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Carnal Christianity
It must have been a tense moment when Jesus rebuked Peter. The Lord and His disciples had gained the attention of the people of Jerusalem and the surrounding areas. The sick had been healed; the blind received their sight and lepers were cleansed. However, when Jesus began to reveal to His disciples what manner of death He would suffer, Peter scolded the Lord. In fact, Peter said, Matthew 16:22 “Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.” Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get thee behind me Satan, for you do not understand the things of…
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“no-shows”
Luke 14:18 But they all alike began to make excuses. (NIV) The wedding season is upon us. It’s a beautiful thing to consider the bride and groom with all the pageantry: Guests are invited; food is prepared; and a host of plans are made in light of the special day. I have heard a few remarks, however, about the disappointment of “no-shows.” Something came up and someone missed the wedding. After invitations were sent out and tables were set, the expected guests were missing. The parable of Luke 14 is not so far removed from our day. Jesus said that…
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Father’s
Maybe you’ve notice that the biological debate of paternalism has found new footing. With a rise in blended families, divorce, and remarriage, America is dealing with parenting and guardianship. However, our generation is not the first to confront this challenge. In fact, history tells us that both the Civil War of the mid-1860’s and World War 2, which ended September 2, 1945, had to confront this pressing issue. Missing fathers caused an upheaval in the aftermath of war that could not be denied. Almost 1.3 million men died in the Civil War, which left a major deficit in the structure…
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“precious ointment”
Perhaps it missed our purview that the land of Israel is the only country that touches three continents: Europe, Asia, and Africa. Israel was not only the land promised by God, but it also served as the bridge to international trade. It’s important to note such a thing when reading Mark chapter 14. The scripture speaks of a woman of ill repute entering a house and pouring ointment of spikenard on the head of Jesus. Spikenard was a costly aromatic anointing oil extracted from an East Indian plant. Obtaining an alabaster box full of the ointment was not an easy…
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Restoration
Earth science describes the difference between erosion and weathering. While both change the landscape of the earth, one simply moves material from one place to another and the other breaks down material (rocks and soil) without movement. These changes occur over long spans of time except for catastrophic events. The more major the event, e.g., earthquake or flood, the quicker the change. Finances are relatable in so many ways. Massive shifts in gains or losses make for quick movements up or down the financial ladder. An inheritance or some windfall can bolster the status of any family while medical bills…
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Celebrated Day
The Civil War ended in the spring of 1865. It claimed more lives than any conflict in U.S. history and subsequently required the establishment of our country’s first national cemeteries. While families gathered to remember their fallen loved ones, the national scene also took notice. On May 5, 1866, Waterloo, New York became the birthplace of what we now know as Memorial Day. It was celebrated, but not in the way of triumph or rejoicing. This celebration was felt in tones of the heart that gave thanks for the many men and women who died in battle serving our country.…
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Proxy War
Consider Paul’s own testimony. He said, “I delight in the law of the Lord but I see another law working in my members. There is another battle being waged in my spirit to imprison me.” Romans 7:22-23. I am reminded of the decades old conflict in Syria, which still exists today. Bashar al-Assad has ruled the country for many years as a dictator would. Syria’s civil war has seen thousands of deaths by many means, not the least of which is poisonous gas. Over 7 million people have been displaced, the majority of them running away with their young families…
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The little foxes
Song of Solomon 2:15 “Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes. Little foxes spoil the vine.” I often wonder how many people strive to tackle the major problems of life all the while ignoring the smaller ones that spoil the whole. I know there are major issues which cannot be ignored. However, small things rarely gain our attention until they metastasize into something unmanageable. Little foxes look too insignificant to worry about until they destroy the very thing that feeds us. While I cannot exhaust the list, I will offer…
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Who needs to pray?
It might be difficult to imagine that hundreds of years ago people thought they had reached the height of technology. Each generation boasts of their human accomplishments: the creation of gears in Ancient China, tin extraction in Asia, the papyrus in Egypt. The list is exhaustive. Glass was first created in Egypt; the Phoenician alphabet and a water clock in the Middle East. Americans introduced similar wonders with steam engines, the telegraph, Whitney’s cotton gin, the Morse code…the list goes on. Civilizations reached new heights of convenience and productivity. Each believing they had touched utopia. However, with each new invention,…
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What you do for Christ
Of all the questions Jesus asked none rise higher than the ones found here: Matthew 16:26 “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Jesus would not have asked the question unless it was possible or even realistic. Sadly, history is littered with men making trades for their souls. In biblical times, Judas traded away his soul for recognition and a few pieces of silver. Esau traded his birthright for a temporary reprieve from hunger. Demas traded his apostolic…