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On the Anniversary of Dad’s Death
“Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment accompanied by a promise, namely, “that it may go well with you and that you will live a long time on the earth” (Ephesians 6:2-3). Today is the anniversary of Dad’s death. Dad was a complicated man, to say the least. Recently I was talking to a Christian brother and, essentially, said that when we die it might be said for any of us believers: “He was a Christian… and he was a mess in many ways.” We never outgrow our desperate need for Christ. Anyone who knew my dad knew he had struggles, but they also had no doubt…
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An Interview with Theologian Nika Spaulding: Instinctive Theology
Today I’m happy to have as my guest Allie Mock, who talked with theologian Nika Spaulding about the need to have our theology deeply ingrained in us: Without even thinking about it, Nika Saulding instinctively jumped up and chased the man down the street, vaulting over chairs and pushing aside tables. She could see her laptop tucked under the thief’s arm. Her legs burned as she put on a burst of speed. Ahead of her, the thief veered off the sidewalk and straight into a getaway car. Nika watched, helpless, as the car skidded away, her computer safe inside. Replacing her laptop, though annoying and expensive, wasn’t Nika’s first concern.…
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Character Counts!
In 1980, a critically acclaimed movie titled The Elephant Man hit the theaters. It told the story of John Merrick, a severely deformed person living in Victorian-era England. Due to Merrick’s disfigurement, he spent much of his childhood on display in circus sideshows. And in his adult life, he was both a medical curiosity and an object of ridicule. To nearly everyone, his notoriety was due to his horrible appearance. Then Merrick met a surgeon named Frederick Treves. Despite his interest in Merrick’s condition, Treves was also able to recognize the person beneath the misshapen features. The surgeon discovered that Merrick was a highly intelligent and creative…
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Christmas Music
As we anticipate the coming of Christmas in our hearts, homes, and churches, we are already enjoying the sounds of Christmas music that accompanies the season. There are radio stations playing non-stop Christmas music and stores playing upbeat Christmas songs as we shop. Some of the most beautiful music we hear during this season comes from our churches on Sunday as we join our voices in singing timeless Christmas carols. Christmas music programs are at their best during Christmas and Holy Week as they present music to their audiences, all for the glory of God and to celebrate His coming. Liturgically we celebrate Advent until December 24, followed by Christmastide…
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TEACHING A CHILD TO TRUST GOD
The difference between Christianity and other religions is summed up in the word, relationship! In America, we put the words, “In God we Trust” on every bill that goes into our pocket. By the way we act when our pockets are emtpy, It would seem we trust more in the dollar than we do in our God. Relationship is built on trust. So how do we teach our children to trust in God? Our children come into this world totally dependent. We believe it is our goal to teach them to become independent adults. What if that goal is not the best one after all? They already come into the…
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A False god to Bring You Comfort in “The Shack” (“The Shack” Review, part 2)
“True worship must worship God as He exists, not as we wish Him to be. The essence of idolatry is the making of images of God. An image is a shadow, a false representation. We may not bow before a statue or a figure, but if we make an image of god in our mind that is not in accord with God’s revelation of himself, then we are not worshipping in truth….” writes James R. White. “If we love Him and worship Him as He deserves, we will not dare to ‘edit’ Him to fit our desires.”[1] “Watch out for false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing” (Matthew…
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“The Shack”, a Review, part 1
“Brazen and insolent, they are not afraid to insult the glorious ones…” (2 Peter 2:10).[1] “Mack turned and faced him, shaking his head. ‘Am I supposed to believe that God is a big black woman with a questionable sense of humor?’ Jesus laughed, ‘She’s a riot!’” – Excerpt from The Shack, by William Paul Young.[2] The long-awaited movie version of the novel The Shack, by William Paul Young, is finally released. According to the book’s front cover, The Shack has sold over 20 million copies worldwide. Wikipedia lists it as a “Christian novel”, and one that has made the New York Times best seller list. Well known people, including Christian…
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Shaping Abstract Truths To Form A Firm Foundation – #2- God’s Image In Mankind Became Distorted at the Fall
God has complete unity in HImself, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He made humans to live in unity and community with Him. God planned from the beginning for Adam and Eve and all their descendants to walk and talk with Him daily. “ . . . the man and hiswife heard the sound of the Lord God moving about in the orchard at the breezy time of the day. . .” Gen 3:8 The Net Bible Imagine that for a moment, as you are going about your daily business when suddenly you hear the sound of Creator God moving about. He is with you, there to visit with you in person,…
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Is God More Male than Female? Why Did Messiah Have to Be a Man?
The gold ceiling in St. Mark's Basilica in Venice represents God the Father. Is God more male than female? Of course not. Nor is he more female than male. God is spirit (John 4:24), so God has no sex. Father and Son are metaphors, not sexual identities. The early church never depicted the Father as a male human. But later…well…consider the Sistine Chapel’s “The Creation of Adam.” Michelangelo painted the Father as an old man with white hair and a long beard. But in earlier centuries, it was considered heretical to portray the Father in human form at all. Only Jesus could be depicted in art, because he did indeed…
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The Apostolic Creed: Why Should We Teach It?
It is a disturbing trend that children in many American churches today are more likely to be called upon to recite the Pledge of Allegiance than the Apostolic Creed (or Apostles’ Creed). I believe such a creed is very apropos to learn today, though children’s ministers and pastors may choose to make slight modifications to the creed or to further explain certain parts of the creed to improve their understanding. I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth: Children learn here two truths about God the Father—He is Almighty God and the Creator of Everything. And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son,…
