What will our future selves look like? I’m talking about our heavenly selves, and perhaps our sanctified selves to a certain degree, although we will never reach the perfection of the glorified state on this side of the great divide. Unfortunately, there is little to address this question in Scripture. We know we will be enraptured in perpetual worship. The question remains, what will we be? A good follow up question is what are we becoming? Perhaps one could ask,... Read more
2 Timothy 1.7 | Scripture Interpreted in Community Sara Reeves Best Days To watch the video online CLICK for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1.7, NRSV The word “cowardice” is also translated as timidity or anxiety. It is extremely difficult to write on a Scripture that I have had memorized since I was a teenager. It is even more difficult when I would... Read more
Disengagement | Solitude & Silence One could easily define disengagement, solitude, and silence. However, can one define the terms in a Christian contemplative sense? Can I? The problem is, I have none of my books of this sort at my fingertips. Merriam-Webster online has little to say, and nothing contemplative to speak of. Must I try to define these terms on my own? Very well, there are Christian practices known as the disciplines. There are disciplines of engagement and disciplines... Read more
Texts of Truth for Tonight Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world. 1 John 4.4 The wicked plot against the godly; they snarl at them in defiance. But the Lord just laughs, for he sees their day of judgment coming. Psalm 37.12-13 People do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of God. Deuteronomy 8.3.b Sin whispers to the wicked, deep within their hearts.... Read more
Purity of Heart | Guest Post Vernell Ingle, Teaching Pastor Christpoint, Galena, KS Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Matthew 5.8 The Hebrew concept of the heart is a comprehensive term of the totality of the human personality. It is the center of who I am and who you are: my thoughts, my feelings, my intentions. Either those are balanced or unbalanced. It depends on the condition of my heart. What is purity of heart?... Read more
Israel Crosses the Red Sea The Israelites take action (Exodus 14.15-18) God directs them to march to the sea Do not surrender! Do not form ranks! Go to the shore! There they are trapped with no escape Moses lifts the rod over the sea, the LORD promises victory “That moment of anguish called not for prayer but for action.”[1] After Israel obeys and takes action, God takes action (Exodus 14.19-21) “That is, the angel of God and the pillar of... Read more
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
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