Blog Highlights for April 2010

Here are recent entries from The Faith Log — Exploring the Dynamics of Biblical Faith. Defibrillations to set your heart beating with the rhythms of God.

• Torrents of God’s Redeeming Love
• The Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation
• When the Spirit Takes Hold of Prayer
• Taking Hold of Answered Prayer
• The Algebra of Authority in Heaven and Earth

Highlights from Miracles and Manifestations of the Holy Spirit
God has always done miracles in His Church — and still does!

• Muslims Find Jesus Through Dreams and Visions!
• Holy Ghost Hokey Pokey at MorningStar

NEW Blog!
The Fellowship of Drunken Glory
“Let the saints be joyful in glory, let them sing aloud on their beds.” ~ Psalm 149:5

• Four Views of Joy
• That Your Joy May Be Full
• Holy and Happy
• The Inebriating Rivers of the Holy Spirit
• Loud, Disruptive Praise
• Much Leaping
• The Divine Woo-Hooooo!
• Joyful in Glory

Further Adventures of Jeff Doles

• The American Trinity ~ Prager
• Christos Anesti ~ Alithos Anesti
• Christos Anesti ~ Christ is Risen
• N. T. Wright on the Resurrection of Jesus the Mess...

Keeping the Faith in Tough Times

Rembrandt’s “St. Peter in Prison”

Here are the links for our recent blogs on First Peter, for those who want to read them in order from the beginning. I call this series "Keeping the Faith in Tough Times." The churches Peter wrote to were going through persecution, but what he says can help you apply the pressure of faith in whatever difficulties you might be going through today.

• A Letter from Rocky (1 Peter 1:1)
• A Letter to Scatterlings (1 Peter 1:1-2)
• The Abundant Mercy of God Revealed (1 Peter 1:3-5)
• A Joy Words Cannot Contain (1 Peter 1:6-9)
• The Intense Desire of Prophets and Angels (1 Peter 1:10-12)
• New Birth, New Mind, New Life (1 Peter 1:13-16)
• Living in Awe of the Redeemer God (1 Peter 1:17-21)
• The Gospel of Fervent Love (1 Peter 1:22-25)
• Growing Up in New Life (1 Peter 2:1-3)
• Honored by God or Destined to Fall? (1 Peter 2:4-8)
• A New Kind of People (1 Peter 2:9-10)
• Glorifying God on the Day of Inspection (1 Peter 2:11-12)
• Living in True Freedom (1 Peter 2:13-17)
• Undermining Slavery with True Freedom (1 Peter2:18-25)
• Transforming Marriages with True Freedom - Part 1 (1 Peter 3:1-6)
• Transforming Marriages with True Freedom -Part 2 (1 Peter 3:7)
• A Life of Blessing (1 Peter 3:8-12)
• A Ready Heart and a Gentle Response (1 Peter 3:13-17)
• Suffering Messiah, Reigning King (1 Peter 3:18-22)
• Armed with the Attitude of Jesus (1 Peter 4:1-6)
• The End is Here? (1 Peter 4:7)
• Manifesting the Glory and Dominion of Jesus (1 Peter 4:7-11)
• An Unexpected Cause for Rejoicing (1 Peter 4:12-16)
• Deliverance in Difficult Times (1 Peter 4:17-19)
• Wearing the Victor’s Crown (1 Peter 5:1-4)
• Clothing Yourself with Greatness (1 Peter 5:5)
• Under the Mighty Hand of God (1 Peter 5:5-7)
• Standing Firm Against the Adversary (1 Peter 5:8-11)
• The Grace of God in Which We Stand (1 Peter 5:12-14)

April 2010 Notes from our Friends

• From Dora: "Amen! Love it ... Crazy Joy! So beautiful, thanks so much for this and yes, it will be so amazing and He is so glorious!" [Comment left at a Facebook link, about Joyful in Glory, an article at one of our new blogs, The Fellowship of Drunken Glory.]
• From Rafael: "Jeff, this is awesome, my brother. You are in Florida and I am in the L.A. CA, area and I love this when just regular people that truly believe in the Word of GOD that He will not leave us orphans but that He will send His Spirit up on us that is truly without words, I am glad we got the almighty GOD." [Comment left at Facebook link, about Loud, Disruptive Praise, another new article at The Fellowship of Drunken Glory.]
• From Ken: "Jeff, Rivers are such a great analogy of God's power, His Holy Spirit, in our lives. We have had the opportunity of drinking river water from its mountain source here in Colorado, from a melting glacier. That trickle, as it makes its way down the mountain turns into streams, that empty into, river forks that empty into rivers. Water here runs all the way into the Pacific on the West and the Gulf of Mexico on the East.  It begins with melting.  The same could be said of the Holy Spirit in our lives when He melts our heart, melts us to yield to Him, melts us to make us as full of power as a rushing river.  We get to drink from the source of Living Water." [Comment left at Facebook about The Inebriating Rivers of the Holy Spirit, yet another new article at The Fellowship of Drunken Glory.]
• From Anonymous: "Inspiring and well balanced. It was like water to my soul and uplifted my heart :) Thanks" [Comment left at How to Prosper in Everything.]
  
• From Dave: "I love your website and added a link to it on mine. You bless me!" [Dave left this note for me when we became Facebook friends. You can find me here at Facebook.]
  
• From Denise: "That's such a beautiful image of the Holy Spirit helping us carry the load of prayer! I think the Holy Spirit is the most ignored and least understood of the Trinity and that would change if more people understood the role the Holy Spirit can play in prayer life. God bless!" [Talking about When the Spirit Takes Hold of Prayer.]
• From Anonymous: "This site is a gift from heaven. It is a blessing to the world. May the good Lord continue to strenghten you and inspire you. This article has saved my situation this morning. God bless you and your team." [This comment was left at How to Cast Your Cares, talking about our blog, The Faith Log.]
  
• From Pat in CT: "Yes, we live to glorify Him and to enjoy Him. And how The Faith Log affirms us in this!   Thank you, folks, in Jesus' precious Name." [Talking about Faith Log article, Manifesting the Glory and Dominion of Jesus. She receives The Faith Log by email. You can, too. Sign up here for a FREE subscription.]
• From Karen: "I would like your permission to copy this article to share with my Bible study group: How to Encourage Yourself in the LORD." [We are always happy for people to share our faith-building articles with others (on a non-commerical basis, of course). Just let them know where you got it.]
• From May: "I want to let you know that I am using this article to encourage my son who is incarceration. Thank you for this article. It is most helpful to me first! May God, continue to lead and guide you in your understanding." [Talking about How to Encourage Yourself in the LORD. Received this the same day as the request above.]
• From Pastor Caleb in Kenya: "Thank you Jeff for the good work you are doing. We love you and are praying for you, too."
• From Pastor Sammy in Kenya: "Receive love greetings in Jesus' Name. I'm pastoring in local parts of Kenya and your website was inspirational and transforming and scriptural in teachings and statement of faith."
  
  

The New Mrs. Doles

Our son has taken a bride and we have a new daughter-in-love. Here they are at rehearsal dinner. This photo is by our son-in-love, Matthew R. Kent, a professional photographer in the Tampa area (you can see more of his work at Matthew R Photo)

Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Doles. The ceremony was performed by their pastor, Paul Wirth, of Relevant Church in the Ybor City section of Tampa. I had the privilege of serving Mike and Jenny their first communion as man and wife. (Photo is by one of the wedding guests.)

Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,

Who delights greatly in His commandments.

His descendants will be mighty on earth;

The generation of the upright will be blessed.

(Psalm 112:1-2)

Suz and I are truly blessed.