2018 » God versus religion

The Lord gives and The Lord takes away

A deeper look at familiar Bible passages

The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. It’s a pretty common saying. It’s most likely to be used when something bad happens. Like it’s supposed to make people feel better. And it might actually accomplish that goal – if it was told correctly. It’s like the old thing about the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. So here’s the truth about the Lord gives and the Lord takes away. It’s true. However, it’s not the whole truth. Therefore, it isn’t actually “nothing but the truth”.

The Lord gives and The Lord takes away More

Grown-again Christian

Have you ever heard of a Grown-again Christian? Me neither. But the Apostle Paul did. “But for right now, friends, I’m completely frustrated by your unspiritual dealings with each other and with God. You’re acting like infants in relation to Christ, capable of nothing much more than nursing at the breast.” The Message

Grown-again Christian More

Wipe away every tear: the greatest miracle?

Wipe away every tear from their eyes: the greatest miracle?

A look at ourselves

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. This tells of a time when we won’t cry anymore. Will this be the greatest miracle in the Bible? Maybe that depends. For instance – who is being talked about here. Who’s eyes are their eyes? And what does wipe away every tear actually mean?

Wipe away every tear from their eyes: the greatest miracle? More

Is liberal Christianity signing its own death warrant?

Something from the news

Is liberal Christianity signing its own death warrant? That question was from 2012. Maybe a better question for today is whether Christianity is signing its own death warrant – liberal or otherwise. However, I think the best question is can Christianity sign its own death warrant.

Is liberal Christianity signing its own death warrant? More

Confidence in organized religion hits all-time low in Gallup Poll

A look at ourselves

But let’s look beyond just confidence in organized religion. If you have little to no confidence in your church, you probably won’t be involved there. And for sure – if your not involved in your church – you will be saving Nobody’s soul in that church.

Confidence in organized religion hits all-time low in Gallup Poll More

The non-prodigal son

Parables of Jesus

Lots of people know the story of the Prodigal Son. Even many non-Christians. But what of his brother? In Luke’s Gospel, the parable of the Prodigal (lost) Son is 22 verses. Only five of them are about the “other” brother. I can’t help but wonder though …

The non-prodigal son More

Search me, know my heart, test me

A look at ourselves

Search me, know my heart, test me. Who would ever say these things? Do you say them? Maybe you should. Ps 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. That’s from Psalms. So if you’re a Christian, you should be asking this question. Asking no less than

Search me, know my heart, test me More

Tears of God

Is God Still Here & Does He Still Care

Tears of God? I can’t imagine there’s even one second when someone isn’t doing something to make God cry. Maybe someone who hasn’t been saved – dies – and is forever lost. Could be someone who hasn’t been saved yet – but will be. Or someone who has been saved – but even then we still continue to sin and hurt God.

Tears of God More

We can only help the broken world around us if …

A look at ourselves

We can all be that someone who helps the broken world around us. Someone that maybe we didn’t have when we needed them. We can be that someone for one of God’s children today. But we can only do that if we’re willing to be vulnerable ourselves – and share what we’ve been through.

We can only help the broken world around us if … More

Sanitized evil

Examining evil

Maybe that’s a problem – sanitizing evil. No – lot’s of people won’t want to see it. But to some extent – maybe we should. We can’t smell it. We can’t get inside the head of the person who committed the act. And we think – “it’s bad”. But we still don’t really know.

Sanitized evil More