Author Archives
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Yes, the Church Definitely Stinks! Letter to an (Absent but Vocal) Church Critic
[In response to a Facebook post about the sad, sin-plagued state of the church today. Names have been withheld, changed, or translated into Common Eldarin & Westron to avoid offense.] My response: Guilty.As.Charged. Is the capital “C” Church, and are… Read More ›
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Flesh vs. Spirit, part II
“For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please (Galatians 5:17, NAS).” Self-discipline is… Read More ›
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Flesh vs. Spirit, part I
“For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please (Galatians 5:17, NAS).” There is… Read More ›
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Penciled In
I was a young Air Force officer, likely insufferable and most certainly highly enamored with my own early success. I was moving on up; on the “fast track” (though early promotions were not yet possible at my career stage). I… Read More ›
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Two Kingdoms
“…there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The KINGDOM OF THE WORLD has become the KINGDOM OF OUR LORD and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever (Revelation 11:15, NAS).” “For He rescued us from the… Read More ›
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Of Sin and Consequences and Scooter Scars
I was at a seminar or conference somewhere; I don’t remember where. What I do remember is that one of my favorite speakers was there; in fact, he’s the reason I decided to attend said conference. Chuck Swindoll has, since… Read More ›
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Ephesians 4:3-6 (NAS): Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in… Read More ›
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Circling for a Landing
Do all dogs do this? All the ones I’ve ever had did. They would approach their favorite landing spot…pillow…dog bed…my bed (sigh)…and they would begin the process. They would circle and tramp and circle and tramp and circle and tramp… Read More ›
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Betsy Was My First
Betsy was my first. She rolled over me like a hurricane; because she was, well…a hurricane. Did you think something different? Shame. I was a kid living with my family in a mobile home in Biloxi, Mississippi. You can call… Read More ›
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Kingdom Power and Authority, part III
Ephesians 4:3-6 (NAS): Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another… Read More ›
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Kingdom of God: Power and Authority, part II
“But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly…not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live… Read More ›
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God is Not an Elephant — But Most of the Rest of Us Are
My last time in Zambia I had an interesting encounter. After a couple of days work with some remote churches, my hosts and I were heading back to Lusaka, Zambia’s capital city. En route, we stopped at a roadside… Read More ›
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A White Carnation for Mom
It’ll be a white carnation for me this year. Some churches turn Mother’s Day into some kind of crazy contest: the mother with the most kids; the mother with the most kids present that day (the kids, of course, having… Read More ›
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It's Not Easy Being Green
Kermit the Frog, here. Years ago Kermit, the only huggable frog (all others are prone to slime and hopping about), sang a song about his amphibian pigmentation problems, “It’s Not Easy Being Green.” [This was before the word “green” had… Read More ›
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Bad Bosses and Irritating People, part IV
Standing in Judgment “Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions…who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and… Read More ›
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Bad Bosses and Irritating People, part II
Treatment of an Enemy: Matthew 5:38-48, NAS: “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you… Read More ›
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Bad Bosses and Irritating People, part I
“For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a… Read More ›
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Ezekiel 28:12-17: (Lucifer) You had the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering; the ruby, the topaz, and the diamond; the beryl, the… Read More ›
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Humility and Forgiveness
“Agree quickly with your adversary (Matthew 5:25, NAS).” “It is already a defeat for you, that you have lawsuits with one another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded (II Corinthians 6:7, NAS).” “We are to clothe… Read More ›
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Forgiveness and Humility
Matthew 5:25: Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown… Read More ›
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Forgiveness
“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins (Matthew 6:14-15, NAS).” We all need to… Read More ›
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Christ the Lowly, part VII
January 27 2014 Christ the Lowly, part VII “Agree quickly with your adversary (Matthew 5:25, NAS).” “It is already a defeat for you, that you have lawsuits with one another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded… Read More ›
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Christ the Lowly, part VI
“Take My yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls (Matthew 11:29, NAS).” “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly… Read More ›
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Christ the Lowly, Part V
“…thus says the Lord God, ‘Remove the turban and take off the crown; this will no longer be the same. Exalt that which is low and abase that which is high (Ezekiel 21:26, NAS).” “Take My yoke upon you, and… Read More ›
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Christ the Lowly, part IV
“The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech (Proverbs 8:13, NAS).” “All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another (I Peter 5:5, NAS).” Pride was the… Read More ›
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Christ the Lowly, Part III
“I dwell on a high and holy place, and also with the contrite and lowly of spirit… (Isaiah 57:15, NAS).” The last two posts discussed the topic of humility and forgiving self. That brings us to the subject of forgiving… Read More ›
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Christ the Lowly, Part II
LOWLY: 1. humble in feeling, behavior or status 2. modest; unpretentious 3. evolved to only a slight degree “…thus says the Lord God, ‘Remove the turban and take off the crown; this will no longer be the same. Exalt that… Read More ›
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Christ the Lowly, Part I
LOWLY: 1. humble in feeling, behavior or status 2. modest; unpretentious 3. evolved to only a slight degree “…thus says the Lord God, ‘Remove the turban and take off the crown; this will no longer be the same. Exalt… Read More ›