Monthly Archives: February 2012

Sinner or Saint?

I have been writing in answer to a question: “What has Jesus done for us?”  Recently I entered an FB discussion in which one person wrote that we should not refer to ourselves as sinners, but as saints.  Another person … Continue reading

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Filed under Freedom, Grace definition, Relationship

Justification

According to some researchers, 70% of lottery winners squander their winnings and end up worse off than they were before.  Upwards of 60% of second marriages end in divorce.  Based on the number of websites that discuss how to file … Continue reading

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Is God still angry with me?

I have met many believers who live in fear of God because they think He is angry with them.  In fact, some preachers seem to go out of their way to cultivate that fear.  They take people to Bible passages … Continue reading

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Feelings

It’s Narcissist Friday! Adult children of narcissists find themselves with special struggles.  Like adult children of alcoholics, those who grew up in narcissistic families suffer identifiable and treatable obstacles that usually manifest in relationships.  In fact, because of the special … Continue reading

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Forgiving Others

Very recently I was praying for the Iranian pastor, Yousef, who has been sentenced to die because of his Christian faith.  He is young and will leave a young family.  He has endured a great deal.  As I prayed for … Continue reading

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Our Passionate Lord

In order to communicate the character of our Lord, the Scripture uses words with which we are familiar.  It says that He is jealous, for example.  But that hardly communicates the same thing as the teenage girl feels when she … Continue reading

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Filed under grace, Relationship, Theology and mystery, Uncategorized

The Scarlet Letter

  Some will remember the story of Hester Prynne, Nathaniel Hawthorne’s tragic character who had to wear the scarlet “A” because of her adultery.  And some understand what it is like to carry a symbol or record of sin.  Sometimes … Continue reading

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The Narcissist Toady

I had reason recently to think of how a narcissist responds to someone who appears to be superior.  It will help to remember that the narcissist sees people as tools, toys, or obstacles.  Even those who are superior fall into … Continue reading

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Filed under Church, Narcissism

New Life

Regeneration means being born again or receiving new life.  The Scriptures teach that those who are in Christ have received new life in Christ.  We were dead in our sins (Eph. 2:1, 5; Col. 2:13) and Christ has made us … Continue reading

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You are not what you were

You are different now. That may be the most practically satisfying fact of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I know what I was and I am not that any more.  Things have changed.  To be honest, they haven’t changed as … Continue reading

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