Why did God choose that Jesus would be born of a virgin? Could he not have had Him born to Mary and Joseph and still live without sin? After all, He is God.
By all measures that I know of, the virgin birth is one of the essential and foundational facts about God's plan of redemption that is only denied by the most offensive unbelievers.
Why do you think it is so important?
Why did God plan it that way? Or, do we know why.
I am interested to see what you think.
Grace and Peace,
Royce Ogle
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Monday, October 16, 2006
And such were some of you...
Last evening in a small group one of the young men said in part, "Well, I am just a sinner too." The context was how we as believers should interact with those who are not. I wanted to correct him, but quickly decided to do so would be unwise in that context while having a discussion about personal evangelism.
A common misconception is that those of us who are "born from above" are "just sinners too". We are not sinners but saints. Of course we all sin. As long as we inhabit flesh we will fall short of God's standard for righteousness. This sad fact is precisely why Jesus came.
"And such were some of you." In 1 Corinthians 6:11 Paul set the record straight. In the previous verses Paul discussed sinners such as fornicators, adulterers, thieves, drunkards, covetous, homosexuals, etc. and then said, "And such were some of you".
Paul and others are careful to speak of those ugly lifestyles in the past tense when referring to believers. Interestingly, in the following verses he warns with these words. "Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! 16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.”17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.18 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s."
A common misconception is that those of us who are "born from above" are "just sinners too". We are not sinners but saints. Of course we all sin. As long as we inhabit flesh we will fall short of God's standard for righteousness. This sad fact is precisely why Jesus came.
"And such were some of you." In 1 Corinthians 6:11 Paul set the record straight. In the previous verses Paul discussed sinners such as fornicators, adulterers, thieves, drunkards, covetous, homosexuals, etc. and then said, "And such were some of you".
Paul and others are careful to speak of those ugly lifestyles in the past tense when referring to believers. Interestingly, in the following verses he warns with these words. "Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! 16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.”17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.18 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s."
These truths are clear. We used to be sinners ("And such were some of you"). We have been changed by Christ (But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.") Even though we have been changed, we can still fall into sin. ("Flee sexual immorality")
We have been given a new identity. We are not "sinners", but are now "saints". Over 50 times in the New Testament, by several different writers, all inspired by the Holy Spirit of God, we who are saved are called "Saints". I was a sinner, by God's grace I am now a Saint.
Grace and Peace,
Royce Ogle
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Musings on a chilly Thursday
My humming birds, who have faithfully entertained us for the summer, have headed off to South America. They will likely meet several thousand of their feathered fellows in Rock Port, Texas where they will feed like crazy and then its off for a 1500 mile, non stop flight to Mexico and then to South America. I will miss them until they return in mid April next spring.
__________________________________________________________________
My wife and I have been blessed to work with an infant church in Bayou La Batre, Alabama for the past several months. The church grew out of an ongoing relief/rocovery effort for the people of the bayou area. They have had to overcome huge obsticles and yet they stay on the job, loving, building, cleaning, hugging, praying, and worshiping God. Both the church (Bayou La Batre church of Christ) and the recovery ministry (Bayou Recovery Project) needs help.
The church needs a building where thy can better meet the needs of their members and future members. They are now meeting in an Odd Fellows Hall and have no room for classes for the kids. They need a full time preacher. We have and are sending men from our church (Whites Ferry Rd coC) and other churches are doing the same until God sends someone to put down roots and stay and love the people. They are grace centered, love God, are committed to the Lordship of Jesus, and want to reach their neigborhood for Him.
The Bayou Recovery Project needs money and volunteers. They have groups scheduled but always need more. They need money for materials. They have done an amazing job with little resources. The driving force is two senior ladies. These ladies can out work anyone 40 years their junior. Their energy and excitement is contageous.
If you can help or want more information, email me at royce@ogle.net and I will get the info to them. They should have a website up in the next 2 weeks. If you can do nothing more, please say a prayer for them.
_______________________________________________________________
I am in my 60th year and have been a disciple of Jesus for over 45 of those years. I am as thankful, excited, and humbeled as ever before. The most exciting part of my life is seeing God change people.
My wife and I facilitate a Grief Share group on Wednesday nights, she is the Ministry Coordinator of WFR Relief Ministry, I am a Realtor, sometimes preacher, Papa to 6 little people,
and follower of Jesus Christ. God is at work in every area of my life, and for that I am grateful.
______________________________________________________________
I have met some wonderful people through blogging. Thanks to those of you who have been kind with your remarks. For those of you have been unkind I will only say, at least have the courage to put your name on your comments or emails.
I am and have been rather transparent in my blog articles. I have been honest about what I believe about God, the Bible, and local churches. Those of you who read my stuff have been very gracious and I do not take that lightly.
Reading many of your blogs has been both a blessing and encouraging. I look forward to the future with thanksgiving, for I have read the book, and we who are Christ's win!
Grace and Peace,
Royce
Monday, October 09, 2006
Celebrate Recovery
Just moments ago while I was reading Patrick Mead's blog, I recieved a phone call from an old friend. He has been asked to share his testimony this Friday night at Celebrate Recovery at our church.
This wonderful man is a trophy of the grace and love of God. And, he is breathing proof of a congregation who takes seriously Jesus's teaching that we are to forgive as many times as the forgiveness is needed. I will not go into the gory details of this man's sinfulness and often failing. Lets just say that each time he fell, he fell hard, and then he ran back to his forever family, where he found rebuke, encouragement, warm hugs, mixed tears of sadness and joy, and people who had long ago made a decision to love people unconditionally.
Now this guy has a two year history of attending a Bible based 12 step program, becoming a leader in the recovery ministry, attending 6:00 a.m. Bible studies at the home of an elder twice a week, leading druggies and other down and outers to Jesus, and becoming once again a respected business man in our community.
Sadly, in many churches this man would have been rejected after the first public arrest, or surely after the second, but thank God, we are learning to look in the middle of problems for potential, to sort through garbage for grace, and to fill empty souls with hope.
Unless I break a leg or worse, I will be there Friday to see my brother give witness to a living Jesus who is still in the life changing business just as He was over 2000 years ago.
"God so loved the world...."
Grace and Peace,
Royce Ogle
This wonderful man is a trophy of the grace and love of God. And, he is breathing proof of a congregation who takes seriously Jesus's teaching that we are to forgive as many times as the forgiveness is needed. I will not go into the gory details of this man's sinfulness and often failing. Lets just say that each time he fell, he fell hard, and then he ran back to his forever family, where he found rebuke, encouragement, warm hugs, mixed tears of sadness and joy, and people who had long ago made a decision to love people unconditionally.
Now this guy has a two year history of attending a Bible based 12 step program, becoming a leader in the recovery ministry, attending 6:00 a.m. Bible studies at the home of an elder twice a week, leading druggies and other down and outers to Jesus, and becoming once again a respected business man in our community.
Sadly, in many churches this man would have been rejected after the first public arrest, or surely after the second, but thank God, we are learning to look in the middle of problems for potential, to sort through garbage for grace, and to fill empty souls with hope.
Unless I break a leg or worse, I will be there Friday to see my brother give witness to a living Jesus who is still in the life changing business just as He was over 2000 years ago.
"God so loved the world...."
Grace and Peace,
Royce Ogle
Thursday, October 05, 2006
To March or Kneel?
I recently saw on the sidebar of a brother's blog the link, "Abolish Slavery Now". Who would argue against such a noble cause? I am certainly not for slavery. I despise even the thought of one human owning another for his use.
As I clicked away to another site, I remembered Paul and Peter's position on slavery in the Bible. Unless there is something I completely have missed, not one word against slavery! With images of the civil rights marches etched permanently in my mind, I try to reconcile the 1st century reality of the Roman Empire, the Apostles appraisal of slavery, and my personal template formed by my teen years in the segregated South of the United States in the 1950's and '60's.
Do we perhaps go about social change in the wrong way? Is there a better way than protests, marches, and being active in political races? Ephesians 6:5,9, Colossians 3:22 & 4:1, 1 Timothy 6:1,2, Titus 2:9, and 1 Peter 2:18 all lead to the same conclusion. Real change is from the inside out, not the reverse. It is clear that genuine emancipation comes from within and makes a man really free; free from sin's hold, free to love unconditionally, and free to forgive freely.
If a servant in Peter's scope of ministry was to "be submissive to your (his) masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh" (1 Peter 2:18), how will I justify marching up Pennsylvania Ave in Washington with a sign demanding my "rights"?
I can find no instance where Jesus even hinted at social change except for the effect a changed life has on a watching world. "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him". Those words offer only strong rebuke to one who has been far too outspoken, far too passionate for social and political change, and far too little affected by He who abides in me.
A kneeling Christian gets more done than a marching Christian.
Grace and Peace,
Royce Ogle
As I clicked away to another site, I remembered Paul and Peter's position on slavery in the Bible. Unless there is something I completely have missed, not one word against slavery! With images of the civil rights marches etched permanently in my mind, I try to reconcile the 1st century reality of the Roman Empire, the Apostles appraisal of slavery, and my personal template formed by my teen years in the segregated South of the United States in the 1950's and '60's.
Do we perhaps go about social change in the wrong way? Is there a better way than protests, marches, and being active in political races? Ephesians 6:5,9, Colossians 3:22 & 4:1, 1 Timothy 6:1,2, Titus 2:9, and 1 Peter 2:18 all lead to the same conclusion. Real change is from the inside out, not the reverse. It is clear that genuine emancipation comes from within and makes a man really free; free from sin's hold, free to love unconditionally, and free to forgive freely.
If a servant in Peter's scope of ministry was to "be submissive to your (his) masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh" (1 Peter 2:18), how will I justify marching up Pennsylvania Ave in Washington with a sign demanding my "rights"?
I can find no instance where Jesus even hinted at social change except for the effect a changed life has on a watching world. "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him". Those words offer only strong rebuke to one who has been far too outspoken, far too passionate for social and political change, and far too little affected by He who abides in me.
A kneeling Christian gets more done than a marching Christian.
Grace and Peace,
Royce Ogle
Monday, October 02, 2006
GOD EVEN KNOWS OUR NAMES
One men in the coC that I most admire is Edward Fudge. He is a writer, preacher, thinker, and freind. I enjoy his writing style and find common ground on most of his teaching. Today I read the following article about an experience Bro' Fudge had, and with his permission I share it with you.
GOD EVEN KNOWS OUR NAMES
Edward Fudge
____________________________________________________
It is Sunday, November 17, 1996, approximately 4:20 in the evening. I have taught and preached this weekend at a little church in the southern Arizona desert, and the Tucson traffic has almost made me miss the plane home. I rush to check in at the American Airline ticket counter, then run -- as fast as my stubby, out-of-shape body can travel -- to the departure gate marked "Dallas." I appear to be about the last person boarding. I find my aisle seat on the two-passenger side and fasten in. The flight is about 2-1/2 hours to Dallas, where I will change planes for a 45-minute jump down to Houston.
The lady beside me is wearing jeans, but her hair, jewelry and manner suggest that she is a business or professional woman. She appears to be of comfortable means. I wonder if she is Jewish. (Later, I learn that she is not. I am certainly no accurate analyzer of strangers.) As I sit down, she is dozing. Occasionally she opens her eyes and looks out the window, but she shows no interest in talking so I say nothing to her.
Shortly our big jet takes off and soon we are flying northeast at about 30,000 feet. I take out my book for this trip, a new volume by former Dallas Theological Seminary professor Jack Deere, entitled "Surprised by the Voice of God." As I resume reading, the author is discussing God's revealing a word or phrase at times to his children which they would not otherwise know, but which will open doors and add weight to their ministry to some specific individual to whom the word or phrase is very meaningful. I am fascinated at the notion.
Silently, I ask God to give me a word or phrase which will be significant to the lady beside me if I can encourage her or help her in any way. Immediately, the name "Karen" comes to my mind -- with considerable force. My neighbor is not wearing any initial jewelry and she does not resemble anyone I know by that name. Still the thought persists. "Karen."
"Is that her name?" I ask myself. How awesome it would be, I reflect, if God has given me her name. But what if I have merely imagined it? Do I dare say anything to her? If I am wrong, she will surely think this is an unusual "line."
I argue back and forth with myself for a half-hour, perhaps 45 minutes, as I continue to read, glimpsing at my neighbor periodically, neither of us saying anything or making eye contact. Should I say something to her or not? What will she think? Would it be presumptuous? But what if God HAS told me this name? If, because of fear or timidity, I do not say something to her, I will never know.
About an hour-and-a-half into the flight -- no words yet spoken between us, we fly over Abilene's lights far below. She has opened her eyes and is looking out the window. Finally I speak."There's a city," I say. "It must be Abilene." She replies, "Yes."
"I have a daughter who lives there and teaches elementary music," I add. She smiles and says, "You had better tell her hello." I wave toward the window and say, "Hello, Melanie!" Screwing up my courage, I blurt out, "Your name wouldn't happen to be Karen, would it?" Obviously startled, she looks directly at me for the first time. "As a matter of fact," she replies, "it is."
"I am a Houston lawyer and a Bible teacher," I tell her. "I have been out in the desert preaching at a little church. And I was just sitting here reading a book about learning to hear God's voice. I asked God, that if he wanted me to encourage you, to tell me something about you, and the name 'Karen' came to mind. Do you need any encouragement in any area of your life?"
"Not that I can think of," she responds. "Actually, things are going very well for me right now. I have just visited my daughter and her family in Tucson. Her name is Karen also."
We continue to converse all the way to Dallas -- not surprisingly, about God. Karen is Lutheran by birth, attends a Baptist church, and is very committed personally to the Lord. A single breadwinner and young grandmother, she represents a Los Angeles company whose cosmetic products she merchandises to grocery chains throughout the state of Texas. As we talk about God's faithfulness and power, she confides, "I don't know how I could make it through life without God. I depend on him in every part of my life."
We descend into Dallas. I give her a copy of my little book, "Beyond the Sacred Page," and invite her to visit our congregation if she is in Houston on a Sunday. We part, both laughing with joy at what has happened, and marvelling at the God who loves each of us so intimately -- the heavenly Father who even knows our names.*
__________________________
*John 10:3; Isa. 43:1; Ex. 33:17; 1 Kings 13:2; Isa. 45:1-7; Lk. 1:13; Matt. 1:21).
"Copyright by Edward Fudge and reprinted by permission."
GOD EVEN KNOWS OUR NAMES
Edward Fudge
____________________________________________________
It is Sunday, November 17, 1996, approximately 4:20 in the evening. I have taught and preached this weekend at a little church in the southern Arizona desert, and the Tucson traffic has almost made me miss the plane home. I rush to check in at the American Airline ticket counter, then run -- as fast as my stubby, out-of-shape body can travel -- to the departure gate marked "Dallas." I appear to be about the last person boarding. I find my aisle seat on the two-passenger side and fasten in. The flight is about 2-1/2 hours to Dallas, where I will change planes for a 45-minute jump down to Houston.
The lady beside me is wearing jeans, but her hair, jewelry and manner suggest that she is a business or professional woman. She appears to be of comfortable means. I wonder if she is Jewish. (Later, I learn that she is not. I am certainly no accurate analyzer of strangers.) As I sit down, she is dozing. Occasionally she opens her eyes and looks out the window, but she shows no interest in talking so I say nothing to her.
Shortly our big jet takes off and soon we are flying northeast at about 30,000 feet. I take out my book for this trip, a new volume by former Dallas Theological Seminary professor Jack Deere, entitled "Surprised by the Voice of God." As I resume reading, the author is discussing God's revealing a word or phrase at times to his children which they would not otherwise know, but which will open doors and add weight to their ministry to some specific individual to whom the word or phrase is very meaningful. I am fascinated at the notion.
Silently, I ask God to give me a word or phrase which will be significant to the lady beside me if I can encourage her or help her in any way. Immediately, the name "Karen" comes to my mind -- with considerable force. My neighbor is not wearing any initial jewelry and she does not resemble anyone I know by that name. Still the thought persists. "Karen."
"Is that her name?" I ask myself. How awesome it would be, I reflect, if God has given me her name. But what if I have merely imagined it? Do I dare say anything to her? If I am wrong, she will surely think this is an unusual "line."
I argue back and forth with myself for a half-hour, perhaps 45 minutes, as I continue to read, glimpsing at my neighbor periodically, neither of us saying anything or making eye contact. Should I say something to her or not? What will she think? Would it be presumptuous? But what if God HAS told me this name? If, because of fear or timidity, I do not say something to her, I will never know.
About an hour-and-a-half into the flight -- no words yet spoken between us, we fly over Abilene's lights far below. She has opened her eyes and is looking out the window. Finally I speak."There's a city," I say. "It must be Abilene." She replies, "Yes."
"I have a daughter who lives there and teaches elementary music," I add. She smiles and says, "You had better tell her hello." I wave toward the window and say, "Hello, Melanie!" Screwing up my courage, I blurt out, "Your name wouldn't happen to be Karen, would it?" Obviously startled, she looks directly at me for the first time. "As a matter of fact," she replies, "it is."
"I am a Houston lawyer and a Bible teacher," I tell her. "I have been out in the desert preaching at a little church. And I was just sitting here reading a book about learning to hear God's voice. I asked God, that if he wanted me to encourage you, to tell me something about you, and the name 'Karen' came to mind. Do you need any encouragement in any area of your life?"
"Not that I can think of," she responds. "Actually, things are going very well for me right now. I have just visited my daughter and her family in Tucson. Her name is Karen also."
We continue to converse all the way to Dallas -- not surprisingly, about God. Karen is Lutheran by birth, attends a Baptist church, and is very committed personally to the Lord. A single breadwinner and young grandmother, she represents a Los Angeles company whose cosmetic products she merchandises to grocery chains throughout the state of Texas. As we talk about God's faithfulness and power, she confides, "I don't know how I could make it through life without God. I depend on him in every part of my life."
We descend into Dallas. I give her a copy of my little book, "Beyond the Sacred Page," and invite her to visit our congregation if she is in Houston on a Sunday. We part, both laughing with joy at what has happened, and marvelling at the God who loves each of us so intimately -- the heavenly Father who even knows our names.*
__________________________
*John 10:3; Isa. 43:1; Ex. 33:17; 1 Kings 13:2; Isa. 45:1-7; Lk. 1:13; Matt. 1:21).
"Copyright by Edward Fudge and reprinted by permission."
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