Tag: Christianity

Quote of Note #89: Christian Discipleship as Love

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"Being a disciple of Jesus is not primarily a matter of getting the right ideas and doctrines and beliefs into our heads in order to guarantee proper behavior; rather, it's a matter of being the kind of person who loves rightly -- who loves God and neighbor and is oriented to the world by the … Continue reading Quote of Note #89: Christian Discipleship as Love

Quote of Note #88: Sin as Self-Destruction

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[In reference to sin as a "dangerous, predatory animal" in Genesis 4:7--"If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it." NIV] "God is saying . . . … Continue reading Quote of Note #88: Sin as Self-Destruction

Bible Note #40: Conversation with the Angel–Luke 1:5-25

~ gachorpenning ~ 2 Comments

He was an old man, and his back ached with the day’s work.  Some of the younger priests did the heavy lifting required by the work.  But still, the old priest had spent most of the day on his feet.  And so, there was a sharp, grinding ache in the small of his back, stabbing … Continue reading Bible Note #40: Conversation with the Angel–Luke 1:5-25

Quote of Note #86: Gratitude and Humility

~ gachorpenning ~ Leave a comment

"Moreover, a true Christian will not ascribe any prosperity to his own diligence, industry, or good fortune, but he will acknowledge that God is the author of it." John Calvin, Golden Booklet of the True Christian Life.  Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1952/2004, page 43.

Pastor Note #87: Christmas — A Peasant King and the Foolishness of God

~ gachorpenning ~ 1 Comment

Christmas as a holiday in America is in many ways sacrosanct.  I’m not referring to the Christian holiday.  Most American, including Christian Americans, don’t really celebrate Christmas as a biblical holiday.  We love the warm, cozy sweetness of the “traditional” Christmas holiday.  In order to preserve that warm, cozy sweetness, we have to gloss over … Continue reading Pastor Note #87: Christmas — A Peasant King and the Foolishness of God

Quote of Note #85: Forgiving, Caring, Healing Heart of God

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"The question is not:  How many people take you seriously?  How much are you going to accomplish?  Can you show some results?  But: Are you in love with Jesus?  Perhaps another way to put the question would be: Do you know the incarnate God?  In our world of loneliness and despair, there is an enormous … Continue reading Quote of Note #85: Forgiving, Caring, Healing Heart of God

Prayer Note #59: Fleeing My Inescapable God

~ gachorpenning ~ 3 Comments

What savoriness sin has! It is so hard to leave it alone, Even when I know it for what it is. I come back to it again and again. But behind the savoriness, There’s a coldness, a darkness. Savoring my sin keeps me Far from you, Lord. I can’t savor my sin In your presence. … Continue reading Prayer Note #59: Fleeing My Inescapable God

Quote of Note #83: The Bible and Free Grace

~ gachorpenning ~ 1 Comment

"There are, in the end, only two ways to read the Bible:  Is it basically about me or basically about Jesus?  In other words, is it basically about what I must do or basically about what he has done?" Timothy Keller, Preaching: Communicating Faith in an Age of Skepticism. New York: Viking, 2015, page 60.

Pastor Note #85 — The Demonic Heresy of Christian White Nationalism

~ gachorpenning ~ 2 Comments

There is heresy finding foothold in America and in some other parts of the world.  It is not new.  The devil is not remarkably inventive.  He recycles old poison wherever he thinks it will work.  In America this heresy is arising under labels such as “Christian white nationalism” and “Christian Identity.” As a pastor and … Continue reading Pastor Note #85 — The Demonic Heresy of Christian White Nationalism