A Stone of Stumbling

 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore?: Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone, As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. Romans 9:30-33


Careful! I've put a huge stone on the road too Mount Zion, a stone you can't get around. 
But the stone is me! If you're looking for me, you'll find me on the way, not in the way.
~ The Message.

More Than Conquerors

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

Nay in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:35-38

Well Diggers and Rope Holders

That was the title of our sermon this evening. It was an exhortation to us regarding missions. The people in the ministry, pastors and missionaries, are the well diggers. We can pray for more of them, but in the meantime we can certainly serve them and the Lord as rope holders. This is the quote by William Carey that inspired the sermon:

After hearing an account of the spiritual needs of India, the secretary of the meeting remarked: "There is a gold mine in India, but it seems almost as deep as the center of the earth. Who will venture to explore it?" "I will venture to go down," said Carey, "but remember that you must hold the ropes."

And there are many ways we can participate in rope holding. Pray the Lord to show us each how we can do this.

Nothing Between

This wonderful hymn was spoken of in our sermon today. I just had to post this lovely rendition. Please turn off the music on the sidebar first.