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In: Bible and Theology, Fear and Anxiety, Legalism, Prayer and Devotions, Sin and Holiness

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:8) Lately, I’ve been using the Verse of the Day for this column (M-F), and I groaned a bit when this came up. In the conservative circles that have heavily influenced me in my walk with Christ, this verse is most often mentioned in the context of disapproving of the media our brother chooses to consume.  We would generally be wiser to take heed to what media we feed ourselves, asRead More →

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In: Bible and Theology, Grace, Legalism, Sin and Holiness

“ Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.” (Galatians 6:1) Many of us today are afflicted with one of two syndromes,  the Nice Christian Conflict Avoidance Syndrome or Bash Evildoers’  Heads  In Syndrome.  Some of us even manage to be afflicted with both. The shamefulness of Bash Evil Doers’ Heads In Syndrome is notorious.  However, Nice Christian Conflict Avoidance is often mistaken for a virtue, while in reality it is harmful to the entire Body of Christ. Because of it, we grow weakRead More →

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In: Bible and Theology, Gospel

Today I’ve been searching the scriptures to unravel which passage labeled in my bible as “the calling of the first disciples” is actually their first meeting of the Lord. Trivia perhaps, geeky of me almost certainly, but it has me most curious since, in my lifetime, I have heard each of the accounts of the first disciples’ early meetings with the Lord preached on as if it was the first time Peter, Andrew, James, and John had met the Lord and got up to follow him without hesitancy, and even bible scholars expressing amazement at such recklessness of following some Rabbi they’d never heard of before. However,  three ofRead More →

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In: Bible and Theology, Prayer and Devotions

“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” (Galatians 6:7-8) This is a rather chilling verse if we have been wont to think grace means we can deliberately sin without consequence. Here we are warned we cannot even inadvertently do so without reaping what we’ve sowed in this life. Yes, we have grace, yes God’s blood cleanses from all sin when we repent and turn to him. ButRead More →

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In: Bible and Theology, Prayer and Devotions

“ Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” (James 1:2-3) The bible likes to turn our expectations upside down. Trials equal pain and pain equals avoid and even loathe. Not joy. Right? Trials often mean sorrow and suffering and other things we’d much rather not go through and even would not wish on our worst enemy. But James gives a really good reason we should see joy in trials. To put it another way, the saying is “growing pains”, not “growing pleasures.” It’s in the seasons of trial thatRead More →