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2020 Plan(ting) for a Breakthrough
In the previous article 2020 Vision for a Breakthrough (1) when King David was in a crisis situation he called on God in prayer and was immediately delivered from his enemies twice by God the Lord of the Breakthrough! Consequently, reading this story your faith was stirred and you called upon God in prayer (1) to deliver you from your serious situation. However, it seems as if God did not respond immediately to your crisis situation. Why King David and not me? I am glad you asked!
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Nomen Est Omen
There is an old Latin saying, “nomen est omen” which means “name is an omen.” At times, the Bible refers to omens and divination positively or without condemnation (Leviticus 16:8-10. Acts 1:26); at other times, such practices are depicted negatively (Deuteronomy 18:9-12). (2) However, what is meant by “omen” in the saying, and this article, is that a person’s name is a “sign” of who a person is in their true identity.
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Christianity’s Hamster Wheel of “Spiritual Advancement”
The heading for this piece takes its cue from an article Casey Chalk wrote, which was posted on January 9, 2020, at The American Conservative website.[1] The main title is, “America’s Hamster Wheel Of ‘Career Advancement’”, followed by the subtitle: “We’re told that getting ahead at work and reorienting our lives around our jobs will make us happy. So why hasn’t it?” Regretfully, the same sort of attitude can be found in various forms of Christianity. It’s characterized by a hamster wheel of “spiritual advancement.” Supposedly, if Jesus’ followers do A, B, and C, as well as avoid X, Y, and Z, they can expect to make steady, measurable progress…
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A prayer for the New Year and beyond (based on Psalm 23)
The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need. He gives me rest in lush meadows, he leads me beside peaceful streams, he renews my life. He brings honor to his name, by guiding me along the right paths. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are close beside me; your rod and your staff reassure me. You prepare a royal banquet for me, in full view of my oppressors. You drench my head with perfumed olive oil; my cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and constant love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell…
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2020 Vision for a Breakthrough
Perhaps you are in a situation where you are suffering (1) physically, emotionally, or spiritually and have been in this condition for months, years, or decades. Perhaps, you have prayed to the Lord, and He has given you His comfort and strength to endure, but you have not obtained victory over the situation.
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The Sign Given to the Shepherds
This will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:12-14)
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Receive Christ’s gift of life!
Historians tell the story about the funeral of Charlemagne. He was the greatest Christian ruler of the early Middle Ages. After Charlemagne’s death, a tremendous funeral procession left his castle for the cathedral at Aix. When the royal casket arrived, with a lot of pomp and circumstance, it was met by the local bishop, who barred the cathedral door. “Who comes?” the Bishop asked, as was the custom. “Charlemagne, Lord and King of the Holy Roman Empire,” proclaimed the Emperor’s proud herald. “Him I know not,” the Bishop replied. “Who comes?” The herald, a bit shaken, replied, “Charles the Great, a good and honest man of the earth.” “Him I…
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God’s Heavenly Pattern for our Spiritual Transformation – Part VII: Our Great High Priest
With His mission to show us God the Father and to make a New Covenant for us completed, Jesus the God-Man is then revealed for who He is – our Mediator, Great High Priest of Priests, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords! (1 Timothy 2:5. Revelation 1:10-18). He is robed in the garment of the Great High Priest appearing as God was described in the Old Covenant (Ezekiel 1:27;8:2). That is, in the fiery beauty of Holiness! Therefore since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. (Hebrews 4:14 NET)
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Declutter our lives? In advance? As a prerequisite? Really?
For the second Sunday of Advent, December 8, 2019, the Revised Common Lectionary readings included Matthew 3:1–12. The focus of the passage was on John the Baptizer serving in his God-ordained role as the forerunner of the Messiah. While I listened to the speaker that Sunday, I became increasingly pensive. This is because the homiletician talked at length about the necessity of parishioners “decluttering” their lives in preparation for the advent of the Savior. Indeed, throughout the message, the speaker emphasized God’s children removing whatever was unnecessary, along with cleaning up whatever remained, in their lives. Allegedly, doing so was of utmost importance. Just to clarify, the homiletician did not…
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The God of the Impossible!
Genesis 17:15-17; 18:9-15; 21:1-7 Time: 2067–2066 b.c. Place: Canaan Lesson Aim: To learn that God can do what we consider impossible. Introduction Promises have fallen on hard times. Once, a person’s word was as certain a guarantee as you could get. Then spoken words became suspect, and the written contract was born. Now we’ve spurned even that symbol of trust. Today it seems there is no contract that can’t be broken in the name of more money, better business, or newer priorities. As it is commonly said, nothing’s ever an absolute guarantee—that is, except God’s Word. When the Lord made His promise to Abraham that Sarah would…
