Grace, circumcision, and spies in church? – Galatians 1:1-5:15, Part 2

The church in the former Soviet Union had to be careful because the government sent spies into the church. In Communist China the same thing happens. Believe it or not, the early church faced a similar threat. What would you do if there were spies in your church? In the previous post, we jumped aheadContinue reading “Grace, circumcision, and spies in church? – Galatians 1:1-5:15, Part 2”

You are Called, Loved, Kept – Jude 1-16, Part 1

Have you ever known someone who turns out to be very different from what you originally thought?  Sometimes we get that impression about a person as we get to know them.  Other times people change.  Then there are people who just fool you.  Malcolm Gladwell in his recent book Talking to Strangers tells the storyContinue reading “You are Called, Loved, Kept – Jude 1-16, Part 1”

How to handle confrontation

Spies, taxes, a woman with seven husbands, and the most intelligent man in the world. That pretty much sums up the next story in our ongoing series on Luke’s Gospel, which you can read about in Luke 20:20-40.  In the story, Jesus is in the final days of his life, and he has bunkered downContinue reading “How to handle confrontation”

Spies, Taxes, a woman with 7 husbands & the most intelligent man who ever lived

The most intelligent person who ever lived?  Albert Einstein?  Marilyn vos Savant? King Solomon?  Leonardo Da Vinci?  Stephen Hawking? Shakespeare? Newton? Mozart? Marie Curie? I researched a bunch of “Most Intelligent People in the History of the World” lists, and there are plenty more candidates.  There are lots of opinions as to who should beContinue reading “Spies, Taxes, a woman with 7 husbands & the most intelligent man who ever lived”