It was about 2,000 years ago when Jesus walked this earth as a man to fulfill the necessary requirements of justice and give his life as a ransom price for Adam and therefore for all mankind. We see that sacrifice as the pivot point of human history – and it was, but Jesus himself assured […]
Oh boy! Here we go, right into the belly of the beast called equality! Why do we call it a beast? Because it does appear that gender equality is grossly misrepresented and misunderstood! Belief in equality is key, but should men and women, in all things, be consistently measured with the same yardstick? We ARE […]
Jesus taught us about a lot of things in a lot of different ways, but it seems as though his favorite method was to teach in parables. In the parables of the Pounds and Talents, Jesus is either teaching us that he wants to give us money – or – he is teaching us a […]
Time for a Christian Questions pop quiz! Who here in our listening audience is so satisfied with their Christian life that they see no need to focus on further change or development? As you look at your life and imagine yourself before Jesus would he say to you – wow, your character is so fully […]
Just think – in just a few days the anticipation will be over and we will get to finally open all those presents! We will finally get to see if we will get what we really wanted or if we end up with some lame gifts… Wait a minute! Has it really come down to […]
There are many analogies that depict the life of a Christian – growing as wheat, being sheep, being fishers of men, being a member of a body, growing from a baby to adulthood, brotherhood and being a soldier. Now, how is it that we who are followers of the Lamb of God can possibly be […]
Grace…even speaking the word seems to give a sense of calm. It is almost as though the word itself emits a fresh and breathable air that clears away the stuffiness of a confused life. Grace can have lots of different meanings, from something that comes with elegance to a powerful heavenly gift. So, what is […]
The Thanksgiving holiday – it is a most misunderstood and misapplied American tradition. We all love the day off, the gathering of families and friends, the abundant food and the design of the day for leisure, but what was it originally? What was the reason for that original feast back in 1621, and what was […]
Prayer is an almost universal phenomenon. People pray to all kinds of “gods” and we pray about all kinds of things. We use all kinds of tools to help us pray – prayer shawls, wheels, rugs, books and beads, to name a few. People pray to worship, to ask for help, guidance, peace, patience, strength, […]
Freedom is a good thing. Freedom to choose, freedom to act, freedom of thought – all good things. Our society touts this right of freedom especially in the case of a woman’s right to choose. Freedom though, without responsibility – this is NOT a good thing, for it takes the liberty of freedom and applies […]
(Part 2 in a 2-part series) About a month ago we began talking about leadership – Christian leadership – and how important it is for a Christian community – any community – to have significant leadership. Without leadership, people tend towards their own way and more than that, without leadership people tend towards a self-centered […]
Daniel was a good, righteous and deeply faithful man. From a very young age, he showed himself to be wholly keyed in on being in lock-step with obedience to God. God, in turn, blessed Daniel in many ways, from preserving his life, to granting him ability to interpret dreams, to elevating him in power, to […]
So, it’s fall and once again we are all gearing up for the big holiday. You know the one – it’s the holiday where kids rule and get stuff, where everyone suddenly seems to be in a giving mood and for one night anyway, freely gives to anyone who passes by. It is the holiday […]
We are blessed – truly blessed – to know Christ and to have the opportunity for salvation before us. In light of this blessing that is claimed by Christians, some have raised the question if you (Christians) have this blessing and path to God’s favor while the vast majority of the world’s population does not, […]
In Part I, we began an important discussion regarding God and His treatment of humanity in the Old and New Testaments. There are many who say that the warlike and nationalistic activities of the God of the Old Testament cannot possibly be the same as the God of mercy love and salvation of the New […]
(Part 1 in a 2-part series) Leadership – In today’s world, it is one of the most important necessities of life and sadly it is one of the most absent aspects of life. Humanity needs leaders. We need leaders to show us a vision, to clear a path, to walk the path first and to […]
As Christians we believe that we have been given the answer for the major dilemma of life – sin and ultimately death. We believe that the life, death and resurrection of Jesus put back in balance what Adam’s sin originally put out of balance. The problem is this: We as Christians cannot agree as to […]
Several weeks ago in Part I, we began to tell the story of a hero – not the kind of hero that rises up in courage to do a deed that changes the outcome of an event – rather, the kind of hero who lives his vision for a lifetime and changes the world as […]
(Part 1 in a 2-part series) Ours is a world of great contradiction. Some say the ends justify the means and others say that the means are an end in themselves. Some say equal treatment is giving everyone the same while others say that equal treatment is giving each what they need. Some say that […]
Gossip – it is an integral part of our society and has been a constant in the history of humanity since the beginning of recorded history. If gossip is such a staple to society, doesn’t it seem reasonable that there must be something redeemable about it? By the way, did you hear what happened to… […]
We as Christians cling to the truth that God is Love. We cling to its stability, its longevity and its unchangeableness. God is Love. So, what does that mean and how far does that extend? Does God love all things? Does God love this world and all in it – the evil included? Does God […]
We have all had experiences – real life experiences – that have triggered a bitter reaction in our hearts. This can actually be a very natural reaction. As we look at the harsh experiences of some we often say things like, “who can blame them” or “I’d feel the same way if that happened to […]
Here we are in the 21st century and Christianity has really taken on a different look than when it all began. So, what is following Jesus all about? Is it costly? Is it pleasant? Can we customize our following of Jesus to our personal preferences? How do we know if we are really following him […]
A few weeks ago we talked about worry, what it is, how it works, and most importantly, how to work through it. Well, today we thought we should look at worry’s opposite, happiness! What makes us happy? Is happiness elusive? Are there different kinds of happiness? How, where, when and why do we find happiness? […]
Everybody loves a hero…someone who goes above and beyond the call of duty…someone who puts their own interests aside for the greater good…someone who does those things that others can’t or won’t. Usually these heroes are recognized as a result of a particular event or crisis and we laud their contribution. It is a rare […]
We all worry and we all get anxious at times. Well, if we are people of faith – I mean if we are really people of real faith – then shouldn’t that faith override our worry? The answer is that in an ideal situation, yes, faith always wins. Unfortunately, the vast majority of us have […]
***EMAIL OR WRITE US FOR FREE BOOKLETS ON THIS TOPIC: “WILL ISRAEL SURVIVE THE END TIMES?” AND “THE ISRAELI-ARAB PEACE PROCESS AND BIBLE PROPHECY.”*** All Christians studying the Old Testament realize the important role given to the nation of Israel by God. We can also easily prove the Jewish roots of the Christian faith. Yet, […]
Several weeks ago we talked about demons, their sometimes subtle and sometimes blatant influence in our world today and how careful we need to be. What about angels? Does God give us the influence of angels to counteract the darkness that demons bring? Can we find our hope and perspective in the presence and guidance […]
In this past week America has celebrated her birth as a nation and the 230+ years of freedom that followed. How did this American experience get its start? What was on the minds of those singular men and women whose lives were put on the spot, tested and changed so many years ago? What role […]
We all know what it is like to be wronged, and we all know what it is like to do wrong to someone else. We also have all probably experienced being accused of or assumed to have done wrong when in fact we are entirely innocent – in that circumstance anyway… Is it right or […]
Ours is a day of openness, availability and communication – sort of. We can stay in touch with friends and family on a moment by moment basis, follow news as it happens and even tap into the spirit world pretty much at will. Wait a minute…what? Tapping into the spirit world – is that something […]
It is awfully cliché to say it, but death is part of life. Nobody wants it, nobody likes it and nobody even likes thinking about it. But death, until further notice, is the inevitable end for every being that exists on this earth. So, what happens when you die? Talk to 10 people and you […]
Baptism is one of the central themes of Christianity and is held as sacred by all denominations. Now you would think that with such widespread agreement that Christianity would be in agreement, but alas we are not! Here are the areas of concern: who should be baptized, what does baptism actually mean, when (at what […]
Sometimes in the overwhelming flow of life we can forget the simplest things. We get so caught up in a “me first” – and sometimes a “me only” mentality – that it never even crosses our minds to stop and consider some of the most basic and healing attributes available to humankind – kindness and […]
Sickness and disease are a scourge of humanity. Far too often we witness good and decent people contract some serious disease or malady and we watch as their quality of life goes from bad to worse. Science and medicine have worked wonders in the fight against such things, but the battle still rages on. The […]
This past week, the Powerball jackpot was up around $500 million! To many it represents a dream of a care-free life full of travel, leisure and luxury. For some Christians, the mere fact of their Christianity represents the same, as the Prosperity Gospel preaches that God does absolutely want you to live the good life […]
Five weeks ago we began a discussion on the highly controversial topic of hellfire and the Bible and whether or not these two belong together. We based that conversation on a 2012 documentary entitled “Hellbound?” written and produced by Kevin Miller. Kevin joined us for that discussion as we mainly focused on the Old Testament […]
Jesus was a master storyteller. He knew how to keep people’s attention while teaching important and difficult things by using very commonplace subjects like farming, fishing, servants and weddings. Most of the time the majority of his audience did not fully understand his lessons, and Jesus actually wanted it that way. Here we look at […]
Is Christian faith different? Is it somehow more magical or extensive than the faith of other religions? Is it less credible than the faith we have in science or medicine? Is Christian faith based on long-standing traditions, feelings, the Bible, or what church you go to? Is Christian faith transformative? Should Christian faith be a […]
Judgment Day! The very sound of the phrase previews an ominous picture in the minds of most. Judgment day: a day of great regret, great wrath, great sorrow and great reward, both for the righteous and the unrighteous. All will receive what is coming to them on Judgment Day – the question is – how […]
Oftentimes as we look around us we can really get discouraged, for we live in a world that embraces darkness and persecutes light. We are surrounded by political corruption, we are developed in a “me first” environment. We are shown that winning at all costs is acceptable. And instead of a “turn the other cheek” […]
Christianity is a faith that claims to see the mind of God through His written Word. It claims to represent a God of love and compassion, yet a God of justice and consequence as well. All Christians are unified in the belief that the true followers of Christ will be rewarded with immortal life in […]
There have been many world changing events in human history. The printing press made knowledge accessible to the masses. The light bulb literally illuminated man’s course and fed an industrial revolution which brought previously unthinkable invention and convenience to many. Penicillin protected life in a new way. These and many other events changed man’s course […]
Christian Questions Daily is an exciting series of half-hour, pre-recorded programs available for radio witness work. It was originally broadcast in Orlando, FL. These programs break down the Bible into bite-sized pieces and make it relevant to our lives today. We open up the Scriptures in a way that focuses on revealing God’s truths. […]
In just seven days, the Christian world will be enraptured in the celebration of Resurrection Sunday – the celebration of the day – the event that actually changed the course of human history. What sometimes gets overlooked are the striking events of the week before and the significant part they play in tying Old Testament […]
Several weeks ago, we began working on a response to a YouTube video sent to us by a college student entitled, “Why I am no longer a Christian,” a 1½ hour step-by-step presentation of how another young man went from devoted Christian to atheist. It was a well done, non-inflammatory treatise on why the author […]
There are many different approaches to Christian faith. Some of us find the basis of our faith in feeling Jesus present in our lives. Others of us find the basis of our faith in intellectual understanding and reasoning through the Scriptures. Still others of us thrive on the fellowship of our brothers and sisters in […]
We have all made mistakes in our lives and we have all had the experience of carrying those mistakes with us often unnecessarily in the form of guilt. Left unattended, guilt like this can turn to shame which can bring darkness. How does a Christian overcome deep and debilitating guilt and shame over past mistakes? […]
Several weeks ago, we began working on a response to a YouTube video sent to us by a college student entitled, “Why I am no longer a Christian,” a 1½ hour step-by-step presentation of how another young man went from devoted Christian to atheist. It was a well done, non-inflammatory treatise on why the author […]
With today’s events, understanding God’s prophecies about Israel are more important than ever. While this episode originally aired in 2013, it’s lessons are still very current. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s anti-Semitic and anti-Israel views surely position him and the country of Iran among the foremost threats to the state of Israel. With war drums beating […]
Coming up this Thursday is a day to celebrate love and relationships. It is a day of chocolates, flowers, dinners out, cards, hugs and kisses. Yep, Valentine’s Day! A day for saying “I love you” to that special person. But is it a day to celebrate marriage? Is that old stogy institution of marriage even […]
Life is difficult – it is full of trials, tragedies and trauma. Sometimes it overflows with grief and pain. For most of us, there is an ebb and flow to all of this and we work at coping with and learning from these difficulties. For others however, the pressure of the pain and grief never […]
You can listen to Christian Questions live every Sunday morning from 7am to 9am US Eastern Time! Use the player below, or try the radio station links at the bottom. On a mobile device? Install our latest App! – Click Here Tune in to hear Jonathan and Rick’s lively discussion on a new biblical topic […]
Meet Rick: My personal Christian experience is as long as my life, as I was raised by parents whose dedication to serving God through Christ was as apparent as the nose on one’s face. Even as a teenager, while most were in a rebellious stage of life, I always had a drive towards God and […]
Christian Questions is a Christian talk radio program that aims to provoke meaningful discussion along spiritual lines. We say it is “Talk Radio with a Purpose,” and that purpose is to initiate thinking and study based on scriptural evidence as presented in the Bible. We invite listener participation, encouraging a nurturing, politically-free environment of expression […]
Children are people too! Yes they are, but what does that really mean in terms of raising them? After all, they are children, and the object is for them to become adults…real, full fledged, mature, contributory adults! As a parent, is it our responsibility to walk them to that destination or do they instinctively know […]
About two months ago, we received an email from a listener – a college student – who was troubled. He is a Christian and had watched a YouTube video entitled, “Why I am no longer a Christian,” a 1 1/2-hour, step-by-step presentation of how another young man went from devoted Christian to atheist. It was […]
Some subjects stimulate the heart and not the mind and others stimulate the mind and not the heart. Then there are those that do both – to an extreme. Today we have such a subject: gay rights, gay marriage and Christianity. How should we view these things? Should we be redefining our vision of families? […]
If you ever want to go somewhere, it’s usually a good idea to know where you are going and what the path is to get there. The destination of pleasing and serving God is no exception. The problem is, that there are so many interpretations as to what direction to go and what to take […]
In just two days we will begin yet another new year. With it comes new experiences and new opportunities to make a difference in our own lives, as well as the lives of others. Many people make “New Year’s Resolutions” and most don’t keep them. Why? Why don’t resolutions usually work? Stay with us and […]
Here we are just a few days before Christmas 2012. This is a time when there is usually a magic in the air, an excitement for friends, family and good cheer. Usually, that is the case – but not this year. No, not this year. Something happened, and as a result the giddy joy is […]
Ours is a time of technology and knowledge. With the breathtaking advances of our time also come breathtaking predictions of earth shattering events of epic proportions. Such is the case for this coming week, for it has been widely publicized that the ancient Mayan calendar ends on December 21st and therefore the world ends with […]
We all have had the experience of making or receiving a promise that was not kept. When you think about it, the experience is a sad one, for with a broken promise comes some level of a damaged trust towards the one who did not deliver. Over time this can lead to all kinds of […]
Did you ever stop to think how much of our lives are built around our habits? The words we use, the thoughts we think – driven by habit. Our morning routine…a habit. The time we arrive at work…habit. Our actions and reactions to our co-workers…habit. What we eat, where we eat, how much we eat…all […]
Last week we talked about hope and its critical role in living a life of value. Hope seems to be the forgotten middle brother of faith and love. In the same way, this past Thursday we celebrated the forgotten middle brother of holidays – Thanksgiving. How do you compete with the costumes and candy of […]
It has been said that humans can survive without lots of things for extended periods of time, but the one thing they cannot survive without is hope. What is hope? Where in this world can we find hope that is based in reality and grounded expectation, rather than hope that is based in our own […]
We live in an age and a country of great enlightenment, in which we are all very aware of the need to recognize the rights of all men and women alike. We have laws that specifically forbid discrimination against anyone based on race or gender. We know that it is right (though unfortunately not always […]
In just two days, America will experience what is perhaps the most anticipated Election Day in recent memory. As a country in financial turmoil, we stand at a crossroad: Do we continue to follow the path that the current administration has set under the guidance of President Obama or do we scrap it for an […]
The time has come. The time when candy becomes a dietary staple, kids stay up and are out late running throughout neighborhoods collecting candy, disguised as anything from Ninja Turtles, to Frankenstein to princesses to monsters to political figures, ghosts and aliens. If you are a kid, it is pure fun. But the older you […]
Like any good soldier, we first need to know our enemy. The Christian fights the rulers, power, world forces of darkness and spiritual wickedness – all headed by Satan himself! There is no bigger, badder, more brital enemy we could ever face. How do we fight this fight? What makes us think a battle against […]
A few weeks ago, we began looking into Islam to try and understand what its principles are as we witness the effects of radical Muslim extremists on our world today. We examined Islam’s peaceful approach to life and some of the similarities to Judaism and Christianity. This morning we will ask: What about Jihad? Who […]
After talking about complaining last week, it makes sense to look at the flip side – how to communicate – for good and positive reasons that is! What makes a great communicator? Is it charisma? Is it your words? Your message? What about body language? Where does passion fit? What made Jesus such a master […]
There are certain things in life – at least in this country – that are just simply common. Everyone knows about them and for the most part participates in them, often on a subconscious level. Two of these staples of everyday life, murmuring and complaining, will be our topic. What do people most often murmur […]
A few weeks ago, we began looking into Islam to try and understand what its principles are as we witness the effects of radical Muslim extremists on our world today. We examined Islam’s peaceful approach to life and some of the similarities to Judaism and Christianity. This morning we will ask: What about Jihad? Who […]
Since the introduction of the philosophy of evolution by Charles Darwin in 1859, there has been a raging debate on the origin of life. Darwinian evolution has become entrenched both as a scientific and social precept. Those who subscribe to the belief that God designed and created this universe are painted as superstitious deniers of […]
Christianity today is utterly splintered. With 2,000 or more denominations and lots of free thinking, some brands of Christianity are not even recognizable to others. Why would this be? Is there only one true brand of Christianity? If so, then why would God have permitted the unified body of Christian followers to be exposed to […]
Many, many people pray. Are all those prayers answered or are most unheeded? Is there a prescribed formula for prayer? When should we pray? What should we pray about? Does the “universe” help seekers find? Are there right ways to pray that will get you an “in” and are there wrong ways to pray that […]
The Old Testament Law provided a way for Israel to function as an individual society as well as a society that interacted with the world around it. So, how did this Law treat the less fortunate, the sick, the indebted, the slaves, the aliens, and so on? What kind of “social programs” were available and […]
We as Christians all hold the life, death and resurrection of Jesus as the centerpiece of our faith. Without Jesus, we are nothing. One of the key factors about this sacred truth that actually divides Christianity is the application of the ransom sacrifice of Jesus. Who did he die for, and who, if any, are […]
Every fourth summer for two plus weeks we have the opportunity to watch the Olympic games. It is a chance to witness excellence in motion, competition at its peak and sportsmanship on a worldwide scale. We get to witness the world’s best athletes as they put the fruits of their life focus on display in […]
It happened just a few short weeks ago, but by now we are almost de-sensitized to the horror. In many ways we can feel like it’s just another story of a senseless killer randomly taking lives. But it’s not – what it is, is a chronicle of a world filled with inequity and evil, in […]
Cult…the very word conjures up all kinds of dark and evil images in our minds. These images are of dominating and charismatic leaders and their lowly group of followers who are tethered to their every word, driven by their every vision and obedient to their every desire. Such images are rightfully disturbing. The question is, […]
In one way or another, prejudice has dominated human culture for thousands of years. Because prejudice is an internal characteristic, it is often hard to detect it until it has had time to develop and finally show itself in our words or actions. As Christians, can we be shielded from prejudice? Do the scriptures teach […]
In Part I, we embarked on a journey through the Apostle Peter’s life and in Part II, we continued that journey. Our ending point was his conversation with our Lord after Jesus’ resurrection – the conversation that let Peter know Jesus was counting on him as a lynch pin of what would become Christianity, in […]
We never seem to have enough time – to do the important things, that is. As Christians, what should we be doing with our time? What shouldn’t we be doing with our time? Is leisure time bad? Is TV bad? …E-mail, texting, tweeting? …Checking the sports scores, listening to our favorite music – good? Bad? […]
Once again we approach another anniversary of our country’s freedom. There will be fireworks, picnics, cookouts, family and friends. There will be volleyball, baseball, swimming and sandy beaches. All of these are as a result of the freedom we experience by living where we live. Freedom – because we have it, we can easily take […]
Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness – these are the stated freedoms that we here in America are all ideally given the opportunity to own, as stated on our Declaration of Independence. As for “life” and “liberty,” we will look at those next week. That leaves us “the pursuit of happiness” part for today. […]
It has been 2,000 years since Jesus walked the earth with the good tidings of the Gospel. When he finished his work, he left the infant religion of Christianity in the faithful hands of the twelve Apostles. These men “prospered and grew” Christianity. So 2,000 years later, in a world that is mostly non-Christian and […]
We previously discussed this great apostle in Part I of our conversation. We covered his life from his being introduced in the Scriptures as a typical fisherman from Galilee, up to his proclamation that Jesus was the Messiah and his angst at Jesus saying that he, Jesus, would have to die. These three things typify […]
The Avengers movie has been a box office sensation, breaking all kinds of records. Why? Good movie, good story, good special effects and (wait for it!) superheroes…lots of superheroes! We all love looking up to those who will stand for what’s right and save the world. We all especially love the fact that these heroes, […]
Armageddon! The very word sends shivers down the spine of millions. Armageddon! Of all the biblical prophecies, this one is probably more recognized than any other, even by those who are not believers in the Bible. Armageddon! It captures the imagination. It has been the framework for blockbuster movies and descriptions of war and destruction. […]
(Part I of a 3-part series) Of all the Apostles, Peter is the one who is most exposed to us. His background is clear, his strengths and weaknesses are obvious, and his faults are plain. It is through the viewing of his life that so many of us find hope – for we see in […]
Christians everywhere talk about the Holy Spirit and how it generates influence, strength and peace in their lives. We all want more of it because we all see it as a way to continually draw closer to God through Jesus. But how does the Holy Spirit work? Does the Holy Spirit give us miraculous powers […]
The Parable of the Prodigal Son is probably one of the best known of Jesus’ teachings. It touches the heart because of its very practical and dramatic lessons of humility and forgiveness in action. As we look into the story we want to look inward as well. Are we, or have we ever been, prodigal […]
As a nation, we are facing what many say is one of the most important elections of our time. What people look for is someone to show them a pathway through difficulties, give them a vision for the future and be trustworthy. That is what leadership is all about. The question is, is that what […]
“Trayvon Martin”…mention that name and you unleash a flood of emotion and turmoil. This young man was tragically shot to death at age 17 and his death has raised a firestorm of controversy. Was it self-defense? Was it racially motivated? Should his killer have been arrested immediately? Will there be justice? These are all questions […]
Love is a big deal. Whether it is the love of a family member or friend, the love of a hobby or team, the love of a favorite place or food, the love of certain music or colors, the love of art or science, love truly encapsulates the most vital portions of the best parts […]
It was some 2,000 years ago that the world was changed by the faithful, selfless and courageous actions of one man. It is today, as we do every year, that we celebrate this gift of life that Jesus gave us. Come and spend some time with us as we stop, look and listen to a […]
The events of the Sunday before Jesus’ crucifixion were monumental. They not only began the culminating process for the greatest human life ever lived, they also retold the story of the ancient Passover and gave it a world-wide meaning. Stay with us as we look into all of the pieces of the Passover, Palm Sunday […]
By the accounts of many, the day in which we live is different than any other time in the recorded history of the world. Never before has there been so much by way of knowledge, science and medicine that can heal and restore yet, never has there been so much by way of brilliantly formed […]
Everyone hurts someone at some point in their lives, whether it is intentional or not. Many of us carry the scars of past disappointments, broken trust, or just plain tragedy with us for our entire lives. Even though we know what forgiveness is, sometimes it seems too hard to truly exercise it because it seems […]
We are fortunate to live in a country where the stated core belief is that all men are created equal. With such a basis, it is theoretically much easier to identify and condemn the domination of one over another against their will. Yet, slavery in many forms not only has existed for most all of […]
Losing a loved one, especially a child, can bring unbearable pain and anxiety. It can cause us to question even those things we hold dearest – even the existence and plan of God. We will look into this grief and into God’s plan to try and understand where God is when tragedy strikes.
Several weeks ago we talked about demons and their influence in our world. We looked at how devious they can be as satanic influence infiltrates our media and our lives. Well, what about angels? Where do they fit in this present age? Are there really guardian angels to watch over us? Can or should we […]
The Sabbath day was put in place by God in a very unusual way – He demonstrated it. He proclaimed it as a way for his children to stop – to stop their lives for a day and be able to look up, look around, appreciate, gain perspective and then once again move forward. In […]
So, Valentine’s day is just a few days away. Another opportunity to outwardly express your love and devotion to that special someone. What if every day was such an opportunity? What if we, instead of using a holiday as an excuse to be self-absorbed for the other 364 days of the year, what if we […]
Several weeks ago, we talked about God showing favoritism to the Jews in the Old Testament. We looked at the reasons for it and how God’s favoritism progressed from individuals to a family to a nation. We need to look at the New Testament – funny thing about this – not only is there favoritism, […]
We live in a world of battles and contradictions. We have political battles, philosophical battles and moral battles. We have battles between nations, peoples and religions. We battle disease, cold and hunger. We battle ourselves. And we battle against evil. We battle against the dark, treacherous and sin-filled paths of evil. And if that isn’t […]
Lots of people buy lottery tickets, in hopes of striking it rich, in hopes of ending their financial worries for the rest of their days. So, here are some questions: Is the Gospel – the good news of Jesus Christ – synonymous with buying lottery tickets? Is one of the purposes of the Gospel to […]
Two weeks ago, on New Year’s morning, we did the first part of this program and laid out the importance of getting our thoughts and attitudes right in order to be able to execute the kind of changes we want to have stick in our lives. Thoughts and attitudes – they are the internal part […]
(Part 1 of a 2-part series) We all have our favorites. Favorite colors, seasons, sports, teams, foods. Sometimes we have favorite people, places and things. We may have a favorite chair, movie or song or a favorite saying, website or group. When you think about it, our “favorites” can really dominate our lives. Do you […]
(Part 1 of a 2-part series) Happy New Year! Another year in the books – for some of us, we may look back and think “I’m glad that’s over!” For others we may look back and think, “I’m glad that happened!” For all of us, I hope we look forward with hope and anticipation for […]
Christmas is here! It is the time for celebration and food and decoration and gifts and parties and time off from work and football and TV specials and Christmas songs and holiday cheer and holly and mistletoe and shopping and spending money and Santa Claus and elves and snow!!! Whew! By the way, if you […]
Why are you here? Really! Why are you here? Are the events of your life all purely incidental, accidental, or coincidental, or are they observed and reacted to by you with a greater purpose in mind? Is your life a meandering composition of various unconnected circumstances or is it a composition of events that are […]
Are YOU a person of faith? If you think about it, everyone is. We all have parts of our lives where we rely on others around us, or on information that might be unverifiable to us personally, or on those who hold a position of authority. So, is this good or is it childish fantasy? […]
Its true meaning is practically forgotten these days. Why, with all of the fun costumes and excitement of Halloween just a few weeks in the past and with all of the gift buying, decorations, songs movies and glitter of Christmas in just a few more weeks, this holiday, almost by a perceived necessity has been […]
Sickness and death have always played a significant role in our world as two of the things we spend lots of time and money avoiding. When Jesus was here on earth, he healed many of their diseases. When the Apostles were here after Jesus, they also healed. So, if we are Christians, are we supposed […]
A woman’s right to choose. A woman’s right to privacy. Lose your choice and lose your freedom. A woman’s body is her most prized possession. All of these slogans are centerpieces of the unending controversy surrounding abortion, a legal procedure. But should it be legal and so accessible? Are there reasons to doubt its place […]
It’s election time in America! This coming Tuesday many will stream to cast their ballots for whatever candidate they believe will do the best job in public office. This exercise gives a voice to the common man. Well, what about the election to the office of “sons of God?” Who “votes” for that? Has God, […]
There are few things in life that give you as good a sense of well being as the feeling you get when you truly believe that you have been clearly understood. Being understood elevates your confidence in others, relieves many of the pressures of today and opens up wider possibilities for tomorrow. To be understood […]
Christians who believe that the Bible is God’s inspired Word have long recognized that Bible study requires interpretation. And it is no surprise that there are have been differences among students of the Bible about what various texts mean. One of the major areas of interpretation and difference is the question about if the Bible […]
The world and the times we live in present great opportunity, as well as great challenge. We are daily overwhelmed with the clamoring for individual rights by so many, and for the most part, this is a great thing. This morning we are going to look at one of the most volatile topics of all […]
When we look around us these days, what do we see? The world is on fire with social unrest, the financial markets are riding tidal waves of volatility, our national debt is about 900 miles high, unemployment just doesn’t seem to go away and to top it off, the average person seems far more restless […]
Christians always talk about following after Jesus, following in his footsteps. What does that mean? Are we supposed to abandon every earthly possession and every earthly ambition to follow him? After all, isn’t that what he did? Are we supposed to sacrifice all of our human will all of the time? Is the idea of […]
Life is a precious, miraculous gift from God. Having life is a sacred charge to live fully, cleanly and in a God-honoring fashion. So, what happens when we die? Does our soul immediately go off somewhere else and continue an unending cycle of life – or do we die – literally get our lights clicked […]
Prayer is a powerful thing. We as Christians speak of it often and we encourage others by telling them that we are praying for them. We ask for prayers. We pray for forgiveness, for strength, for discernment. We pray for direction, for patience, and for wisdom. We pray to praise honor and worship our Almighty […]
As a Christian, we look at Jesus not only as our Lord and Savior, not only as the ransom given for the sins of the world, but as a great teacher as well. One can spend a lifetime learning from him. One of the unique aspects of Jesus’ teaching is the fact that he taught […]
Everybody knows the story of Jonah and the whale, perhaps because of the drama of the account – you know, being swallowed by a fish and then being spit back up onto shore three days later. What everybody doesn’t seem to pay attention to is the rest of the story and the drama and lessons […]
We all know someone who knows someone who has committed suicide. It is unfortunate to say that it is and always has been a fixed part of the human experience. What leads someone to such a drastic act and can we help them? Is it an unforgivable sin or did Jesus’ sacrifice address even this? How […]
The time draws near – May 21st, 2011 is fast approaching along with the bold predictions of a rapture and the world beginning to come to an end. Last week we talked about the reasons WHY Jesus returns and looked at his return as an unfolding process rather than a singular and dramatic event. We […]
If you are a Bible-believing Christian, the prophecies about the return of Jesus are not in question. If you are a Bible-believing Christian, you know that the return of Jesus coincides with the End Times, again, not a question. The question is: Why does Jesus return? What is the mission, what is the focus, what […]
Salvation is at the very core of Christian faith. Salvation is something we all want and something that we as Christians all claim. That’s good…for us. Now the harder part. What about unbelievers? Where do they fit? Does and unbeliever have the same opportunity we do? What about Atheists? What about those who never heard […]
It was a long time ago – about 2000 years when he came. The world was going on just as before when he began preaching at age 30. He died young, at age 33½, unjustly crucified for deeds he did not commit. He had no family, he personally wrote no books or lessons to be […]
It was over 2,000 years ago that the world changed. As we look back, we can trace the events of Jesus’ last week to the fulfilling of many prophecies. The events of what we now call Palm Sunday were a striking beginning to a series of circumstances that showed the value of Jesus and his […]
Over the past several weeks we have been focusing on a lot of heavy stuff – the Middle East meltdown, the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, and Islam. Through it all we have tried to maintain a focus on the goodness and plan of our Almighty God, continually reminding ourselves that He not only knows […]
Last week we began a discussion on Islam and Christianity. Our objective was to portray mainstream Islam in an honest and positive light. This kind of portrayal is not often heard in our world today because the radical Islamic perspective (which is a minority) is so utterly dark, evil, and frankly, scary. This morning we […]
These are troubling and difficult days. The world around us seems to be on fire with trouble and it seems as though there are few answers to the mounting problems that surround us. As simple as it may sound, one of our greatest challenges is simply understanding one another. It is no secret that there […]
This was a tragedy. The recent earthquake, just off the coast of northern Japan, was the fifth largest ever recorded in human history. While the quake itself was not terribly damaging, the tsunamis it spawned were another story. From a personal standpoint, I have NEVER seen anything so destructive and powerful as those waves which […]
Children – they are so sweet, adorable and predictable when they are infants – their needs are obvious and so caring for them takes an obvious path. Then something happens – they start to grow and develop a personality, a temperament, and preferences and suddenly what was once predictable now becomes more of a mystery […]
The recent newscasts from around the world depict a growing sense of dissatisfaction with civil government. Reports from Muslim nations in the past few weeks reveal a surprising amount of anger towards the totalitarian governments, even when the rulers are ostensibly fellow Moslems. Dictators, kings and rulers long entrenched are coming under assault by mass […]
Sometimes you read a scripture and it makes you do a double-take, because it simply does not make sense. It then ought to become our responsibility to figure it out – to try and understand what the real message is. Such is the case with our theme text from Jesus’ Parable of the Unjust Steward. […]
Back on January 16th, we did a program about angels and the roles they have played and do play in our world. That discussion led us to the edge of another related topic that we did not get into: demons. Demons are REAL – they have an agenda and have been working that agenda in […]
Ah, Valentine’s Day! That day when everyone celebrates LOVE!! The fact of the matter is that one in two marriages end in divorce and countless other “live in” relationships fall apart as well. This translates into a dismal fact – MOST people are less than happy in their relationship. Why? What is missing in all […]
Everybody sins, and anybody who cares about the fact that they sin asks for forgiveness. What does forgiveness mean? Is the way we forgive each other different than the way God and Jesus forgive? Are there sins that are NOT forgivable? What are they? How do we avoid them? What about being the person who […]
With 2,000 denominations of Christianity, we can be assured that there are many, many ways to view baptism. Are babies supposed to get baptized, or is baptism only for adults? Does baptism actually take away your sins, or is it an important symbol of a conscious decision already made? Is baptism a “no exceptions” requirement […]
Is right always right? It may seem like a simple question, but it really isn’t. The good news is, we live in a society of great freedom. The bad news is that this society of great freedom does not put nearly as high a value on great responsibility. Responsibility means doing the right thing – […]
Most people believe in angels and a surprising number of people believe that there are ways for us to communicate with them. Well, what is an angel? If they are real, where do they come from? What business do they have with us? Are all angels “good?” Can we really communicate with them or is […]
For Christians, the concept of salvation is one of the most prominent and necessary beliefs that we hold. Its necessity cannot be understated, for without it, we truly would be lost and miserable. One of the key questions regarding salvation is, who participates? Do you have to be a member of a particular denomination? Do […]
Happy New Year! It is 2011 and it is a new beginning – at least for the calendar anyway. What is your year going to look like? Do you have any changes planned? Is this the year that you will finally – well, you know, is this the year that you will finally – (now […]
Yesterday was Christmas – or for some it was a winter holiday that was all about some jolly old man from the North Pole bringing presents to all the kids. There were lights, decorations, trees, gifts, food, family, fun and football – and everyone presumably had a good time. The only thing missing? Jesus, the […]
Humans are emotional beings. As this is the case, we want things – we don’t just have an instinctual magnetism towards certain things, we truly desire them. The Tenth Commandment said, “Thou shalt not covet.” Does this mean that the seemingly inborn trait to desire is wrong – against God’s Law? If it is wrong, […]
Did you ever stop and wonder what Christianity, in its truest sense, looks like? Is Christianity about getting or giving? Is it about living just like everyone else, or is it about living to a higher standard? Is it about the incessant chatter of everyday life or is it about a life-changing message? Is Christianity […]
We all have at one time or another wanted revenge – the act of not only getting back at someone or something, but being sure that they were delivered that little extra dose of humiliation so they would know to not ever mess with us again. Yeah, revenge – so often looked at as sweet […]
Thanksgiving! It is a word that for most conjures up images of a holiday – as a matter of fact, it was this past Thursday. It conjures up food, family and friends, it conjures up overeating, football, and a day off; and hopefully, it conjures up…well, hopefully it conjures up thanksgiving! You know, the act […]
You would think that the formula would be simple – wake up one day and realize that your life needs spiritual guidance, pray a little and then step back and let Jesus come into your life so that all of your issues will now become molehills instead of mountains. Oops! It’s not so fast, not […]
Money – the Apostle Paul says the love of it is the root of all evil, yet we cannot survive without money. Furthermore, we cannot spread the good news of the gospel without money. So what do we do about it? What are the responsibilities of the true church towards money? Should there be formal […]
When we talk about the Bible, we talk about a book that is ancient, compiled over 1,500 years by many writers and many wonder how it is possible to believe in such a book. Today, we will look into the Bible, by not looking into the Bible – instead we will look into the world’s […]
There are some things that most everyone has in common. One of those things is our collective desire to celebrate. Granted, what we celebrate and the ways that we choose to celebrate are as varied as the seasons, but the desire to celebrate is a common thread. Today is one of those days where lots […]
For people like us, there are a myriad of proofs that we can see all around us that unequivocally prove the existence of God. We see the earth, the heavens, humanity, science and engineering and we nod our heads in the satisfaction that God is indeed behind it all. Yet, there is a world full […]
I think that one of the danger areas as Christians is that of complacency. We can easily get into the frame of mind that says: we know God and Jesus, so it’s all good! Is it? What if you don’t believe in God – does God believe in you? What if you have doubts about […]
If we look back throughout all of the recorded history of mankind, there are a number of themes that seem to continually reoccur. One of those themes is the rulership of some men over others. That theme in many cultures took a downward spiral and over time ended up as one of the greatest travesties […]
Do you know who your neighbors are? I am not necessarily asking about the people who live to your left or right, but am more readily referring to the people who live around you – all around you – the people you work with, the people you shop with, the people you go to the […]
What is the meaning of life? This is one of those questions often asked in both in a serious and well-meaning way, as well as in a more humorous way. Rather than ask that exact question today, we are asking a more direct question: How fruitful is your life? This is one of those “Oh […]
It is often assumed that faith and reason are enemies. It is often assumed that faith and science cannot get along. Based on these assumptions, the Bible seems to take on the role of a book that holds people back from the present century and makes them somewhat backwards in their thinking and irrelevant in […]
Anger, revenge and grudges! Sometimes our tolerance for others wears thin and we just want to…why we just want to let ‘em have it! Let ‘em know the heat of our wrath and the consequences for what we see as their wrong-doing and misbehavior. We want them to know that they can run but they […]
Each and every day of our lives, we are all involved in a wide variety of (hopefully) working relationships with others. For everyone we come in contact with, there is a pattern of behavior that is displayed by both parties that reflects what the relationship is that exists between them. For the most part, this […]
Do you murmur? What does it mean to murmur anyway? Most of us don’t use that word too often, but when you think about it, the word sounds like what it means… murrrrmurrr… sort of an under your breath, nondescript sound that reflects a negative outlook on something. With this in mind, coupled with the […]
There are certain questions that everyone, no matter what your faith affiliation, wants to know about. One of those questions has to do with our direction in the afterlife. What kind of a destiny might be waiting for us? Does what we do in this short life dictate what will happen forever? There are many […]
Last week we discussed God being the inventor of green – we looked at many scriptures that helped us to understand that God’s intention is not to destroy the Earth, but to in fact preserve it. There are many scriptural symbols used, such as “mountains,” seas,” “heavens being burned up,” and others. We then looked […]
Have you noticed that the earth is in rough shape? We are presently dealing with an environmental disaster in the Gulf – 200 million plus gallons of oil spilled. There are floods, earthquakes, tornadoes and hurricanes. We are a consumption based world that produces piles and piles of trash, much of which is of the […]
We strongly recommend first listening to Part 1 and follow along with its Rewind.
All of us who claim to be Christians would probably agree that Jesus is the centerpiece of our lives and that following him is our most important task. If we were to leave the conversation there, then it would seem to be a clear and easy conclusion. However, there is so much more to this […]
So, what role does shame play in our lives? When is it good to feel shame? When is it bad to feel shame? In the theme text, we are told that because Jesus “despised the shame,” he was accounted as worthy to sit “down at the right hand of the throne of God!” What about […]
Our world can be a confusing place. When it comes to defining right and wrong, there are inevitable interpretations, applications and disagreements. When it comes to making a decision which includes some level of moral judgment, there are a myriad of possibilities, factors and extenuating circumstances which cloud the issue. When it comes to doing […]
Today is a day unique in America, for history tells us that it was 234 years ago on this day that a group of men gathered in Philadelphia and approved the final draft of a declaration that would dramatically change their lives and eventually change the world. That Declaration of Independence would mark America as […]
Even a superficial reading of the Bible will demonstrate that Israel plays an important role in End Times. Students of the Bible have been much interested in Israel from a biblical standpoint. But there are many legitimate questions about why she is still included in the Divine Plan and what exactly her role is to […]
Here we are, nearing the end of another June. This can mean a number of different things…kids are getting out of school for the summer – some are graduating; basketball and hockey have ended and baseball season is in full swing. Summer is officially beginning (tomorrow as a matter of fact). Yes, June is a […]
Prayer. It is a central activity of most any religion. For people who are very religious, prayer is one of the very basics of their lives. For many who are not normally religious, prayer comes into play when tragedy enters their life and they are suddenly faced with the mortality of themselves or their loved […]
No matter who we are and no matter what it is we may believe in, we always have some kind of foundation that our beliefs are built upon. Sometimes that foundation is weak and sometimes it is very strong. Just because you are a follower of Christ doesn’t automatically mean that your foundation is solid. […]
If you look around the world we live in, you will see all kinds of crises. There are worldwide political, ecological, and social crises. There are family and religious crises. There are national crises of debt, jobs and economy. With all of these varied crises, there is one element that is common to all. I […]
Last week we began to look into whether or not God is biased. The working definition we used was, “An inclination that prevents an unprejudiced consideration of a matter.” Why is this question an important enough matter to continue with this week? Think about it – if God were to be biased, then by definition […]
Have you ever been in a situation, perhaps as a kid where you observed someone getting special treatment? Maybe it was that kid in school who seemed to get extra privileges or your brother or sister being treated differently than you? Remember how that made you kind of mad? Remember when you got some special […]
Today is a day of special significance, for it is the national holiday we know as Mother’s Day. It is a day set aside to honor and respect the hardest working and most under-appreciated member of our family – mom. It is on this day that we give the cards, the chocolates, the balloons, the […]
Death is a scourge upon us all. It is the unwelcome intruder in our lives, the greedy associate, the uncaring and undiscriminating presence that is uninvited, unwanted and always inconvenient. Death is the rude interrupter of our lives. What’s worse, it leaves a mark when it has passed through. After it leaves, we are left […]
Life in these United States is dominated by a number of things. Money dominates us. If we have it, things are great; if we don’t, we suffer. Our jobs dominate us. We spend one-third or more of our day working, and for many, that time is spent in a job we don’t even like. Leisure […]
The world that we live in is tough. It is not only full of challenges to our convictions; it is full of diversions and distractions as well. We are overwhelmed with input, advertisement, chatter, emails, Facebook, Twitter, blogs, sports, entertainment, politics, work, leisure, holidays, events, traffic, weather, style, fashion, home repair, friends, family and life […]
In general conversation, we often hear people use the name of Jesus and the name of God in very inappropriate ways. The sad thing is that it is so common we may sometimes not even notice it, or we may dismiss it without a second thought. Are these phrases disrespectful? Yes. Are they unfortunate? Yes. […]
Sometimes, one life makes all the difference. Sometimes, all it takes is a mission, a lofty mission and a calling – a calling to do that which has never been done before and in so doing the mission is accomplished and the world is changed. Such a life was lived some 2,000 years ago. The […]
What would you do? What would you do if you knew you only had one week to live? How would you act? Where would you go? Who would you see? What would you say? Obviously this is a difficult question – one that most of us are never faced with. Well, two thousand years ago […]
Did you ever wonder how many words the average person utters in a day? Did you ever wonder how many of those words uttered are constructive, destructive or just plain idle talk? While we are not going to try and pinpoint percentages, we are going to talk about talking and the effects that it has […]
We all have had experiences in our lives that have left a bitter taste in our mouths. Whether it is a self-inflicted emotional wound that brings the bitterness or a wound that comes from someone or somewhere else, the fact is, we are wounded and we become bitter. So, what does bitterness do? Is it […]
Most of us are not very patient, especially when we are facing a very difficult challenge. If we need help, well, we need help! And if it is a matter of life and death, then what possible reason could there be to delay? We will look into one of the dramatic events of Jesus’ life […]
I think that everyone I have ever met loves the sight of a new baby. We all are struck by how small, helpless and innocent the child is. We are struck by the beauty and intricacy of its form and we are struck by the complete and utter helplessness of its being. Yes, everyone loves […]
One of the things that separate true Christianity from other religions is the way in which we profess that God works in our lives. According to the Bible, the true Christian is given a special brand of help for their life. This help is called the Holy Spirit and it is the awesome power and […]
Red is the color of passion. If you happened to have gone into a supermarket or department store over the last few weeks, you probably would have come across an aisle somewhere in the store that featured that color of passion, for everyone has been preparing for this day, this special day to celebrate the […]
What does it mean to be a Christian? Obviously, (to us anyway) the “trademarks” of Christianity include being a follower of Christ, a believer in God and a believer in the Bible. As we see it, one other “trademark” of Christianity is the implementation and manifestation of “Christian Love” into your life. So, what is […]
War has been a part of culture since the beginning of human history. As Christians we are certainly not encouraged to encourage it or provoke it. Yet in the New Testament, the concepts of war and battle are used freely, as a clear picture of what our lives are supposed to be about. The whole […]
Haiti is a small country with 8-9 million as their population. It shares a small island with the Dominican Republic. Haiti is a poor nation, the poorest nation in the entire Western Hemisphere. This small and poor nation happens to sit atop a major fault line in the earth’s crust. The recent earthquake in that […]
Mention oil and you probably get a reaction. In our world, oil is one of those commodities that drive our society – its price and availability can have a great impact on how we live our lives. Our subject is oil – but not in the sense that you may think. No, rather than dealing […]
War. It is a fact of life. According to Dr. Terry Fields, in the last 3,421 years of recorded history, there have been only 268 years without war. This should tell us something significant about the fallen nature of man. What it doesn’t tell us is how we as Christians should view war. Should we […]
Wisdom! When I hear that word I conjure up a number of images in my mind. A long white beard. A slow and deliberate response to a question. Thoughtfully sitting back in a chair, elbows on the arms of the chair with the fingers from your left hand touching just the tips of the fingers […]
Well, the day has come and gone. We got to once again experience Santa and reindeer, decorated trees and candy canes, presents, food, family, football, music, the trimmings, the trappings, the Grinch. Now that it is all said and done, let’s look back for a few minutes. In our celebration of Christmas, did we really […]
We all have allegiances to different things at different levels in our lives. Some of our allegiances are deep and sound, while others may only prove to be lip service at best. What about our allegiance to Christ? How deep does it go? How deep should it go? Did Jesus tell us clearly what was […]
Remember the commercials way back when about E.F. Hutton? The room was crowded with people all carrying on their own individual conversations and the moment one of these people quietly mentions the words E.F. Hutton, the room falls silent. The reason? Well, according to the ad, everyone wants to know what that broker has to […]
So, how’d you do? Did you eat a lot? Watch some football? Hang out with family? It was nice to have a day off, wasn’t it? Now, we can get on with the business of really preparing for Christmas – you know, the presents, the decorations, Santa, the specials on TV – all that stuff. […]
There are many views of the character of God. Some see Him as angry, wrathful and impatient, while others see Him as just, loving and merciful. Whatever your view of His character, it is certain that we live in a world where things are NOT fair and people by the MILLIONS suffer for things they […]
There are many views of the character of God. Some see Him as angry, wrathful and impatient, while others see Him as just, loving and merciful. Whatever your viewof His character, it is certain that we live in a world where things are NOT fair and people by the MILLIONS suffer for things they did […]
Last night was it – Halloween – the night where in many cases, kids are front and center – they dress up in all kinds of scary or funny costumes, go out and “trick or treat” for candy. This is our American tradition. My questions are these – do we know what is it all […]
Halloween is coming. This is the time of year when we are inundated with movies, messages and advertisements that focus on death, the occult, witchcraft and all things spooky. It is the time of year when we are more willing to be scared as a part of our being entertained. We are going to focus […]
We live in scary times. We are not only facing the results of a major recession, we are also continually steeped in debates regarding major issues of our time: health care, war, social security, the climate change issue and the list can go on and on. All of these things are focused on humankind and […]
Millions and millions of people the world over claim to be Christians. There are hundreds, perhaps thousands of varied denominations and interpretations that define what being a Christian requires – ranging in definition from God loves you, you love God, He wants you to have everything in life – just ask, to have no contact […]
We have all (hopefully) heard and uttered the words, “I forgive you” many times in our lives. The hard questions attached to them are these: What does that phrase really mean? Do those words change anything? Are we bound to live by those words once they are spoken? On this program, we want to examine […]
The devil is pretty popular these days. Think about it – his name and influence come up in all kinds of places – we have ʺdevil’s food cakesʺ – why? I LOVE chocolate, but I don’t like the name! You have heard the phrase “the devil is in the details.” Or what about, “I had […]
Hope…all of life revolves around it. When it is absent, your world is dark and you are depressed. When you can’t see it, there is no clear direction for you to go. Ah, but when you have hope – true tangible hope – you can be excited! You anticipate and prepare for the future. With […]
It seems hard to believe, but this past Friday was the eighth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on America. If you remember in the days and weeks following, people changed – we were all more reflective, we were all more sober and we were all very aware of our interconnectedness with each other. During that […]
Jesus came to redeem the world from sin. In so doing, there are many details of judgment and ultimate destiny that remain to be answered. Jesus did tell us much about these details and the interpretation of what he said is, as always, varied. Did Jesus describe an ultimate end result of judgment as a […]
What’s this? A parable about Jesus giving us money? What is that, you say? TWO parables about Jesus giving us money? Hmmm, how MUCH money? So, what are we supposed to do with this money? Hold up – hold on – hold the phone! That is NOT what these parables are about…not even close! They […]
Everybody makes promises. Everybody has experiences where they make a commitment of some kind to another, to do something on their behalf. A number of things can happen as a result of this: We can fulfill our promise entirely or partially. We can decide not to fulfill it. We can not fulfill it because of […]
We have all had experiences in our lives that have led us to places from which there seemed to be no escape. These are places where the circumstances were such that the outcome seemed so inevitable that our choices in the matter were limited to accepting some unwanted and predetermined future or denying it, only […]
Our world is full of controversy. There are controversies over politics, equal rights, taxation, economic principles, global warming and the right to life, to name a few. Amongst the most noted and longest lasting controversies of our day is the controversy over Israelies, the Palestinians, and the land that they both live on. Think about […]
The call for freedom has rung in the ears of every human being throughout history. We seem to have an undeniable attraction to freedom – an attraction to living our lives with a freedom to choose – an attraction to living our lives with freedom from tyranny – an attraction to living our lives with […]
We all have beliefs in all areas of our lives. The question arises, when my beliefs are different than yours, is really a big deal? Should we just ʺlive and let live” or is there some obligation to those around us that comes with our beliefs? Obviously, this is too large a topic for this […]
Today is a special day. It is a day set aside to honor the institution of fatherhood. It is a day set aside to let any fathers in your life know how much you appreciate their contributions, their examples and their leadership. It is a day set aside to give us the opportunity to stop […]
You have blind spots…you know you do. I have blind spots…you know I do. So, now what? Does it matter that we have them if we all have them or should we be focused on removing them? What causes blind spots anyway? Is there some secret formula that we can apply to be rid of […]
Humanity has been around for thousands of years. Throughout that time, the plan of God has gone through many different phases. There have been blessings, there have been punishments, there have been siftings and there have been callings. Through all of this, the master plan has been steadily moving forward to its fruition. This program […]
We live in a time where wanting something is a good thing, and why shouldn’t it be? After all, our own Declaration of Independence states that each human being possesses the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. This seems to indicate that pursuing those things that you want so you can […]
Outside of the parable of the Good Samaritan, the Prodigal Son is probably the most widely known of Jesus’ parables. It is a classic story of youthful self-centeredness contrasted with fatherly wisdom, complete with a twist at the end. Now the question is, what was Jesus’ primary reason for telling this story? Who was he […]
Every one of us has been depressed at one time or another. We have all had the experience of that feeling of hopelessness or uselessness, that feeling of both physical and emotional lethargy that holds us captive to a “might as well give up” attitude. For some of us, we experience it, get over it […]
Human nature can be a funny thing sometimes. We can have things in our lives that are valuable and important, things that make our lives happier and more fulfilled. What often happens with these things is after a while we take them for granted. They become familiar and commonplace so the shine begins to fade […]
Have you ever thought of the magnitude of the concept of prayer? Consider this – the concept says that the believing human being who lives a comparatively small life on this comparatively small planet has the comparatively enormous opportunity to communicate with, to praise and to petition the Creator of all things. If you look […]
Decisions, decisions! So much of life revolves around not only having to make decisions, but having to live with them once they are made. Our life decisions cover lots of small things, like which tie to wear with which shirt, or which route should I take when I drive home, or what do I want […]
Judgment is a funny thing. First of all, we all make judgments all of the time. As a matter of fact, you could be making one of those judgments right now. Who knows, you may be thinking, “Who does this guy think he is, telling me what I’m thinking! Or you could be thinking. Hah! […]
Today is the day – Christians around the world celebrate the single most dramatic event that the world has ever seen, the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This event sealed the destiny of the human race, for it signified the coming death of sin and therefore the coming death of death. On […]
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