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Why Follow Jesus?
For me, it has become more clear over the years, and more “settled.” I don’t follow him to be able to regurgitate the right phrases. I follow him because he is Magnificent. He is Beautiful. I am convinced he is King. Over the years I continue to pray that my heart will just be glued to him. Since, then, you have…
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I keep falling in love with him…
Growing up in church one of my boyhood heroes was Jimmy Swaggart. Our family watched his telecast every Sunday morning and when I was in high school I got up at 5 every morning to watch his daily show, “A Study in the Word.” The weekly telecasts were from his crusades. One of my favorite singers was Fred Johnson. I…
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What is it we fear?
Maybe we don’t think it’s fear. Yet, when it comes to talking about truly following Christ, I am really hear people being passionate… about not being passionate. “Relax, dude!” What is it we fear? We are not looking carefully into Scripture anymore and we call those who really love the Word “biblicists,” like it’s a dirty label. We are not praying…
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The place of holiness
I know I can be concerned about the spiritual place of others. It may be the hazards of the job as a pastor. When I get so caught up with the spiritual place of others, the Lord gently (or not so gently) reminds me that maybe I should be concerned about the place of holiness in my own life.
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Snatching Defeat Away from the Jaws of Victory
The compelling truth of Israel’s story in the Old Testament is it hits so close to home in our own lives. It is the story, too often, of making bold promises to God, then turning right around and finding a way to mess it up. Numbers 9-11 are key examples of the attitude we often take when we are incredibly…
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Gut Level Obedience
I find myself desiring too many other things. Success. Significance. Someone just noticing something I’ve done. But that is not my call. Obedience and duty are my call. 7 “Would any of you say to your servant, who had just come in from the field after plowing or tending sheep, ‘Come! Sit down for dinner’? 8 Wouldn’t you say instead, ‘Fix my dinner.…
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A Prayer for Revival and Reform
14 Please come back, God of heavenly forces! Look down from heaven and perceive it! Attend to this vine, 15 this root that you planted with your strong hand, this son whom you secured as your very own. 16 It is burned with fire. It is chopped down. They die at the rebuke coming from you. 17 Let your hand be with the one…
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Revival or Reform?
Something rattling around in my brain lately has been the question: Do I ask for “revival” or “reformation?” Jeremiah helps me out on this one: 3 This is what the Lord of heavenly forces, the God of Israel, says: Improve your conduct and your actions, and I will dwell with you in this place.4 Don’t trust in lies: “This is the Lord’s temple! The Lord’s temple!…
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A New Reformation
The sad thing is a call for “new reformation” is old hat. It could be called a new “manifesto,” but that’s been used as well. Simply stated, I have a stirring in my heart for the Church in America to do something the culture in America is refusing to do: grow up. In America we are moving more and more…
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The Longing of Anna
For Sunday’s text I am focusing on “longing” for the return of Christ and using the Luke text on Anna as we watch her long for Messiah. Here are some interesting things to notice right off the top: 1. She is OLD. Who in the world thinks about anyone over 25 doing anything for God these days? 2. She is…
Tag: Spiritual hunger
