God

Don’t just listen. Do.

Just a thought

The questions:  Don’t just listen to who?  Do what?  And the answers:  Don’t just listen to Jesus.  Do what He said.  In a sense, it seems so obvious.  At least it should seem obvious that someone who calls themselves a Christian would naturally listen to Christ.  And do what Christ said.  And yet, it’s not always the case.  Not only today, but even back in the early church.  Even way back in the 1st century AD.  It seems that old saying, the more things change the more they stay the same, is really true.

Don’t just listen. Do. More

Do we have to kill mountain lions and people to get rid of rats?

Do we have to kill mountain lions to get rid of rats?

A look at ourselves

Do we have to kill mountain lions to get rid of rats?  Apparently the answer is yes.  Can’t we do better than that?  Shouldn’t we be able to find another solution?  Do we even want to find a better way?

I live in the U.S., so that’s my reference point.  But the same questions go for pretty much any other country in the world.  However, my reference point is also as a Christian.  So in some places, those questions may not be quite so relevant.  But still, even then, they might be of interest.

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Do Christians really know what “Christian Hope” is?

Do Christians really know what “Christian Hope” is?

Bible Study, Application Bible Study, Reflective Bible Study, Topical Bible Study

Do Christians really know what “Christian Hope” is?  In a word – no.

“Most of we Christians are blind to the truth of who we really are, and so are afraid to enter the valley of the shadow of death to find the light beyond it. Our hope is that we’ll find it in the next life and so remain powerless in this life, yes?”

from “Waking Up: To Who You Really Are (If You Dare)” by Ted Dekker

I really like reading Ted Dekker.

Although – sometimes it’s just so hard realizing that what he says is just a bit too true.

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brunch - Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness

The Beatitudes

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst …  Sounds like someone who wants to dig into the brunch picture below.  Until we add just two more words.  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.  That really changed, didn’t it?  But still, it could mean “righteous” food, right?  As in really good stuff.  Or for you Guy Fieri fans – food that’s “the bomb”.

Sorry – it’s none of those things.  After all, it’s really supposed to be:

Mt 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.

But even now, do we really understand what this means?  It could be a whole lot more than you think.  Maybe even more than you’re ready to hear?  

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Truth + Half Truth = Half Lie = Lie

Truth + Half-Truth = Half-Lie = Lie

Politics, government, religion and God

Truth + Half-Truth = Half-Lie = Lie.  It’s a progression.  We start with the truth.  Add in something that’s not quite true.  Now it’s a half-truth.  But it’s really half-lie.  And the conclusion we reach with that half-lie is almost certainly an outright lie.  The big question is, are we willing to acknowledge that?  Maybe even, are we capable of acknowledging that?  Or are we so conditioned to even the half-lie that we think even something with the tiniest piece of truth must really be true?

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Messed Up American Theology: Do we believe the Bible?

Messed Up American Theology: Do we believe the Bible?

American Theology is mixed up

Do Americans believe the Bible is true?  Since this country is still overwhelmingly Christian, the answer must be yes.  Doesn’t it?  That depends.  I think approximately 75% of the people claim to be Christian, that’s overwhelming to me.  But how “Christian” are we?  The Christian Bible is made up of both the Old and New Testaments, so maybe we have to look at them in two parts?  Maybe some people believe the New Testament but not the Old?  We’ll see about that.  In any case, something’s wrong, because a recent LifeWay survey says a growing number say the Bible is not literally true.

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Temptation - Did the Pope really change the Lord's Prayer?

Temptation – Did the Pope really change the Lord’s Prayer?

Something from the news

Did the Pope really change the Lord’s Prayer?  He did.  Sort of.  Pope Francis did change the translation of the Lord’s Prayer.  But the original Greek remains.  Christians believe, should believe, the Bible is the inspired word of God.  The translations are not the inspired word of God.  We hope they translators do a proper job.  But a look at various translation and especially at various commentaries on the Bible tells us they often don’t agree.  Even on key points like “lead us not into temptation”, they don’t agree. 

Temptation – Did the Pope really change the Lord’s Prayer? More

Who is God?

Messed Up American Theology: Who Is God?

American Theology is mixed up

Who Is God?  Since a majority of Americans don’t believe even some of the basic teachings of the Bible, there’s no choice but to believe American theology is messed up.  And I mean really basic stuff.  Like critical things about Jesus.  Not surprisingly, they don’t really know about the Holy Spirit either.  And while I say not surprisingly, it’s very sad.  If the theology is messed up, so are we.

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