Kaleo - the blog of Erick Cobb

Why Driscoll Loves Piper

Why Driscoll Loves Piper

Kaleo Joshua Tree Retreat Pictures Now on Flickr!

Pictures from the Kaleo Joshua Tree Retreat are now on Flickr!

What It's Like to Go to Mexico with Kaleo (Video)

We go the last Saturday of every month.  Contact Jake Dietrich if you want to go next time!

80's Contextualization Gone Bad....Very Bad

Via: Cobb Salad, JT

Bono on "Grace Over Karma"

It's no secret that Kaleo loves Bono.  In this article you will see the great way he has of illustrating the difference between the Gospel and religion.  He does so by contrasting grace and Karma. 

A lot of twenty-somethings think Karma is a really cool idea, so contrasting it with grace is a great way to help them see the futility of religion.  I have used Bono's illustration many times and it always seems to bring clarity about what the Gospel is all about. 

This article is well worth your time (as is the rest of the book).

Soulwinning According to Solomon

The Reformissionary had this great post a couple of days ago.  The quotes are from the Proverbs and Questioning Evangelism by Randy Newman.

1. Avoid an Argument

"Many an evangelizing Christian has won the battle but lost the war by not avoiding an ugly argument." - p 42

17:14 - The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out.

"The man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still." - p 42

2. Recognize a Fool

"...some dialogues should stop, and others should never start.  Recognizing these situations before it's too late is crucial." - p 43

14:7 - Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge.

23:9 - Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the good sense of your words.

18:2 - A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.

"Until someone is more interested in truth than in airing his or her own opinions, it's best to talk about the weather." p 45

3. Remember that People are People

"We're not just just rational beings to be informed and educated, spiritual beings to be evangelized and enlightened, or physical beings to be fed and satiated.  We are whole beings, called to love God with the whole heart, soul, strength, and mind." - p 45

"Solomon understood the complex nature of people.  He realized that conveying content makes up only a small part of the communication process." - p 48

14:30 - A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.

20:5 - The purpose in a man's heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.

4. Remember the Power of the Tongue

10:31 - The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off.

12:18 - There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

18:21 - Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.

17:27 - Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

"...somewhere between total silence and nonstop talk lies wisdom." - p 49

"How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" - Kaleo This Week

At Kaleo this Sunday (9/7) we will be trying to answer the question:
"Exactly how, in practical terms, can I pursue authentic change in my heart?"

That is what my mysterious diagram to the right is about (click on it to enlarge).

And we will be BBQ'ing beef franks for you guys. Now if you are the
kind of person who thinks that a meal cannot just consist of hotdogs,
bring a side or dessert.

Pray that the Spirit works among us to produce good and honest hearts.

Glimpses of the Kingdom of God

"Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man...He will wipe away every tear from their eyes...Behold, I make all things new!"  Rev 21:3-5

It was awesome to see some foretastes of the Kingdom of God at Grace Children's Home on Saturday.  More pictures on the Kaleo Facebook Group.

The Devil's Condemnation or the Spirit's Conviction?

Ed Welch has been a real blessing to Natasha and I - all of his stuff is great!  In his excellent book Running Scared (p. 221), Welch offers this help to discern between the condemnation of the Devil and the conviction of the Spirit:

When you belong to the King, how can you discern the difference between the Devil's condemnation and the Spirit's conviction? How can you determine if you are in the bogus courtroom or the real one?

In the real courtroom:

• you know your good deeds are not enough
• your hope is in Christ alone for your deliverance
• when convicted of sins, you are pointed past your sins and on to Christ
• the last word is always hope.

In the Devil's courtroom:

• the attention is all on your sins
• you stand and fall on your own behavior
• you are alone without an advocate
• questions are raised about the extent of God's forgiveness

Found on: Buzzard Blog

Why Work?

Labor Day is a great time for me to remind you all of these excellent messages on work and rest by Tim Keller:
1. Work
2. Made for Stewardship
3. Work and Rest