Barry Bishop♗

born-again follower of King Jesus and a teacher.
#ChristianHelps

[Barry Bishop♗ @barrybishop]

I have started posting free resources for Christians as links under #ChristianHelps
Use, edit, copy, distribute as needed.
Includes sermons, Bible reading plans, devotionals, etc.
Some of the resources are original to me and others have been collated and edited by me.

[Barry Bishop♗ @barrybishop]

@WilliamWolfe Also, the ghost of Beth Moore.

[Barry Bishop♗ @barrybishop]

@ps119ps @Pastor_Gabe I noticed you ignored the clearest verse from Mark 7:19. Seems like you have a problem with Jesus declaring all food clean. Also, "There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.”

[Barry Bishop♗ @barrybishop]

@AdamPage85 Also, remember that "the stage" will bully you relentlessly under the guise of time restraints, procedure, etc. unless you're Rick Warren or a former entity head.

[Barry Bishop♗ @barrybishop]

@BibChr @uniquemoviemom I really enjoyed the Ballad of Buster Scruggs. I thought the vignettes explored the theme of death from many angles. I found the movie thought provoking on a subject that is taboo in our culture.

[Barry Bishop♗ @barrybishop]

2Cor4:17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

[Michael Foster @thisisfoster]

Like it or not, most young people listen to other young people.

A new mother will often ask advice from a woman who is only a year or two ahead of her before she will seek out a mother who has already raised six or seven children. That is just how things often work.

Part of that is immaturity. Part of it is that people tend to trust those who feel closer to their own stage of life. But part of it is also that many young people have not found older mentors available to them, or at least that has not been their experience.

The why here isn’t really the point. The fact that this is a tendency is the point.

Pastors and older women need to understand that.

It is fine to challenge this tendency from time to time. Older saints should make themselves available and encourage younger people to seek wisdom from those with more experience.

But you cannot build a ministry strategy around wishing young people worked differently than they do.

Instead, look for the younger men and women who are willing to learn from older, wiser people. Invest in them. Teach them. Help them grow.

Then lead through them.

As they grow, they will naturally influence others their own age or just below them. They become trusted voices among their peers, but they are passing along wisdom that has been tested by time and experience.

And as a related sidenote, any ministry built on youthful coolness has a very short shelf life.

We all stop being cool in the eyes of the young at some point. When older people keep trying to posture as trendy, hip, and young, it just becomes sad and desperate.

Better to accept your stage of life. I’m in full older dad to grandpa mode. It’s great.

Act your age. Embrace the fact that you are in a different season. Stop trying to compete with youthfulness and instead offer what youth can’t: tested wisdom, perspective, and maturity.

Then lead through younger people who have learned from you.

That is a far healthier way to build something that lasts.

[Barry Bishop♗ @barrybishop]

@TxGalLettie @KarlKohlhase Karl, you're from Minnesota. You're used to harshness in weather and life. You'll make it anywhere you want to go. I wouldn't discourage you from settling anywhere in Texas, except Dallas. IYKYK

[Barry Bishop♗ @barrybishop]

@KarlKohlhase Rural Texas is very affordable. Just off Galveston Island you could find a good deal. Places like Santa Fe and Hitchcock. End/

[Barry Bishop♗ @barrybishop]

@KarlKohlhase Fair warning, you will evacuate at some point due to hurricanes but it doesn't mean you will lose everything. Things get cleaned up and roofs repaired. Also, Galveston real estate is pricey. But so is downtown Austin, Dallas, Houston, etc. I live close to the Texas Coast. 2/

[William Wolfe 🇺🇸 @WilliamWolfe]

So people just don’t repost anymore on this app? Is that what’s happening?

I’m seeing it all over, not just on my account.

[Barry Bishop♗ @barrybishop]

@Pastor_Gabe @alisa_childers Also evangelical pastors have 3 areas to address: doctrine, personal holiness, and cultural issues.
Driscoll was good at one time in areas 1,3. Most evangelical pastors stop at 1,2. His strength in addressing 3 made Driscoll a prophetic voice.

[Barry Bishop♗ @barrybishop]

@Pastor_Gabe @alisa_childers I compare Driscoll to Balaam who was an oracle of Yahweh at times but personally corrupt and led God's people into sin.

[Barry Bishop♗ @barrybishop]

@TruthTracksOrg @JoshuaBarzon Ok, thanks I had to do a double take.

[Michael Foster @thisisfoster]

Here’s a simple way to get unstuck when you’re worried, overwhelmed, or overthinking a decision.

Ask yourself one question:

What kind of thing am I dealing with?

Most issues fall into one of three categories.

1. Settled Things

These are things that have already been decided.

Your birth family.
Your nation of origin.
Your height.
Your past decisions.
Your upbringing.
Things you did.
Things done to you.

Some of these things were decided by your own past actions. Others were decided by God’s providence. As Paul says in Acts 17:26, God determined our appointed times and the boundaries of our dwelling place.

You can’t go back and change these things.

So the question is not, “How do I undo this?”

The question is, “Does this have any bearing on what I should do now?”

If not, leave it alone. Don’t spend your life fighting settled things.

2. Action Things
These are things you have some real control over.

Your diet.
Your exercise.
Your spending.
Your work ethic.
Your attitude.
Your friendships.
Your theological knowledge.
Your presentability.
Your habits.
Your skills.

These are your controllables.

You may not control everything about your health, finances, relationships, or future. But you usually control more than you think.

So if the issue falls here, don’t overthink it.

Take direct action.

Start small if you have to. Make the call. Go on the walk. Open the Bible. Apologize. Apply for the job. Pay the bill. Clean the room. Do the next faithful thing.

3. Prayer Things

These are things outside your direct control, but not outside God’s control.

The economy.
The weather.
The housing market.
The availability of a suitable spouse.
Other people’s choices.
Timing.
Open doors.
Closed doors.

You can’t force these things. You can’t grab the steering wheel of providence.

But God can act.

So you take indirect action through prayer. You ask. You wait. You prepare. You remain faithful. You do what you can do and trust God with what only He can do.

So ask yourself:

Is this settled?
Then accept it and learn from it.

Is this actionable?
Then do something.

Is this outside my control?
Then pray and trust God.

This is a simple framework, and yes, it’s a little reductionistic. But that’s the point. The goal is not to explain every complexity of life. The goal is to get you unstuck.

Most people waste too much energy trying to change the past, control what belongs to God, or pray about things they simply need to obey.

So categorize the issue.

Then act accordingly.

Accept what is settled.
Act on what is yours.
Pray over what belongs to God.

[Barry Bishop♗ @barrybishop]

@WilliamWolfe I have 6 kids. My wife is also a SAHM. Trust me, we know it.
The economy has never been better and I've never had less.

[Barry Bishop♗ @barrybishop]

@Pastor_Gabe @BiblicalBeauty @thirdday Long story short, I met Mac Powell and the rest of 3rd Day, plus Jennifer Knapp backstage after a concert. They hung out and ate and I talked with their guitarist and told him I played too. I had no idea who they were at the time but they were gracious and humble.