Posts filed under The Gospel
Unchained!
"And he [Paul] stayed two full years in his own rented quarters and was welcoming all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered" (Acts 28:30-31).
The Man-Centered Gospel is . . . Inspiring?
Recently a video from an "Inspirational Speaker" has been making the rounds on Facebook and You Tube. It is a man seeking to inspire women. So, ladies from all walks of life have been ooing and awing and swooning over it. The message speaks of God and women of the Bible (Ruth, Esther, Martha, Mary) and speaks of God's love. So, it is clearly intending to be a biblical message of inspiration. But it fails to pass the test in my book. You can view the message here:
The Powerful Gospel
"Knowing brothers, beloved by God, that He has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but in power and with the Holy Spirit and with full conviction . . . And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the Word in much affliction , with the joy of the Holy Spirit so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. For not only has the Word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. For they themselves report . . . how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come" (1 Thessolonians 1:4-10).
Holy Snake Handling Batman!
Jamie Coots, a preacher in a church in Middlesboro, KY, died recently from a snake bite. Coots was a "snake-handler" and frequently used snakes in the church as part of a show of "faith." This brand of Christianity is sadly still alive and well in the mountains of my home state of Kentucky, as well as Appalachia in general. But Jamie Coots is dead.
Real or Not . . . What My Fake Curls Teach Me
People want to touch it...they run their fingers through it...they laugh when it springs back. Goodness... my hair has been a real source of wonder for those around me since I curled it....the only thing is...the curl is fake. It is the result of a very costly well done perm. It acts like a regular head of curl would act but there are distinct differences that set it apart.
Stamping My Feet at God
In the last five years I have been battling with the sin of gluttony. I have struggled with "eating sin" ever since I was small. I have used food for every single reason . . . sadness, gladness, despair, confusion, celebration. Really, if there was no reason I have just worked really hard till I found one. I mean, really, if I had concentrated on Jesus as much as I have justifying gluttony in my life I might actually have already gone to heaven in a chariot. But, alas, no fear there. Why do we do that? Why do we proclaim victory from our sins in Jesus and then get up and walk in the exact same ones again, day after day? Really, how many times Lori are you going to run under the bus and cry because it hurts you?
What's good about Good Friday?
"The he released for them Barabbas, and having Jesus scourged delivered Him to be crucified . . . and when they had mocked Him, they stripped Him of the robe and put His own clothes on Him and led Him away to crucify Him" (Matthew 27:26, 31).
Livingstone's Legacy
Today my sister called and reminded me that this is the 200th anniversary of the birth of David Livingstone. If you have no idea who he was, then take some time and learn!