We canāt get around the fact that in this world weāll have conflict. How many times have we said the wrong thing or displayed the wrong attitude, knowing that it has caused offense? Conflict stems from a lack of understanding the different things that motivate each of us: āWhat causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?ā (James 4:1 ESV). Godās Holy Spirit canāt come to its fullest when weāre divided, and that disunity corrupts … [Read more...] about Conflict Resolution
Church
Encourage One Another
How many times have we been reminded by life experience that the path due to our calling is not always simple and easy to follow? We are instructed to enter the Kingdom of God by āthe narrow gateā (Matthew 7:14). Yet Christ was aware of the challenges that His followers would face. He left us, from the apostles forward, with encouragement through a solid focus on the big picture. Encouragement is a vehicle to strengthen relationships and build bonds. We, as part of Godās family, have a … [Read more...] about Encourage One Another
Need For Families
Domestic terrorism is violent or criminal acts committed by individuals or groups to further ideological goals. It has become somewhat commonplace in our societies stemming from political, religious, social, racial, or even environmental causes. When we think of terrorism, high profile cases come to mind where a mass shooting or a bombing has occurred. And when we think of radicalization, we probably immediately think of groups such as ISIS, Al Qaeda, and the Taliban. Unfortunately, the … [Read more...] about Need For Families
Keep On a-Changinā!
In Jeremiah 17:9 we read the following: āThe heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it?ā Does this refer to followers of Godās also? It basically refers to those without God, but those who are making a diligent effort to truly follow God do not get away scot-free. It would probably be fair to say for those trying to follow Godās way: āThe heart is still occasionally deceitful, and sometimes still not in harmony with Godās laws. We must, with Godās help, get … [Read more...] about Keep On a-Changinā!
God’s Goyim
There are numerous words that we use in our daily vocabulary that have changed meaning over the years. Have we allowed ourselves to appropriate a meaning to the word āGentileā that was not intended? In Galatians, the second chapter we see Paul giving the account of Peterās example as a Jew when he separated himself from the Gentiles fearing what other Jews would think. The Jews regarded Gentiles as inferior. Eastonās Bible Dictionary states the definition of "Gentile" as (Hebrew, usually in … [Read more...] about God’s Goyim
Conquering Doubt with Discernment
The internet is a strange place. Filled with all sorts of information, it's possible to get lost for days in the vast chasm of witty memes, Instagram food photos, and stark news articles proclaiming the fall of western civilization. In this chaotic landscape of data all is not what it seems, and we can easily grow dubious. āIs that really an epically muscular guy picking up a car?ā āDid she actually cook a meal using nothing but a matchstick, a cotton swab, and a tin can?ā We all know … [Read more...] about Conquering Doubt with Discernment
Expressions of Tribalism
It is difficult to escape the feeling that our world is becoming more divided by the day. For example, we are hearing more about political identity. While it has been quite customary to identify with some political party in terms of general policy, the term has now developed a sharper edge. Amy Chua writing in The Guardian newspaper notes: āWhen groups feel threatened, they retreat into tribalism. When groups feel mistreated and disrespected, they close ranks and become more insular, more … [Read more...] about Expressions of Tribalism