I believe in God. That’s a common answer when someone is asked, “Do you believe in God?” But, is that really true? I’ve been amazed by survey results that appear to show a belief in God but then has so many contradictions in the questions that follow. That’s the reason for the second part of the title – “Yes. I think. Don’t I?”
Do you believe in God? Yes. I think. Don’t I? More
Forgiving the 50 and the 500. A very short parable. About forgiveness and love. Two verses. But it’s embedded in an actual event. It must be very important. This parable ended with a question from Jesus to a Pharisee named Simon. (Not Simon Peter, the disciple.) Jesus told Simon, “You have judged correctly”. Jesus told the woman who was the “target” in the event, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Yes, it seems we can learn much from the parable of Forgiving the 50 and the 500.
The parable of Forgiving the 50 and the 500 More
Who cries for you? Have you ever thought wondered? Maybe you don’t want to even think about it, because you think no one cries for me. But is that really true?
Evil Exists: “Only minutes ago I doubted anything that might be called supernatural; now I knew that I had been naive. I knew neither the extent of it nor the means by which to deal with it, but I was certain that evil existed. I had come face-to-face with it and survived long enough to know at least that much.” from “Immanuel’s Veins” by Ted Dekker
But I was certain that evil existed More
Are you searching for hope but not finding it? The bottom line is that “many” Americans are searching for something that Americans “overwhelmingly” believe is in the Bible. However, even as that’s happening, they also think the country is going downhill. What does that mean?
Are you searching for hope but not finding it? More
The Way Back Home. But the way back home from where? And to where? I first wrote this one back on October 25, 2013. I cried when I wrote it. It still makes me cry. Even when I hear this song now, it’s got a whole added meaning to it beyond the obvious words. And today, March 3, 2021, I’m publishing it again.
Get some kleenex, and see a deeper message in this amazing song – The Way Back Home.
Are we supposed to believe God – believe in God – or follow God? Are those three sets of words all different? Or do they all mean the same thing? Well, it depends. When were you born? What culture do you live in / come from? Most important, are you willing to learn what they meant when they were said? In some cases, that’s almost two thousand years ago. In others, several thousand years ago. We need to look at what they meant when they were said, in order to understand what they mean today.
Are we supposed to Believe God, Believe in God or Follow God? More
Why did Adam and Eve get kicked out of the Garden of Eden?
Because Eve ate the fruit?
There it is – Adam said, in modern words – “She did it!”
And, because we don’t really “listen” / pay attention, we tend to go along with that.
But, if we are listening and paying attention, what do we do with the words “who was with her”? He was there. Many Christian commentaries ignore this phrase altogether and say nothing about it. Others will try to explain it away, saying that other things happened between the exchange between Eve and the serpent – and the moment Eve gave the fruit to Adam. But Adam was there!
Why were Adam and Eve kicked out of the Garden of Eden? More
Is what I know real knowledge or just knowledge? Well, that depends. Knowledge has a dictionary definition. But there’s also a social component related to what can be known and therefore can be considered knowledge. And then there’s our own brains that also get involved in what we consider knowledge, as opposed to something less than knowledge.
Can I trust what I think I know? More
We’ve also told Jesus that His death wasn’t good enough. Sure, we’ll quick to accept His death as payment for our own sins. But when we refuse to forgive, we’re saying that Jesus’ death of the cross wasn’t good enough to pay for the sin of the person that we’re refusing to forgive!
I will never forgive. But if you do not forgive … More
