Mark 1:30-31 Now Simon's mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him (Jesus) about her. And he (Jesus) came and took her by the hand and lifter her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them. When Christ saves or heals us he does it for a reason far beyond ourselves. He saves us so that we might serve him. This is exactly what we see whe...

Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on hearth has been given to me." As I was reading this extremely familiar verse the other day I was struck again that we go out into the world in the name of Jesus because of who he is. I am able to face whatever problem I come across because Christ has "all authority" over that problem. And in th...

Matthew 27:20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. I just finished reading through the book of Matthew recently and was struck by the above verse. Only days before this particular verse took place the crowd had celebrated the arrival of Jesus on Palm Sunday, even in defiance of what the chief priests and elders wa...

Tonight, Thursday Night, the Young Adults had their weekly bible study / community group at Paradise Bakery. Such an awesome time together in God's word, in fellowship, in breaking of bread and prayer. We talked about God's amazing grace and asked if God's grace is amazing anymore in our own lives. At the end of our time together, a young college student sitting at a diffe...

This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. John 17:3 What is eternal life? Eternal life is knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ who was sent! If eternal life is to know, what does it mean to know? The answer to that question is huge, and its more than the word "k n o w" in English offers us. The very though...

This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. John 17:3 Who gets to experience this eternal life that God offers through His Son Jesus? Who is "they", that verse three speaks of? They is... John 17:2 ...all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life. John 3:14-16 "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilde...

This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. John 17:3 The same God who gives us zoe (life), is the same God who gives us eternal zoe. Eternal, meaning, never to end. God not only allows us to experience this amazing life that scripture describes, here and now, but He is ever so gracious to allow us to experience th...

This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. John 17:3 The word for life here in the greek is zoe. This word zoe, speaks of the life which only comes from Jesus and focus more on the life only He gives and not so much of the idea of physical life. Zoe or life, is the very thing we lack apart from Jesus. Without Jes...

Desiring God Ministries--8th aim that should drive every Christian's career path. 8. Aspire to Work for What Lasts Lastly, work for what lasts. Have in mind that this life is short, and everything not done for Christ will be in vain. Defy the deceitful notion that we have to build up and acquire here. Jesus says, "Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food ...

Desiring God Ministries--part 6 7 of 8 aims that should drive every Christian's career path. 6. Aspire to Overflow to Others For the glory of God, you should aspire to provide for yourselves, but it shouldn't end there. God has much more in mind for your money than simply your family's food, rent, and gasoline. "Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, d...

Desiring God Ministries-- Part 4 5 Aims that should drive every Christian's career path 4. Aspire to Confound the World With Paul, I appeal to you, future employers and employees, "present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship" (Romans 12:1). Your life your whole life, including your work is an act of worship. H...

Desiring God Ministries-- part 3 of 8 aims that should drive every Christian's career path 3. Aspire to Find Your Joy in God, Not Money You were created to know, love, display, and enjoy God (Psalm 37:4). But there are a thousand other things vying for that place in your heart and priorities. Perhaps no deadly distraction will be more subtly compelling than your career (...

The second of eight aims that should drive every Christian's career path--by Desiring God Ministries. 2. Aspire to Do God's Work If the only category you have for the Lord's work is Christian ministry, it won't take long for you to functionally disconnect your life's vocation from your life's mission to make much of God. All work is God's work prepared by him, carried ...

My son-in-law posted an interesting writing from Desiring God Ministries, written by Marshall Segal--the executive assistant to John Piper. Thought it was a great outlook on living our daily walk with God. It has several parts, so I will be adding some each day. What should I do with my life? It's one of the biggest questions on most young minds, especially during and af...

If you're anything like me you might be prone to looking at the current condition of our country with fear, frustration, contempt, and cynicism. It is pretty easy to do. The economy seems to get worse every day. The news is full of stories of children being abused and even killed by their own parents. Families are breaking apart every day. The culture is inundated with por...

After many years leading the 5th and 6th grade group my wife and I took a pay bump, which includes free half donuts at the Common Grounds cafe (beat out HEbrews) to lead the newly formed 4th and 5th grade group. From the beginning we have tried to stress to the kids that we are a group and not a class. I was encouraged that this concept may have a chance of sticking when E...

Proverbs 1:2021 20 Wisdom shouts in the street, She lifts her voice in the square; 21 At the head of the noisy streets she cries out; At the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings: Father, please open my ears. I know You're speaking, I know You're shouting. It's my ears that need to be unplugged and refocused on You.Please give me ears to hear! Proverb...