Going Off The Deep End · 17 days ago
This Sunday, February 28, is going to be one of the best ever. We have been talking about what it means to Get In The Game and be on the same team. This Sunday we get to celebrate a touchdown as we have our first ever baptism service. I am totally pumped that we are celebrating the lives of three lives that have been radically changed by the power of Christ. Come out and support these guys as they make an outward expression of their commitment to Jesus. It will be an all out celebration, so if you haven't been in a while this will be an awesome opportunity to jump back in as we Go Off The Deep End!
— Jeremy LaDuke
Convicts · 17 days ago
All of us have cells that we find ourselves in from time to time. Sometimes we stay locked in a cell for a while. The problem is that we are all guilty of something and frankly being guilty sucks. We all want freedom, we all want out of the chains, but sometimes the cell is more attractive than freedom because it is all we've known. But isn't freedom better? Isn't being able to drop the chains and chase after the dreams God has for your life better?
March 7-28 we will exploring our cells and finding how to break free, Shawshank style. I am expecting God to do great things during this time and I hope you join in prayer with me as we head towards Easter.
— Jeremy LaDuke
Get In The Game · 41 days ago
We are in the biggest game of our life. The things we do, the choices we make, the words we say all effect how well we as a team play the game. There are plays to be made and threats to our defense all around us and we must have our heads, our hearts, and our hands in the game. Join us Feb 7-21 as we tackle the nitty gritty things that help us play the game.
— Jeremy LaDuke
Snow?? · 43 days ago
Hey - as of Saturday afternoon we will be having Remedy as scheduled.— Jeremy LaDuke
The Law? · 61 days ago
Hey everybody,
So if you are like me then at some point or another you have wandered what in the world are all those crazy rules in the Old Testament, and do they still apply to me today? Well, clear your desk for the next 5-10 minutes and take a fast-paced tour through the book of Galatians with me. Some of our folks had some questions about this topic so I thought this might be helpful. If you have any questions please comment and lets keep the conversation open.
While the OT law is very important to how we understand what Christ accomplished for us as well as what issues affected the early church, it is no longer binding in the life of the believer. The book of Galatians is about the most explicit argument we have in the Bible regarding this matter. Paul wrote to the Galatian church that was made up of mostly Gentiles in order to keep them from submitting themselves to the OT Law. His argument is made in two ways, which I will describe below. It is important to note however that even though Paul believes the law is no longer binding he redefines it in terms of Christ. That is to say that the Torah was never meant to be permanent, but that when Christ came he shed light on it and redefined how we are supposed to live. The ‘law’ that we are now under is the ‘law of Christ’ which is summed up by loving one another and bearing one another’s burdens.
There has been some debate about whether or not Paul was really speaking of the OT Law when he said such things as “You who want to be justified by the law have cut yourselves off from Christ; you have fallen away from grace (Gal 5:4)”. So I will first give the reasons why the only logical conclusion about Paul’s arguments is that he was speaking of the OT Law in this letter.
In 3:10 Paul quotes from Deuteronomy 27:26 as he begins his argument against the law and says that “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the things written in the book of the law”. The ‘book of the law’ which Paul goes on to argue against is the Torah for that is the only ‘book of the law’ that the Hebrew people had at the time of Deuteronomy’s writing. And whereas some translations translate the Greek word, ‘nomos’ as ‘Law of Moses’, this is more of an interpretation than an exact translation, but here the Greek does translate exactly as ‘book of the law’. Again in verse 13 Paul quotes from the book of Deuteronomy (21:23) who was referring to the Torah. In verse 19 Paul says that this ‘law’ was given and ordained, thus not the supposed ‘Pharisaical laws’. In 4:4 Paul explains that Jesus was subject to the Law. He was not born under the Talmud nor did the Talmud have any authority in his life. Verse 5 goes on to explain that he was born under the law to redeem those under the law. Humanity never owed any redeemable obligation to the Talmud, but we did to the Torah at one point in history. In 4:10 Paul tells the Galatians that they should not subject themselves to special days, and months and seasons which sound very similar to the days and months and seasons found in the Law in Exodus 23:14-17. Paul goes on even more explicitly and draws an allegory from the stories of Ishmael and Isaac and says that Isaac represents the children of the Promise where as Ishmael represents those who are still slaves under the law. Paul says that these two situations represent two covenants. The Talmud was never a covenant. Nowhere in the letter to the Galatatians does Paul ever make a distinction between this Law described above and a Talmudic law that we are not subject to. Every reference to the word ‘law’ in the book (except in Chapter 6, which I will discuss below), is speaking of the Mosaic Law given on Mt. Sinai.
Now that we have established which Law Paul is speaking of we can examine whether or not we are to keep that Law. In Galatians 3:11 Paul says that it is evident that no one is ever justified by the Law. In verse 12 he draws out the contrary nature of the Law and faith. He does not say faith and works, but he is specifically speaking of the Law. In verse 19 he begins to show the purpose of the Law, for it was not just a meaningless thing, but it had a divine purpose from God, which Paul says was to show us our sins. However he also says that it only had a purpose until the ‘offspring’ (referring to Christ) came. We also pick up on this idea in Jesus’ own words when he says that nothing about the Law will pass away until its purpose is accomplished (Matt 5:17-19). And this happened on the cross when Christ cried out ‘It is finished’ (John 19:30). At that moment the Law no longer held us in slavery. Paul explains this more when he says that the Law was a ‘Guardian’ (3:23). It was in a sense a babysitter that held the Hebrew people in check until the promised one came. Now when I use a babysitter, he or she usually leaves once I get home, because I no longer need them there. Paul explains this in verse 25, ‘now that faith has come we are no longer subject to a guardian’. Paul goes on in 4:1-7 that the Law (which he equates with elemental principles) enslaves us, but Christ frees us. To subject ourselves to the Law would be to once again put ourselves in bondage. He reiterates this in 5:1.
At 5:2 Paul is very explicit here about a central idea in the OT Law. He says that if you are circumcised, which is commanded in the Law, then you are cut off from Christ and he is of no benefit to you. The Passover, the meal celebrating the Hebrew people’s exodus from slavery in Egypt is commanded in the law to be celebrated every year (Exodus 13:3-10). So if we are supposed to keep the OT Law then we should be diligent in celebrating Passover. If we didn’t we would be breaking the Law. However the Passover is to only be celebrated by those who are circumcised (Exodus 12:48). So the difficulty comes in this: if Paul is telling people not to be circumcised (which he is), but we are still supposed to observe the Law, then we will be breaking the law by eating Passover as an uncircumcised person. So, here are the logical solutions to this, either the Law is something which we can just pick and choose what we want to keep and what we want to discard, which in my opinion is very dangerous and arrogant, or we don’t actually have to observe the law because its purpose has been fulfilled and redefined by Christ. In other of Paul’s writings he speaks against the need to keep the law. In Romans 3:19-21 Paul says that no one can be made right with God by the law, rather it simply shows our sinfulness. Beginning in verse 21 he says that faith apart from the law is what reconciles us to God and that God’s promise to Abraham overrides and lasts longer the Mosaic covenant (Romans 4:10-12 and Galatians 3:15-18). Moreover, if you really want to fulfill the law then you need to round up all those who dishonor their mother or father, who have ever kidnapped someone, and all the Wiccans in town and kill them.
Now, though we are free from the nit-pickiness of the OT Law, we are still under a law of freedom that Paul calls the ‘law of Christ’. This law is one of love and self-sacrifice. In two places Paul refers to this law. In fact, all the good that the OT Law tried to help us achieve is fulfilled and completed in this law. It is the heart of what God was trying to do in the OT, but stripped down to its most powerful and basic ideas and empowered by His spirit. We are now called to lay down our lives for each other and bear one another’s burdens and by that we are to fulfill the law of Christ. When James speaks of faith and works, and when Paul speaks of faith and works, the works are the outpouring of Christ’s love in us. They are not specific or legalistic, but it is more of a general rule for life.
— Jeremy LaDuke
The Big 3 · 79 days ago
Regardless of our age or stage in life, a new year is a time for reflection and personal evaluation. What do I want to accomplish this year? What do I want to do differently this year? What do I need to change? In addition to the questions we usually ask this time of year, there are three questions we ought to ask. Deeper questions. Questions that force us to look outside the realm of personal goals and accomplishments. Questions that may actually lead us to accomplish more than we ever dreamed. Join the imperfect people at Remedy as we explore these questions that you don't want to leave unanswered in 2010, every Sunday at 1pm January 3-17.- Jan 3 - What is my purpose?
- Jan 10 - Who will I do life with?
- Jan 17 - Where am I going?
— Jeremy LaDuke
The Rudolph Story · 87 days ago
Out of all the crappy things that we have done to commercialize Christmas, I think one of the best things that has emerged from the ashes of a burnt-over Christmas season has been Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer. This is that age-old classic tale of a Reindeer with a glowing honker and an elf that wants to be a dentist. But the great part about this story is that God uses a couple of misfit toys to rescue a whole island of toys that are broken and beat up. And the reality of it is that we are that island of misfit toys... we are the ones who aren't all put together right. But the crazy thing is that God is using us! Who would have thought that God would use the likes of you and me? But he has, and he wants to even more! God is not through with us and still wants to see us change the world with His love. I believe that as we wrap up 2009 and begin 2010 that God has big dreams for us! I believe that God still wants to see people who have been hurt by church, who have turned their back on God, and who have never heard about Christ in a way that makes sense to them transformed with his love in order to transform the world. As I look back across this year it amazes me to see what God has done. Who would have thought that he would have used this island of misfit toys to...
- help a baby and his family go to Vanderbilt to have heart surgery
- help build a well that can save the lives of thousands of children
- help start churches around the world through One Prayer
- give oil changes and helping hand to a dozen single moms
- touch the lives of people trying to find hope at bars in the middle of the night by simply giving them a free burger
- fed a few hundred homeless men and women on Friday nights last winter and Spring
- helped get school clothes for needy kids in our community
- throw a free block party for the Alcoa community with over 200 kids
- show a free movie in the park for the Alcoa community
- hand out over 1000 ice creams and cookie bags door to door through the community to simply show people that God loves them
- try with everything we've got to bridge the racial divide in Blount Co by moving our service to a location that is racially neutral
- grow a service from 15 when we started in Alcoa to over 50 in a few months time
And now, what will happen in 2010? What does God want to do with us? Where is God going to take us? Are you willing to go? Are you willing to give? Join the revolution as we love the hell out of Blount Co. Remedy!!
— Jeremy LaDuke
Merry Christmas From Remedy · 87 days ago
Jeremy, Joel, and Casey wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!!
— Jeremy LaDuke
We're Moving · 96 days ago
We've packed the bags and we're heading down the street to Alcoa Elementary. We are making space for kids and adults as God continues to move in our midst. Be sure to come on the 13th as we set up shop at the school. We may be here for 2 weeks or 2 years, but pray that people's lives are transformed in such a way that we grow beyond the capacity of even the school. We will be meeting in the cafeteria and the best parking will be off of Vose Rd. rather than Springbrook Rd.
The address of the school is 1200 Springbrook Rd. Alcoa Tn. 37701
— Jeremy LaDuke
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Week 3 - Survival Guide · 125 days ago
Week 3Equipment and ClothingThe most important questions we face when brought to the precipice of existence are “What should I wear?” and “What can I buy today that will help me tomorrow?” Well, fear not. Our resident Apocalyptologists are eager to provide you with the answers.If a lifetime of science fiction and post-apocalyptic movies have taught us anything about the future, there will be no shortage of black unitards to wear.
This is an actual product from a survivalist gear website! When you absolutely, positively have to take care of some post-apocalyptic business.Equipment
- Shovels have countless uses at the end of the world. However, in the post-apocalyptic world, all disputes will be settled by hole digging contests. - Duct tape will have only one use at the end of the world...covering edges of paper to prevent paper cuts.- Zip ties and a hatchet. The zip ties are meant to tie down firewood because in the future even the trees have turned against us; according to apocalyptic consultant Manoj Shyamalan.
- Acid rain-proof Poncho. Available in cornflower and periwinkle blue.
- “Survival Candle” created by the Yankee Candle fragrance workshop, this long-lasting, bright burning, citronella candle has a pumpkin spice smell that fends off mutated mosquitoes.Clothing
Black Unitards:As evident of the action shot by Jean-Claude Van Damme, unitards are the clothing of the future because they provide full freedom of movement to escape roaming bands of robots and turned-household electronics. Regardless of the aesthetic value they provide, Apocalyptologists believe that world supplies of fabric will be limited to single pieces of black clothing.
Other Clothing of the Apocalypse:
As previously stated, only black material will be left in the future. However, Apocalyptologists forecast an overwhelming surplus of zippers, buckles, and sporting gear (i.e. shoulder pads). Although the fingertips of every pair of gloves will fall off at the end of the world, gloves will be readily available.
For a printable version click here.
— Curt Kiser