Category Archives: sin
Bad Memories
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise,[b] she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her,and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of [...]
Our View From the Tree
1Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. 4So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see [...]
Snakes Alive!
6 So the Lord sent them poisonous snakes; they bit the people, and many of the Israelites died.7 The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we grumbled at you and the Lord. Pray that the Lord will take away these snakes.” So Moses prayed for the people. 8 The Lord said to Moses, “Make a bronze snake, and put it on [...]
Why Are You Still Outside?
There are so many that are outside our walls. Those blinded and confused by the Church and the gospel. People are for the most part not this blatant or obvious in their pain. But it is what they are asking that tunes us in. “Where?” Humans have been created with a special spot inside them. This [...]
We Can Only Bow
“Come, let’s worship him and bow down. Let’s kneel before the Lord who made us.” Ps. 95:6, NCV We come directly to Him, with so many deep and ugly flaws. We step toward Him, having lost every confidence, but yet there is an assurance that we have arrived at something far beyond ourselves. Mental [...]
Joy Comes in the Morning
“I will test you with the measuring line of justice and the plumb line of righteousness. Since your refuge is made of lies, a hailstorm will knock it down. Since it is made of deception, a flood will sweep it away.” ~Isaiah 28:17 The ways in which our Father tests us certainly can seem [...]
Sinners Get Dibs
Mark 2:17, New Century Version (NCV) 17 Jesus heard this and said to them, “It is not the healthy people who need a doctor, but the sick. I did not come to invite good people but to invite sinners.” How ironic! Today, religious people are seen as a sort of an elite, an upper crust. Somewhat [...]
Take the Next Turn for Truth
“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32, King James Version (KJV) This is one of those verses that seems like a cliché. It has been sanded down and polished to the point where its beginning to lose its outrageousness and distinctiveness. It still sounds noble though, [...]
Our Hearts Plead for Good Pastors
Within issues of vulnerability, there are usually great problems. These are tender areas: Alcoholism, drug abuse, mental illnesses, homosexuality, sex addiction, porn and chronic depression are all substantial issues of pain and conflict. Strugglers are very often intimidated by leadership in the Church. It seems all we can see is a position of authority, and [...]