The perception religious people often have of salvation is that it’s a “get out of jail free card.” It’s an “insurance policy” we can cash in when we need it. One of the reasons I love to read and study the Bible is that it so frequently challenges my assumptions and makes me rethink my…
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“I know what I need. My motives are pure. Certainly this prayer request is something God would want to answer.” How often do these thoughts run through our minds? And when He doesn’t give us what we asked for, we’re perplexed and even a bit agitated. How do we deal with unanswered prayer? Jesus addresses…
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’Tis the season to be thankful. Thankful for family and friends, health and food, clothing and shelter. I enjoy Thanksgiving and the traditions it brings. But the thanks we offer around Thanksgiving has always struck me as a bit forced. Perhaps it draws out the cynic in me, but questions like: “are we really thankful…
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So you say you have ‘faith’. Great! But is the faith you say you have the kind of faith that will save you? The Bible clearly elucidates a kind of faith that is fraudulent; one that will not hold up under the scrutiny of a holy God on the last day. Are you sure the faith you…
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This is the final installment to this short series on “Sloppy Christian Sayings.” The purpose in doing a series like this isn’t to be harsh or critical of what Christians say. The purpose is simply to encourage us to pay more careful attention to the details of Scripture. God bothered to put it there, so…
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I’ve often asked myself, “How do I know I really believe God is faithful?” I can say the words, “I believe God is faithful,” but a well-trained bird can do that too. So how do I know I really believe that? Hebrews 13:5 says this, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be…
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“This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power…” (1 Pet. 1:4b-5a)
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Watching Planned Parenthood executives sipping wine while discussing dismembered baby parts has reawakened many in this country to the barbaric and sinful practice of abortion. So much has been written on this that I’ll refrain from adding another voice to the conversation and instead link to some enlightening articles addressing this injustice.
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“…you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trial. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith…” (1 Peter 1:6b-7a) Why do we face trials? The Bible has numerous ways of answering that question. Sometimes it’s because God is exercising fatherly discipline (Hebrews 12). Sometimes it’s due to consequences…
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As I write this, there are 125,081 cases of COVID-19 and 4,590 deaths from it and the numbers are sure to climb. Italy is on lockdown. Airlines are canceling flights. Events have been postponed. It is dominating the news cycle. As Christians, how ought we to process this? 1) Remember death I know, I know, this…
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