Rejoicing now in the face of trials is simply a demonstration of where your faith rests…in the “unveiling of His glory” at the Day of the Lord. Rarely, if ever, do we in America and the Western world face the level of fiery trials that…
Read MoreI know. I know. It’s been almost a year since I blogged. What’s happened to me? Short answer: I’ve been building other peoples’ websites and blogs (www.richeeparks.com), including a brand new Daniel Training Network website. Long story short, the Lord has had my focus elsewhere over the last year even though I have longed to blog it up so many times. With that out of the way, I wanted to reengage my blog...
Read MoreSince arriving in Portland, the subject of death has come up in several different ways and been closer to home than usual. Yesterday (February 13, 2012) we received some news that we had been dreading. Our 9 year old niece Mercede (Grace’s side of the family) had passed away after an intense battle with leukemia. On June 9, 2011, Mercede Joy was diagnosed with Acute Monoblastic Leukemia(m5). She fought the aggressive cancer...
Read MoreSome days I am blown away by how trickle down theology affects massive numbers of believers/church attenders throughout the Western Church. One contributing factor to this pondering comes from reflecting on my own church upbringing as well as the wide variety of churches & believers I have seen in my past years of traveling with ministries. The seminary student bound for pastorhood reads theology books based on a Platonic...
Read MoreWithout going to deep into the Western Worldview and Greek philosophy, I feel as though I need to address and skim over Platonic influence within current western Christianity. I don’t want to give a comprehensive overview but wanted to touch on it because it definitely factors into how we see God’s governmental covenants with His creation and ultimately view salvation. The main point that I want to address concerning...
Read MoreTo see part 1 of this series, click here. I used to think that studying the Bible for the purpose of pursuing theology, was for the scholars, rabbis, theologians and those who felt called to that type of in-depth study. Now I see it as essential to every believer because a person’s theology (knowledge of God) and then belief in that theology, leads to their praxis (how they live their lives day to day). For me it has become an...
Read MoreIf you want to read the first post in this series, click here. Last night as I was trying to slip into dream land, the Holy Spirit hit me with some insight into my own heart when it came to my past and where He has brought me in the past season. I couldn’t help but be filled with joy at the love of His mercy in rescuing me from myself in so many ways. I was my own messiah (in a very subtle & deceptive way). As truth has...
Read MoreTo read the second part to this 2 part series, click here. I have a feeling that there will be many other posts like this one. Where I take current revelations and lay bare (confess) the true reality I have found in my own heart throughout the journey of grasping the truth of His Word. Buckle up if you choose to continue on in this post. Know that the realness you read in posts like this one, have come through a work of the Spirit in...
Read More