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Memorize Scripture: 1 Peter 1:7

Hiding God’s Word In Our Hearts

Verse seven, of Peter’s first chapter, is one of my favorite verses, and is easily one of the most recognizable verses about the endurance of our faith as believers.

Take a moment and read it for yourself. You can find it in 1 Peter 1:7.

1 Peter 1:7

Peter has just been speaking of the certainty of trials and tribulations that we will face. This is one of the major themes of his letter, and he will come back to it again. But here, he gives a brief reason for why such things happen to Christians: They help to refine our faith.

When we suffer for the sake of Christ, those who are persecuting us, and ultimately, the main enemy, Satan, intend it for harm. But God can and will turn it for good.

This brings to mind Joseph’s statement to his brothers in Genesis 50:20:

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

The analogy that Peter uses is one of gold, a most precious of metals. As gold is heated in the smelting process, the impurities can be strained out, leaving only the precious metal.

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Summer Of Service

One of my strongest spiritual gifts is in the area of discipleship. And the best way that I can achieve that is found in one of my other strongest gifts, teaching. But is that the only way to disciple?

Summer Of Service

Although teaching, in a classroom setting, or a home study, or even some one on one situations, is often the way that we create and grow disciples, is it the only way? Or even the best way?

I am very comfortable teaching a Bible class or study, and the more I do that, the more comfortable I am. In fact, when I was presented with the idea that we do something different this summer, I was hesitant at first. Simply because teaching is within my comfort zone. Other stuff might not be.

But the more I thought about it, the more I discovered that maybe discipleship happens in several different ways, and not all of them involve a teaching/classroom setting. Sometimes disciples are grown by getting out and doing what disciples do.

To that end, we are trying something new at our church this summer. We are calling it the Summer of Service, and we have a lot of pretty good ideas that can pull all the different ages and groups in our church together to work together as we grow together. It may be a bit uncomfortable for some, but we believe that it will be a valuable summer experience, helping us identify our role as a disciple more clearly, and acting upon it.

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Coffee Break – 05.23.2016

Your Monday Dose Of Inspiration

On this day in history: In 1785, Benjamin Franklin wrote in a letter that he had invented bifocals. In 1876, Boston’s Joe Borden pitched the very first no-hitter in the history of the National League. And in 1934, police kill famous outlaws Bonnie and Clyde near Sailes, Louisiana.

Coffee Break

Ikawa Pro Sample Roaster – I would one day like to purchase a professional coffee roaster. For now, my air popper will have to do.

A Brief History Of Internet Milestones – All this started in 1971, the year I was born, so in a very real sense, I grew up in this era. This is a very interesting infographic.

How To Remember Someone’s Name – Sometimes, I am notoriously bad at remembering names. And I suspect it will only get worse. Here are some great tips for helping the memory work better when it comes to names.

Read Scripture: Judges – The Bible Project has released several videos illustrating the timelines of different books of the Bible. Here is the one for Judges.

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Memorize Scripture: 1 Peter 1:5-6

Hiding God’s Word In Our Hearts

Peter introduced the concept of an inheritance in the opening sentences of his letter. In this week’s passage, he expands upon that and reveals the purpose of his writing.

You can see this passage for yourself in 1 Peter 1:5-6.

1 Peter 1:5-6

Peter spent the previous couple of verses describing the inheritance that believers have, an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade. It’s protected. It’s safe.

But that is not the only thing that God is protecting. God is also protecting us. Peter states that we are shielded by God’s power. This has a military connotation, and speaks of an active protection. He is guarding us from the dangers that we will face, which he will address in the next verses.

But just what is this inheritance that Peter is referring to? What have we to look forward to, that Peter is so excited about? It’s nothing less than “the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.”

Peter states that it is kept in heaven, being safe-guarded for us, but it will be revealed at the end time. This is our hope. This is our focus. This is what we long for, knowing that we are not meant for this world. In Christ, we have a living hope, a salvation that is held by God himself.

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Popov Leather Field Notes Cover

Combining A Wallet With A Field Notes For Every Day Carry

I rather enjoy the concept of EDC (Every Day Carry). I often have a pen and a pencil in my pockets, along with a pocket knife and a small flashlight. Keys go in the other pocket, and a handmade hank sits in my left hip pocket, wallet in the right.

Popov Leather Field Notes Cover/Wallet

But I have always had trouble fitting a Field Notes pocket notebook into my EDC. Sometimes it went in my shirt pocket. But other times, I didn’t have a shirt pocket. So it would have to go in a back pocket of my jeans. But sitting on it all the time tears the covers up faster than anything else.

I got to the point where I would toss it in my bag, but it was harder to find. And there was a bit of the “out of sight, out of mind” mentality there, too. If I didn’t see it, or have it on me, I would use it less.

Eventually, I decided to try a cover. I tried leather and fabric, and even a canvas one. That stopped them from deteriorating so quickly, but there still wasn’t a lot of extra room in my pockets. It still got tossed into my bag more often than not.

But then I found out that you can combine a wallet with a Field Notes cover. What?!

That is brilliant! So I started looking around for one, and finally found Popov Leather. Based just north of the Washington-Idaho state line in British Colombia, Canada, Ryan Popoff began working with leather just a few years ago, in 2013.