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The Narrow Gate May Not Lead To The Halls Of Power
This doesn't exactly make for an attractive religion. The "gate is narrow and the way is hard"? I wonder if sometimes we are guilty of trying to widen the gate and ease the way and in doing so are really…
Created 4 months ago
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The Intersection of Justice and Mercy
In reading this passage in Matthew chapter 1 I was struck by the description of Joseph as being a "just man". Joseph and Mary were betrothed. In their culture the betrothal was a formal version of being…
Created 4 months ago
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The Problem of Competing Interpretations
Wouldn't you have like to have heard this? While I would probably consider myself pretty biblically literate, there are parts of the Bible I don't always understand. One thing that I find really difficult…
Created 4 months ago
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What? No Marriage In Heaven?
Jesus was asked a question by some religious folks who weren't really looking for an answer but instead were looking to instigate trouble. But their question centered around marriage, heaven, and life…
Created 4 months ago
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Increase My Faith To Remove My Doubts
I can relate to the apostles' request. How often I've prayed a similar request. But I don't have a desire to throw mulberry trees into the sea, or to move mountains. I want to increase my faith in order…
Created 5 months ago
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The Corrupting Influence Of Religionists
Shortly after witnessing a confrontation between Jesus and the religious authorities of they day, the disciples mistakenly assume that Jesus was admonishing them about lack of food when he warned them…
Created 5 months ago
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Finding Peace For Troubled Hearts
When I read this verse my first thought was about a line in the book The Lord of The Rings where the elf Galadriel welcomed the fellowship of the ring to Lothlorien. The fellowship had struggled mightily…
Created 5 months ago
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How Do People Know You Follow Jesus?
It's interesting that near the end of his ministry, Jesus gives this command to his disciples. I think that this proximity shows the importance that Jesus placed on this command. People would know that…
Created 5 months ago
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Your Speech Is A Reflection Of Your Heart
One of my greatest struggles is with my tongue. Too many times I have spoken careless words and let those "evil treasures" buried deep inside me come to the surface in the things I say. No matter how…
Created 5 months ago
Matthew 12:35 (ESV), Matthew 12:36 (ESV), Matthew 12:37 (ESV)
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Too Busy To See Jesus
So who are you more like Mary or Martha? Martha's problem was that she was too busy doing good things to see Jesus. Those things she was doing, serving others and meeting their needs got in the way with…
Created 5 months ago
Luke 10:38 (ESV), Luke 10:39 (ESV), Luke 10:40 (ESV), Luke 10:41 (ESV), Luke 10:42 (ESV)
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To Deny Myself Every Single Day
This verse is a popular one. It's not unusual to hear it quoted in all kinds of different contexts. As I was thinking about this verse and what it means for me I first thought that to "deny myself" might…
Created 5 months ago
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Politics And Pandering To The Faithful
I don’t like being patronized. Yet it seems like every political candidate of every stripe goes out of their way to “practice their faith” before men. This election season has been particularly bad in…
Created 5 months ago
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Eating And Drinking With Those People
I must admit that there is quite a lot in the Bible that makes me uncomfortable. This is one of those passages. It makes me uncomfortable because I can identify with the Pharisees and their questioning…
Created 5 months ago
Luke 5:27 (ESV), Luke 5:28 (ESV), Luke 5:29 (ESV), Luke 5:30 (ESV), Luke 5:31 (ESV), Luke 5:32 (ESV)
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To Follow Jesus Means Leaving Something Behind
Simon, Andrew, James and John were all much braver than I am. When Jesus called them, they all walked away from their livelihoods to follow him. Simon Peter was married and had a wife to support. I don’t…
Created 5 months ago
Matthew 4:18 (ESV), Matthew 4:19 (ESV), Matthew 4:20 (ESV), Matthew 4:21 (ESV), Matthew 4:22 (ESV)
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Handling Disappointment With Grace
I must admit, I don't think I would make a very good John The Baptist. I mean John was really sacrificing for his faith. He was living in the desert. He was wearing terrible clothes and the food he had…
Created 5 months ago
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Submission
“And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them.”While I have read this passage many times over the years, it was almost as if I had never noticed that sentence. I also find…
Created 5 months ago
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Earned a Badge — Shared a Reading Plan
2011-12-31
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Earned a Badge — Completed First Reading Plan
2011-12-31
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Brevity
The psalmist's comments make me think about just how brief our life really is. In the time it takes for a speeding car to swerve into our lane, our life could end. We should always live our lives knowing…
Created 5 months ago
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War & Pacifism
Often times when we think that war runs counter to Christianity. That to be a Christian means pacifism. But this isn't the case. There are times that even a man of God will be called upon to fight.…
Created 5 months ago
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Seeking God
Isaiah urges us to "seek the Lord" while we have the chance. During our lifetimes, it's easy to think that we'll always be able to seek God "later" and to live for ourselves right now. The problem with…
Created 5 months ago
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Guarding Our Mouth & Heart
The psalmist's cry that God "set a guard" over his mouth is one that I could make. How often it is that my Christianity falls short because of my mouth and the words that come out of it. In fact, if…
Created 6 months ago
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The Same Destiny Awaits Us All
Job's lament here is that whether you are good or are evil, the same fate awaits us all. We will all die. While that may be true regarding our earthly fate, Job here is not taking into account our eternal…
Created 6 months ago
Job 21:23 (ESV), Job 21:24 (ESV), Job 21:25 (ESV), Job 21:26 (ESV)
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Earned a Badge — Created 10 [Public] Notes
2011-12-10
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Keeping Score
Aren't we fortunate that God isn't keeping score of our iniquities? If He did, we would always be found on the losing side. Because of the forgiveness He offers, we can always be assured that the score…
Created 6 months ago
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Modest Blessings
At first glance, these verses promise what appears to be a modest blessing; if you fear God, you'll have food, and a nice family. It says nothing about a successful career as a high flying corporate executive,…
Created 6 months ago
Psalm 128:1 (ESV), Psalm 128:2 (ESV), Psalm 128:3 (ESV), Psalm 128:4 (ESV)
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A Simple Gospel
The Gospel is quite simple. Believe in Jesus, in his identity and you will inherit eternal life. It does not require any other acts or deeds. Believe in Jesus, look forward to eternity with God.
Created 6 months ago
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Government on His Shoulders
Won't it be nice on that day when the government is on His shoulders? No more bickering between political parties. No more bitter fights over competing interests. One day we'll have a leader who will…
Created 6 months ago
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Earned a Badge — Created First [Public] Note
2011-07-03
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Earned a Badge — Shared a Bible Reference
2011-05-24
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Earned a Badge — Created Your First Bookmark
2011-03-13
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Earned a Badge — Subscribed to First Reading Plan
2011-02-13
