spiritual language
Some folks … even church folks … are uneasy with “spiritual language”. They say its “too churchy” and turns people off … so we try to creat a church environment where people feel comfortable, thus avoiding terms like “saved” and “born again”. Jesus unashamedly told Nicodemus, the high ranking Pharisee, that he must be “born again” in John 3:3. And in John 10:9 Jesus said that whoever enters through Him as the gate will be “saved”. If it’s good enough for Jesus it should be more than good enough for us as believers to tell others what it means to …
spiritually training our kids
I take the exhortations in the Bible (Deut. 6:6-9; Prov. 22:6; Eph. 6:4) that parents are responsible to train up their children in the ways of the Lord pretty seriously. Because of that I try as often as possible to tell Jacob and Isabelle stories from Scripture. But not just the nice happy ones all the time. We also talk about sin and death and hell. In fact, Jacob and I have a little mantra that we do that goes like this… Me: Jacob, what happens when you die? Jacob: You go into a box. Me: Where do you do …
autism and childhood television watching
A new study from Cornell University suggests that there is a ‘statistically significant relationship’ between autism and early childhood television viewing. Dr. Mohler discusses the study here. We know that television is a powerful medium. The American Academy of Pediatrics has advised parents of children under age 2 not to allow any television exposure. The experience of watching television is passive rather than active. The child’s imagination is not required to provide the images — the screen does that for them. Television does not encourage active thought nor does it develop the attention span. Many researchers suggest that the experience …
guaranteed friends forever ?
While shopping for a birthday card recently I came across a card that pictured two very elderly ladies and the caption read “guaranteed friends forever”. Probably not many of us met a friend in our early childhood years and have actually continued that close friendship down through the decades ? Sadly some friendships will not last forever. God’s words through the apostle Paul reminds us that Christ-following friends are the only ones who are actually GUARANTEED eternal friendships. In 1 Thessalonians 4: 16-17 we read: “… the dead in Christ shall rise first. And after that, we who are still …
through his gate and into his court
Today is Sunday. Time with GOD. Time spent with those who share your beliefs or with others who may be searching for God’s truth. I love it when “the body of Christ” gathers together to honor our Creator and Redeemer. Psalm 100: 4-5 “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the LORD is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.” What did GOD teach you within “His gates” this morning ?
Love vs. Grace
People tell me that at times “in-laws” can be a pain. Well for me that is not the case. While she attended the Willow Creek Small Group Conference here in the Chicagoland area, my sister-in-law, Janet, stayed with us. We had a few theology discussions and for the most part she “saw things my way”. However, after one of our “debates” I realized that I can sometimes be rather one sided with my view of a solid relationship with GOD. I tend to be stuck on the concept of “confession and repentance” … while Janet is big on the “love …
number one
The Chicagoland area is the busiest place I know. Everyone is rushing to the pressures of family, friends, employer, school, church, teams, clubs and lessons. People seem more concerned with their own needs than connecting with GOD. This is not something new. In the Old Testament … in the book of Haggai for example … people were so engulfed in their own wants and desires that they forgot GOD … and as a result they suffered. I heard a preacher once say: “I can expect to suffer in this world … but I hate to suffer because of my own …
