"You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will be qualified to teach others. Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs - he wants to please his commanding officer. Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to…
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"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." 2 Corinthians 4:16
I am officially an Olympic junkie.
I find myself watching things I would never otherwise watch - syncronized swimming (the sport where all the girls look like they are from an '80's Robert Palmer video), fencing (seriously.......stabbing people for medals), and equestrian (which I still don't watch - it is just a bigger version of a dog show for me, but I realize that it takes talent to do all that…
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I think I am going to do a little different post than I would normally do today.
A few months ago I read a little fiction book called "The Shack" by Paul Young (William P. Young on the cover). It is a story of how a man dealt with a tragedy, and through his pain, doubts, and despair came to understand the love of God in a fresh way. That's about all I will say about the story in the event you choose to read it.
This book has caused quite a stir it seems. Not only has it made the bestseller lists nationally, but it has been the subject of much…
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"This is what the LORD says: 'Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.'" Jeremiah 6:16
I got to travel home on holiday this last week. For me, I truly consider home to be wherever my wife and boys are, but if you had to make it a geographical location then I might concede that Atlanta would be what most may call my home.
It's fun to go there and visit, but it sure brings back some memories and rattles my sentimentality at times. Some things…
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Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Psalm 25:4-5
We are living in a Post age where everything seems to lack definition.
Many have labeled the United States as Post-modern, Post-Christian, Post-Conservative, Post-Evangelical, Post-Liberal, Post-moral, or Post-Madonna (ok, so I made this last one up, but seriously, shouldnt we in this country be beyond listening to her at this point........). My brother laughs at all of this stuff…
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Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. Acts 17:11
I guess everyone looks for a starting point in just about everthing they do - so it doesnt surprise me that I get asked all the time by people who are new to faith what they should do first. I guess there could be a plethora of answers (and probably there are a plethora of answers given to someone new to faith in Jesus), but I think what I…
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You diligently study the Scripture because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life. John 5:39-40
God is bigger than the Bible.
Go ahead, catch your breath a moment.........ok, all better? Now, turn off your heresy police scanner and give me at least a listen on this point.
For some, the blatantly obvious facets of this statment get lost in all of the theological webs that they have built (or have been built into them possibly). From just sheer…
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But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9
I am a Protestant, so I am told.
In reality, I much prefer the term disciple or follower of Jesus rather than Protestant. Im not really protesting anything, so I think it just sounds weird. I realize where it came from historically, but right now I am not protesting anything....sort of.
Martin Luther, this cool German who was tapped as the leader…
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Remember Lots wife! Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. Luke 17:32-33
This statement from Jesus above has always made me somewhat uneasy. It has perplexed me - confounded me I guess.
To begin, Jesus makes a reference to a lady from thousands of years before, and she doesnt even have a first name (ok, Im sure she did, but all we get is Lots wife). I guess we could just call her Mrs. Lot. Mr. Lot, at least, has some name recognition in the Bible. He was a relative of Abraham, and he had…
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Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body. Ecclesiastes 12:12b
I just finished some additional education, and I have concluded that I am an expert in nothing. Seriously, absolutely nothing.
In fact, I feel stupider (see - thats not even a word I dont think, it should be more stupider). I cant exactly explain it, but it seems that all of this education has made me realize a few things that I didnt know before. Heres one:
I dont know very much.
I know, brilliant, right? But true. Methinks that the net result of higher…
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