by Eric Holter on December 12, 2005
Eric Holter, September, 2003 – December, 2005
I’m an American – home of the free, land of liberty, fight for your rights – American. And I was born a New England Yankee – live free or die, don’t tread on me, toss the tea overboard – Yankee. I grew up in Connecticut and settled in Rhode Island where Roger Williams established the state on the foundation of religious freedom. Today, on top of the Rhode Island state house stands the “independent man.” He grips his spear shining in golden splendor, as he exalts the virtues of freedom and independence. He reminds all Rhode Islanders that our forebears fought and died for freedom. We Americans love our independence. Every 4th of July we celebrate how we won it through revolution. Throughout our history America has stood tall and fought for the superior virtue of freedom and independence at home and throughout the world – and we continue to fight for it to this day.
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by Eric Holter on September 10, 2005
“When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they acknowledged God’s justice, having been baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God’s purpose for themselves, not having been baptized by John.”
Luke 7:29-30
The baptism of John was a baptism of repentance, so one could interpret this passage “the people acknowledged God’s justice for they had repented, but the Pharisees rejected God’s purpose for themselves because they had not repented.” Looking to God from a position of repentance causes us to delight in Him and acknowledge His justice. Whereas engaging Him from a position of pride, without repentance, only makes us like the Pharisee, perplexed, suspicious and arrogant, as we ultimately reject God’s purposes, His forgiveness, and His salvation.
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by Eric Holter on January 10, 2004
“… yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our iniquity and giving attention to the truth. ” Daniel 9:13
How can we seek the Lord? By turning from our iniquity, and giving attention to the truth. We must fight a two-pronged attack in our spiritual battle for holiness. We must fight to kill sin in ourselves, and we must turn our eyes, our minds, our thoughts, and our attention to the truth. Jesus said in John 17 “Sanctify them in the truth; Thy word is truth.” He also said, in Chapter 14 “I am the way and the truth and the life.” Jesus is also called the Word of God.
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by Eric Holter on December 5, 2003
“As for you son of man, describe the temple to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities, and let them measure the plan. And if they are ashamed of all that they have done, make known to them the design of the house…” Ezekiel 43:10-11a
There are three things that caught my attention in this passage. One, the description of God’s beauty is the effective means of opening the eyes to sin. Two, when we see our sin in contrast to the beauty of Lord there should be a corresponding feeling of shame for our worthless deeds. And three, the fullness of God’s beauty and the details of his plans are withheld and conditioned upon our repentance from iniquity.
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