Father of the Inklings

Command #73 - Deal With Your Own Faults Before Thinking of the Faults of Others

No pithier visual imagery exists in Jesus' teaching than his clever use of the speck and log in the matter of fault-finding. 

From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

COA #50 - Care For Widows and Orphans

Without reading more meaning than probably exists into workmen being worthy of their hire, or elders being worthy of double honor, nowhere in the New Testament can we identify the precedent of huge church budgets for buildings, administrative staffs, music teams, or even paid clergy. 

From The Commands of the Apostles by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands of the Apostles and other books by Michael Phillips.

Command #72 - Don't Judge

Many of the Commands are implied, but this is a direct, clear, forceful, and unyielding command--Judge not. 

From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

COA #49 - Train Young Men to be Self-Controlled, Young Women to be Chaste and Domestic

The commands slice into our flesh in many ways. They slice uniquely and personally into my flesh at precisely the point of my rebellion and my independence. They will slice into your flesh in different ways than they do mine. 

From The Commands of the Apostles by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands of the Apostles and other books by Michael Phillips.

Command #71 - Do and Think Toward Others As You Would Have Them Behave Toward You

Throughout the Commands, we have repeatedly emphasized that this or that word from Jesus is THE essential, THE first, THE foundational command. "Wait a minute," some may object, "If this is the most important command...how can that be the most important?" 

From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

Command #70 - Take Up Your Cross

The cross has become the essential symbol of Christianity. It was not so, however, when Jesus spoke these words. 

From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

COA #48 - Raise Your Children in the Wisdom of the Lord

How one reads and responds to this command will almost entirely depend on where on life's spectrum one finds oneself. 

From The Commands of the Apostles by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands of the Apostles and other books by Michael Phillips.

Command #69 - Remain Gratefully Aware of Your Spiritual Need

There are many "firsts" in the Gospel story -- the first disciples called, the first command, the first sermon, the first Follow me, etc. We have noted some of these as we have progressed through the Commands. One of the most instructive such firsts occurs in Matthew 5:3: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

COA #47 - Manage Your Households Well

How do we define "manage?" What does it mean to manage a household? The word is fraught with misunderstanding. 

From The Commands of the Apostles by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands of the Apostles and other books by Michael Phillips.

Command #68 - Do Not Pray Ostentatiously and With Empty Phrases

This is a very interesting and seriously convicting command. And one mostly ignored by the vast majority of Christendom's churches. 

From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.