http://www.anotherchancechurch.com/blog/index.php Copyright 2008, John Manning John Manning en-US SPHPBLOG 0.4.8 http://www.anotherchancechurch.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry070224-143631 http://www.anotherchancechurch.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry070224-143631 John Manning Sat, 24 Feb 2007 21:36:31 GMT http://www.anotherchancechurch.com/blog/comments.php?y=07&m=02&entry=entry070224-143631 http://www.anotherchancechurch.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry070204-140939 http://www.anotherchancechurch.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry070204-140939 John Manning Sun, 04 Feb 2007 21:09:39 GMT http://www.anotherchancechurch.com/blog/comments.php?y=07&m=02&entry=entry070204-140939 http://www.anotherchancechurch.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry061225-110130
Yet in another way I am pleased that there are only limited postings. Why is that?
Well quite simply, if a person only reads "x" amount in a day - I'd rather they use their reading time to read the Word of God. As I grow older I keep finding that I don't really have anything important to say, except that it points to, repeats, and/or encourages folks to read the Scriptures. There is changeless wisdom enclosed within its pages. It is a straight edge in a world of compromise.

What I enjoy about the Bible is that in one way the messages and truths are extremely simple. On the other hand some I constantly find a depth that is extreme. So here is real advice - read your Bible.
]]> http://www.anotherchancechurch.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry061225-110130 John Manning Mon, 25 Dec 2006 18:01:30 GMT http://www.anotherchancechurch.com/blog/comments.php?y=06&m=12&entry=entry061225-110130 http://www.anotherchancechurch.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry061022-182857 http://www.anotherchancechurch.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry061022-182857 John Manning Mon, 23 Oct 2006 01:28:57 GMT http://www.anotherchancechurch.com/blog/comments.php?y=06&m=10&entry=entry061022-182857 http://www.anotherchancechurch.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry060923-065509 One lesson I was reminded of is to continue trusting God even in an unknown situation. Here is the story. I lost my wallet. It was loaded with loads of receipts and other items. I have always realized the value of securing my wallet and guarding its contents. Like many I always keep it in a safe spot where I can be aware of it. When I noticed it was missing just imagine the feeling of distress. That which I thought was certain was now uncertain. After I got over my moment of panic and anxiety I realized that God was in control of my life from the first day until now. Understanding this gave me an opportunity to share the Word of God with others. As I walked into the office that day I told the folks [many of them new employees] that I had lost my wallet. It was an occasion to share with them that even though I had lost my wallet it was not lost to Jesus and that if we asked Him right now He would know exactly where it was located. “Jesus can see that wallet right now, its location is no secret to Him”, a life lesson we all need to remember. The truth is that Jesus knows its location and status at any given moment, even if it fell were to fall out of the pocket and be shredded by a lawnmower [oh no!] every piece would be known and every piece accounted for. Let’s be honest, if you can form the universe from nothing but a word how hard would finding a lost wallet be?
A second lesson I was reminded of is to be faithful to bear witness even under adverse times and conditions. I knew the importance of the wallet, I knew Jesus knew the importance of the wallet, and I knew that Jesus knew what hassle and hardships it would cause to replace its contents. Once I was firmly persuaded of this my mind was at rest. It happened that after about an hour of diligent searching and the searching of others that I “remembered” that the wallet was still in the hotel, safe and secure. It just so happened that last night I was thirsty but had no cash now. I had in the past seen soda machines that accepted credit cards so I thought that I might check out the hotel soda machine to see if my desire for sugar might be satisfied. [No I did not use my credit card for this, but I might have been tempted to if the opportunity had presented itself- foolish me!] The truth is I put myself in a situation by my own actions and choices that eventually led to the situation that caused my great concern potential anxiety. This story had a “nice” ending. Many stories in life do not. They do not always end favorably as we might think but the story does have an end someday [even the hardest situations have an end].
For me it was a struggle to lose that which I was so sure of. In the midst of the conflict I was not powerless. I had real “medicine” for my soul and that was to know that Jesus knew all about it . Not only did Jesus know what the problem was but He knew how I got into the situation. He knew the why, where, and who else would be affected by this situation. In a sentence, Jesus cared and He had the answer. I was helpless [not hopeless] to solve my problem without his help, this doesn’t mean that I was “actionless”. I did what I knew to do, and tried to be open to new possibilities and strategies. Even if I don’t know the future, I know Him who holds the future. I waited on God to help me. Even if the problem was not solved to my liking, I knew that Jesus was with me, and that whatever consequences appeared out of not solving this situation was also ‘bearable’.
Some might argue after reading this pontification that I am just trying to make a ‘mountain out of dirt mound’. “You are stretching the truth. Is not this just a simple story about a lost wallet that eventually you found” they might retort. The answer to those of this world is yes, but to those who seek wisdom and remain teachable the answer is quite different. To those folks who seek council from wisdom the answer is a thought. Here is a possibility, if we can learn the lessons from some of the simple things in life it might not be compulsory to constantly go through some of the tougher things, or least go through them less frequently. Perhaps the answer is that if we can discover wisdom from the everyday events of life then when the life changing events do come, and they will come, we now have a sure foundation from which to process from. Remember … He will not leave you nor forsake you.
]]> http://www.anotherchancechurch.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry060923-065509 John Manning Sat, 23 Sep 2006 13:55:09 GMT http://www.anotherchancechurch.com/blog/comments.php?y=06&m=09&entry=entry060923-065509 http://www.anotherchancechurch.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry060830-105301 Ahab was not a good king; his resume does not read well. Now he is forever remembered in history as the king who provoked the Lord to anger. He did more evil than all who were before him. Scripture does not afford him any special privileges, no attempt is made to hide, or rationalize the sins of Ahab. It is simply written that Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him. I Kings 16:30
Ahab made poor choice upon poor choice. He did not receive this ‘title’ overnight. Ahab had to work at it, as many do today. One has to wonder if that is really the way Ahab wanted to be remembered. We can speculate all day long. The bottom line is that the whole of his life is remembered in the negative. His life and all he had hoped for, his dreams and vision for the nation, whatever that was, are gone negated by a life of sin. The story does not have a happy ending. Sin is a poor memorial. How many folks today are making poor choices that will seemingly reverse all that they have been trying to achieve? These decisions will haunt and demur their dreams long after this life is over.

Let’s face it we have ALL done things that we hope will NEVER come to light. You know what I am talking about , those 'secret sins' so rotten that we are troubled when we remember them. Welcome to humanity - the truth is everyone has them…. even kings. Some have more than others. For we have all sinned and fallen short of what God wants for us. The Good News is that Jesus has forgiven us. His grace and mercy are greater than even the darkest sin. His love surpasses whatever evil we might have wandered into either by chance or by choice. As believers we rejoice in the grace of God, and the hope of His coming. We don’t have to fear the past or have it trail behind us as Ahab did, we are forgiven.

So how do want to be remembered? As a person who made wrong choices? As a person who aggravated a loving God? Wouldn’t you like to be acknowledged as a person who allowed the grace and forgiveness to operate in their lives and made the right choice, to allow Jesus in? As you consider this remember Jesus can repair the broken life, He makes all things new! You will be remembered as a child of the King, if you allow the King to live within you. That is how I want to be remembered, not for who I am or what I have done but as a child of God.
]]> http://www.anotherchancechurch.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry060830-105301 John Manning Wed, 30 Aug 2006 17:53:01 GMT http://www.anotherchancechurch.com/blog/comments.php?y=06&m=08&entry=entry060830-105301 http://www.anotherchancechurch.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry060819-141004 http://www.anotherchancechurch.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry060819-141004 John Manning Sat, 19 Aug 2006 21:10:04 GMT http://www.anotherchancechurch.com/blog/comments.php?y=06&m=08&entry=entry060819-141004 http://www.anotherchancechurch.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry060815-075052
The Gospel of Mark- I am currently writing a commentary on this gospel and it might be interesting to hear me pontificate on passages. Caution: you might feel the need for sleeeep….

The Bible - with a particular spotlight on passages that are seen by some as paradoxical. When we get done with them you might need to see a professional.

The goals and core values of Another Chance Church. We have just finished a 7 week study considering and investigating the core principles of the church.

We can look at different religions, explore the accentuation of disyllabic enclitics, the monster house 212 North Kent St. project, beat up the cults, listen to me rant, or just leave the page blank and save the space on the web! The point is that you can decide where we begin. Be mindful that I will stray off topic and quickly, after all I am a pastor! However, I am a true believer that where one commences the process of inquiry one can also find assumption, direction, conjecture, and a whole host of ‘other stuff’ too uninteresting to write about.

]]> http://www.anotherchancechurch.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry060815-075052 John Manning Tue, 15 Aug 2006 14:50:52 GMT http://www.anotherchancechurch.com/blog/comments.php?y=06&m=08&entry=entry060815-075052