Mulder & Jobs, Madonna & Spafford 1990s television aired two legendary primetime slogans: first, a poster on an FBI basement office wall that says, “I WANT TO BELIEVE,” and the other an ever constant tagline to begin every episode, “THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE.” On one occasion however, the opening tagline was changed in episode … Continue reading Dust To Dust? Mind-Body Dualism In Multiple Fields Of Research
Hope’s Not Gone
“But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem us…” Luke 24:21 Follower of Jesus: there was once a time when Jesus’s followers referred to hope as something they used to have—hope had changed from a present reality to something spoken in the past tense. They once were hoping, they used to be … Continue reading Hope’s Not Gone
The Kingdom Comes Small
After a followup with the heart doctor this morning for an expensive way to be told all the tests say I'm fine, this is just what I needed to read for the first time in PNTC and to be reminded of again in an email from Chuck Fuller: CF: "At some point, Dr. Seifrid noticed … Continue reading The Kingdom Comes Small
Music on the Original Journalist Review iPods
After a hard day, my loving wife told me to sit in the recliner and watch YouTube to see if my blood pressure would come down. After a relaxing evening of piddling around online, I found something that even my Apple-knowledge had never seen. This is a listing of the 20 CD albums that were … Continue reading Music on the Original Journalist Review iPods
All Things
Since nothing in creation can separate the genuine believer from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord, then we must conclude that every earthly separation is not meant to separate us from our Savior. Instead, it is intended to draw us nearer. Though earthly separation may be the result of sinful … Continue reading All Things
God’s Grip
Often someone will criticize another for having ‘too tight a hold’ on items. It may be an item of hobby or a material possession that is greatly admired. True, our covetous hearts are bent towards idolatry (and that right quickly, see Exodus 32:8). But, if we possess the item and use it to accomplish a … Continue reading God’s Grip
Assurance of Salvation
If I understand the gospel more today than I did yesterday, does that mean I’m not really saved? How many times have you heard of someone claiming that they finally understand salvation and now are truly saved? How may times have you heard testimonies of people claiming that after years of serving God and knowing … Continue reading Assurance of Salvation
Square Pegs
Christian (who doesn’t seem to fit in), With all of your quirks and oddities, remember that you’re made in the image of God. You may not connect with everyone and may not be understood by everybody. That’s ok—God doesn’t intend for you to carry a burden that heavy anyway. Connecting with everyone you know and … Continue reading Square Pegs
Paul’s Biblical Balance
Came across an old highlight while reading this morning. It’s a wonderful reminder of what biblical balance looks like. “The Paul of Romans 1 who speaks of the sad state of society is still able to love and connect with that society in Acts 17.” In sum, Paul directly engages the current culture. He does … Continue reading Paul’s Biblical Balance
The Michael S. Heiser ChatGPT Archive
I made a ChatGPT using the freely available documents of his blog posts (created by Bryan Mistele and found here1). You can try it out at https://chat.openai.com/g/g-urVhrFxWs-the-michael-s-heiser-archive. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/zJHpxvaix4ndbsiX/?mibextid=K35XfP ↩
Is your family a train wreck?
It’s that time of year again where I read a familiar passage and try to imagine what it must have been like. My Bible reading plan does not always finish with as many checkmarks as I would like, but towards the end of Genesis, chapter 45 gets me every time. (Trying out an English Septuagint … Continue reading Is your family a train wreck?
Little is Much
At the judgment seat of Christ, little acts of love, kindness, and concern will be manifest for what they truly were—infinite acts of love that flowed from the heart of God through weak human vessels to other eternal souls. So don't discount the importance of closet prayer, personal encouragement, discreet charity, and brief gospel discussions… … Continue reading Little is Much
A Call with John Couch
Back in 1978, Steve Jobs went to the home of a Hewlett-Packard software engineer and asked him to take a pay cut but come work for a new tech company called Apple. He put an Apple II on the table for his 4-year-old son to play with and said, “If your dad comes to work … Continue reading A Call with John Couch
1 Corinthians 4: The Service and Servants of God
December 17, 2023 Adult SS Class Introduction Example from school. Some places have very clear requirements that they may not even follow. Other places may have very vague requirements that do not help. God’s requirements in this passage are very clear… What does God require Verses 1–5 We are servants that belong to God because … Continue reading 1 Corinthians 4: The Service and Servants of God
A nobody in nowhere
What would it look like if one single-focused person gave their entire life for a group of people in a small part of the world, driven by love and God’s glory, not seeking attention, speaking in a way the regular people would listen to, striking up conversations with the forgotten and the outcasts, not caring … Continue reading A nobody in nowhere
I Know How You Feel
If there are times in your life, Christian, where you cry out to God, "Why, why, why, why, why" and he doesn't answer but only silently listens with love and without judgment… It might be to prepare you for a time years later when another Christian asks you, "why, why, why, why, why" and you'll … Continue reading I Know How You Feel
Compassion for Corinth
When Paul wrote to the Corinthians, he didn’t jump right on their faults. He didn’t go straight to their fornication or misuse of spiritual gifts. He didn’t run to the cultural offerings of their day, and he didn’t start the letter with the Lord’s Supper or even the future resurrection… When Paul wrote to a … Continue reading Compassion for Corinth
1 Corinthians 3: A Better Way to Build
December 10, 2023Adult SS Class Introduction Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? How many of you have heard those questions before? There’s a good reason and a not so good reason to hear why over and over again. Connection Perhaps you have heard a child or teenager ask why, you answer, and they ask why again. … Continue reading 1 Corinthians 3: A Better Way to Build
If
If you saw their eyes dry would you know they’re really crying If you saw them struggling would you say they really weren’t trying If their life was falling apart would you quietly listen Or would you quickly tell them a quick way to fix it If they kept going on and on would you … Continue reading If
1 Corinthians 2: The Wisdom of Christ Crucified
December 3, 2023Adult SS Class Impact Capture their attention. When is the last time you looked at your high school yearbook? What would be the top few things, without even looking, that you know we would find if we were to open one up this morning? Crazy hairstyles? Strange clothing styles? There would be no … Continue reading 1 Corinthians 2: The Wisdom of Christ Crucified
Sermon: Paul’s Pattern of Thanksgiving
Audio from a sermon that was preached at Gethsemane Baptist Temple in Starr, SC on November 26, 2023.
Got to Preach this Weekend
Paul's Pattern of Thanksgiving: a summary of Paul's introductions. This is a sermon I preached on Sunday night at Gethsemane Baptist Temple on November 26, 2023. I looked at how Paul began each of his church letters, and then I showed that the way he departed from that pattern in Galatians shows what he is … Continue reading Got to Preach this Weekend
O wretched man that I am!
The greatest rivalry is not Carolina vs. Clemson or Ohio St. vs. Michigan. It's not the Lakers vs. the Celtics in the 80s or the Pacers vs. Knicks in the 90s. The greatest rivalry is in the Christian's heart, where there's a daily (who'm I kidding, an hourly and minute by minute) battle of our … Continue reading O wretched man that I am!
1 Corinthians 1: The Solution for Division
Sunday, November 26, 2023Adult SS Class Introduction Capture their attention. As men, we should be willing to admit that our wives know more than we do. I recently overheard my wife teaching Emma-Faith about a math subject. She was talking about “solving for x.” I took one look at it and realized that after being … Continue reading 1 Corinthians 1: The Solution for Division
Black Friday Fun
Think of the things a father and mother will do so that their sons or daughters can get a gift that will be enjoyed for a relatively short time, then eventually forgotten… Now, imagine a giving Father and the sacrificial pains his Son would go through so that their sons and daughters could enjoy a … Continue reading Black Friday Fun