Often, dissimilarity between people makes it difficult to interact without it feeling awkward and forced. When we interact with other Christians, we know that we have the most important thing in common – we are a part of the same body in Christ. But that is the “gimme” answer – simply knowing this does not make our relationships automatically natural or enjoyable. Having Jesus in common doesn’t make us similar to one another! After all, how similar is your eye to your foot? Your kidneys to your brain? Our relationships with one another are not based…
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MANNA FROM HEAVEN
(Jim McDonald)It is interesting to note that some of the subjects about which Jesus taught were based on the circumstances of the moment. In John, 4 Jesus was passing through Samaria and was weary. While His disciples went into the nearby village of Sychar to get food for them to eat, He sat by the well and waited for them. When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus asked her for a drink and she, astonished that a Jewish…
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Opening old volumes can be breathtaking. You covertly anticipate the revelation of a mystery while being caught breathless from the must of time. But sacred, important wisdom is not often captured in only one place. Fact: God is evident everywhere we look. The rise of the sun, feeding life on the earth; harmonies of purpose in creatures sounding their call, even to a most essential bee, with the supportive community it builds. Life is a weave of creation and happenstance. Our eyes flutter in the morning, first, because His design is perfect. Stepping…
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As I write this article, I’m listening to and very much enjoying instrumental movie soundtracks playing via Spotify through a Bluetooth speaker on my desk. But does my opinion of what is beautiful to the ear in other areas of my life carry over into what is right in God’s eyes while worshiping Him? Many verses are clear on the necessity to not stray from the clear authority given in God’s word (Deut 12:32; Jn 4:24; 1Cor 4:6; 2Jn 1:9). So what does the Bible say about instrumental music in our worship today?
While instrumental music was commanded at…
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A RESURRECTED LIFE
(Robert F. Turner)The gospel accounts of the life of Christ are unique in that they depict him as one having lived without sin. They even record Jesus himself as claiming sinlessness (Jo. 8:46). Thus one cannot ignore the significance and implications of...
THE PERFECT LIFE OF CHRIST. Some affirm that this perfect life was lived in order that it might be imputed to us for righteousness and use Rom. 5:10 for proof. But, look at the context. Rom. 4:25…
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In 1845, the Franklin Expedition sailed from England to find a passage across the Arctic Ocean. The crew loaded two sailing ships with much they didn't need: a 1200 volume library, fine china, crystal goblets and silverware for each officer. Amazingly, each ship took only a 12-day supply of coal for their auxiliary steam engines.
The ships became trapped in vast frozen plains of ice. After several months Lord Franklin died. The men decided to trek to safety in small groups, but none of them survived. Two officers pulled a large sled 65…
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Our theme for this year is stated in one verse: “Whatever you do in word of deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father” (Colossians 3:17). To do all in the name of the Lord is generally understood to mean, by His authority of or by the approval of the Lord Jesus. But just to say we are doing something in the name of the Lord, does not mean, necessarily, that it is always by His authority of approval.
For example, near the close of His sermon on…
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“Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” - Psa 139:16
Before the foundation of the world God said I’m going to create (put your name here) in my image. He didn’t do it to entertain himself or to have something to rule over, he did it to give life and then give love to the life he created, because he is love. God knew many of us would…
