Here in America we have a popular television show called American Idol. It went off the air, but it is coming back! Did you have any favorite American Idols? Yesterday I mentioned that we don’t have idols in America like some other countries where Buddhism or Hinduism is prominent. But do we have other kindsContinue reading “What does idolatry look like in America? (or Why God is jealous and that is a good thing)”
Monthly Archives: September 2017
Dealing with the harsh reality of God’s invisibility
Do you ever wish God would show himself? Ever feel jealous of the disciples who got to walk and talk with Jesus for three whole years? I do. I’m not always certain that God’s idea to be invisible was a good one. Why not just manifest yourself and prove to everyone you’re alive and well? Continue reading “Dealing with the harsh reality of God’s invisibility”
How parents and grandparents can bring revival to our land
There’s a scary reality we need to bring up. Though we are studying Deuteronomy, jump ahead to Judges 2:10, which takes place maybe 40-50 years after Deuteronomy. By this time Joshua has taken over for Moses as leader of Israel, guiding Israel as they take possession of the Promised Land and settle down. Then JoshuaContinue reading “How parents and grandparents can bring revival to our land”
God is odd
If you were a person living in the Ancient Near East observing the people of Israel on their strange journey out of slavery in Egypt to settlement in Canaan, you might think “this is an odd people, and their God is odd too.” In fact, as we continue studying Deuteronomy chapter 4, Moses, in verse 6,Continue reading “God is odd”
Was God being manipulative when he said, “If you obey me, you will live”?
Is God being manipulative when he says, “If you obey me, you will live”? Is he being threatening? Why in the world would God say that? If you remove the Christian filter from your mind, you can read God as sounding an awful lot like an abusive boyfriend. As we continue our study through Deuteronomy,Continue reading “Was God being manipulative when he said, “If you obey me, you will live”?”
Will your life’s work be a waste? (3 Lessons from Moses to make sure it won’t)
Are you investing in people to take over for you? Or will your efforts stop with you? It might be a volunteer position in your church. It might be a job at work. It might be a leadership role in your family or on your sports team. You’ve served and worked and given much ofContinue reading “Will your life’s work be a waste? (3 Lessons from Moses to make sure it won’t)”
Why Moses was not allowed to enter the Promised Land (and the important principle we can learn from it)
Have you ever been penalized for something that you did, and though you deserved it, you felt that punishment was too severe? Have you pleaded your case asking for grace, for mercy, for another punishment? That’s a tough spot to be in. You know you were wrong, and yet you feel the discipline is harsh,Continue reading “Why Moses was not allowed to enter the Promised Land (and the important principle we can learn from it)”
Is your church too small?
Why are there so many Christian churches and denominations? Can’t you all just get along? Maybe the fact that there are so many churches and denominations is proof that Christianity is false. Jesus prayed in John 17:20-21 that not only his twelve disciples, but also those who would become his followers through the ministry ofContinue reading “Is your church too small?”
If God told you to kill children, would you do it? (Two Thoughts on those Holy War passages in the Old Testament)
If God told you to kill children would you do it? Quite a question, isn’t it? The answer should be an obvious “No”, right? We’re studying the biblical book of Deuteronomy on Sunday mornings at Faith Church, and we’ve come to some troubling passages where God commands the armies of Israel to kill children. InContinue reading “If God told you to kill children, would you do it? (Two Thoughts on those Holy War passages in the Old Testament)”
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