From Nothing but the Blood Audio
The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them. —Genesis 3

We’ve talked about the fall here some (click here to see some of the context and blessing of it), but this is new. We’re in the fourth part of a series answering the question:

Why did God choose blood as the currency to redeem mankind?

We’ve created a context (Billy Graham at Great St. Mary’s), seen the role of non-negotiables in relationship and established that blood is different than any other substance. But now, we’re going to examine specific examples of blood sacrifice (from just after the beginning) as clues to what God is telling us about Himself.

This may seem odd, but I’d submit that nothing in Scripture. . .

     From Full Porch Press
Let us hold fast theconfession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our ownassembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. . . . —Hebrews 10

Enter to win a Bible study in a box.

This prize brings you everything you need to share the Greatest Story Ever Told-the Gospel-with community. One lucky winner will receive everything they need to bring this study to your small group, but there's a trick.

You can virtually guarantee your group will win by collecting 5-10 others and inviting them to enter. Entries are multiplied by the number of lucky folks you get to enter.

This prize is not available in any stores as one complete set. Purchased individually, this prize is valued at over $150. See below for rules and prize information.

CLICK HERE IF YOU DON'T SEE THE ENTRY FORM BELOW or if you do, just ENTER BELOW and then begin putting your Fall Bible study together today!

     Chapter 8 - Truth Beats Love from A Rooster Once Crowed
The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. —2 Timothy 2

It's been quite a week. The review I put out on the Adam Hamilton book generated a LOT of discussion which I tried to answer as graciously as I could. But a number of folks asked how Truth could ever beat Love. Rather than try and boil it down (and I know this is another departure from the great #nothingbuttheblood series that we're in), I know I can always use a refill of Love. This is a long post, but here's the entire chapter (with linked Scripture) for one of my favorite chapters in the book: Chapter 8 - Truth Beats Love.

Jesus brought us the truth that religion won’t save us, that our works aren’t sufficient, and our thinking they are sufficient negates them, anyway. Until we understand what God did to give us the opportunity to enter the Great Dance, even our works push us farther from Him. The Gospel is that God sacrificed His most Precious out of love for me and, therefore, it’s my absolute pleasure to . . .

     From Nothing but the Blood Audio
For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement. —Leviticus 17

There's something special about blood.

For instance, if walk into a room where red paint has been spilled, then you might feel angry (it it's your room) or you might feel like it's a shame to waste paint. But if you walk into a room covered in blood, we vomit. Blood affects hardened detectives at crime scenes differently than any other substance. 

We can't make blood. The best we can do is . . . 

     Book Review of Adam Hamilton's Making Sense of the Bible
. . . but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes! —Matthew 18

Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. —Matthew 5

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; —2 Timothy 3

Full disclosure: I’m the least of these to be writing this. When I look at what Adam Hamilton has built and the list of names of giants that have endorsed and recommended this book, I’m sure that these men have each forgotten more than I know about Scripture—which makes this book even more disconcerting.

     From Nothing but the Blood Audio
They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day —Genesis 3

Who do you walk with in the cool of the evening? Your clients? People you hate?

No, we walk in the cool of the evening with those toward whom we’re in (and looking to grow in) relationship.

The first two chapters (out of the entirety of Scripture) show us a picture of how things ought to be. We see God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit—together, in community—working to build a home. In Their labor, They create a place; beautiful and perfect. It is . . .

     From Nothing but the Blood Audio
And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. —Mark 16

It has been a few months since I've shared Utmost, but we're going to set that aside for a bit and pick up a new topic.

If you haven't heard it already, click the link above or the photo to the left to hear a lesson I gave August, 2014 to Family Ties at PRUMC called Nothing but the Blood. Over the next few months, we're going to attempt to answer the questions:
"Why all the blood?" and
"How can I trust a God that requires blood to cover sin?"

If you'd like to get these sent to you via email when they come out, click here to register and make sure to click that you're a Back Porch Friend.

In 1955, Billy Graham was invited to speak at the University of Cambridge by a small group of Christians attending there. Almost immediately, letters to the editor of the Times of London began pouring in essentially saying: 

     From Full Porch Press
Let us hold fast theconfession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our ownassembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. . . . —Hebrews 10

Enter to win a Bible study in a box.

This prize brings you everything you need to share the Greatest Story Ever Told-the Gospel-with community. One lucky winner will receive everything they need to bring this study to your small group, but there's a trick.

You can virtually guarantee your group will win by collecting 5-10 others and inviting them to enter. Entries are multiplied by the number of lucky folks you get to enter.

This prize is not available in any stores as one complete set. Purchased individually, this prize is valued at over $150. See below for rules and prize information.

THIS CONTEST HAS ENDED BUT CLICK HERE FOR A LIVE ONE! 

     From iTunes
I will sing of lovingkindness and justice,To You, O Lord, I will sing praises. —Psalm 101

Did you know that there's a Rooster Album? Not an audiobook version (yet), but a real like album with songs?

Well, there is. In the first class I taught on this material, Tommy, a music major in college, and I selected songs for each chapter that really brought out the feelings conveyed. Technology finally caught up with us and now, you're able to sample the entire playlist in the widget, below, or even purchase the playlist by clicking here.

Thanks for loving this greatest story as much as I do!

Here's the entire playlist spelled out:

     From My Utmost for His Highest
We . . . plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain —2 Corinthians 6

Chambers talks about prayer, and we had a good discussion of that a few weeks back in the Friendship with God post. But I've found no better way to understand the poverty of my spirit than this. Consider this excerpt from A Rooster Once Crowed:

Of all the things Jesus taught us, there is the one thing that He could not model for us—this was His one prescriptive action. It was so important that it defined the ministry of John the Baptist and was a central theme of the ministry of Jesus Christ. It was . . .