Oppression of the weak in this world almost seems like a global sport. If you’re like me, you feel like it’s worse than ever. But is it? Oppression of the weak isn’t new. It’s been around for as long as there’ve been people.
Psalm 12 – Oppression of the weak isn’t new More
Church words.
They are a problem.
A big problem.
We (Christians) use words that we learn in church. We know what they mean.
But that doesn’t mean everyone else does.
It’s like slang words/phrases – figures of speech.
The problem of “church words” no one else understands More
Did David know about resurrection and eternal life? Even in Jesus’ time, the Jewish leaders disagreed over whether resurrection was a thing. The Pharisees believed in resurrection. The Sadducees did not. Who knows where this split came from? But did David really know? It seems he did.
Psalm 16 – Did David know about resurrection and eternal life? More
Here’s a headline from Christianity Today: A Year After the Election, Trump’s Effect on Evangelical Churches Lingers. The subtitle says: Political tensions in the pews have calmed, and another survey shows leaders’ Trump support yielded more positives than negatives for evangelicals. That’s all well and good for the feelings of the individuals from a political point of view. However, is it good for spreading the Word of God? You know, for fulfilling things like the Great Commission?
Trump’s Effect on Evangelical Churches Lingers. Good or Bad? More
When we left Jonah in part 2 of this series, he was just vomited onto dry land by the great fish God send to bring Jonah back to Him. It seems there’s a great lesson, pun intended, that Christians need to learn about God from Jonah. Something that kind of reminds me a bit of a scene from Star Wars. The thinking behind “Let the Wookie win” is quite different from the contest of wills between God and Jonah. And yet, the idea of “Let God win”, is just so striking.
What Christians need to learn about God from Jonah More
What’s important to you? Do we even take time to think about that question? Or are we just so focused on “now” that we don’t even know what’s important?
Maybe I should say, what’s important in your future? You know, beyond the next few minutes? Even better, your distant future? Where do you hope to be at the end of your life?
In other words, what’s your life goal? What’s important for you to be able to achieve your life goal? Do I dare even ask if you’ve thought about the next life? What happens after this one?
Who should Christians hate? Who do Christians hate? Wouldn’t it be nice if the answer to both questions was no one? Obviously, unless you’re living under a rock, they aren’t. But then, you know that, because if you were living under a rock you probably don’t have good internet service and aren’t reading this.
Who should Christians hate vs who do Christians hate? More
Does Jesus want to carry us when times are tough? This question is like those tests where we’re supposed to pick the “best” answer. And “yes” is not the best answer! I used to think it was, but I learned that it really isn’t. There is one answer that’s better – although there are several answers that could start with “no, He wants …”
Curious? Confused?
Let me try to help straighten out this question.
Does Jesus want to carry us when times are tough? More
What is the forgotten holiday? Actually, maybe not so much forgotten. More like never really celebrated that much. Ever. I call it the “forgotten” holiday as a nod to Francis Chan’s book – The Forgotten God. Does that help to identify it? If you live someplace like France, Germany, Norway or Sweden – you’ll be wondering why I call it forgotten. Your countries haven’t forgotten. But if you’re like me, in the U.S. – or if you’re in the U.K., Canada or Australia – you get it. Maybe, no matter the country, you get it if you’re Catholic.
So what is the forgotten holiday? It’s Ascension Day.
The problem of the forgotten holiday – Ascension Day More
Predestiny and free will are two choices given to us by Christian denominations. By people, really. Those who influence what denominations believe about what God said. But are they choices given to us by God? You know, the One who gave the words to the people who actually wrote the books in the Bible? What if God’s words, not men’s words, say that predestiny is about the free will choices we make? We begin with Calvinist core beliefs.
Is predestiny about who we are or free will choices? Calvinist beliefs. More
