Archive for June, 2008

Local gas prices

// June 9th, 2008 // View Comments // Mark's stuff

I just found this site that shows the gas prices for various stations in your area.? Here’s the listings for Bryan.? It also has some interesting stats on highest and lowest prices across the US as well as price trends.

2008-06-05 – George Slover – What Does the Scripture Say?

// June 5th, 2008 // View Comments // Bible Study, Mark's stuff

What Does the Scripture Say?
By George Slover
Benchley, June 5, 2008

  • Romans 4:1-3 – Was Abraham justified by the law?
  • II Timothy 3:15-16 – scripture is given by inspiration
  • I Timothy 5:18 – Deuteronomy quoted as scripture
  • II Peter 3:16 – Paul’s letters were scripture
  • Matthew 4:4 – “it is written”
  • Romans 3:10 – “it is written” refers to the Old Testament
  • Paul and other writings of antiquity
    • Titus 1:12 – writings on Epimenides
    • Acts 17:28 – writings of Erastus
    • I Corinthians 15:33 – writings of Menande
  • Facts about the Septuagint
    • The authorized version of Greek-speaking Jews and Christians
    • Contained apocryphal books.
    • The apocryphal books did not pass the test of inspired literature.
    • New Testament writers quoted the Old Testament some 295 times.
    • Apocryphal books are never cited as scripture in the New Testament.
  • Matthew 22:39 – Jesus and the authority of the Old Testament. Luke 10:25-26
  • Acts 8:27-28 – Philip and the authority of the Old Testament.
  • Romans 9:17 – Paul and the authority of the Old Testament.
  • What about the claims of Jesus?
    • John 11:25-26; John 8:12; John 8:24,58; John 14:6
  • Ephesians 3:3-5 – Paul and verbal inspiration
  • Acts 2:38 – baptism and verbal inspiration
  • John 12:48 – the standard of the judgment

2008-06-04 – George Slover – Joshua’s Strategies for the Family

// June 5th, 2008 // View Comments // Bible Study, Mark's stuff

Joshua’s Strategies for the Family
By George Slover
Benchley, June 4, 2008

  • Romans 12:1-2; Joshua 24:14-15 – the battle for values
  • I John 5:18-21 – the world’s system
  • The world’s idols
    • Prosperity – Proverbs 23:5
    • Popularity – Matthew 7:13-14
      • Physical beauty – I Peter 3:3-4
      • Intelligence – Proverbs 1:8-9
    • Power – Matthew 20:27-28
    • Pleasure – Ecclesiastes 2:1
  • A warning! Deuteronomy 6:10-12; Joshua 24:13 – Don’t squander the wealth!
  • Joshua’s strategy (Joshua 24:15)
    • Honor God as supreme
      • Fear God.
      • Respect God’s word. II Timothy 3:15
      • Trust in God. Deuteronomy 6:6-9
    • Reject worldly views. Hebrews 11:24-27,23
    • Ignore the opposition.
    • Review the standard.
  • Three warnings:
    • Don’t expect sudden changes.
    • Be consistent.
    • If you don’t start now, you never will.

Global warming? Really?

// June 5th, 2008 // View Comments // Mark's stuff

The Register has a very interesting article showing some of the actual data used by scientists to study global climate change.? The article points out some peculiar ways that NASA has manipulated the data to make it look like the world is warming up despite huge holes in their own data and data from other sources that says the exact opposite.? You can’t trust scientists just because they are scientists.

Rowing across the Pacific

// June 5th, 2008 // View Comments // Mark's stuff

Check out this web site, which covers the travels of Roz Savage as she tries to row across the Pacific. She’s already rowed a boat across the Atlantic. Crazy. Leo Laporte said he gave her an iPod with 323 audible books on it. I’m pretty sure she’ll be burning right through those.

2008-06-03 – George Slover – Principles of Operation

// June 4th, 2008 // View Comments // Bible Study, Mark's stuff

Principles of Operation
By George Slover
Benchley, June 3, 2008

  • Romans 12:1-2 – do not conform to the world
  • Matthew 22:34-40 – the two great commandments
  • Love God
    • I Timothy 2:9-10
      • “modest” – well arranged, dignified
      • “propriety” – bound by a sense of shame
      • “moderation” – serious minded
      • “godliness” – reverence toward God
  • Love your neighbor
    • Matthew 5:13-16 – we must be a good influence on others
    • Matthew 18:6 – we must not cause others to stumble
  • Love yourself
    • Romans 12:3 – think soberly of yourself
    • Matthew 16:26 – the great value of the soul
  • Application of principles
    • What about your dress?
      • Proverbs 7:10 – an extreme example of immodest clothing
    • What about our language?
    • What about our entertainment?
      • Philippians 4:8 – think on holy things
    • What about alcohol?
      • Galatians 5:19-20 – works of the flesh
      • I Peter 4:3 – drunkenness is a work of the flesh
    • What about dancing?

2008-06-02 – George Slover – Heaven: A Prepared Place for a Prepared People

// June 4th, 2008 // View Comments // Bible Study, Mark's stuff

Heaven: A Prepared Place for a Prepared People
By George Slover
Benchley, June 2, 2008

  • Hebrews 11:13-16 – God has prepared a place for the faithful.
  • Luke 10:20 – the names of the faithful are written in heaven
  • Heaven is strong motivation to obey God.
  • Revelation 4:1-2 – a glimpse into heaven
  • What is heaven to you?
    • Simply better than hell?
    • A place to be served?
    • Materialistic place?
  • Heaven is the place of God’s presence. Revelation 21:3
    • Philippians 1:21-24 – Paul was torn between the glory of heaven and the responsibilities of earth.
  • Heaven is a place of eternal praise. Revelation 22:3
    • Revelation 5:8-14 – songs of worship in heaven
    • I Peter 1:3-5 – God has a better place for His people than this world.
    • II Peter 1:10 – we must be diligent to be sure we will make it to heaven
    • Matthew 5:8 – the pure in heart will see God
  • A sobering thought: Matthew 7:21-23

2008-06-01 – Jesse Jenkins – The Value of the Soul

// June 4th, 2008 // View Comments // Bible Study, Mark's stuff

The Value of the Soul
By Jesse Jenkins
Benchley, June 1, 2008

  • Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 2:7; I Thessalonians 5:23
  • The value of the soul can be seen in:
    • In its contrast with material things. Matthew 16:26
    • Its immortality.
    • Stephen’s sacrifice. Acts 7
    • Paul’s endurance.
      • II Corinthians 11:22-28 – Paul suffered because he knew the value of the soul.
    • The tragedy of being lost.
    • The cost of redemption.
    • The place prepared for it.
  • If the soul is to live with God, it must be fed.
  • Matthew 25:46 – The soul has but two possible destinies.
  • Each has to make his/her own choice.
  • What is your choice?
  • Are you making adequate preparation?

2008-06-01 – David Watson – Lessons from Nature

// June 4th, 2008 // View Comments // Bible Study, Mark's stuff

Lessons from Nature
By David Watson
Benchley, June 1, 2008

  • Proverbs 6:6 – lessons from the ant
  • The Holy Spirit often uses metaphors from nature to teac important lessons.
  • Isaiah 5:1-7 – the vineyard
    • Hebrews 2:1-4 – we must produce fruit
  • Shepherd/sheep
    • John 10:1 – the sheep know the legitimate shepherd
    • Jesus is superior in:
      • Legitimacy -> Follow Him!
      • Benefit -> Don’t fool yourself! II Peter 2:1-3,18-19; John 14:16
      • Loyalty -> Return the favor! Hebrews 13:5; Philippians 1:21
  • Soil
    • Matthew 13:19-23 – the different types of soil explained

2008-05-25 – David Watson – David and Bathsheba: Behind the Scenes

// June 4th, 2008 // View Comments // Bible Study, Mark's stuff

David and Bathsheba: Behind the Scenes
By David Watson
Benchley, May 25, 2008

  • II Samuel 11-12 – the story of David and Bathsheba
  • Measuring success
    • II Samuel 11:1 – Israel was having great military success, but only one verse discusses it.
    • I Samuel 16:6 – Samuel told not to look at Eliab’s appearance, but to consider his heart.
    • Matthew 16:26 – the overwhelming importance of the soul.
  • Involving others
    • II Samuel 11:2-4,14-17 – David’s sin involves messengers, Bathsheba, Joab, and the Ammonites
  • Encouraging the enemy
    • II Samuel 12:13-14 – David’s sin brings reproach on Israel
    • Exodus 32:12 – Moses turns back God’s wrath by pointing out what other nations will say
    • II Corinthians 8:20; Philippians 2:15; I Timothy 3:2; 5:7,14-15; Titus 2:6; I Peter 2:12,15; 3:16 – we are to be above reproach
  • Condemning sin
    • II Samuel 12:1-7 – sin will not be overlooked because we are mostly good.
    • James 2:10 – failing in one point means failing in all