Suffering

The Purpose of our Suffering

Hebrews 2.10 describes it was fitting for God, for Whom and through Whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the Pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

How do we test our strength? We test our strength by lifting as much weight as we can or running as far as we can or enduring whatever we attempt as long as we can. Strength is measured against resistance. While it takes resistance to build strength, endurance and perseverance we usually avoid those things in life because they are hard and they hurt. (more…)

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April 27, 2017
evangelism / faith / Theology

Are the Bible and the koran the Same?

Joshua 8.18 records hold out toward Ai the curved sword in your hand, for I am handing the city over to you.

I was listening to two men discuss religion today. The first commented that the Muslims are a real world problem, their book commands them to kill everyone who isn’t one. The second guy commented that the Bible says the same thing so it and its adherents are just as bad.

The first guy rebutted his friend by stating now we live by the teachings of Jesus so Christians are better. This didn’t convince the second guy that there is any difference between ISIS and Baptists. Do both of these books record God telling His people to kill everyone? (more…)

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March 21, 2017
Christian Living / evangelism

What Are You Known For?

1 Corinthians 4.1 observes, people should think about us this way – as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

Christianity is maligned most of the time unfairly. Haters are just gonna hate. Of all the good in the world most is done by Christians.

When tragedy strikes in the world it is the Christian Church globally that steps in through gifts and talents of supplies and workers to help those struck by nature’s worst. You never read of the Muslim mission society, or the Buddhist mission society or the Hindu mission society helping people in need. (more…)

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February 17, 2017
Christian Living

What A True Christian Looks Like

Acts 26.20 states, I declared to those in Damascus first, and then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds consistent with repentance.

What should a Christian look like? A Christian is a disciple of Jesus Christ. A disciple is an obedient follower of the commands of Jesus. Not complicated really but certainly arguable, at least it has been for more than 2000 years. Why? (more…)

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January 27, 2017
heaven / Theology

Everything Depends Upon the Resurrection

Acts 25.19 describes several points of disagreement with him about their own religion and about a man named Jesus who was dead, whom Paul claimed to be alive.

Herein lies the rub Christianity has with every other religion. The founders of every religion except Christianity are dead and their adherents agree those founders are dead. What separates Christianity from the rest is that it claims Jesus, it’s founder, is not dead but alive having risen from the dead after being crucified by men. (more…)

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January 25, 2017
Christian Living / obedience / Theology

The Source of Truth

Genesis 3.4 observes, the serpent said to the woman, surely you will not die. You would think that if God said something it would be taken seriously and believed wholly. After all, it only makes sense that if there really is a God He would be honest, truthful and trustworthy.

(As an aside, no other religion beyond Christianity makes such claims about their god. All of the other gods from those of the Indians to the Muslims portray him or them as deceitful, conniving and manipulative). (more…)

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January 3, 2017
Christian Living / Judgement / obedience

Keeping God’s Reputation

Ezekiel 39.25 observes that God jealously guards His holy reputation!image

All of us want to guard our reputation. This desire reflects our being made in the image of God.

Like God, we care what people think about us and why they think the way they do. Frankly, God’s marketing isn’t very good. God has chosen to limit His brand to the purveyors of His product. (more…)

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October 6, 2016
Christian Living / Judgement / obedience

What Is True Christianity?

Galatians 5.24 observes, those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their imagesinful nature to His cross and crucified them there.

What do Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump all have in common? They would all claim to be Christians. Do they look like Christians? Do we look like Christians? What is a Christian supposed to look like? (more…)

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September 29, 2016