evangelism / Judgement / Suffering

Persecuted, Suffering or Hiding?

Philippians 1.29 reminds us that, it has been granted to you not only to believe in Christ but also to suffer for Him.

Fox News recently reported that Christians are the most persecuted religious group in the world, again (HERE).

When we think of suffering however we think only in terms described in this article. In North America, under this definition, we don’t suffer because we are not persecuted. Not wanting to be left out of the suffering conversation, we in North America broaden suffering to include our difficulties: divorce, bankruptcy, cancer etc. (more…)

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April 3, 2017
Christian Living / Theology

Giving and Receiving To and From God

John 17.10 records, Everything I have belongs to You, and everything You have belongs to Me.

In this passage of Scripture Jesus is wrapping up His ministry on earth with a prayer that He has allowed to be recorded for posterity that we might better understand the heart, mind and will of God. In this prayer Jesus reminds the Father that everything He has belongs to Him..pause. What does Jesus possess at this time in His prayer? (more…)

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March 27, 2017
evangelism / obedience

What Food Energizes You?

John 4.34 says the Man, who is God, Jesus, said to them, My food is to do the will of the one who sent Me and to complete His work.

It is a difficult assignment but it is the one we have been given nevertheless; that we live life like God lived life when He lived life among us as one of us. How did the Man, Who is God live life? (more…)

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March 15, 2017
faith / heaven / Judgement / Theology

Why Should We Please God?

2 Corinthians 12.21 records, I will grieve for many of those who previously sinned and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and licentiousness that they have practiced.

The knock on Christianity from adherents of other religions is the ease by which Christians are able to get to heaven. Christianity is the only religion that claims it’s means to heaven is the receiving of it freely from God as a gift imparted by God’s grace through faith in His love and kindness. (more…)

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March 13, 2017
Judgement / money / work

What Concerns God Should Concern Us

Luke 16.15 warns, Jesus said to them, you are the ones who justify yourselves in men’s eyes, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly prized among men is utterly detestable in God’s sight.

This statement by God, warning us that what we value He despises, should terrorize us. Now certainly this cant be true in everything. (more…)

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March 2, 2017
Christian Living / obedience / Suffering

Participating in Jesus’ Baptism

Mark 10.39 records, they said to Him, we are able. Then Jesus said to them, you will drink the cup I drink, and you will be baptized with the baptism I experience.

Jesus’ key men wanted to live their best life now. These guys were interested in becoming Jesus’ chief lieutenants helping Him to manage the world as He became King of kings and Lord of lords. What James and John failed to realize was that Jesus was not living His best life now but rather His worst life now. This is what it meant for Him to drink the cup and be baptized.

The Apostles were interested in the cup and baptism but they misinterpreted its meaning. So too many who claim to be Christians misinterpret the cup and baptism. (more…)

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February 7, 2017
Christian Living / Judgement / obedience

Why Are People Speaking Poorly About God?

Romans 2.24 observes, the Name of God is being blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.

Probably no greater indictment against the Christian could occur than being accused of causing God’s Name to be maligned by non Christians due to their ungodly behavior. God in Jesus expects and warns that His Name will be maligned by non believers. His expectation of this blasphemy is for followers of Jesus living godly lives and proclaiming that faith and allegiance to Jesus alone is necessary for pleasing God will cause the non believers to hate Him and His followers resulting in blasphemy. (more…)

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January 30, 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
evangelism / heaven / Judgement

Who Belongs to the Family of God?

Matthew 12.50 promises, whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.

It is interesting to note what God DID NOT say made people His brother and sister and mother. His relations are not among those who believe in God but is among those who obey God.

Jesus, as God, did not say everyone who believes that there is a God or that God is good, or that God loves everyone or anything else people believe about God, make people His relatives. Certainly Jesus believed in God since He is God. (more…)

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January 12, 2017
Christian Living / heaven / Judgement

Who Is Most Important?

Matthew 10.39 promises, whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life because of Me will find it.

At one time in our not to recent past it was popular to ‘find yourself.’ The remnant of that objective remains in all of the self help and self absorption we still see encouraged today. Everything is about personal happiness and fulfillment.

It is why we have come to espouse that your truth and my truth can both be true while being totally opposite from one another. This narcissism has created a culture without shame and without purpose. (more…)

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January 10, 2017