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Category: Mark's stuff
Silly Walks
November 21, 2008 – 11:35 am
When’s the last time you worked on your silly walk? Here’s some inspiration for you:
G-Speak
November 20, 2008 – 12:08 pm
Now this is awesome. It’s the G-Speak spatial operating system from Oblong Industries:
Magnatune rocks!
November 19, 2008 – 9:00 am
I’ve written about Magnatune a couple of times in the past, but since they have a new subscription model and lots of people still haven’t heard about them, I thought I’d post about them again. Magnatune is an independent music label that tries not to be evil by giving the artists they sign 50% of all revenue from their music. You can download music in a variety of formats (from MP3 all the way up to perfect quality FLAC and WAV files) that is all DRM free and pay whatever you want for an album (above a minimum price). They even encourage you to share your music with your friends to promote the bands and the site. Now they have a monthly subscription you can get for $10/month that lets you download as much music as you want. The full write-up is here. The only hitch is that since this is an independent music label, you won’t find the big name artists you hear on the radio. There is still a TON of good music, though, in a wide variety of genres. Of course, you can listen to all music in its entirety off the website before you buy anything.
Happy Tuesday!
November 18, 2008 – 10:25 am
In celebration of today being Tuesday, here are a couple of videos. First for the non-nerds, the slinky cat:
And for the nerds, here’s what’s really going on inside your hard drive:
2008-11-14 - Steve Fontenot - The Holy Spirit’s Role in Salvation
November 15, 2008 – 9:55 am
2008-11-14 - Steve Fontenot - The Holy Spirit's Role in Salvation: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (10)The Holy Spirit’s Role in Salvation
By Steve Fontenot
Benchley, November 14, 2008
- Matthew 28:19 - Jesus commissions the apostles
- II Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 2:18 - the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit all have a part in salvation.
- I Peter 1:10 - salvation was prophecied
- II Peter 1:20-21 - scripture came from the Holy Spirit
- Acts 8:32-35 - the Ethiopian tries to understand prophecy.
- Acts 1:16,20;4:25 - words came from the Holy Spirit.
- Hebrews 10:14-17 - The Holy Spirit told of salvation to come.
- Acts 2:38 - The gift of the Holy Spirit arrives.
- John 14:26; 15:26; 6:8-14 - The Holy Spirit came to help the apostles remember what they’d seen.
- Acts 1:8;5:29-32
- I Corinthians 2:1-5 - Paul spoke and confirmed the words with the power of the Holy Spirit.
- Ephesians 3:1-5 - All these things were revealed by the Holy Spirit.
- Acts 7:51-52 - The people were resisting the Holy Spirit by resisting the prophets.
- I Thessalonians 4:8; Nehemiah 9:20,30 - Rejecting gospel teaching is resisting the Holy Spirit.
- Ephesians 4:30 - The context (Ephesians 4:17-30) is about leaving the old sinful way of life. We grieve the Holy Spirit by staying in our old sinful ways.
- I Corinthians 14:37-38 - Paul’s words were authoritative because he had the Holy Spirit.
- Revelation 2:7,11,17 - These words were from the Holy Spirit.
- Hebrews 10:23,26 - Don’t give up!
2008-11-13 - Steve Fontenot - John 3:16
November 13, 2008 – 11:32 pm
John 3:16
By Steve Fontenot
Benchley, November 13, 2008
- John 3:16
- This verse has been called the “golden text” of the Bible.
- Matthew 4:5-7 - just quoting scripture is not enough to get down to the truth.
- The law of harmony must be applied to harmonize all the scriptures on a particular topic.
- This verse expresses God’s immense love for mankind and shows that the blessing of eternal life is available to all who believe.
- Ephesians 2:8-9 - salvation is by the grace of God. It’s not something we can earn.
- If you are a true believer, you can go to sleep at night without worrying about your fate.
- But what does “believe” mean in John 3:16?
- The common interpretation is that you can be saved through simple belief alone.
- The other view iis that belief involves serving God and everything that goes with that service.
- “Believe” here is a synecdoche.
- Acts 11:18 - The same figure of speech is used here.
- John 3:14-15 - To live when bitten by the poisonous serpents, the Israelites had to believe and look on the bronze serpent. “Believe” here means looking and believing.
- Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15-16 - Taken together, these verses show that baptism is required for salvation.
- Acts 2:38 - These believers were told to repent and be baptized.
- Acts 22:16 - Saul was told to arise and be baptized.
- I Peter 3:21 - Baptism saves.
- James 2:14,24 - Faith without obedience means nothing!
- Matthew 6:30; Hebrews 3:12; I John 2:16-17 - the dangers of unbelief
- Romans 5:1; 6:3-7,17-18; 1:5; 16:26 - further examples of this figure of speech
- Acts 4:4; 2:41; 5:14; 2:47,38,41 - When men believed, repentance and baptism were included.
- Acts 16:31-34 - Belief here clearly includes baptism.
- Acts 18:8
- Hebrews 11:6
2008-11-12 - Steve Fontenot - Forgive Yourselves
November 12, 2008 – 10:23 pm
Forgive Yourselves
By Steve Fontenot
Benchley, November 12, 2008
- Psalms 38 - David feels the weight of sin.
- Matthew 27:3-10 - Judas feels guilt.
- Ephesians 1:3-23 - Praise God because in Him we can be holy and blameless!
- Ephesians 2:1-5,11,13,15,16
- Ephesians 3:6,7
- Romans 2:14 - Even Gentiles has consciences.
- Hebrews 10:1 - There’s a better law than the first law with animal sacrifices.
- We don’t have to live in guilt if we take advantage of Jesus’ plan.
- II Corinthians 2:6-8 - Reaffirm love for one who repents.
- When God forgives, accept it and forgive yourself.
- Psalms 51:7-8,12,15
- I Timothy 1:12-16 - Paul, a former sinner, believed Jesus that he was forgiven and got to work for Him.
- Romans 8:31-35
- Psalms 32:1-11 - Be honest about your sin and rejoice when forgiven.
- Matthew 11:28-30 - Christ’s way is the best and is full of comfort.
2008-11-12 - Steve Fontenot - Proverbs 31
November 12, 2008 – 10:14 pm
Proverbs 31
By Steve Fontenot
Benchley, November 12, 2008
2008-11-11 - Steve Fontenot - Baptism
November 11, 2008 – 9:55 pm
Baptism
By Steve Fontenot
November 11, 2008
- Acts 19:1-5 - all types of baptism are not acceptable to God.
- Four characteristics of baptism in the name of Jesus:
- The right candidate
- Someone must understand and have faith in Jesus.
- Acts 8:35-37 - The Ethiopian eunuch believed and was baptized.
- Acts 2:37-38 - The people had to believe, repent, and be baptized.
- Infant baptism or baptism just because of family pressure is not in the name of Jesus Christ. There is no faith or change of will behind the baptism.
- It is not important who baptizes you. John 4:1-2; I Corinthians 1:14-17; Acts 18:8; Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16
- II Peter 3:18 - You don’t have to know everything about the Bible to be baptized.
- Mark 9:20-24 - The question is not of Jesus’ power - it is of our belief.
- The right element
- Acts 10:47-48 - Baptism should be in water to be in the name of Jesus.
- The right act
- Acts 8:38-39 - Baptism is immersion.
- The right design
- Acts 2:37-38 - for the remission of sins
- Acts 2:41 - People were baptized the same day they believed.
- Acts 8:36 - The Ethiopian was baptized immediately.
- Acts 16:30-33 - They were baptized immediately.
- Acts 9:18 - Paul was baptized immediately.
- Baptism is urgent because it is required for salvation.
- Acts 8:39 - The Ethiopian rejoiced for salvation after he was baptized.
- Acts 16:33-34 - The jailer rejoiced after baptism.
- Acts 9:19 - Paul ate after baptism because he was relieved and rejoicing.
- Romans 6:3; I Peter 3:21 - We are baptized into Jesus’ death for the remission of our sins.
- The right candidate