As in linking to noteworthy articles from other blogs and websites.

What if God had more for our kin this Thanksgiving than the Macy’s parade, tryptophan-induced naps, and NFL football? What if we saw our gatherings with extended family not as [...]]]>

Lincoln again?

Yep. Linkin’ again!

As in linking to noteworthy articles from other blogs and websites.

What if God had more for our kin this Thanksgiving than the Macy’s parade, tryptophan-induced naps, and NFL football? What if we saw our gatherings with extended family not as a chance to check out, but as an opportunity for Christian mission?

A prisoner of war who forgives his captor or a terminated pastor who forgives a predatory congregation, these people are not overlooking sin. Nor are they saying that what happened is “okay” or that the relationships involved are back to “normal” (whatever that is). Instead they are confessing that judgment is coming and they can trust the One who will be seated on that throne.

Typographic Verses by Jonathan Ogden et. al.

Last year over 2,000 Christians in the country were murdered by Muslim extremists. While it is often tempting in trials such as this to pray for deliverance, the Christians in Nigeria are praying for something else… the strength to stand strong.

Please don’t pass over this story. Christians in the Third World are on the front-lines of Christ’s Kingdom. Christians in America are the ‘rear echelon’ and could learn a thing or two from our brothers and sisters on the front.

What’s unusual about the Pacific Crossroads congregation—and what underpins efforts such as Boxes of Love—is its theologically conservative raison d’être. A member church of the Presbyterian Church in America, Pacific Crossroads is committed to Reformation doctrines such as total depravity and limited atonement. These beliefs are typically regarded as ugly and inhumane by American culturati.

The only just punishment for your disobedience to the Lord is to suffer under his wrath forever in hell. And what’s more, Jesus has already been punished in your place. Therefore, if you are a Christian, you will never be punished for your sins. Jesus has taken the just punishment that was due them. Period.

If you have experienced an intense difficulty in your life and wonder what God is trying to tell you through it, please take time to read this article.

The Mormon doctrine on the essential matters of doctrine are at odds with historic Christianity. What makes this difficult to parse out is the fact that many Mormons utlize the same words (sin, grace, faith, church, Jesus, salvation) while meaning something completely different.

Well, it came about [...]]]> When I was a young boy of about six, my mom made me take swimming lessons. I hated going because the water was freezing cold and I was the only boy in the class. I had to learn how to dog paddle to pass this class and I just wasn’t very good.

Well, it came about that one Sunday, probably in mid-July, there was a church picnic at the pond behind my grandparent’s house and I figured that if I could convince my mom that I knew how to dog paddle, she wouldn’t make me go back to that freezing cold pool with all those icky girls. So I walked out into the pond where it was about three feet deep, leaned forward and started doing the dog paddle.

From my mom’s perspective on the shore it looked like I was swimming along just fine, but under the murky water, I was walking on the bottom of the pond. And on the shore, I saw people telling my mother, “He’s really doing well!” and “Look what a good little swimmer he is.” I was sure I had them all fooled.

But there was a boy at that picnic, bigger than me, and somehow he knew I was faking it. When I got out of the water, he picked me up, carried me out to the end of the dock and threw me into about eight feet of water. As I was sailing through the air, a thought crossed my mind, “I am going to die.” Well, I popped up to the surface and looked to see who was coming to save me. Not a soul. And why should they come after me? Everyone had seen what a good little swimmer I was. Finally, I started doing what I had learned – kicking my legs and paddling like crazy with my hands.

Amazingly, I stayed pretty close to the surface and started moving toward the shore. And that boy who threw me in just stood on the dock laughing. His name was Mark, I’ll never forget that, and he was laughing at me but I wasn’t angry with him at all. Because on that day in mid-July, Mark taught me how to swim.

You see, I didn’t trust the water to hold me up; I trusted my own feet on the solid bottom of the pond. And I fear that there are many who are doing the same thing in their Christian life today. You look just like the real swimming Christians, but you’re just going through the motions on the surface, trusting your own footing and distrusting God to keep you afloat.

There are two kinds of people in this world. Those who have entered through the narrow gate who are on their way along the narrow path to heaven; and those who are on the wide way to destruction. They both look like they’re doing the same things to most observers, but one is faking it

If you haven’t entered through the narrow gate and if you find yourself on the wide way, I hope I’ve thrown you in the deep part of the pond with this story. I hope that the thought crossed your mind, “I am going to die,” Because you are.

The Holy Spirit was sent to us to convict us of sin now, so we will know which path we are on. If you feel convicted right now in some way, then the Spirit of God is working in you. Rejoice! This is good news! Hebrews 12:6  says, “For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and chastises every child he accepts.”

On the other hand, if you feel no conviction, then you are either firmly on the narrow path with your eyes wide open, or firmly on the wide way with your eyes tightly shut. There could be a narrow door right in front of you, but you would never see it.

Open your eyes, kick off of the bottom, trust that God will not let you sink. Confess your sins and accept Jesus as Savior and Lord. Walk in His way; Trust and Obey.