Here is a short poem/story about a person in a sad place, who is crying out to God. Unfortunately, the response is right in front of them, yet it is ignored. I don’t know who the original author is. Certainly, I have lived almost all of these verses from time to time.
Read moreLearn to see everyone as a teacher. Some will teach you by offering admirable qualities. Others will show you traits that you may wish to soften in yourself. Some will teach you to be yourself, because of how authentic they are. Everyone can offer a lesson. Be grateful for every relationship, no matter how long or short! Be grateful for what you have, which so many do not!
Read moreDoes God speak to you? If someone else says that God speaks to them, are they hallucinating? What are examples of God speaking to someone, both in the past and today? These are all good questions, about something very important. Let’s take a look at the subject of God speaking to people.
Read moreOne thing the scriptures listed next all state is that ministry is more important than tradition. We’ve forgotten this over the years as we take our traditions to foreign countries, and call it evangelism. Its good to bring the gospel to them, but it is not good to mix in our traditions and claim them as God’s. Sometimes, the rules that churches create keep people away rather than attract them. Let’s look at God’s Word through the prism of God’s love.
Read moreThere are those who call Jesus ‘Teacher’, and that is good. I am glad that people believe that they can learn something from Jesus. There are those who call Jesus ‘Savior’, and that is also good. It is wonderful that some people have realized that they need Jesus as a defense attorney when Satan accuses them before God. There are those who call Him ‘Lord’, and that is very good. But there’s more to the story.
Read moreSo many people claim to love scripture, yet don’t live their lives accordingly. True, each and every one of us is “off-track” and none of us has a totally clear and complete picture of God nor God’s plan. I have encountered many people that deeply value reading the Bible, which is good. However, I see little evidence in talking with them that they value their relationship with God. So, let’s have some fun (with no intention of being blasphemous) modifying some scriptures.
Read moreThere are those who use scripture to claim unshakable positions on re-marriage. They believe the “one strike and you’re out” theory applies to marriage. They give more weight to the Law than to Mercy. Jonah stated (Jonah 4:2b) that God was a gracious and merciful God, way back then! Let’s raise some other interesting questions, but first, read on!
Read moreWe have all heard how David was such a hero and took out Goliath, saving Israel. But have we looked into WHY David did it? Was he a “savior”, a selfless hero? Was he noble? Well, we are led to believe that, but that’s not the whole story! He may have been all of those, but he was also many other things. Let’s go through that story in First Samuel, Chapter 17 step-by-step and see things that you may not have been told, or realized!
Read moreThere have been discussions about putting the 10 Commandments in public places. Those that are against it, say that the Government should not endorse Christian principles. They don’t realize that those Commandments are Jewish! There is no record of Him repeating them with a passion to anyone or any crowd! He was not into rules, but relationships. As a Christian myself, I don’t want the 10 Commandments in public places, I want something much, much stronger!
Read moreSimilar in effect to adultery, it affects both the sinner and others. Despite what some may say, it strongly affects any children that the marriage may have produced. (Look at the high teenage suicide rate, is it related to the high legal divorce rate and even higher real divorce rate?) Its after-effects, partly because of society’s attitudes, last a long time and may hinder future relationships.
Read moreI hope by now that you, the reader, are starting to develop a more compassionate view of people who survive a divorce. They need compassion just as all of us need it. Remember Romans 3:23? “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. The Bible doesn’t say “only the legally divorced”. It says “all”. In the Book of Malachi, God speaks to people that have strayed from the path He had chosen for them. Their hearts had grown cold toward Him (and each other). In Chapter 2, verses 14-16, He says to them:
Read moreIn over four decades of an intimate walk with God, I have been pulled into many conversations. More than half of that time I have had a presence on the internet with well over 500,000 visitors from over 90 countries to my website (which this blog replaces). In short, I have been asked a lot of very good questions about God and Heaven. Here are my answers!
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Survival tip: Remember, all marriages have stormy periods. Seek professional help. The sociologist Linda Waite says 86% of unhappy couples who stick it out report being much happier five years later. To stay happily married, learn to chart your way through … The Marriage Map
Read moreDo you want the answer to that new Bible Book Search? Did you find all 66 Books? If not, you can go back to the Search and use the book list at the bottom of the page. Some people have printed that post and marked off books as they found them. If you are ready to see the answer, here it is! As promised!
Read moreI believe that marriage is not a contract. Contracts are written to protect both sides from the other. I do not want to protect myself from my wife, I want (with trepidation) to be vulnerable to her. That vulnerability opens the door for so many blessings. I also am working on being more vulnerable to God, and I have had some progress there. If marriage is not a contract, what is it?
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