One. One simple direction. Paradise is yours. All you need to do is follow one simple direction, obedience. You can walk the earth. You can participate with the life lovingly created by your Father - every single soul. Just abstain from temptation, curiosity that detracts, selfishness. Change is a need, a must. We face a difficult challenge, but a change of direction must draw us closer to the Lord. (Matt. 22:37-38)

One would think that sounds easy. If so, why do we find our Father tested? Disappointed? Why do we find failure so easy to accept that some turn…

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GENDER IDENTITY 

Some today are having a crisis when it comes to gender identity. A February 13, 2014 ABC news report identified 58 "gender options" introduced by Facebook for users to identify their gender. Schools are "educating" students in "Gender Identity Terminology" for students to "self-identify their gender" and "select the gender identity term that best describes their experiences". So, I searched the Scriptures and compiled a list of spiritual gender identity terms. After all, it is God "that hath made us, and not we ourselves" (Ps. 100:3).

Male And…

How do we win the fight against fleshly lusts? Several answers come to mind. Pray. Fill your heart with God's word. Fill your time with spiritually beneficial activities. Associate with people who will influence you for good. In Romans 13:14 Paul identifies another key: "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts."

To make provision for something is to think ahead, to make plans, to provide opportunities. Paul's word literally means forethought. Its other occurrence is in Acts 24:2, where the lawyer Tertullus praised Felix, the governor, because…

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We are sometimes asked, “Why don’t you use instrumental music in your worship?”  This is a good question and deserves an answer.  The reason is not that instrumental music is considered sinful per se.  We do not use instruments to accompany our singing in worship to God because of the following:

• It is not authorized in the New Testament, by either command or approved apostolic example.  In every instance in which worship to God involving music is mentioned in the New Testament, vocal music (singing) is specified.
• History records that it was not used by the early church for hundreds…

THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST (Brad Phillips)

In 1 Peter 1:19, the inspired apostle Peter informed that the blood of Christ is precious (i.e. of great value or high price). So, with that thought in mind, let’s take a look at why the blood of Christ is precious. Starting with, the blood of Christ is precious because...

It Redeems.
To “redeem” means, “to gain or regain possession of something in exchange for payment.” A “redeemer” is, “one who rescues another from bondage, or liberates another from any condition wherein one is held.” My friend,…

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