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Showing posts from June, 2010

The Withering Heart; The Flourishing Hope

The Bible story of Job who lost everything he had in the course of several days can be viewed as relevant to many in this day and age. It is a time in history where many of our futures are classified as unknown. Changes engulf us on every level. Our economy continues to plunge... wasted oil lingers closer to the borders... prices soar... pay decreases... and we wonder what we can possibly do to control our lives... Job found out the hard way.. that we cant... we can only go one day at a time... and with every new day.. God gives us a bundle of new grace to handle whatever struggle.. whatever disaster... comes our way... His grace is sufficient... His lovingkindness is never ending.. We get so caught up in our present circumstances.. our stress at home.. at work.. we are vainly aiming to please a multitude... and we forget to please a Savior.. Job says in chapter 8 "Can papyrus grow tall where there is no marsh? Can reeds thrive without water? While still growing and uncut, they wi...

How God Uses the Unqualified to Market His Message...

The amazing thing about the apostle Peter is that while taking the "stage".. one fateful day... he approached a hungry crowd .. "unqualified"...Peter was a sinner among sinners.. a denier of Christ.. a coward.. and all he had was a memory... replaying in his head... over and over... of how not once.. but three times.. he denied a Savior... It must have been cold there in that shadow... but as he spoke... he found the strength.. that surpassed his failures.. and gave him the courage... to market a Christ... he reminded the people that Jesus was not defeated in death... that decay never overcame a "deity"... and that this crowd needed hope... not in a "green planet" or "health coverage" or "less taxes".. these things were not important in the life to come... what was important was repentance... acceptance of an "unknown"... faith in a God that we cannot see or touch or hear with our ears... 3,000 people came to Christ ...