Category My2centsWorth

My reviews and opinions on movies, food and anything that is worth recommending and sharing around for others to know. It’s just my two cents worth, nothing much.

Breaking Free from the Law

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I AM FREE FROM THE LAW: I am DEAD to the law and am no longer “under” it. It has no POWER over me…

  • I am FREE FROM THE LAW’S CONDEMNATION and demand. It has no power over my conscience. My sins are paid for, and I have Jesus’ obedience. I need not look to the law to save me
  • I also need not look to the law to sanctify me. It is not my growth. I grow by faith, which results in obedience. I am FREE FROM THE LAW AS MY HOLINESS — Christ is my holiness
  • I am FREE FROM THE LAW BEING A MEASURE OF MY CLOSENESS TO GOD or my spirituality
  • I am FREE FROM USING THE LAW AGAINST OTHERS
  • I am FREE FROM THE PRIDE of keeping the law

Living under Law or by Grace?

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Which do you see most in yourself? Print this and circle items which you most see in yourself.

LIVING UNDER SELF-IMPOSED LAWS . . .

  1. Means thinking my actions or things I do will make people like me.
  2. Brings a preoccupation with self
  3. Fosters an independent spirit.
  4. Will always be critical and judgmental.
  5. Creates high expectation (of performance) — of self and others.
  6. Means fears and anxieties control our life.
  7. Requires strength in ourselves to complete a task.
  8. Means we do not know how to love.
  9. Means we do not know how to forgive.
  10. Means we do not know how to bring others to Christ because we do not know how to bring ourselves to Christ.
  11. Destroys confidence in Christ’s ability to bridge the gap between God’s demands and man’s sinfulness.
  12. Determines worth by what we are doing.

or LIVING UNDER THE GOSPEL . . .

  1. Means believing there is no goodness in us to perform a single act of obedience without the power of the Spirit.
  2. Means believing our sins are forgiven, and we can then forgive others.
  3. Means accepting our position as sons/daughters without condemnation.
  4. Means knowing the power of the flesh (if given into) will bring internal conflict and conflict with others.
  5. Means believing we now have the Spirit’s power to love our neighbor.
  6. Means understanding there is a warfare with the flesh, the world, and the devil, but they are not greater than Christ.
  7. Means believing our life is under God’s sovereign control and that His will is good, acceptable and perfect.
  8. Means learning to go to our Heavenly Father in prayer to settle our problems and to have our needs met.

Some Fun Facts about The Bible

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Here are some fun facts about the Bible:

Last word in the Bible                 :   Amen (Rev. 22:21)

Longest word (and name)            :   Mahershalalhashbaz (Isaiah 8:1)

Shortest verse                            :   John 11:35 (2 words: “Jesus wept”)

Longest verse                             :  Esther 8:9

Shortest book                             :  3 John

Longest book                              :  Psalms (150 chapters)

Middle books                              :   Micah and Nahum

Middle chapter                            :   Psalm 118

Middle verse                               :   Psalm 118:8

Chapters                                     :   1,189

Longest chapter                          :   Psalm 119 (176 verses)

Shortest chapter                          :   Psalm 117

No. of times “God” appears         :   3,358 (Appearing in all books except in Esther and Song of  Solomon)

No. of times “Lord” appears        :   7,736

Extraordinary Facts about The Bible

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Besides being rooted in and intertwined with actual human history, the Bible makes some very exclusive claims as being “the Word of God.”

Divine revelation

No other book has been able to specifically fulfilled prophecies as the Bible has. We have today manuscripts dating well before the time of Jesus, containing Biblical prophecies which directly points to Him. Some of the strongest are found in Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53.

The re-creation of the state of Israel in 1948 is another fulfillment of both Old and New Testament prophecy. Present world conditions were prophesied by Jesus almost 2000 years ago in Matthew 24. No other religious or occultic book comes even close to the Bible when it comes to predicting the future.

God-inspired and authored

The incredible unity and consistency of doctrine right across the 66 books of the Bible, despite widely different authors in different periods of time, points to the common source of inspiration- God.

Consider the following facts:

  • It was written over a 1500-year span
  • It was written by over 40 different authors who lived in different time periods and were from every walk of life. For instance, David and Solomon were kings, Peter and John were fisherman, Moses and Amos were shepherds, Luke was a physician, Paul was an ex-pharisee and a theologian, Matthew was a tax-collector, Daniel was a statesman, Joshua was a general, etc…
  • It was written from different places
  • It was written in three different languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, and Koine Greek)
  • It speaks of literally hundreds of controversial topics

Most importantly, the Bible does works! Many around the world today (including myself) can testify that the Word of God has changed their lives when believed and applied.

The Great Illusion

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15 August 2008
International Herald Tribute

By Paul Krugman

Some analysts tell us not to worry: Global economic integration itself protects us against war, they argue, because successful trading economies won’t risk their prosperity by engaging in military adventurism. But this, too, raises unpleasant historical memories.

Shortly before World War I another British author, Norman Angell, published a famous book titled “The Great Illusion,” in which he argued that war had become obsolete, that in the modern industrial era even military victors lose far more than they gain. He was right – but wars kept happening anyway.

So are the foundations of the second global economy any more solid than those of the first? In some ways, yes. For example, war among the nations of Western Europe really does seem inconceivable now, not so much because of economic ties as because of shared democratic values.

Much of the world, however, including nations that play a key role in the global economy, doesn’t share those values. Most of us have proceeded on the belief that, at least as far as economics goes, this doesn’t matter – that we can count on world trade continuing to flow freely simply because it’s so profitable. But that’s not a safe assumption.

Angell was right to describe the belief that conquest pays as a great illusion. But the belief that economic rationality always prevents war is an equally great illusion. And today’s high degree of global economic interdependence, which can be sustained only if all major governments act sensibly, is more fragile than we imagine

Read the full article here>>>

Which Way Should I Go From Here?

andrewong2024 2 Comments

Looking for directions? Here is a thought-provoking article that I’m certain will provide some help in setting your thoughts in the right direction towards your purpose in life.

Many people ask for advice on which way they ought to go from here, however the issue is they don’t have a clear picture of what their purpose is and therefore where they want to go.

Without a sense of where we want to go, it is no wonder that we become confused by all of the advice that is available to us on how to get somewhere. For many of us it as if we are a sail boat set upon an open sea with out a rudder or compass going where the wind of the day takes us.

I know this feeling intimately for in many ways my life has taken the direction of where the winds of the days have taken it. My life has been a wonderful journey, however in many ways a life without a sense of direction and as I observe others, I find that many people live their life the same way.

So it is no small wonder that many people find themselves working jobs they don’t enjoy, living life’s they are not happy with, in relationships that they do not desire to be in, etc. When we are adrift, it is natural to find ourselves caught up on the rocks, stranded on a sandbar, moored in unknown and unexpected harbors or destroyed by the ravages of storms.

A life without purpose, without direction is a life of existence rather than a life of living. A purposeful life is fueled by passion. A life lived without purpose is an undulating sea of experiences which often leaves us tired, distraught and confused.

Read the full article here>>>

Godly Business System

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Presenting a worldview of a godly economic system with some criteria that can be used to evaluate how it serves the purposes of God intended:

  • The system should produce an adequate supply of products and services to enhance the quality of life
  • The system should provide for the basic needs of marginal and disadvantaged people
  • The system should respond to and allow for individual differences and needs. There should be fair and equitable means of resolving conflicts
  • The system should reward and encourage initiative and hard work
  • The system should provide meaningful work for all people and provide opportunities for them to contribute to welfare of society
  • The system should use natural and human resources efficiently and carefully
  • The system should respect and care for other countries; it should not exploit them or rob future generations
  • Power and access to power should be spread equitably among sector of society and special interest groups
  • The benefits of the system and the costs of providing them should be spread equitably throughout the system
  • Human rights should be protected
  • Individuals should be valued and given opportunity to grow and develop

Key Areas Needed to Be Secure

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It takes security to be a leader (or servant); to lead and to serve others.

As a servant leader, we need to be able to synthesize humility with confidence; to be humble and not afraid of what people might say or think in the risk of losing respect/face.

Four Key Areas to be Secure in:

1. Security in self-image
– we conform to the image we SEE ourselves

2. Security in self-worth
– knowing God’s love for us help us to realise our VALUE

3. Right self-esteem
– how we FEEL His love for us determines our confidence

4. Having self-respect
– it is how I honour my DIGNITY

Did You Know That…

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The most destructive habit…………… WORRY
The greatest Joy…………………………. GIVING
The greatest loss……………………….. LOSS of SELF-RESPECT

The most satisfying work………………. HELPING OTHERS
The ugliest personality trait……………. SELFISHNESS
The most endangered species…………. DEDICATED LEADERS

Our greatest natural resource………………. Our YOUTH
The greatest “shot in the arm”……………… ENCOURAGEMENT
The greatest problem to overcome……….. FEAR

The most effective sleeping pill……………. PEACE of MIND
The most crippling failure diseas………….. EXCUSES
The most powerful force in life…………….. LOVE

The most dangerous pariah……………………….. a GOSSIPER
The world’s most incredible computer………… The BRAIN
The worst thing to be without…………………… HOPE

The deadliest weapon……………………. The TONGUE
The two most power-filled words……. “I CAN”
The greatest asset…………………………. FAITH

The most worthless emotion………………… SELF-PITY
The most beautiful attire……………………… SMILE
The most prized possession…………………. INTEGRITY

The most powerful channel of communication…….. PRAYER
The most contagious spirit……………………………….. ENTHUSIASM
and The Greatest and Best Friend……………………….. GOD!

Ten Truths About Ministry

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Jesus washing His disciples\' feet

  1. The foundation of ministry is CHARACTER
  2. The nature of ministry is SERVICE
  3. The motive for ministry is LOVE
  4. The measure of ministry is SACRIFICE
  5. The authority of ministry is SUBMISSION
  6. The purpose of ministry is the GLORY of God
  7. The tools of ministry are the WORD of God and PRAYER
  8. The privilege of ministry is PERSONAL GROWTH
  9. The power of ministry is the HOLY SPIRIT
  10. The model of ministry is JESUS CHRIST