June 29th, 2009
You’ve seen them. The colorful designs and snappy titles on the inspirational book rack as you move through the store. The offer of blessings and help with every area of your life. Specific formulas on how to manipulate the Kingdom of Heaven to give you maximum benefit.
I like to browse, but I didn’t have the time to check this one out. The title, however, set off some rapid-fire questions in my mind. Why would we put a time restriction on God? The title itself was an imperative, demanding something from the Almighty. (Perhaps adding the word “please” would have given it a touch of humility.) Do we really need a formula for praying?
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June 27th, 2009
I Kings 8:20
The Lord has kept the promise he made.
Promises are firm statements that something will happen as the promiser intended. They’re generally positive in nature because the receiver of the promise needs assurance that things will be okay. Some promises are negative, as in a vow to seek revenge or to inflict harm. While it’s probably a good thing if negative promises aren’t fulfilled, the good promise is binding in that someone is counting on you to keep your word.
The Bible records a number of promise exchanges between God and his people. God always keeps his promises —
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June 20th, 2009
John 16:33
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
Jesus told his disciples that they would be going through rough times. They would be tried and persecuted. Following him would cost them their lives. He also promised them a Comforter, the Holy Spirit, who would guide and teach them. The Spirit would take them through the persecution, and their amazing peace would draw many to Christ.
At any point in time, somewhere throughout the world, someone is experiencing the same severe treatment and facing the same death as the disciples. But the great majority of us Christians will face nothing more than personal rejection by friends and family for our faith. Yet we struggle with having real peace.
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June 13th, 2009
I was listening to a radio preacher the other day, and she seemed to be trying to explain things that were accomplished and completed in the name of the Lord, while admitting that those same things must still be dealt with.
She said that Satan was defeated at the cross, but doesn’t know it yet. Really? I thought defeated meant that he had no more power, was no longer a threat. The message from pulpits across the country is that we still struggle against “the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” It sounds more like Satan will be defeated, but doesn’t believe it yet.
She went on to say that our sins were nailed to the cross, but she admitted that we still struggle with them. I suppose she was referring to the teaching that the cross (the finished work of Christ) provided complete forgiveness for our sins, even though we still sin.
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June 11th, 2009
Romans 8:38, 39
For I am convinced that neither death nor life,
Neither angels nor demons,
Neither the present nor the future,
Nor any powers,
Neither height nor depth,
Nor anything else in all creation,
Will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The Apostle Paul seems to go to great lengths in order to assure us that God’s love is greater than anything that would attempt to keep us away from him. It’s a wonderful verse, and I believe it with all my heart. But most “Christians” don’t.
What can separate us from God’s love? Can hell? Are those that are in hell now on the outside of God’s love? How can he still love them and burn them forever?
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June 7th, 2009
I grew up listening to all kinds of music, from rock and roll to country-western to classical. As an adult I have learned to appreciate all music. Well, still struggling with rap. I know it’s just poetry, spoken in a monotone, with synthesized music buzzing along in the background, but, aside from the frequent nasty or violence-based phrases (which I hate), it just doesn’t do anything for me.
As a Christian (”saved” when I was 17; born again-again when I was 59) I cycled thru hymns and spiritual songs, gospel singing, Christian folk and contemporary Christian. As I now have begun to review and revise what I believe, I must also give serious thought to the music message associated with that belief.
Take, for instance, Julia Howe’s Battle Hymn of the Republic. I’m no longer comfortable with “He is trampling out the vintage where his grapes of wrath are stored / he hath loosed the fateful lightning of his terrible swift sword … ” I don’t think God has to stomp on anybody.
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