| Author | Message | ||
| Patti |
Max, Thank you for your kind words, but there was no need to ask for my forgiveness. It is not mine to give, and, in Christ, you have already been forgiven. "His grace is sufficient." God's richest blessings (the certainty of the worthiness of the Lamb and our acceptance with God for His sake) be with you today, without measure, pressed down and running over. Grace and peace always, Patti | ||
| Max |
REVISED ìMax of the Cross Gives Noticeî post: Dear Friends, I love you all. And I have immensely enjoyed our conversations. FAFF has been for me a house of worship as much as any made of stone and steel and wood. The only difference: it's made of electrons. At its outset FAF was dedicated to God and this, I believe, has been the secret of its success. And it will continue to be successful in future only as this divine secret remains operative. Theism will always remain superior to humanism, I believe, despite everything. Hence, at the heart of this post, I wish to make these points: * If you deny Christ living in your heart, you will eventually deny Him dying on the historical cross as well. Or: Heart cross denied results in historical cross denied. * Holy Spirit in you = Son God in you = Father God in you = One God in you = One God uniting all believers in Him. * And vice versa: You in the Holy Spirit = you in the Son God = you in the Father God resulting in all believers united in One God. (John 17.) * Made possible by One God invading the history of the universe in the person of Jesus Christ and culminating in the finished work on the cross. Dear friends, now that the historical cross has put the One God deep within your heart, keep him there. Not hidden, but revealed. Reveal Him as you push your shopping cart around the supermarket aisles. Don't stand and fume and say nothing if two carts are blocking your way between Little Debbie Health Foods on one side and canned pseudoflesh on the other. Smile and ask if you may pass. Other people are just like you. They're generally unaware that they're frustrating your need. They'll respond, generally, as you would. And as you pass, smile big and say HI THERE! to that angry baby in the cart. See if you can't elicit a smile from him! Do you have eyes to see? Ears to hear? The truth as it is in Jesus is this: You are as much a missionary in the supermarket as in the African or Amizon jungles or the Playboy mansion or the Mardi Gras or the White House or the Kremlin or Skid Row. This is what the kingdom of heaven is all about. It lies under our feet as well as over are heads. If the cross is in you, you carry heaven with you like an aura wherever you go. And as you go people will ìsee your good works and glorifyî -- not you, but -- ìyour Father in heaven.î Now I've said I'm giving notice. But I haven't said why. For this reason: I won't be posting on FAFF as much in future. I'll still lurk some. So I'll be able to read your posts. Just not as much. THIS NOTICE MADE POSSIBLE BY THE CROSS ALONE. God bless you all, Max of the Cross | ||
| Allenette |
Hey Max, you are doing more curtain calls than JAMES BROWN~~~~ ;-) | ||
| Max |
Never seen 'im. | ||
| Valm |
Allenette, That is a good chuckle. Valerie | ||
| Max |
First thought for today: The Son God did not put the cross on the historical hill inside our hearts to glorify our names, or even his own, but rather the name of the Father God. Thus is the command of Jesus fulfilled in us: "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify the Father in heaven." | ||
| Cindy |
My dear unseen-yet friend Patti!!... Thank-you for your thoughts above. You asked some very good questions. I hate to have to go to work this morning, but will be home this evening and weekend so will have more time to write. I absolutely believe that we must keep our focus on the Cross of Christ, for our assurance now and our motivation for living! We live in "community", under the Cross, celebrating what JESUS has accomplished for us! We need to re-hear this Gospel story over and over again because our human natures without the Spirit tend to glory in SELF. But it is all Jesus, what he has done! The Gospel is supreme, for only by accepting this can we even rejoice in what the Holy Spirit continues to do in our lives. What CHRIST HAS DONE is our COMPLETE payment, or ticket, into the Kingdom of God! Accomplished once and for all! What He CONTINUES TO DO, through His Holy Spirit is keep driving us to Christ... to place all our unworthiness on HIS WORTHINESS, and encourage us to realize we need Him in every area of our life! The religions of mankind are mainly to "improve" us. Christianity is different. Focusing on Christ we DIE to self and LIVE for Christ! Christian "growth" is not me getting better and better... but my understanding and trusting Jesus getting better and better all the time. Got to go... Grace always, Cindy | ||
| Patti |
Christian "growth" is not me getting better and better... but my understanding and trusting Jesus getting better and better all the time. Yay! That IS our Christian growth: ever seeing more and more clearly that Jesus paid the full price for our salvation; ever depending more and more upon His work, and His work alone. Thank you for verbalizing so clearly what I was having a difficult time in communicating! Grace and peace, Patti | ||
| Graceambassador |
Cindy and Patti: Do we need more exchanges as yours above or what? I say we do more than we need bread today! I've been preaching Grace-Plus-Nothing for about 9 years now. And GUESS WHO NEEDED THE MESSAGE CONTAINED IN YOUR POSTS TODAY? Well, one more case of "the preacher who needs his own message" department! Seriously, thank you for reminding me that I cannot be better because it is an established fact that in me "dwells no good thing", perhaps in me "dwells GOO things". I have to depend on what Jesus did, does and keeps on doing on my behalf EVERY SECOND OF MY LIFE. I have to accept the fact that is WHAT HE DID for me that counts, and not WHAT I COULD DO FOR HIM IN MY OWN STRENGTH. Well, as I said, I needed to read your posts today and I thank God for leading me to them! Sincerely!! Grace Ambassador | ||
| Max |
Second thought for today: THE WORDS OF JESUS OF NAZARETH 21 "Not everyone who says to me, `Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, `Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23 Then I will tell them plainly, `I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' 24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." 28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law. --Matthew 7 NIV | ||
| Max |
Third thought for today: THE WORDS OF SAUL BECOME PAUL 14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 15 If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. 16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. 19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. NIV Galatians 5 | ||
| Max |
Fourth thought for today: MORE WORDS FROM PAUL 8 Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. 9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. 12 Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation--but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. --NIV Romans 8 | ||
| Max |
Fifth thought for today: THE WORDS OF JAMES MARTYR 1 My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6 But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong? 8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. 12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment! 14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18 But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder. 20 You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless ? 21 Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. 24 You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. --NIV James 2, AD 50s | ||
| Patti |
It is SOOOO good to see you! Welcome back!  Patti | ||
| Max |
Sixth thought for today: STILL MORE WORDS OF PAUL 1 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, 2 to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men. 3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone. 9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. 10 Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. 11 You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned. Titus 3 NIV, AD 64 | ||
| Max |
Seventh thought for today: The Christ within IS the historical Christ in the Person of the Holy Spirit or Comforter or the "Christ in you" of the New Testament (NT). For the Three Persons of the Trinity IS (singular-of-divinity verb tense) One, not the heretical OFTA Committee. The NT Christ-in- you usage is just one more proof that "God is One," not " God is an OFTA Committee." Here's how the exchange took place: 5 "Now I [Son God] am going to him [Father God] who sent me, yet none of you asks me, `Where are you going?' 6 Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. 7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he [Spirit God] comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; 10 in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. 12 "I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you. 16 "In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me." NIV John 16 | ||
| Allenette |
Like I said,,, MAX, your leaving is taking a L O N G L O N G L O NG time....you missed ever seeing JAmes Brown???????? Well, I bet there are a whole lot of SDA's former or current, who would fit that description, since he's VERY VERY black and very very expressive!!! Maybe there is ONE PERSON on here who is familiar with him...DO I HAVE TO SPELL HER NAME??? (not gonna do it) Personally I think that this website wasnt that far from any other place of interest...it had/maybe still has....its "superstars" and if you can bend their ears,,,, well...when someone shows you some attention..........W O W......just an insert. Back into the same woodwork that "MAX" is a-goin....ta ta will Max who is disappearing, reappear??? ;-) | ||
| Max |
Different woodwork maybe? Naughty pine? James Brown, isn't he like the rhythm-n- bluesy godfather of soul or something? Like, "Whoa-oa-oa! I feel good! I knew that I would, now. I feel good! I knew that I would, now. So good, so good, I got you! Whoa! I feel nice, like sugar and spice. I feel nice . . . . ." I've heard that song on the radio so many times I've about got it memorized. But I've never seen him in concert. Seems like he did music for a couple of movies. That's about all I know. Allenette, you're a kick. | ||
| Denisegilmore |
Well, GET DOWN MAX!! What it is?! You go on a singin them there tunes, soul brutha...:) I'll teach ya the dance that goes with it! I couldn't help myself but say that. Allenette, you are a kick, glad you come out of your woodwork once in a while. You have a great mind. God Bless you both! your soul sista, DtB | ||
| Max |
Paul: Now that you are ALREADY SINLESS in Christ, BE TRANSFORMED by faith while you are BEING TRANSFORMED by faith! Be transformed . . . . 1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but BE TRANSFORMED by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Paul, NIV Romans 12, AD 57 . . . . while you are being transformed: 18 And WE, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, ARE BEING TRANSFORMED into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. Paul, NIV 2 Corinthians 3:18, AD 55 |
