A Legacy of Gluttony
Those of you who are old enough (children of the 50’s and 60’s) will probably remember your parents telling you to clean your plate because “children in China were starving.” It never made sense the way they said it. Wouldn’t it be impractical to gather up the brussel sprouts that my sister and the dog and I didn’t want, and ship them over to China to help those kids? And how would my consumption of those disgusting green balls help those Chinese kids anyway? Obviously, we missed the point entirely, but so did our parents!
Prevenient Grace
Many envision God as a god of wrath who punishes those who believe the wrong things and rewards those who believe the right things. They would have you place more emphasis on doctrine than on works, and more emphasis on works that on relationship. I do not know their god. What I do know is that we will never be holy, never have a perfect understanding of the scriptures, and never accomplish enough good works to be worthy of the love, forgiveness, and eternal life He has promised to His children.
The Paradox of Elohim
Suddenly everyone seems to be discussing the oneness, unity, and plurality of God as revealed in scripture. The paradox exists in many places in scripture, but is most often cited from the Shema, a sacred prayer recited by Jews the world over, and found in Deuteronomy 6:4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.” It clearly states “the Lord is one” or “the Lord alone” depending upon which translation you read, however the the Hebrew word Elohim, which is plural, is the word translated to mean God in the singular.
Pride & Freedom – The Great Deceivers
We have been taught that many false prophets will emerge prior to the return of the Lord. It is up to us to be wary of false prophets, and to test and measure what they teach through study of the word of God as guided by the Holy Spirit. We are all accountable to do this, rather than to simply choose a leader who we would follow based on our own opinions. In the end, there will be judgment, and judgment is not about what you believe, it is rather about
Have I Told You That I Love You Yet Today?
It had been a pretty long time since I really sat and thought about my mother. It has been quite a few years since she passed away, and in all the busyness of life in the 21st century… well there is just not near enough time for quiet reflection anymore. I have to thank my…
Love Confession – Who Do You Belong To?
I am conscious of these things as I write, praying, as I strive to create content that embodies this concept, without pointing a finger and saying anyone is wrong… because it needs to be about communicating Yeshua’s understanding of God, and of Love, in a way that the reader will embrace, rather than reject because it contradicts a doctrine they have been taught in their church. I am clear that
Andy Stanley’s Upside of Tension vs. Problem Solving Conflict Resolution
The subject matter was foreign to me, as I have always tended toward resolving tensions and keeping my personal space a “zero drama zone.” I was pretty proud of my problem solving conflict resolution skills. Apparently, I had something important to learn. Andy began by stating that in every organization there are problems that shouldn’t be solved and tensions that shouldn’t be resolved. My curiosity was piqued, but I was not expecting to be convinced of this.
The Word of God – Secularized and Sold as the Law of Attraction
“The secret” was revealed in ancient times, and is no secret for those who have gone to the Source, the Word of God, to find it. What troubles me most is that the word of God is a free gift, and not meant to be sold for a profit. There is no shortcut or substitute for personal study that allows the Supreme Creator to impart to you wisdom and understanding of His universal laws. In short, “the secret” is simply faith in action.
The World Collage – A New Understanding of Community
What was once just a big blue marble, is now, in my mind, a World Collage…a smattering of this and that from across the globe, that is, in every sense of the word, my community. I have chatted online with them, I have prayed with them, and I have even taken a walk down their street in Google® street view maps. Oh how the world has changed!
…and in the streets they shouted, “Lord, Save Us From Your Followers!”
A very special man, Dan Merchant, had a question that haunted him. “Why is the Gospel of Love dividing America?” So he followed his heart, and for 4 years traveled across America wearing a silly white jump suit covered with bumper stickers, and asked anyone and everyone to just talk with him about Christians and their view of Christianity.
