“Say These Words…”

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During the terrorist incident in Mali this past week, many hostages died. But one hostage was let go after an Islamic attacker told him to recite verses from the Koran. This reminded me of an episode of Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown where he was at the wailing wall in Jerusalem. Anthony said he didn’t believe in a higher power. But after finding out he was a Jew, a rabbi quickly grabbed him, strapped on a phylactory, and got him to recite the words of a bar-mitzvah blessing. I think it’s pretty obvious the freed hostage did not become a Muslim merely by reciting verses from the Koran, just as Anthony Bourdain did not become a practicing Jew and believer in … Continue reading →

What The Good Shepherd Doesn’t Do

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The Good Shepherd (Jesus) doesn’t… … Leave me hungry, … “Feed” himself at my expense, … Leave me unprotected from predators and robbers, … Leave me where I was driven to, … Abandon me when I stray away, … Let me stay “weak” or “sick”, … Consider me just a business burden (as the hired shepherd). (Ezekiel 34, John 10)

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Zombie Ants and the Flesh

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For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I do not wish to do, that I do; moreover, what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I do not wish to do, I agree with the Law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I doing it, but sin that dwells in me. – Romans 7:15-17 (VW) Paul struggled with sin, even after he was saved. He wanted to do good by obeying the Law, but he found he was not able to. No matter how hard he tried, he kept doing what he didn’t want to do. It was like he had two natures: one that rejoiced in God’s law, … Continue reading →

Personal Apologetic: Prophecies About Today

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When examined closely, modern-day prophecy fulfillment puts an end to the skeptic’s arguments against the existence of God and the inspiration of the Bible. (Perhaps for this reason, the skeptic won’t examine the evidence.) If only a few prophecies were fulfilled, one could say they happened by chance. If they were written obscurely or symbolicly, their fulfillment could be open to any number of interpretations. But we have already looked at multiple prophecies with recent specific fulfillments, and none have failed. Before moving on in this series, I want to look at one more area: what the Bible says about the conditions of the end times. How does today’s world match up with biblical prophecy? There are quite a few … Continue reading →

Personal Apologetic: The Restoral Of National Israel – Pt 2

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There is a difference between chance occurrence and faith in God. You can rely on what God has said, but you can’t rely on chance. One way to know God exists is seeing Him keep His promises, and one of the strongest examples of God’s promises being fulfilled has to do with the dispersion and latter-day restoral of Israel (Jeremiah 30). In past articles in this series, we’ve looked at how God foretold the history of His dealings with Israel. He promised blessings on them if they would obey Him, and cursings if they didn’t. Israel chose to rebel, and all of the cursings happened one by one. Israel was eventually scattered throughout the world. And yet they retained their … Continue reading →

Living For God’s Glory

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George was not happy with the way some churches in his area were supporting themselves. Some were renting pews to the wealthy and asking non-believers for money. George thought this was wrong. He felt the church should trust in God to supply its needs without having to ask the world for help, because he believed his heavenly Father could be trusted to support His people and His work. So in 1830, for the benefit of believers and unbelievers, George started an experiment in faith. He gave up his pastoral salary, sold all he possessed, and trusted in God alone for his support. He made it a point never to tell anyone else of his needs, because he believed that God … Continue reading →

How To Gain Victory Over Sin – Additional Notes

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Here are some additional notes that didn’t make it into the book, but may appear in a second edition. How To Gain Victory Over Sin was intended to draw attention to the most neglected, yet essential part of resisting temptation, but it isn’t the only important part. You should also spend time with other like-minded believers where you can share each other’s struggles and burdens, pray for, and encourage one another. Each member of the Body of Christ needs the others to grow. Book location Notes Page 4“He begins with our need for salvation…” Our need can be seen in Romans 2:1-6, our inability to save ourselves in Romans 3:9-20, and God’s solution to our problem in Romans 3:21-26. Page … Continue reading →

The Blessing of Leaving All

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And Jesus again answering says to them, “Children, how difficult it is that those who trust in riches should enter into the kingdom of God! … Verily I say to you, There is no one who has left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake and for the sake of the gospel, that shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time: houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions, and in the coming age life eternal. But many first shall be last, and the last first.” – Mark 10:24,29-31 JND How rich is too rich to enter the kingdom of God? It’s easy … Continue reading →

Beware Of Leaven

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… When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” … Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. – Matthew 16:1-12 (ESV) The Pharisees and Sadducees are no longer with us, but their leaven is. You can’t see it, but you can see its effect. Most bread today is leavened with plain yeast. But yeast in packets or jars was not available until relatively recently. Leavening in Bible times was accomplished by using a bit of dough from the previous batch to … Continue reading →