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Coffee Break – 01.18.2016

Your Monday Dose Of Inspiration

On this day in history: In 1778, English navigator Captain James Cook discovered the Hawaiian Islands, which he called the “Sandwich Islands.” In 1896, the x-ray machine was exhibited for the first time. And in 1950, the federal tax on oleomargarine was repealed.

Coffee Break

People Who Drink Coffee Live Longer – It’s true. A study says so. With several known health benefits of coffee, this drink already has a great reputation. And now, after 20 years of study, the findings are even more amazing!

The Story Of Reuel Colt Gridley And The Most Expensive Bag Of Flour In The World – Who knew that a bag of flour could make such an impact?

C. S. Lewis Was A Secret Government Agent – C. S. Lewis is probably my favorite author of all. Because of that, when I saw this article I was intrigued. I found it to be very interesting. At the same time, I find it a bit unbelievable, and yet it seems to be exactly something that Lewis would do. Either way, it is a captivating idea.

Why Your Body Is Amazing! – God’s creative ability is nothing short of astounding. This brief video gives just a few reasons why. It’s difficult to imagine life without some of these features, others are required in order to live, but all of them are fascinating.

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Memorize Scripture: Philippians 4:2-3

For the first time, we get a glimpse of the individual people of the church in Philippi, and Paul mentions three of them by name.

You can read this week’s passage in Philippians 4:2-3:

Philippians 4:2-3

Can you imagine the setting in Philippi? Paul’s letter has arrived. The church is gathered to hear it read aloud. And here, in the final portion of the letter, two women, presumably present, are called out by name!

This is the first time in this letter that Paul gets this personal, and does so in a manner that calls out these two women. Much can be gathered from these brief statements from Paul about them. We know that they were coworkers for the sake of the gospel, and apparently were a great help to Paul in his work.

Just who they were is a matter of conjecture, since we have little else to go on about these women. What we do know is that they were in disagreement about something. Just what that might have been is unknown. Paul calls them to a unity of mind, literally. His words to them instruct them to have the same mind, to be unified in their attitudes and work together. Paul expects them to set the good of the church above their own personal agendas and interests.

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Coffee Break – 01.11.2016

Your Monday Dose Of Inspiration

On this day in history: In 1770, the first shipment of rhubarb was sent to the United States from London. In 1878, in New York, milk was delivered in glass bottles for the first time by Alexander Campbell. And in 1908, Theodore Roosevelt makes Grand Canyon a national monument. If you have never seen the Grand Canyon, you need to make this a priority. It’s incredible! Read more about it here.

Coffee Break

Developing Your Tasting Skills – I found this post about Angels’ Cup very intriguing. Many people think they enjoy coffee and don’t pay much attention to the subtle notes of flavors in a good cup of this delicious liquid. Here is a way to improve that ability. And starting at a rate of $9.00, it’s a very reasonable opportunity to take advantage of.

11 Handy Facts About Leatherman Tools – A Leatherman is a versatile tool carried by many, and it has a wide variety of styles and uses. I keep one of these in the glovebox of my vehicles, and my son carries a smaller variety most of the time. Here are some interesting facts about these tools.

BatMoses – “Watch as BatMoses, a modern day super-Jew, battles the forces of evil to free his people from slavery.” Because why not?

The Bible Project – Here is another video about a book of the Bible, this time Deuteronomy.

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Memorize Scripture: Philippians 4:1

As Paul begins chapter four, he begins with a summary statement, giving some final exhortations to the instructions he has shared in the previous passages, before moving on to some final thoughts.

You can see this encouraging verse in Philippians 4:1:

Philippians 4:1

All of the previous information, concerning those who live for Christ, as well as those who are enemies of the cross, serves to encourage the believers in Philippi to stand firm. In doing so, he uses several terms of endearment and displays just how much he loves the church and people in Philippi.

The main message of this verse is for the Philippians to stand firm. However, there is much more in this simple-seeming verse than first appears. Paul shares a lot of information in these few short words. As he gives this exhortation, he shows just how critical it is for believers to stand fast, and not be swept away by sin and worldly desires.

Some have tried to connect this passage to the content coming in chapter 4, and this is seen clearly in the re-translation found in the NIV2011. However, the context of the passage itself leads us to understand that this is more in reference to the preceding passages. This is seen most clearly by the use of the word “therefore,” giving us reasons to stand firm.

We stand firm because Christ is powerful (3:21). We stand firm because he will transform us into new creations when the dead are raised (3:21). And we stand firm because our citizenship is found in heaven (3:20).

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Classic Bible: My Favorite Passages From 2 Thessalonians

This is part of the Classic Bible: Favorite Stories & Passages series. Read more from the series!

Paul’s letters are generally very encouraging, but one of my very favorites is his second letter to the church in Thessalonica. Full of hope about the return of Christ, this letter, though short, is packed with encouragement.

2 Thessalonians

Many scholars question if Paul actually wrote this letter, or if it was a pseudepigraph, a letter composed after his death, modeled after the first letter to the Thessalonians. However, this is problematic, and nothing in this letter would require someone to usurp Paul’s apostolic authority in order to lend weight to this letter. Reading this with the understanding that Paul is the author is best.

Paul writes this letter to address the pressures of persecution that the Thessalonians are facing. Paul encourages these believers, who are suffering intensely, to remain confident in the Lord’s return. Until then, they are to live as responsible members of their culture and community, and strive to represent Jesus well.

In that light, this letter is highly encouraging to modern readers, just as it was to the people of Paul’s day.

Here are a few of my favorite passages from the book of 2 Thessalonians: