Articles
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Recognizing the Shepherd
Some days, I find myself walking along the relatively narrow footpath, keeping in step with my Lord as He walks beside me. As we walk, the subject of our conversation floats between my own actions, concerns for my family and friends, and how I might learn to better recognize and experience His presence from moment to moment. And as I engage with Him, as we spend time together, His grace washes over me. In His presence, I want to be nowhere else. But eventually I stop talking, while Jesus, too, remains silent. As our conversation dwindles I drift away from Him, just as a curious child runs off ahead or…
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Exit Strategy
One day I was striving forward, kicking stones and leaping over obstacles. I trudged through the unfamiliar jungle, whipping my machete back and forth to cut down the forbidding overgrowth that tried to hold me back. I could hear the rushing water of our meeting place, though I was still a long way off. I could picture the deep green pastures there beside the freshwater stream. Equipped with purpose and power, knowing that my Master waited there for me, having prepared an unbelievable picnic spread under sprawling trees and a tapestry of wildflowers, I fought through the chaos with the knowledge (not just hope) that He was there and that…
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Life After Death
It’s a general consensus in Christianity that Christ was indeed “raised from the dead.” This is referred to as The Resurrection, of course, and is certainly the turning point of history on which lay the entire foundation of the Christian Church. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is futile and your faith is empty. 1 Corinthians 15:14 NET Remarkably, there are many who believe in the resurrection, and of everlasting life in Jesus, yet struggle with the idea of or reported claims of near-death experiences (NDE). How do these things relate? Well, when we talk of “life after death,” we’re typically asking about one’s ideas or…
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And What Shall Remain?
Remove the dross from the silver, and material for the silversmith will emerge. Proverbs 25:4 NLT Dross refers to the impurities within a metal that can be separated from the pure element by extreme heat. The oldest method of gold purification requires the metal to be made molten, at which point all other non-gold metals and materials float to the surface and can be easily removed. Whenever we attempt to “purify” something, we have to put it through some type of process to make it pure for some purpose. And while our definition of “pure” may vary depending on the usage, we typically mean something that comprises 100% (or pretty…
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A Better Perspective
As a programmer, I so often find myself attempting to solve a problem to which I know only the symptoms. Something isn’t working correctly, but I didn’t write the code or don’t quite remember how the code works. As a result, I have to go through the process of discovery, attempting to understand the code to determine where the problem lies. But it’s easy, sometimes, to jump in and assume to understand it, and begin taking steps to solve the problem (or bug) by making alterations that seem right. There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death. Proverbs 16:25 NIV What…
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Faking It
I often struggle with the idea that my relationship with God is not real. It’s not me thinking that God isn’t real, it’s just me. Am I just going through the motions pretending to be in love with Jesus, or is there something truly there? I don’t, for a second, think that Jesus doesn’t love me. Not for the smallest moment do I question God’s love for me. He has proven Himself to me time and again. But is my love and devotion to Him real? Or am I just faking it? There are days when I feel overwhelmed by His presence, but then others when I don’t sense Him…
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70 Times 7
“Adah and Zillah, listen to my voice, you wives of Lamech, give heed to my speech, for I have killed a man for wounding me; and a boy for striking me; if Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.” Genesis 4:24 NASB Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” Matthew 18:21-22 NKJV Some modern translations render “seventy times seven” in both cases as seventy-seven times. But if “sevenfold” means seven times, then…
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Where Have Those Feet Been?
Foot-washing was a very common practice in ancient times, since all roadways were generally regular old dusty dirt . . . with an added bonus. Folks all wore sandals of some fashion, but those nearly bare feet, combined with often hours of travel, resulted in quite filthy feet indeed. Keep in mind, of course, in those days, people weren’t driving Toyotas, Fords, Chevys or Subarus, replete with their toxic emissions. No, they were driving camels, oxen, sheep, donkeys and goats, replete with their toxic emissions! Such transportation and walking cargo did not “hold it” until the next gas station. The animals relieved themselves as they moved, which was on the…
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Slavery Is Easy
I know, I know. But let’s talk about this. Heading back to the Old Testament book of Exodus, we’re reminded that God led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, not to the Promised Land . . . but into the Wilderness. Christians tend to consider the Wilderness as only that place of wandering we sometimes stumble into from time to time. But the reality is that the Wilderness is where we live, and there is no leaving it until such time as we are granted admission into the Promised Land at the end of our great journey. We look at the history of the Israelites having spent several generations…
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An Active Relationship
Many if not most of us can often question God’s participation in our lives. Especially during moments or seasons of turmoil or trial, we cry out to God to save us, to heal us, to modify our circumstances, or the behaviors of those around us so that we, personally, can be happier, more content, or have peace. Answer me when I call to you, my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer. Psalm 4:1 NIV
