All Have Sinned and Fall Short, an Unpopular Message I don’t like to hear ‘all have sinned and fall short.’ I prefer clear cut good guys and bad guys. Since Das Boot and Cross of Iron hit the cinemas in the 80s, the movie industry occasionally makes an effort to give the German perspective of World War II. Recently Valkyrie …
How to be Happy as a Materialist
To be happy as a materialist is possible. Dave Peard once said to me that money couldn’t buy happiness, but you could buy a Porsche and drive up real close to it. I’ve given it some thought, and I think I’ve figured out how you can be happy as a materialist. First, carefully guard your base of friends and make …
The Cost of Following Jesus, Matthew 8:18-22
What does it mean to truly follow Jesus? In Matthew 8:18-22, two men pledge their loyalty to Christ, but their hesitation reveals a profound truth: following Jesus demands everything. This post explores the cost of discipleship and challenges us to examine what we’re holding onto instead of trusting God fully. Cost of Following Jesus: Matthew 8:18-22 Matthew 8:18-22 ESV …
Worship or Sunday Sacrifice: Is Your Religion Classic Greek?
Worship or the Sunday Sacrifice In early Western history, morality and religion lacked the link many people accept and expect today. In contrast, a classic Greek separated ethics from religion. Usually Greeks and Romans participated in worship so that the gods would leave them alone asking them to please stay out of their lives. On occasion, a Greek or Roman …
Remember Christ, A Poem by Paul Ray
. REMEMBER CHRIST Since storms will come and winds will blow Since people die and conflicts grow Since plans will fail and leaves turn brown And friends will sometimes let you down Remember who gives life and death And loved us with his dying breath. * Since stocks will crash and chairmen lie Since cancer kills and crime’s too high …
Christian Meditation for Panic and Fear
Christian meditation serves as an extension of prayer and assists me in keeping my mind focussed on God. More relaxed concentration benefits all areas of my life. Many distractions hit me daily and cause me to lose focus on God and the best of life. This practice of Christian meditation enables me to concentrate more easily and deeply on my …
Calling found in Journey: Matthew 10:1-4
Looking for an Easy Answer to Calling? To find calling, I need to prepare myself for a journey without expectation of a specific answer, time, or place. Obtaining this answer requires effort: mental, spiritual, and maybe even physical. Most of all, it requires I prepare myself to hear the whisper of God’s Spirit. Matthew 10:1-4 Jesus called his twelve disciples …
Praying Workers are Few Matthew 9:35-38
Today, praying workers are few. Why? Praying workers are few because many church workers look to the need described here, ‘harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd,’ run out to meet the need, but disobey the command stated here, ‘Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers.’ The command contained here is to ‘ask the Lord,’ …