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The Love of God

In 1 Corinthians 12 Paul has been teaching and correcting the Christians in Corinth about spiritual gifts—which they were putting above everything else in their church.

At the end of the chapter he stops and says, “And yet I show you a more excellent way.”—1Corinthians 12:31b

Paul stops his teaching on spiritual gifts to talk about something far superior—something he called the “more excellent way” or in other words “something that goes far beyond the gifts in importance”.

In Chapter 13 he tells us that love is the most important thing we can have in our lives and in our churches. The Greek word is ‘agape’, a word that characterizes God’s love which is, selfless, sacrificial, and unconditional.


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Making the New Year Count-Part Two

 

Every new year brings with it new hope. The hope that this new year is going to be better than last year. The hope that I can build on what’s good and put behind me what’s bad—that with God’s grace old things will pass away and this will be a new year of blessing and renewal. The problem is for most people, when they enter into a new year, all they do is hope that things will change. All they do is engage in wishful thinking that things will be different but they never do anything to bring about any change.

In my life I want to make this year a year that I keep the greatest commandment of them all:

Mark 12:30 (NKJV) 
‘And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first (supreme) commandment.


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Making The New Year Count-Part One

 

Today we stand at the beginning of a new year. Of course what makes a new year special is the fact that it’s  new!  Every new year brings with it new hope–hope that in this new year God will make things in our lives new in the sense of new opportunities, new strength for victory over old sins, a new relationship (if you’re single and wanting a spouse)–the hope of a better year than last year.

As we have entered this new year there are probably certain things you’d like to see changed. The problem is for most people, when they enter into a new year, all they do is hope that things will change. All they do is engage in wishful thinking that things will be different but they never do anything to bring about change. It doesn’t take long for the hope of a new year to become the same old defeat and discouragement of the past.


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What Child Is This?

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One of the most beautiful carols sung during the Christmas season is the one written by William Dix. It starts out:

“What Child is this who, laid to rest on Mary’s lap is sleeping? Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, while shepherds watch are keeping?”

We can only imagine that the question asked in this beloved carol must have been uppermost in the minds of the shepherds that were present at Jesus’ birth.  One author said:

“We can almost hear the question being asked from one to another as they gazed into the humble manger. How difficult it must have been for them to understand that the babe who lay in ‘such mean estate’ was truly the promised Messiah.”


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Don’t Jump Ship!

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I remember growing up as a kid with T.V. shows like, “Leave it to Beaver”; “The Donna Reed Show”; “The Ozzie and Harriet Show”; “The Dick Van Dyke Show”; and “Father Knows Best”. And while these shows tended to be a little idealistic in the way they portrayed the American family—they, nevertheless, reflected the norm in our society at that time—what some have called the “traditional family unit”.

You have to understand the era that gave birth to shows like these. During the 1950’s and up until the early 60’s there was a post war idealism and optimism that pervaded our country. The economy was booming, babies were booming, patriotism was in vogue, life was sacred and prayer was still in public schools. In those days people got married first and then lived together. Closets were for clothes—not for coming out of, and bunnies were small rabbits. Back then—grass was mowed, Coke was a drink, ‘gay’ meant happy, and ‘aids’ were helpers in the principal’s office.


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The Coming Apostasy Is Here…

 
 
 
 
ARE YOU READY?
 
 
 
 

The apostle Paul warned:

1 Timothy 4:1 (NKJV)
Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,

How is this possible? It will happen, and is happening, through false teachers who have infiltrated the Church.

Jesus warned us that false prophets and teachers were coming—He said they would come dressed in sheep’s clothing but would in reality be ‘ravenous wolves’ who would devour and destroy many with their demonic lies. (Matt.7:15-20)


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