God uses a pattern of "new beginnings" throughout the Bible. These patterns reveal God's persistent love for mankind even when man is rejecting His way of life. In the beginning, "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good . . ." (Genesis 1:31 NIV). Gensis 1:27 says this included the creation of the first man and woman. From scripture we understand Godâs purpose is to create a family, the God family beginning with Adam and Eve. Every physical thing that God created, … [Read more...] about A Story of New Beginnings
Growing
The Path From Belief to Conviction
The word âconvictionâ is a powerful word in our language. It conjures up ideas of not only a guilty verdict from a courtroom setting, but also a solid or firmly held belief, as in the idea that people should be convicted of what they believe. Vocabulary.com explains this word: âA conviction is something certain: a judgment of guilty in court and a strong belief are both convictions. In the legal world, when a judge or jury convicts someone of a crime â finding them guilty â … [Read more...] about The Path From Belief to Conviction
The Truth Will Set You Free
The truth will set you free! This is a much-used phrase. You find it in Martin Luther Kingâs speeches, inscribed on the headquarters wall of the CIA, and it was used in one of the most recent Marvel movie franchises. I would suggest that this scripture should not be read as superficially. We often hear it used in the sense that knowledge is power, or we can set somebody loose from their bondage if we can enlighten them of their false notions and correct them. … [Read more...] about The Truth Will Set You Free
Examining Our Assumptions
In our relationships with each other, we tend to assume a certain reality that is quite different from the full truth of a matter. So, when misunderstandings occur, our assumptions have the potential of erecting barriers in our relationships without realizing it. This major barrier to proper relationships is our proclivity to make assumptions to âunchecked perceptionsâ, often leading us to jump to incorrect conclusions. It probably wouldnât be a prolonged mental exercise to think about our … [Read more...] about Examining Our Assumptions
Squander Not This Opportunity
Some years ago, featured on a 60 Minutes program was a musical performance, âAlive & Kickinââ. The cast was all over fifty-five. Their stories were deeply compelling; overcoming drug addiction, renewing life after a criminal past, and family tragedy. These were individuals who, due to the vagaries of life, missed opportunities to sing and perform. They were castaways being given a second chance to find their voice. In a sense, God has given each of us a second chance to live a radically … [Read more...] about Squander Not This Opportunity
Training to Be Leaders
The early 1900âs was a heroic age of exploration. Limits were pushed on all fronts and among these was the British Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition led by Ernest Shackleton. From 1914 to 1916, the expedition was to cross Antarctica. They had priorities and a sense of urgency. Shackleton chose his team of twenty-seven officers, scientists, and seamen carefully, not hiding the danger, nor the glory if successful. After the Endurance was destroyed by winterâs ice in the Weddell Sea, … [Read more...] about Training to Be Leaders
Remaining Steadfast
Godâs Church is central to His plan of salvation for all mankind as a precursor of the âpouring outâ of His Holy Spirit on all humanity. But that profound impact is difficult to grasp because the Churches are mostly ignored by the world today. What can we do now to ensure that we stay strong and donât fall prey to discouragement? There is a process to help us succeed. The beginning of the book of James gets right to it: âMy brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, … [Read more...] about Remaining Steadfast