If you are a church-goer, for much of your life you have come to church and been slain with guilt. Churches can so quickly become sepulchers of shame, blame-shifting, and hostility rather than sanctuaries of grace. The Catholic apologist and contemporary of C.S. Lewis, Dorothy Sayers’ writes about the oft-embraced view that the church has … Continue reading Sepulchers of Shame or Sanctuaries of Grace?
Learning Faith in a Risen Savior from a Doubter like Me
In First Person: Doubting Thomas is synonymous with one who refuses to believe something without direct, personal evidence. Doubting Thomas now serves as a succinct way to describe a skeptic. I’m sad about that because I am Doubting Thomas. My name is Aramaic and it means twin. You might read about me in the New … Continue reading Learning Faith in a Risen Savior from a Doubter like Me
The Difference Between King Ozymandias and King Jesus
Percy Shelley wrote one of his famous sonnets in the early 1800s entitled: "Ozymandias." It concludes like this: "My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!" Nothing beside remains. Round the decay Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare The lone and level sands stretch far away. In … Continue reading The Difference Between King Ozymandias and King Jesus
Holy Week Worship Services
Here are several worship services that we have offered during Holy Week. Palm Sunday Worship Service - http://www.box.net/shared/meuhlgyx82 Messianic Passover Seder - http://www.box.net/shared/hg219v3srs Good Friday Worship Service - http://www.box.net/shared/yqd2e5yyt2 Resurrection Sunday Worship Service - http://www.box.net/shared/vufzp8ne68
John R. Mott – Missionary Statesman
In 1891, Kynaston Studd was booked to speak at the YMCA at Cornell University. A rather indifferent Midwesterner student was invited that night to this gathering of college students and only at the last minute decided even to go. Entering late, he was riveted when he heard Studd quote three short sentences from the Bible: … Continue reading John R. Mott – Missionary Statesman
Abandonment Questioned – Why A God-forsaken Messiah?
The Passion Narrative: Matthew 27:45-49 - Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” 47 And some of those … Continue reading Abandonment Questioned – Why A God-forsaken Messiah?
Image is Nothing…Thirst is Everything…Obey Your Thirst
The basic outline below of John 4:7-30 comes from a sermon given by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City entitled: The Living Water. John 4:7-30 - When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into … Continue reading Image is Nothing…Thirst is Everything…Obey Your Thirst
A Wise Woman: A rare find, the fixed center, and focused commitments,
Most ancient and modern cultures demean and treat women as inferior to men…objects to be used, not people to genuinely love and cherish. Not so with Jesus and not so with the wisdom writer of Proverbs. Jesus treated women with courtesy and honor and allowed women into his most intimate group of followers. In fact, … Continue reading A Wise Woman: A rare find, the fixed center, and focused commitments,
Living Wisely by Loving the Right Woman Well
The book of Proverbs has a lot to say about “Loving the Right Woman Well.” Honestly, why should we listen to a man like Solomon who, in spite of his incredible wisdom, couldn’t seem to bring order to his own love life? Here's the best answer I can offer: All truth is God’s truth and … Continue reading Living Wisely by Loving the Right Woman Well
Consider and Avoid the Snares of Death this Easter
What’s it like to be caught in a death trap? To be tricked and ensnared by a supposed gift? Ammi Ortiz, the 16 year old son of a Messianic Jewish pastor, was seriously wounded by a basket delivered to his family’s doorsteps with a simple greeting “Happy Purim!” When he opened it, it blew up … Continue reading Consider and Avoid the Snares of Death this Easter
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