Tag: Bible

Pastor Note #130: The Government of Oklahoma Attempts to Usurp the Church

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Effective immediately, all Oklahoma schools are required to incorporate the Bible, which includes the Ten Commandments, as an instructional support into the curriculum across specified grade levels, e.g., grades 5 through 12.  This directive is in alignment with the educational standards approved on or about May 2019, with which all districts must comply.[1] The above … Continue reading Pastor Note #130: The Government of Oklahoma Attempts to Usurp the Church

Pastor Note #128: The Resurrection–A Devotional

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Introduction:If saving non-material human souls is all that matters, what is the point of the bodily resurrection of Jesus?  If the goal of the Christian faith is to get souls into heaven, then the bodily resurrection of Jesus is irrelevant and unnecessary.  And yet, there can be little doubt that the New Testament writers were … Continue reading Pastor Note #128: The Resurrection–A Devotional

Pastor Note #127: A Devotional on the Lord’s Return

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Introduction:Surely, there are few biblical topics that have generated as many books, articles, Bible studies, and sermons as the topic of the return of Christ.  They are often filled with charts and tables and complex speculations that make quantum physic seem simple.  A. W. Tozer writes this, “There have been enough foolish formulas advanced about … Continue reading Pastor Note #127: A Devotional on the Lord’s Return

Pastor Note #126: A Good Friday Devotional

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Introduction:At the very core of his being, our God is a relational God.  Every fiber of God’s nature is biased toward relationship.  We see that in the mystery of the Trinity—one God in three Persons, woven in a profound interrelationship of love, one with the other. We also see this relational nature of our God … Continue reading Pastor Note #126: A Good Friday Devotional

Bible Note #53: Colossians 3 Series–Raised with Christ

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There is richness and deep truth to be found everywhere in the Bible, often in passages that might seem mundane and unremarkable at first glance.  In fact, that sounds like an interesting challenge.  So, maybe someday I’ll do a series of studies on some of those seemingly uninspiring passages of the Bible.  But for now, … Continue reading Bible Note #53: Colossians 3 Series–Raised with Christ

Bible Note #52: James 2:5-7 & the Problem of Wealth

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Photo by GAC I think I can safely say that James has a very low opinion of money and the accumulation of wealth.  Along with Paul, James gets his ideas about money and wealth from Jesus.  Jesus and all the New Testament writers are concerned about money and the accumulation of wealth because they believed … Continue reading Bible Note #52: James 2:5-7 & the Problem of Wealth

Bible Note #51: James 2:1-4 & Valuing What Jesus Values

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I enjoy fishing.  I’m not very good at it, but I do enjoy going out to the water and trying to catch fish.  As I share this with you, we are a day away from the opening of trout season in Pennsylvania.  Opening day can be a pretty crowded time on the water around here.  … Continue reading Bible Note #51: James 2:1-4 & Valuing What Jesus Values

Bible Note #50: James 2:1 and “Us vs. Them” Thinking

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There is no question that our Christian faith can become corrupted.  And, of course, one of the ways that our faith can become corrupted is when we adopt bad or wrong doctrines.  That’s why it’s important for us to learn our theology carefully and well. The base of an abandoned steel-making blast furnace; photo by … Continue reading Bible Note #50: James 2:1 and “Us vs. Them” Thinking

Bible Note #48: Justice for the Weak–Ezekiel 34:11-22

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Here God proclaims his love.  God proclaims the bias of his heart.  God proclaims the direction of movement of his heart. photo by GAC Above all, he is for the weak.  Above all, he is for the vulnerable, the wounded, the broken, the lost.  (Does this sound familiar?  “For the Son of Man came to … Continue reading Bible Note #48: Justice for the Weak–Ezekiel 34:11-22

Bible Note #47: Mary Magdalene–A Holy Week Meditation

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Mary Magdalene—A Narrative Meditation In an earlier time, the anguish and grief that she had endured on that Friday and Saturday would have unhinged her.  Yet in the midst of this agony, she discovered that the Teacher had so healed and restored her that even this crushing sorrow could not undo his work. photo by … Continue reading Bible Note #47: Mary Magdalene–A Holy Week Meditation