We often hear the quote, "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery." Children might attempt to cook (or pretend to cook) alongside their parents or work on their toy car while their father works under the family car. A budding artist might attempt to reproduce the signature technique of a master artist. In each case, the imitation springs from admiration. Similarly, when we are united with Christ, we are so in awe of who He is that we attempt to imitate his example.
Deaths of United States Service members: American Revolution: 4,435 The War of 1812: 2,260 The Civil War: 364,511 Union Soldiers and 133,281 Confederates World War I: 116,516 World War II: 405,399 Korean War: 54,246 Vietnam War: 90,220 Desert Storm: 383 Global War in Terror (Since 2001): 6,997 We have lost so many people over the… Continue reading Remembering The Fallen
Why are we willing to speak and teach the truth---even when it is unpopular? Are we teaching the truth to inflate our own self-righteousness? OR... Do we hope to lead people away from the catastrophic consequences of their choices? Are we teaching the truth because we love God and seek to glorify Him? OR... Do we simply seek self-promotion? The truth must be taught, but we must teach it with love.
When I entered college in 1999, many were under the impression that evolutionary theory and, of course, the obvious problem of peer pressure, had the greatest faith-wrecking potential.
We were wrong.
What is the greatest challenge facing Christians?
People used to say things like, "the devil made me do it," or "I can't help it, I was born this way!" Even in the Garden of Eden, Adam blamed Eve and Eve blamed the serpent. The facts remain clear: our own desire lures us into sin.
The book of James is like one of those magnification mirrors women use to put on makeup. In those mirrors, all the lines and contours are easier to see. Cringe-worthy pores, wrinkles, blemishes, and unwanted hairs also become more manifest, and we make any modifications within our power to conceal or alter such things. Every single time I read this book, it exposes the oversized pores and blemishes in my life, challenging me to change both my attitude and my actions.
Numbers is the fourth book in the Old Testament, in the section known as either the Pentateuch, The Torah, or The Books of Moses. The majority of scholars agree that it was written by Moses through inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Like Leviticus, there are passages which may seem dry or insignificant, and yet there is much to be learned in this section of the Bible. How do we read through it?
The church is not the building where we worship, but the people with whom we worship! The church is not the stones, plaster, or drywall, but the souls that have chosen to follow Christ. This may seem like a petty distinction, but it is an important one.
"Hello, my name is Elihu and I am a control-aholic. It's been 24 hours since my last surge of anxiety and 3 days since I felt the need to control a situation."
For control-aholics, the urge to regulate every piece of our world damages our relationships---particularly our relationship with the Father. Anxiety and anger become our constant companions as we fight to regulate every aspect of our life.
It's time for a change.
Wishing to be someone else or longing for life to be different sounds understandable on the surface---particularly in our culture where self-fulfillment and happiness are counted among the highest goals. However, there is an underlying insidiousness in these longings.
Am I looking at what God has given me as though it isn't good... or isn't good enough?
