimensions Of Prayer – Douglas V. Steere</div>
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9)Reverting To Type – Alan Jacobs</div>
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10)Notes From The Underground - Fyodor Dostoyevski </div>
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11)Five Smooth Stones - Eugene Peterson</div>
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12)Gilead – Marilynne Robinson</div>
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December</div>
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1)The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Silver Chair – C.S. Lewis</div>
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2)The Chronicles of Narnia: The Last Battle – C.S. Lewis</div>
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3)The Five Dilemmas of Calvinism – Craig R. Brown</div>
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4)Touching Wonder: Recapturing The Awe of Christmas –
John Blasé</div>
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5)Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Christmas Sermons – Edwin Robertson
</div>
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6)Grace – Max Lucado</div>
Chris Canuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05016466976957538468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310077613189258904.post-1329155229354784722012-12-07T15:56:00.000-08:002012-12-07T15:56:37.625-08:00Give us this day...Jesus<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qwn6QgmsEp4/UMKB-cg4U9I/AAAAAAAAAIU/6asI-5a_LnQ/s1600/jesus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qwn6QgmsEp4/UMKB-cg4U9I/AAAAAAAAAIU/6asI-5a_LnQ/s320/jesus.jpg" width="320" /></a><em> </em><br />
<em>Pray then like this:</em><br />
<em> “Our Father in heaven,</em><br />
<em> hallowed be your name.</em><br />
<em> Your kingdom come,</em><br />
<em> your will be done,</em><br />
<em> on earth as it is in heaven.</em><br />
<em> Give us this day our daily bread,</em><br />
<em> and forgive us our debts,</em><br />
<em> as we also have forgiven our debtors.</em><br />
<em> And lead us not into temptation,</em><br />
<em> but deliver us from evil.</em><br />
<em>~Matthew 6:9-13 </em><br />
<br />
Over the past several months I have fallen more and more in love with
what I believe is the shining jewel of Christian prayer. Many of us
know it as the Lord’s Prayer. Many good and sincere Christians debate
this prayer and its meaning. Are we to recite it verbatim? Is Jesus
simply giving us an outline of a good prayer? Is Jesus just telling us
essentially what prayer is to be? I think perhaps all of the above is
true.<br />
<br />
We cannot go wrong if we take any of those things to heart, and
pray keeping those things in mind.<br />
<br />
As I’ve spent more and more time over the last several months praying
this prayer and meditating on its meaning, I’ve become convinced of this
truth. Perhaps I’m slow and it is perfectly obvious to everyone
else…but I have become convinced that at the heart of ‘The Lord’s
Prayer’ is this: Surrender/Submission…and Jesus. Ultimately Jesus is at
the heart of all things Christian, but hopefully you guys know what I mean.<br />
<br />
<em>“Our Father in heaven,</em><br />
<em> hallowed be your name.</em><br />
<em> Your kingdom come,</em><br />
<em> your will be done,</em><br />
<em> on earth as it is in heaven.</em>..”<br />
<br />
As we say those words, what are we saying but that, “Lord we
acknowledge who you are…we acknowledge your greatness…we stand in awe of
your holiness, your might, your power, your beauty, your majesty…may we
see that here, now, on earth…visibly and physically.” We can’t do it.
As we see who God is, and meditate on that reality, we realize our utter
helplessness.<br />
<br />
<em>“…Give us this day our daily bread,</em><br />
<em>and forgive us our debts,</em><br />
<em>as we also have forgiven our debtors.</em><br />
<em>And lead us not into temptation,</em><br />
<em>but deliver us from evil.</em>“<br />
<br />
I’m struck immediately as I see the words, “Give us this day our
daily bread…” by the fact that Jesus tells us time and time again that
He is the ‘bread of life’ and the ‘living bread that came down from
heaven’. (See John 6) So when we pray these words, yes we are praying
for God to provide our needs for the day, but even deeper than that,
especially deeper than that, what we are essentially praying for is
Jesus. Now when I say these words, in my heart I say, “Give us
Jesus…Give me Jesus.”<br />
<br />
What more do we need? What is more essential to
our lives and our daily living, and our walks of faith, than Jesus? As
we pray through the rest of the prayer we essentially see what Jesus
does, and through the power of His Spirit, what He does through us, in
us, and with us. He graciously forgives our sins, and grants us the
grace to forgive others. He allows us to overcome temptations, and
ultimately He delivers us from all evil…both daily and eternally.<br />
<br />
This prayer is drawing me closer to my Savior daily. As I say this
prayer and meditate on its meaning daily I am more and more in awe of
God, and fall more and more in love with Jesus. I am learning about
surrender. I am learning more about Jesus. Nothing is more essential and
at the heart of the Christian life more than those two truths.
Surrender and Jesus. Christianity in two words.<br />
<br />
Many Christians do not recite this prayer on a regular basis…for
years neither did I. I suppose some feel it is too elementary. This
attitude is dangerous. Regardless of your thoughts on what the meaning
is behind this prayer…”Should it be recited? Is it simply an example?”
The fact is saying it, and reciting it, and most importantly meditating
on its meaning is a good exercise, and one that I believe will build you
up, equip you, and help you love God more. I’ve even began reciting
this prayer with my oldest son each morning before school, and slowly I
am trying to talk to Him about what it means. Sometimes he wants to,
sometimes he doesn’t, sometimes he’s just indifferent. That’s okay. I
think all of us approach prayer like that. He is learning the importance
of all prayer…as am I.<br />
<br />
There are many great Christian and theological minds out there. They
have said, and observed things about this prayer, and spoken about it
much more beautifully and in depth than I ever could. More than likely
what I’ve said is nothing new…But perhaps as I pour out my heart as to
the importance this prayer, and all it means to me and my faith…you will
be encouraged and drawn to explore and meditate deeper on this prayer,
and ultimately Jesus Himself..which I believe is the embodiment and
ultimate fulfillment of ‘The Lord’s Prayer’.Chris Canuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05016466976957538468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310077613189258904.post-23030867887931395922012-12-02T15:22:00.000-08:002012-12-02T15:56:31.313-08:00Advent in brief and why to celebrate it...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J5VtFadGS8Y/ULvihU_DhNI/AAAAAAAAAIE/8NX5LdPF1xw/s1600/advent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J5VtFadGS8Y/ULvihU_DhNI/AAAAAAAAAIE/8NX5LdPF1xw/s1600/advent.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Advent is an annual season on the church calendar that is celebrated by many Christians, in many different Christian denominations and traditions, in which we prepare our hearts for Christmas day...Christmas day of course, being the day in which we celebrate the incarnation. <br />
<br />
Our English word "advent" comes from the Latin word "adventus" which means "coming". The big idea during the season of Advent is the idea of patient waiting and eager expectation...a hopeful anticipation of what God is going to do through the Messiah.<br />
<br />
Primarily what is focused on during the season of Advent is the first coming of Christ. So Advent is a time of soul searching and remembrance as we remember what God has done through the incarnation. At the same time though, it is a preparing of our own hearts for what God will do when Christ comes the second time. We remember that with our ancient spiritual ancestors, we too are waiting with eager and hopeful expectation. We too are still waiting with a hopeful anticipation for what God is going to do through Christ, through the Messiah.<br />
<br />
Celebrating Advent is certainly not a requirement for the Christian, there is no biblical mandate, but I certainly do think it is very profitable. Advent is a wonderful way of keeping ourselves grounded during this time of year-a time of year in which it is so easy to get distracted with all of the busyness that surrounds the Christmas holiday-Advent helps to remind us that ultimately this season is about treasuring and adoring Christ. As indeed is all of life. Chris Canuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05016466976957538468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310077613189258904.post-1988484892362307772012-11-30T07:47:00.000-08:002012-11-30T07:47:58.609-08:00Words fail me...<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<i>Since “In the beginning…” and “Let there be…”</i></div>
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<i>Man has been grasping for, and trying to wrap his mind
around eternity.</i></div>
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<i>Since His life filled our lungs we’ve been searching our
minds</i></div>
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<i>Reaching for words, to try and define</i></div>
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<i>The beauty we see, the love that we need.</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>Words are so insufficient for a God beyond our
comprehension</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>Word became flesh and dwelt among men.</i></div>
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<i>He lived to die and he lived to live.</i></div>
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<i>He lived in righteousness, he died for sin.</i></div>
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<i>To the right hand of the Father, it was for him to
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<i>So that we might join him, a beautiful bride he’s been
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<i>Who has the words for a God with such wisdom?</i></div>
Chris Canuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05016466976957538468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310077613189258904.post-91176429744811850552012-11-26T05:26:00.002-08:002012-11-26T05:26:47.219-08:00Sin and Love<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yJsxt7W9NuU/ULNuBh-3EmI/AAAAAAAAAH0/UUVsfeDjddk/s1600/sin+and+love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yJsxt7W9NuU/ULNuBh-3EmI/AAAAAAAAAH0/UUVsfeDjddk/s320/sin+and+love.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<i> </i><br />
<i> Philosophers have measur'd mountains,</i><br />
<i>Fathom'd the depths of seas, of states, and kings,</i><br />
<i>Walk'd with a staff to heav'n, and traced fountains:</i><br />
<i> But there are two vast, spacious things,</i><br />
<i>The which to measure it doth more behove:</i><br />
<i>Yet few there are that sound them; Sin and Love.</i><br />
<i> ~George Herbert, The Agony</i>Chris Canuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05016466976957538468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310077613189258904.post-67880309379048378782012-11-24T09:47:00.001-08:002012-11-24T09:47:49.576-08:00The Masterpiece of God<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m1iKIrMgSXQ/ULEIHngI49I/AAAAAAAAAHk/0Q82jSrqtyg/s1600/masterpiece.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m1iKIrMgSXQ/ULEIHngI49I/AAAAAAAAAHk/0Q82jSrqtyg/s1600/masterpiece.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">This week I have been blogging last week's sermon unpacking Ephesians 2:6-10. Here is the <a href="http://chriscanuel.blogspot.com/2012/11/so-that-no-one-may-boast.html" target="_blank">previous post</a>, simply follow the links to read more. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">By the grace of God, we as the Church, we as the redeemed people of God have become something new. What have we become?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Of course 2
Corinthians 5:17 tells us that we are new creations, but I’m thinking of
something else here. Though of course since 2 Corinthians 5:17 is true, this is
certainly true. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Ephesians
2:10 says that we are his ‘workmanship’…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The word
there translated as ‘workmanship’ is the greek word 'poiema', and it is where we
get the word ‘poem’ from. There are some things so beautiful in life, that the
only way we can find to express that beauty is in the form of a poem or song…When I first met my wife, I was so captivated by her beauty, the only way I could think to capture my love for her in words, was to put it in the form of poetry. I know I'm not alone in this. How many songs on the radio revolve around love? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But, even
the word ‘poem’ falls short. This word 'poiema', could have been used for any type
of work of art in the ancient world. So the best translation of the word is
actually ‘masterpiece’. So,
essentially what Ephesians 2:10 is telling us is that we are the masterpiece of
God…</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">What an
amazing thought this is…Look at all of the beauty in the world. Look at the
stars, the sun, the moon…a shooting star, a sunrise, a sunset…think of
beautiful flowers or trees…just simply the beauty of how our universe is put
together, and is ordered…think of the beauty of life in general…the
animals…think of the birth of a newborn baby…all of these things are truly
beautiful…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">But, none of
these things are referred to as the masterpiece of God…Not even humanity in
general, created in the image of God, is referred to the masterpiece of God. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">What is
being referred to here, is that new creation I was talking about. What is being
referred to here, is redeemed humanity. Those of us who have been made new in
Christ, those of us who have been redeemed by the blood of Christ…those are the
ones Paul is here referring to as the ‘masterpiece’ of God…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Is that not
mind blowing? When God sees us, he sees a beautiful work of art…But, as any
beautiful work of art should do, not only are we to marvel at the art, we
should marvel at the artist…that is even more true as it relates to us and God.Amen?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Again though, our
call, is to put God’s power, God’s mercy, God’s grace, God’s work through
Christ, on display…And through faith…that’s what we do…And Paul even tells us
how we are to do that here in Ephesians 2:10…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">“For we are
his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus…FOR GOOD WORKS, WHICH GOD PREPARED
BEFOREHAND THAT WE SHOULD WALK IN THEM.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">We put God’s
power, mercy, grace, on display not just when we arrive in the sweet by and by
and God puts his hands on his hips and points at us and says, "See what I’ve
done?!?!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Certainly,
throughout eternity, when all things have<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>been made as they should be, when Christ has retrieved his bride, and
been united with his bride…we as the church will be seen as beautiful…as I
said, the host of heaven…will be dazzled by our beauty…but, as Paul told us in
Ephesians 1:23, and as I talked about last time I preached…even now…we as the
church are to be putting the power of God, the grace of God, the mercy of God,
the glory of God, on full display…Even now, we as the church are to be the
physical presence of Christ on the earth. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">We do
this…not just with our words…not just by simply being…but, also by our works. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Paul makes
plain here, that as the workmanship of God, as the ‘masterpiece’ of God, as the
redeemed people of God…we will do good works. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Now, we’ve
been talking a lot about how our salvation is all about grace, and is not about
our works. Let me be clear…I’m not back tracking here…Everything in our
Christian lives, everything we have, everything we receive, is certainly a
result of God’s grace…even our faith…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">But our
faith in God…legitimate, true faith in God, WILL evidence itself with good
works. It’s what faith does…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Isn’t that
essentially what Paul tells us in Galatians 5:22-23 when he gives us his list
of the ‘fruits of the Spirit’? Good works happen in the life of the Christian
because the Spirit lives within, and works through the Christian. God’s spirit
works through a transformed heart…So when our heart is transformed by the grace
of God, good works follow…It’s simply what happens…it’s simply what faith does…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Good works
are the result of faith…God works are the result of salvation…Our salvation is
evidenced, by the good works that we do…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Sadly, some
people think that we do good works for salvation, or to make our salvation
possible, or to remained saved…but that is not the case, and far from what
Scripture teaches…We do good works because we are saved, not because we are
trying to be saved…We do good works because we have experienced the grace of
God in our lives…and it is only his grace that enables us to do these good
works.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Blaise
Pascal said this, “Grace is indeed required to turn a man into a saint; and he
who doubts this doesn’t know what either a man or a saint is.”…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">If you don’t
understand that you need the grace of God, in order to do good…then you
obviously don’t understand what it is to be a man…you don’t understand how sin
has touched every part of your being…you can do no good apart from God and his
grace…A saint is simply one who has been made right by God…one isn’t a saint
because of the things they’ve done…they are a saint because of what God has
done…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Martin
Luther said…”Justification is by faith alone, but not by faith that is alone…”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Simply put,
if you have been justified by God…it will be known by the works that you do. It
isn’t the works you do that make you justified, obviously, your justification
is a result of God’s grace…but God’s grace will be made obvious by how you live
your life, and your works…</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">God’s power is seen in the lives of Christians, as we live Godly
lives…As we work in the workplace, as we parent, as we represent Christ to our
spouses, as we are obedient to our own parents…as we have Godly friendships…as
we love each other here in the church…as we live lives that look different to
the rest of the world…</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">That is who
we are called to be…that is what God has made us to do. As Christ’s physical
expression on earth, and by the grace of God, that is what we will do…And may
God receive the glory, for whatever Godliness, and beauty we display…For it is
only by his grace and mercy that it is possible. </span></div>
Chris Canuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05016466976957538468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310077613189258904.post-80734111204468543982012-11-21T11:11:00.001-08:002012-11-21T14:23:16.769-08:00So that no one may boast...<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eeKyPPT64IE/UK0nQbiEgtI/AAAAAAAAAHU/zy1pU9_8lU4/s1600/God+be+merciful.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eeKyPPT64IE/UK0nQbiEgtI/AAAAAAAAAHU/zy1pU9_8lU4/s320/God+be+merciful.jpg" width="242" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Yesterday, we finished up our post reflecting on the fact that it is through the church that God has chosen to put the immeasurable riches of his grace on display, and the fact that all of this is completely a work of God. You can read that post <a href="http://chriscanuel.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-church-ultimate-trophy-wife.html" target="_blank">here</a>. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Today we will explore why it is that everything in the life of the Christian is a result of God's grace, and why it is that we can take zero credit for the things God has done, and the things that God is doing in and through us as Christians.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">So let's start by looking at Ephesians 2:8-9:</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> “For by
grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is
the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast…”</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Everything
we will receive, everything we have received, is simply a gift of God.
Everything is a result of grace, even our faith. Why?" So that no one may boast." The Apostle
Paul makes clear, our salvation…our life in Christ…is completely a gift of God.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>“…but the
free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.</i>” Isn’t Romans 6:23 pretty clear?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We can’t
take credit for anything. We can’t boast about anything. Well, we can certainly
boast on Christ, but individually we have nothing to boast about. Everything
we receive is a complete act of grace on the part of God. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">As I've said many times, everything is ultimately about the glory of God. Everything is to point to
God’s glory. God is about God’s glory. If there were anything in our Christian
lives that we could take credit for, then it wouldn’t all be about God’s glory
would it? If there were some part of our faith that we could point to and say, "Look, see what I did there", then God would cease to get all of the glory. This
isn’t how God operates.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">God does not share his glory...</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We can partake of the
glory of God, we can radiate the glory of God, we can breathe in the glory of
God, but we cannot receive the glory that only God is deserving of. Understanding
this is essential to the living out of our faith, and even in us analyzing our
faith, and seeing where we are in our lives of faith. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Look with me
if you would to Luke 18:9-14</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>"He(Jesus) also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt. "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee standing by himself, prayed thus: 'God I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."</i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">If we could
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righteousness(and we have been made righteous in Christ), or of whatever
Godliness we may have, or display in our lives…We would. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And many people do. But, this is completely
contrary to the truths of Scripture, and how we are told faith works in the
Bible. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">But even
here, in Luke, you see plainly, Jesus is telling us that our righteousness is not in ourselves, or in
anything that we can do or will do. Our righteousness comes when we realize that
we have no righteousness in ourselves. The one who was justified by God was the
man who humbled himself and simply cried out, “God, be merciful to me a
sinner!”…This is a prayer we should all pray often by the way…</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I think we
see the same thing in the Beatitudes…</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">In Matthew
5:3 Jesus says, <i>“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven…” </i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We receive
the kingdom of heaven, when we realize that we are poor in spirit. When we
realize that we have nothing within ourselves that warrants salvation, or
nothing we can offer God to make ourselves worthy of salvation...That’s when we
cry out to God, and then,
thanks to his immeasurable grace…he saves us. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">And then, we
become the grace of God on display that I talked about yesterday. By the grace of God, we become something new.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Friday we'll look at Ephesians 2:10 and see what it is that we've become, and what the implications of this beautiful truth are. </span></div>
Chris Canuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05016466976957538468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310077613189258904.post-16468440785536689892012-11-20T08:49:00.000-08:002012-11-20T08:49:46.089-08:00The Church: The Ultimate Trophy Wife<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SbCmZNoIBuQ/UKu0G12tN3I/AAAAAAAAAG8/zHCWZC7urro/s1600/bride.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SbCmZNoIBuQ/UKu0G12tN3I/AAAAAAAAAG8/zHCWZC7urro/s1600/bride.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Yesterday, I posted about how God has made us alive, and seated us with Christ in the heavenly places(Ephesians 2:6). You can read that post <a href="http://chriscanuel.blogspot.com/2012/11/seated-with-him-in-heavenly-places.html" target="_blank">here</a>. Today we are going to be looking at why God has done that. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Ephesians 2:7 tells us why we have been made
alive and seated in the heavenly places with Christ.</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">“<b>So that</b> in
the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness
toward us in Christ Jesus…”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">We as
Christians are examples of the grace of God. In us, the redeemed people of God,
the immeasurable riches of God’s grace will be on full display. Now, even now,
we are certainly a picture of God’s grace. Seeing our sin, seeing where we’ve
come from, knowing who we used to be, and knowing that in Christ we’ve been
made new…knowing that in Christ, we’ve been given new life…even now, we are a
picture of his grace…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">But, in the coming ages, once things are indeed made as they
should be...once Christ makes all things right, we as Christians, we as the
Church, we as the bride of Christ will be proof positive of the immeasurable grace
of God. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I know the
term trophy wife has a very negative connotation, but I think in eternity, when
all things are redeemed, even this term can be redeemed, and we as the church
will be the ultimate trophy wife. We will be a shining example of the kindness
and the grace of God. The heavenly host will be dazzled by our beauty…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">But, here’s
the kicker. As beautiful as we will be…even as beautiful as we are now in the
eyes of God the Father(because when he sees us, he sees Christ)…our beauty
doesn’t come from ourselves…And because of this fact, we won’t be the ones receiving the praise. Our
beauty comes from Christ. Because our beauty comes solely from Christ, God will be the one receiving the praise and God will be receiving the glory. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">So, it is through the church, the Bride of Christ, that God has chosen to put the immeasurable riches of his grace on display. Now in part, one day in full. And all of this comes through Christ. All of this is grace...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Tomorrow we shall explore why this is all a work of grace, and why we can't take credit for what God is doing in and through us, his Church. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span>Chris Canuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05016466976957538468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310077613189258904.post-72558990482305961822012-11-19T12:30:00.002-08:002012-11-19T18:12:38.457-08:00Faith & Imagination<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lMD2b0Uq7XA/UKqW2FnBvAI/AAAAAAAAAGs/jNXFXy4wPJs/s1600/narnia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lMD2b0Uq7XA/UKqW2FnBvAI/AAAAAAAAAGs/jNXFXy4wPJs/s320/narnia.jpg" width="224" /></a></div>
<br />
At the age of 34 I read a lot more children's books and watch more children's television and movies than I ever did as a child. This certainly has something to do with the fact that I have five children, but even more than that, I love these stories more than I ever have. I love these fictional characters and worlds, the wonder within that they inspire, and even the lessons that they are still teaching me.<br />
<br />
Yesterday I read a quote over at the blog of <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevinwax/" target="_blank">Trevin Wax</a> regarding the mind of <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevinwax/2012/11/17/the-distinctive-feature-of-c-s-lewis-mind/" target="_blank">C.S. Lewis</a>. You can click the link for the full quote, but the main idea of the writer was that above all, C.S. Lewis had a mind that was willing to be enchanted. In the comments of the blog one commenter posted that, <i>"Perhaps C.S.Lewis wanted to stimulate our imaginations so that we could
begin to understand the possibilities of a better world than this?"</i><br />
<br />
All of this got me thinking...What is the relationship between imagination and faith? Is there one?<br />
<br />
I tend to think there is, but where the two meet, I'm not sure. Is this partially what Jesus was speaking of when he told us that we must 'receive the Kingdom of God like a child...'? Could it be that one of the key components of our faith is our imaginations? Could it be that one of the greatest things for our faith is to understand that we don't have God all figured out, therefore we read about him, and imagine what he must be like...dreaming and longing for the day when things that we can scarcely imagine will actually happen? When one day, the things we dream of will become a reality? Perhaps our imaginations and dreams won't even hold a candle to the reality of what is, and what will be.<br />
<br />
Most people tend to think that a healthy imagination is best left to our childhood...But what if, nothing is more important to our lives as adults, and our lives as children of God, than that we never cease to use our imagination? What if allowing our imagination to grow as our faith grows is the most important thing of all? What if the point of faith, is to mold our imaginations to a reality that is better than anything we could have ever imagined? Chris Canuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05016466976957538468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310077613189258904.post-19933674021836258462012-11-19T05:38:00.003-08:002012-11-19T05:56:47.231-08:00Seated with him in the heavenly places...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TB8SyV8vn8c/UKo6lDHK-SI/AAAAAAAAAGc/DNKloefZclA/s1600/heavenly+places.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TB8SyV8vn8c/UKo6lDHK-SI/AAAAAAAAAGc/DNKloefZclA/s1600/heavenly+places.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Below is a portion from the sermon I preached this week…I’ve been
encouraged to blog my message, so I will break it up into a series of
posts this week. I pray you will be edified by the Word of God. <br />
<br />
God has <i>‘raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places…in Christ Jesus…</i>’(Ephesians 2:6)<br />
<br />
When God the Son took on human flesh in the person of Jesus of
Nazareth, one of the most beautiful aspects of the incarnation, is the
fact that God the Son, was choosing to identify with his people. In
ways, and honestly in a way, that is a bit of mystery to us…Jesus took
on our identity, and gave his people his identity. I think that’s why we
see Jesus telling us to ‘abide in him…’ and that he will ‘abide in us’ throughout the New Testament.
I think that’s what we see happening in the baptism of Jesus…I think
that’s what we see happening as Jesus is lead into the wilderness…And I
think (at least in part)that’s what Paul is getting at in Romans 6:3-8:<br />
<br />
<i>“Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into
Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with
him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised
from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness
of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we
shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know
that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin
might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to
sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have
died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.”</i><br />
<br />
I also think this is what Paul is getting at when he tells us that our life is ‘<i>hidden with Christ in God”</i>…in Colossians 3:3, and in verse 4 of Colossians 3, Paul says, “<i>When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”</i><br />
<br />
So, Jesus, when he came to earth, he was identifying himself with his people.<br />
<br />
Let me try and do a better job of explaining what I mean here…When
Christ walked the earth, he lived the sinless life that we could not
live. Christ, was perfectly righteous in the sight of God the Father,
because we couldn’t be. When Christ went to the cross, he suffered the
punishment for the sins of his people…and because of this…his people
didn’t have to bear the punishment for their own sin…Christ did what we
could not and what we cannot…And the beauty of it is…that because of
Christ’s righteousness, because of his sinless life and
obedience…because of Christ’s identifying with us, his people…we’ve been
credited with this life and obedience.<br />
<br />
When Christ went to the cross, he took on our sins…So all of our sin,
was transferred to Christ. In a very real sense, our old selves died
with Christ on the cross. Our sinfulness, our sins, died with Christ on
the cross…<br />
<br />
I think that’s what we see very plainly in the Romans 6 passage I
quoted just a bit ago. And because our sin, our old selves, died with
Christ on the cross…when Christ was made alive…when Christ was
resurrected…we too were resurrected. When Christ was made alive, we were
made alive…<br />
And now, that’s what we see Paul getting at here in Ephesians 2:6…Our
identity now as Christians is tied up in Christ. When Jesus was raised
up and seated in the heavenly places…that’s where we as Christians,
that’s where the church , the people of God are.<br />
<br />
So, where were we? We were dead in our sins(Ephesians 2:1-3)…But now,
our sins have been crucified with Christ on the cross…Our old selves
are dead…Now, as Christ has been raised up, so too…we as Christians have
been raised up. We’ve been seated with Christ Jesus in the heavenly
places…<br />
<br />
At one time our identities were wrapped up in the world…we chased
after worldly pleasures…we followed after the spirit of the world…even
after Satan himself…yet now…we are in Christ…we’ve been made new in
Christ…we’ve been given a completely new identity.<br />
<br />
Praise be to God for that…Amen?Chris Canuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05016466976957538468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310077613189258904.post-16882053244324715882012-11-16T05:49:00.000-08:002012-11-16T05:49:01.610-08:00I was thinking...<div class="post_content clearfix" id="post_content_5720014913">
<div class="post_text_wrapper">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FTIK5X3wewg/UKZEHK1ZuVI/AAAAAAAAAGM/ZuHIHyAi4Lw/s1600/dying+rose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FTIK5X3wewg/UKZEHK1ZuVI/AAAAAAAAAGM/ZuHIHyAi4Lw/s320/dying+rose.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
<div class="post_title">
</div>
<div class="post_title">
I was thinking... </div>
<br />
That is always a dangerous thing.<br />
<br />
I killed a spider today. Have you ever noticed when you kill a spider
how it’s legs crumple in? Their bodies never really look flattened,
their legs just sort of crumple in.<br />
<br />
<em>How will I look when I die? </em><br />
<br />
<em>What will be my final pose? </em><br />
<br />
How often do you think about death? I’ve been thinking about it more
lately. Some people said that today was going to be judgment day. I
think they’ve gotten it wrong.<br />
<br />
<em>But do you ever think about death? </em><br />
<br />
<em>Like really think about death? </em><br />
<br />
I killed a spider today. I didn’t think much of it. How often do we
do that? We generally just squash them…perhaps clean up the mess…move
along. How about driving? How many bugs are killed as we travel to our
next destination. Death is everywhere. Yet we attempt with all of our
might to ignore it…even if it comes at our own hands. Maybe we aren’t
ignoring it, just not thinking about it.<br />
<br />
<em>Is that the same thing? </em><br />
<br />
Probably not.<br />
<br />
I killed a spider today. I thought nothing of it. This creature was
alive, now he is not.<br />
<br />
I have a friend who likes to fish, hunt, kill,
skin, and eat what he kills. I wonder how often he thinks of death. To
take a creature from one state to another. From a state of being, to...not being..<br />
<br />
<em>Or are they? </em><br />
<br />
How often do we think about death? Why do we ignore it? It is such a
huge part of life. If life wasn’t so big, death would be bigger…but
life…life is life. If life wasn’t so important, maybe we’d think about
death more. But perhaps death is the path to life. Now there’s a
thought.<br />
<br />
</div>
</div>
Chris Canuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05016466976957538468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310077613189258904.post-44661286800424371082012-11-15T22:51:00.002-08:002012-11-15T22:59:34.927-08:00Rethinking Miracles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
I once heard a pastor say that if something can be explained naturally, or scientifically...then it isn't a miracle. Miracles only occur when God supernaturally intervenes in the natural world and does something that can't be explained by anything other than God.<br />
<br />
He used childbirth as an example...Many times a person will look at a newborn baby and exclaim, "How beautiful! Isn't she a little miracle?"...This pastor explained, that no, a newborn baby isn't a miracle...because it can be explained scientifically...it is a natural process.<br />
<br />
For a while, this definition seemed logical to me. But, lately I've been wondering if my pastor friend may be off. Maybe, just maybe, my pastor friend's definition of a miracle is a little too narrow. Let me explain.<br />
<br />
What is the natural state of things? Where was the universe before God came on the scene?<br />
<br />
Oh yeah, it wasn't there...But God was.<br />
<br />
So, the natural state of things is nothingness...Creation was a miracle. Before God gave order to all things, everything was in a state of chaos...But then God gave all things order. God giving order to things was a miracle. Existence is a miracle. The way things work, is a miracle. Science is a miracle.<br />
<br />
I could go on and on with this...but it's late. My point is though, God is at work all around us. Creation as we know it, life as we know it...is a miracle. We are surrounded by miracles every day. The fact that you are alive is a miracle. The fact that I can breathe oxygen into my lungs is a miracle. We ought not take things for granted and try to explain them away with science, or by saying it is simply the natural order of things...<br />
<br />
The natural order of things is nothingness...but God broke into the nothingness and brought forth all that we see. The natural order of things is chaos...but God enters the chaos and brings forth order. The natural order of things is no life...But God exploded onto the scene and brought forth life....<br />
<br />
Perhaps the greatest miracle of all is that he still does that with our souls. Apart from God, we are all spiritually lifeless. We are all spiritually dead...But God, he enters the death that we call life and shows us what real life is...he makes us truly alive, so that we can appreciate all of the miracles that we have around us on a daily basis.<br />
<br />
The life we now live, as Christians, is anything but natural. The life we now live in Christ is certainly miraculous. This is the first miracle we must take hold of...and from there, our eyes are awakened to every other miracle there is.<br />
<br />
I pray that we all might keep our eyes open with eager anticipation for the next miracle to cross our paths...and from there may we look past the miracle and gaze with longing at the one whom makes the miraculous possible. Chris Canuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05016466976957538468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310077613189258904.post-37154814207061716202012-11-15T05:45:00.001-08:002012-11-15T05:45:30.180-08:00Book Review:The God Of The Mundane<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Matthew B. Redmond is a talented writer. I've been a long time follower of his blog, so of course I was thrilled to get my hands on his debut book 'The God Of The Mundane'. I had read the series of blog posts that would eventually lead to the book, and felt even as I was reading those initial posts, that what Matt was saying, the world needed to hear. I'm thankful that Kalos Press felt the same way. <br />
<br />
As I said, Matt is a superb writer. Because Matt is such a superb writer, this book is a joy to read. 'The God Of The Mundane' is the type of book that you can read, and get lost in. Once you finish, you'll want to read it again. Because of the content of the book, this is a book you need to read again.<br />
<br />
Let me be up front. I don't agree with everything Matt says in this book. I don't agree with how Matt says everything in this book. And that is okay. Matt has indeed accurately diagnosed a huge problem within the Christian church, and the questions he asks are important. His voice is one that needs to be heard in the world of evangelicalism. The conversation that Matt has started is one that needs to continue, and all Christians, and perhaps Pastors in particular need to take note.<br />
<br />
In the world of bigger and better and more radical Christianity...it's refreshing to read someone who wants to see and talk about the God of the everyday. It's refreshing to see someone who sees the eternal value of every inch of life. It's refreshing to see someone who understands the line between spiritual work and secular work doesn't really exist.<br />
<br />
Again, I don't agree with all of the conclusions that Matt comes to...But, I certainly agree with Matt that there is a problem with how we are talking about faith, and how we view faith. True biblical faith isn't one size fits all, and it certainly doesn't look the same for each of us. I'm thankful that Matt has started the conversation, and I pray the conversation continues. <br />
<br />
'The God Of The Mundane' will be out early next month, and is currently available for pre-order through Kalos Press. Click <a href="http://www.kalospress.org/books/books/god-of-the-mundane-print.html#3" target="_blank">here</a> for more info or to order. <br />
<br />Chris Canuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05016466976957538468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310077613189258904.post-17269209460823966502012-11-12T07:53:00.000-08:002012-11-12T08:09:36.742-08:00Four Days Without Facebook-Reflecting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
Last week I deleted my Facebook account. I have serious doubts as to whether or not this is a permanent thing. As a matter of fact, I'm certain it is not. I miss it.<br />
<br />
As I debated deleting my account, I encountered many questions as to why I've chosen to delete it...and honestly, settling on one answer is pretty complicated.<br />
<br />
The lowest common denominator I suppose is that I was beginning to get annoyed with all of the noise. Social media during a political season is not a pretty place. Everyone seems to think their candidate/candidates are the only ones who has the answers. If their candidates aren't elected, the world is doomed. This is an expected attitude for some folks...But for those who profess faith in a sovereign God...I don't think so...<br />
<br />
And herein lies one of the problems...I think.<br />
<br />
Everyone has an opinion. Everyone on social media has a platform. Everyone on social media feels the need to express their opinions...and everyone has that right. And I was getting sick of reading everyone expressing their opinions...As I'm sure many people were sick of reading me doing the same...especially as I expressed my opinion of others expressing their opinions.(So I blog about it?)<br />
<br />
The political season pushed me over the top, but that certainly wasn't the only issue. I've been dealing with this for some time. I had grown tired of reading people gush over the ones they loved, of hearing about your cute grandchild and how cute and smart he is, of how wonderful everyone's life is, of how terrible everyone's life is...I had grown tired of people being fake...and people being too honest.I had grown tired of everyone's pettiness in pointing out every little flaw they could find in others...(Ironic, huh?)<br />
<br />
I was so sick of it...I began questioning everyone's motives for why they posted what they posted. I began making character judgements and pointing out flaws...Not in public mind you...not even out loud most of the time....maybe not even consciously in my mind. But, it was happening. As I told a few friends of mine, I was beginning to have a hard time loving people.<br />
<br />
This should never be...And I hated it.<br />
<br />
And there is no excuse for it. <br />
<br />
So my biggest problem, was not everyone else...it was me.<br />
<br />
I didn't like what social media was revealing about myself, and my own heart. I was vain, I was prideful...my ego was over-inflated. It still is...And I don't know that it's going away anytime soon. But with God's help I'm working on it...<br />
<br />
Ironically enough, all of these character flaws that were revealed to me ,and in me, through social media...were at the same time making themselves more and more known in my 'real life'...I'm not saying social media created these flaws, or even made them worse...But I think it rather naive to think social media doesn't spill over into the real world and have a real impact on real life.<br />
<br />
Ultimately I was a sinner who had much better access, and a much more convenient way to interact with other sinners...I didn't handle it well. I pray that if(when) I re-engage with Facebook, I'll do a much better job. <br />
<br />
Just a few days before deleting my Facebook, I scribbled this down in a notebook:<br />
<br />
<i>"Sometimes I simply want to withdraw from the world until I've grown enough as a person to have something worth contributing."</i><br />
<br />
When I wrote this, I didn't specifically have Facebook or social media in general in mind...But I think the same principle applies.<br />
<br />
There is one thing I have noticed...Spending less time worrying about what others are doing on Facebook, I have much more time to enjoy my family. I have much more to contribute to them. This is a very good thing. And I pray that when I do join the Facebook fray again, I will intentionally strive to not lose that, and even more than that, that I will have learned how to contribute more to, and better edify the world of Facebook. <i><br /></i>Chris Canuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05016466976957538468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310077613189258904.post-80942631681154832972012-11-07T06:01:00.001-08:002012-11-07T06:01:32.162-08:00Talking About Faith<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
How we talk about our faith matters.<br />
<br />
I was speaking with a friend a few nights ago, and as they often do, our conversation turned to spiritual matters. As we discussed, I don't believe I said anything untrue. I am convinced I was right. I spoke truth.<br />
<br />
Truth is often hard to hear...<br />
<br />
Still, I came away from the conversation convicted.<br />
<br />
Did I speak in a way that painted God in the best possible light? Did my words draw my friend closer to God, or did they push her away?<br />
<br />
There are certainly times where the Word of God does put up walls, and push people away. I think the Word of God does that by it's very nature...as all truth ultimately does. But the question is, did my words convey the love, mercy, and grace of God?<br />
<br />
...or was I more concerned with being right?<br />
<br />
I fear the latter may be the case.<br />
<br />
Father,<br />
Forgive me for all the times I don't accurately convey your love.<br />
Forgive me when my words convey little of the grace and mercy that you possess and pour out.<br />
Forgive me when I fail to bring you the glory you desire, and the glory that you so deserve.<br />
Forgive me when I'd rather be right, than point people to you.<br />
Amen. Chris Canuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05016466976957538468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310077613189258904.post-31628856760325637972012-11-05T05:56:00.000-08:002012-11-05T06:14:42.225-08:00New Blog: Providential Irony-Why?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
I tested the waters yesterday, announcing that I was contemplating starting a new blog. I figured many folks would ask questions. I was right.<br />
<br />
The big question was, 'Why?'<br />
<br />
Well, I'm not totally sure. The short answer, and the easiest answer is, "Because I want to." This is probably not sufficient for most people. Honestly though, I'm not entirely sure myself, other than to say I had an overwhelming desire to do so, and I did have what I think are some pretty good reasons. Here are a couple...<br />
<br />
I'm sensing right now in my life, there are many things I need to re-evaluate and refocus on. I confess, this is probably another case of the 'discontent' that often creeps into my life from time to time, but that doesn't change the truth that I do need to re-evaluate and refocus in several areas of my life. For me, in order to refocus it's always been easier to simply start over. This isn't always possible in life, but with this blog, it is. My writing is something I really want to focus more on. Therefore, I've chosen to start a new blog. <br />
<br />
In refocusing on my writing, I think my writing will change. Whether it is true or not, I felt at times over at 'Striving With God' I was pegged in a bit. There we're certain things I could write about...a certain style of writing...certain subjects...perhaps even certain genres of writing I could tackle. Other things I wasn't always as comfortable with. I concede, this could very well be my feelings and insecurities only, but still, it's how I felt. I hope to be a bit more diverse here in what I write. Whether or not that happens, we shall see.<br />
<br />
There may be even more reasons...In fact I'm sure of it. But for now, I think these are sufficient, for anyone who cares to read where we go from here.<br />
<br />
The second question I anticipate is, 'What's up with the title?'<br />
<br />
Very often in life, there are many truths that seem to be at odds with each other. The world is evil yet beautiful at the same time. Man can both kill and bring healing. Man can both love and hate, sometimes in the same breath. God is sovereign over all things, yet we cannot deny that we have real choices and decisions that we must make, and are held responsible for. It is often hard to reconcile these truths, yet, it is my feeling they can be reconciled, and as we look and explore the realities of who God is...I think we see the all powerful hand of God's good providence at work in all of it. Though things may not always be what they seem, they are as they should be...even if we can't figure out why, or how that is.<br />
<br />
So, what happens with 'Striving With God'?<br />
<br />
Well for now it is still there. For a while, I may use both blogs, and use it to point others here. I may leave it up...I may not. We shall see. There are many good posts there, that I would love to keep. I may integrate, and re-post those here. I want to blog pretty regularly, so, in having some stuff already written that I can re-post...that may help in that area, especially when life is busy, as it so often is.<br />
<br />
So that is where we are right now. For those that followed me over at 'Striving With God' I hope you'll follow me over here at 'Providential Irony' as well.<br />
<br />
I realize some folks may think that I'm taking myself too seriously here...And they would probably be right. But then again, I think most of us do. Especially if we blog. Bloggers and writers often take themselves too seriously. It's why we write. We think we have something to say that the world must hear. While I do think it's a dangerous mistake to take yourself too seriously, after all the world isn't going to end if they don't read your writing...I think it's an equally dangerous mistake to think you don't have anything worth saying.<br />
<br />
Hopefully I have some things worth saying, I hope you guys will take the time to read it. Chris Canuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05016466976957538468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310077613189258904.post-13408171136684895712012-11-04T04:27:00.000-08:002012-11-04T04:27:21.234-08:00Faith: A Meditation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<em>“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen…” ~Hebrews 11:1</em><br />
<br />
I read the following line last night:<br />
<br />
<em>“Faith, not knowledge, is evidence of the unseen…”</em><br />
<br />
As I read this line, I honestly was a bit taken aback. I think
because in my mind I usually elevate knowledge above faith. I don’t
think most people are really any different. We would much rather be sure
than confident…certain than hopeful.<br />
<br />
As I began to ponder though, I asked myself …can faith be divorced
from knowledge? In the world, it seems like the two cannot live side by
side. In relation to God however, it seems to me, faith springs forth
from knowledge. The two aren’t at odds. You can’t have faith apart from
knowledge. Faith without knowledge ceases to be faith. Faith without
knowledge is imagination. We don’t serve an imaginary God. <br />
<br />
God tells us things about Himself. God gives us knowledge about who He is. God gave us Christ to reveal Himself to us. <br />
<br />
<em>“He is the image of the invisible God…” ~Colossians 1:15</em><br />
<br />
“<em>…but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he
appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the
world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of
his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.”
~Hebrews 1:2-3</em><br />
<br />
So we don’t have faith in a God we can’t know. We have faith in a God
that has given us knowledge of Himself. God is no figment of our
imagination…God has revealed Himself to us in Creation(Psalm 19:1,
Romans 1:20), in the Scriptures(2 Timothy 3:16), and through His Son
Jesus. <br />
<br />
Is faith superior to knowledge? I think so. Is faith different than
knowledge? Yes. Faith however is not divorced from knowledge. We only
have faith because of the knowledge of Himself that God has given us. We
have faith in a God that we can know…Completely? No. Who could wrap
their minds around God?(Romans 11:33-35)<br />
<br />
Faith though, is not blind faith. Faith is not imagination. Faith is
indeed our assurance of things unseen, because we have seen the mighty
works…the mighty deeds…of a mighty God. Chris Canuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05016466976957538468noreply@blogger.com0