Grace & Mercy | Guest Post, Vernell Ingle, Teaching Pastor “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” Matthew 5.7, KJV i. grace & mercy Grace always deals with the sin and guilt itself. Grace extends pardon. Mercy extends relief. Grace cleanses and reinstates us before God, places us in right standing with Him. Mercy heals and helps. With God mercy always follows grace. Grace is associated with men in their sins. Mercy is associated with men in their... Read more
A Future and a Hope For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29.11 1st of all I am not a Hebrew or Aramaic scholar so I feel inadequate to start. 2nd I am fully aware this verse is pulled from a larger context. In context, this verse is about deliverance from Babylon. The Hebrews were in captivity in... Read more
What Lies Ahead I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for... Read more
Guest Post | Vernell Ingle, Teaching Pastor Christpoint Galena Lord of the Rings The Eagles Dad (Rev. Vernell) is in the middle of a Wednesday night teaching series on the Beatitudes. While I was listening to him teach about meekness on Wednesday I thought it would be fun to publish some of his material with an apophatic approach. So I’m not going to tell you what meekness is. I’m just going to tell you what it’s not. Meekness might be... Read more
Distorting the Truth Pilate asked him, ‘So you are a king?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.’ Pilate asked him, ‘What is truth? John 18.37-38, NRSV I won’t belabor the point because a lot of scholars have already made the point. Postmodernity looks a lot like the First Century. When... Read more
The Year But the land that you are crossing over to occupy is a land of hills and valleys, watered by rain from the sky, a land that the Lord your God looks after. The eyes of the Lord your God are always on it, from the beginning of the year to the end of the year. Deuteronomy 11.11-12, NRSV The Early Church Fathers are seemingly silent on this verse. When they are silent, I usually approach a Text with caution. However, I did mention... Read more
Is This Yesterday’s News? The world is a funny place I don’t know what to think of it Catastrophes, wars, famines Yet it’s business as usual For us in America Who’s popular on social media? Who won the game? Who’s running for office? I hope 2024 increases our awareness For at least our allies in the world It’s not really that bad Or is it? When you think about it Suffering is a foreign concept We can’t seem to grasp... Read more
Merry Christmas 2023 “When peace like a river attendeth my way…” It’s not a Christmas carol. Nevertheless, the words have been ringing in my spirit. I find myself at rest this Christmas, despite the struggles that I face. Life decisions are excruciating at times. There seems to be no clear answer. I want to thrive and live the abundant life, but life decisions get in the way. Thankfully, there has been an abundance of peace. At the heart of the... Read more
The Struggle to Not Look Back ‘No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’ Luke 9.62, NRSV I’m aware of the story of Orpheus, a tragedy, a Classical Greek tale. Apparently there are a couple versions. It is tragic because Orpheus looks back. Honestly, the tale is easier to figure out than the poetry of Sara Bareilles… and she is a poet. She does things with her words few... Read more
Texts for Tonight | Joy These Scriptures were part of my morning read a couple days ago. I feel like I’m the last one to testify about joy right now, unless joy is understood at a deeper level. All who seek the Lord will praise him. Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy… for all who follow my ways are joyful… Joyful are those who listen to me Psalm 22.26; Proverbs 8.32,34, NLT Dante Bowe Joyful To view in YouTube CLICK... Read more
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