One thing that has been on my mind lately is how our lack of knowledge leads to destruction. Sadly, I have met many people in college and in the Bible bubble that refuse to learn any more about God because it does not co-exist with their current view of God. Many have shown to easily accept the things that a preacher says but will not look through Scripture to find the truth. Therefore, I mention the sovereignty of God, depravity of men, the hate of God toward sin, Biblical preaching, condemnation for apathy, or damnation to those not showing a pattern of Christ-likeness and all guards go up because that is not what they heard growing up. There is a passage that I have run across that has stuck with me for a long time. I think God’s words in this passage are clear enough for us all.

Hear the word of the Lord, O children of Israel,
for the Lord has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land.
There is no faithfulness or steadfast love,
and no knowledge of God in the land;
there is swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery;
they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.
Therefore the land mourns,
and all who dwell in it languish,
and also the beasts of the field
and the birds of the heavens,
and even the fish of the sea are taken away.

Yet let no one contend,
and let none accuse,
for with you is my contention, O priest. [1]
You shall stumble by day;
the prophet also shall stumble with you by night;
and I will destroy your mother.
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge;
because you have rejected knowledge,
I reject you from being a priest to me.
And since you have forgotten the law of your God,
I also will forget your children.

-Hosea 4:1-6

May we continually grow in Him through our knowledge of Him and never forget the goodness and greatness of our wonderful King!

Josh Blaha

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints,
for those who fear him have no lack!
The young lions suffer want and hunger;
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

– Psalm 34 :8-10

I was wandering through Wal-Mart looking for a good choice of chocolates to be able to enjoy tomorrow. I was reminded of this passage. “Oh taste…” the passage says. I am sure that chocolate candies were not a part of the Resurrection Sunday until recently, however this verse certainly helps to remind me that the grace of God is something to be tasted. Today is a great day to point us back to richness of the taste of God’s grace. He has paid it on the cross to let us see the goodness of His grace. Take your refuge in him! His wonderful gift of salvation is free to us all. It is what we must live by. Chocolate comes and goes. The cross will stand forever. Taste the sweet, sweet love of Jesus today!

Stay tuned to a new design…

-Josh

Rejoicing in another year,

Josh Blaha

I hope everyone is enjoying Christmas today. This season has been enjoyable. It has been even more enjoyable since school has been out. While school has taken much time from my relationship with God, God has still remained faithful. I have found that finding my joy in the cross and not necessarily focusing on the “season” has really made Christmas more real to me. I have found that I enjoy the season a lot more. Again, I hope you all are enjoying your Christmas. Hopefully, I will have more time to write later. Rejoice with me in the coming of the holy One.

Enjoying Him,

Josh Blaha

Grace my brothers and sisters,

Josh Blaha

PS – In response to my sister’s post about the Cross and Christmas, I think it is essential for us to live a daily life with a mind set on the cross. The cross is the very essence of the life of a believer. So many people do NOT do this to their loss and shame. However, as believers, I think it is good to preach the cross to everyone whether suspected believer, affirmed believer, or complete pagan. We all need it. Jesus Christ’s death is the blood by which our lives exist. So, if it is a Sunday School class full of defiant 4′s and 5′s or just someone on the street, first make sure that you are constantly rejoicing in the cross as well as living by the cross and thereby speak the cross. You can always find a way.

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

I found that this is a interesting contrast. As recipients of God’s infinite grace, we must not live our lives as men of the “slums” of the world as you may see. We must these things put away (“these things” meaning sexual immorality – impurity – covetousness – filthiness – foolish talk – crude joking). The Bible says that these things are out of place for Christians and even that the first three mentioned should not even be mentioned among us. These things bring the worth and beauty of the cross to naught. Instead, we must live our lives in a grateful spirit. I’m sure the rest is pretty obvious to you all. I just thought that this was a cool and unique thought for us as Christians.

I hope you all had a great thanksgiving.

Grateful for the cross,

Josh Blaha

In addition, here is a little ditty that may help you think of the Reformation in a whole new light. I hope it is not offensive. I found it quite amusing. In fact, I found this group’s raps to be theologically sound. (Don’t quote me on that. I just know that they involve a lot of theology in their music and from what I understand is sound.)

Well, I must be going. I hope you all had a great day.

Grace my brothers and sisters,

Josh

My day went very well. I woke up at 10:00 and cleaned some of my room. I then cleaned some more of my room. After that I took a shower and cleaned some more of my room. Following that, I cleaned some of my room. It was just about 45 minutes before guests began to arrive that Cherith needed to drop some stuff off at GW Fashions (Good Will) and drop some books and videos off at the library. Concluding our short venture, we began to fellowship with our guests and took time to think about our wonderful Savior. What an awesome God! We meditated on the thought of the many luxuries that we have to enjoy; yet we find ourselves in “need” of things, which our gracious Father still subsides to our cries. (This leads me to another thought that I will later write on – the humbleness of God.) Next, we ate a delicious buffet of Thanksgiving food – such as turkey (of course), green junk (pistachio pudding with marshmallows in it), cranberry sauce, salad, green bean casserole, and other great middle class delicacies. We followed that up with just some fellowship with one another. There were five kids around, so we played a little bit as well. At the end, my brothers and I ended up watching the most depressing Star Wars: Episode III. Yeah, that was totally not cool. When all was said and done, it was a pretty good day. I did not favor the movie at all and could care less if I neither watched nor heard of it ever again.

Well, there will be more later, just not now. Thank you all for caring and reading. I hope everyone had an incredibly blessed and glorious day in our Lord Jesus Christ – for He alone is worthy to be praised! “Bless the Lord, o, my soul and all this is within me!” I will write more soon.

Glorying in my Wonderful and Merciful Savior,

Josh