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Here is to the future
For those friends around the world who’ve already had the new year… how is the future? Here is to what lies ahead! GREAT SCOTT!
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May 2014 be a year of speaking and ACTING in power
In Luke 7 there is the story of Jesus raising up the son of the widow in Nain. The story here is not that Jesus had compassion because a woman lost her son… alone. It was not just a matter of a touching scene. It was a matter of justice as well. The widow would have nothing. She was without any source…
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The difference of the Kingdom’s power
Resolution for 2014: Live out the power of the Kingdom. Subset: Love those who have no desire to love you. Drive them crazy in the process. It may be a “win/win.” It may also cost you a lot. Either way, live out the Kingdom’s power.
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The Resolution for 2014
How to live in 2014? Jesus has some pretty direct things to say about that. 27 “But I say to you who are willing to hear: Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. 28 Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on the cheek, offer the other one as well. If someone takes…
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The Pharisee in Me
Luke 5-6 has some encounters that typify what Jesus is trying to get across early in his ministry. It’s simple: Get on the Kingdom’s agenda! Those who see that message and come to him get a response. The leper came and ASKED, “Lord, if you are willing…” Levi heard the call of Jesus and immediately left his work to follow Jesus. They got…
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Eat this scroll — the importance of spiritual feasting
Ezekiel was commanded to eat the scroll full of judgments and doom. Just eating something like a scroll doesn’t seem too pleasant, but to eat words of doom and gloom… I would think there would be an expectation of bitterness. But Ezekiel found the scroll sweet as honey. We need to feast on the words of God. All of them.…
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Do I irritate the enemy?
We are good at irritating each other. Liberals irritating conservatives, both Christian and political… and the return fire is done with equal zest. But how about the REAL enemy? He doesn’t mind if we think he doesn’t exist and we want to go with the mantra, “Evil is the absence of someone doing good.” As a great professor of mine…
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The Ten for 2014
I am a voracious reader. I haven’t been as quick to read a LOT of things recently, but I do love reading. What I am horrible at is getting back INTO books that are significant and worth studying. And I’m REALLY bad about reading fiction… even once. I was meditating on this earlier in the month and thought of the…
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Deeper in the Word in 2014
As we aim toward a New Year, we always have that daunting task of “resolutions.” One of the great goals we should always have in mind is how we can deepen our walk with God. For me, the question is always centered around prayer and the Scriptures. How can I best center my life in those two areas? Those two…
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Glory to God in the highest
The tree lights are on. The first pot of coffee is made and the first cup is poured. Sidewalks are shoveled from the light snowfall we had last night. The turkey has been in the oven cooking oh, so, slowly. Ready to feast on later today. But everyone is still asleep and in this quiet, with things a little more…
