"My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you." James 1:19-21
There is something powerful about humbly submitting our lives to the Word of God. But it's not easy sometimes.
Just as Jesus talked about in the parable of the soils, hearts have differing degrees of fertility.…
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"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4
The weather here in our neck of the woods has been pretty great of late. The trees and flowers are popping (along with all the allergens), and these are the scents that usually call me to a baseball diamond. I played alot of baseball growing up, and now my two boys play alot of baseball (and…
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"In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit." Ephesians 2:21-22
Sometimes things happen that remind me of the importance and scope of the mission God has called us to embrace. One of those things happened recently.
My friend, Karl Eastlack, who has spent the last 22 years pastoring Eastern Hills Wesleyan Church in Clarence, NY, has sensed that God is leading him to take the role of CEO of World Hope…
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"His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord." Ephesians 3:10-11
The above passage is one of the most thought provoking and awe-inspiring passages that I have encounteredup to this point in my journey of faith. I have taught on it (see message titled "Mystery" in the media content of this site), but obviously I can only scratch the surface of what could be said…
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"Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. How awesome is the LORD Most High, the great King over all the earth!" Psalm 47:1-2
A lot of things would get fixed in our version of "Christianity" if we could really grab hold of the vastness of God.
God is the God over every nation, every government, every people group, and every culture on the face of the earth. We forget that to our detriment. Unfortunately, the American church can sometimes plunge into that sea of forgetfulness with reckless abandon. A briefglimpse of the…
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"Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know." Job 42:3b
Tragedy does a lot of things - not the least of which is to challenge our theology.
When something horrific happens "over there" - in some place that doesn't touch my place - then we have a lot of pat answers about the what and why it all occurred. But when a commercial airline flightcrashes down on someone's house, near enough to your own house, then your theology isn't as airtight anymore. And that is exactly what happened here in our Buffalo…
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"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body." Philippians 1:21-26
I have, on more than one occasion, wanted to just go be with Christ.
Of the times I recall wanting to do that, it seems that all ofthem were high stress, turbulent, trying, wearying times. I just wanted an escape…
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"Surelyyou have heard about the administration of God's grace that was given to me for you, that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly." Ephesians 3:2-3
I don't even remotely comprehend grace.
I understand some of it's implications and benefits though. God's grace in saving me when I was dead in my transgressions and sins (Eph.2:1-10). God's grace in the way He condescends to speak to me in ways that I can understand. God's grace in the way that He disciplines me (ever thought about that? How does…
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"Love and faithfulness keep a king safe; through love his throne is made secure." Proverbs 20:28
As I type in my office, the television behind me is broadcasting all the sights and sounds from our nation's capital. It is a day that is always one of the most covered events in our nation every 4, or 8, years because it is a day that sets a new administration in place, led by a new President of the United States. Today, Senator Obama becomes President Obama.
The history of this event is not lost on most in this nation. The first African-American…
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"To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, 'If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free'." John 8:31-32
Sometimes just understanding what it means to be a disciple of Jesus is tough. It's not that difficult of a concept really, and most of us have a basic understanding of what a "disciple" is, but it still seems hard sometimes to actually figure out what that looks like for us.
For many, the idea of being a disciple of Jesus has to do with the "spiritual" things we…
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