Category: Red Letter Review
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Whose kingdom?
We are now at a critical juncture in our cultural history as Christians in America. We are discovering that the kingdom of God has nothing to do with the kingdoms of this world, be they governmental, social or religious. We’ve had 2,000 years of making these same mistakes over and over again, but then again,…
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The truth about Jesus never gets old
It hasn’t been since the 1960s that there was so much division and political and social unrest in America, prompting some to speculate that other parallels might exist between then and now. For instance, it was out of the 60s that the Jesus movement was born, which makes you wonder if we might be on…
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Getting Jesus right
Yesterday’s title was “Getting the right Jesus.” This is a little different. Having the right Jesus is one thing. “Getting Jesus right” is something else. It’s all about keeping Jesus in His image, not making Him into ours. This is one of the greatest temptations in following Christ — Making Jesus in our image.
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Don’t be afraid
Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:32 When you look at the world and your little place in it, it’s easy to feel small and insignificant. Especially in light of the recent shootings of innocent, random people that make us feel so helpless. The result…
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Students forever at the feet of Jesus
Yesterday we established the fact that Jesus has put us all in the discipleship and disciple-making business, and that part of understanding what that means is to realize we are all students of Christ. A disciple is a student, and class is always in session.
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Getting ready for heaven
Arnold is dead. He passed sometime Saturday night after midnight. Marie, his wife, doesn’t know when because she got the first night of uninterrupted sleep that she’s had in a long time. That’s because Arnold’s coughing didn’t wake her. Arnold’s coughing was mercifully over. He was at peace.
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Evening the score
“You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also. If you are sued in court and your shirt is…
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Walking together
“I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always,…
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‘When you pray …’
“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your…
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The Equalizer
“Look at my Servant, whom I have chosen. He is my Beloved, who pleases me. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. He will not fight or shout or raise his voice in public. He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle.…
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Faith or fear; what will it be?
Paranoia strikes deep Into your life it will creep It starts when you’re always afraid Step out of line, the men come and take you away We better stop, hey, what’s that sound? Everybody look what’s goin’ down – Buffalo…
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We have won this war
Morning sun rising There’s sleep in our eyes And echoes of nightmares Taunt us with lies But this is a new day This is the dawn There is a new way Calling us on Hunger and hatred War and disease The debt of the devil Is never appeased Truth is the weapon Faith is…
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How good are you?
“But I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven! Matthew 5:20 In other words: Unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the most holy people you know, don’t even try. This was one of the main…
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Faith, and my Smith & Wesson
Faith alone will not protect you in a house of God. Dylan Roof, who fatally shot nine congregants in a Bible Study in a Charleston South Carolina church, didn’t start shooting until the parishioners closed their eyes to pray. So keep your eyes open when you pray. Closing your eyes makes you a target. If…
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Follow the Red Letters
There is a movement afoot to prioritize the words of Jesus over the rest of the Scriptures. That is not what we are talking about here in our Red Letter Review. We’re not talking about the words of Jesus to the exclusion of everything else. The Bible claims that “All Scripture is inspired by God…
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Salvation by invitation
“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:6-7 Jesus does…
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Fully human
We ended yesterday’s Catch with a quote from this passage; today we start with it because it shows us the Jesus no one was expecting. “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market places, who call out to the other children, and say, ‘We played the flute for you,…
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Dancing Chaplains
Marti and I attended a Los Angeles Angels vs. Houston Astros baseball game last night from a different perspective — at least different for me — from Suite 42 on the club level; the Charles Schwab Suite. We were the guests of a Charles Schwab representative whom I had met over 45 years ago when…
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In the world, but trying not to be
“My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.” John 17:15 Our friend, Arnold, who is newly born again at the age of eighty-one, is in the hospital with influenza A, which, for the rest of us, is basically the common flu. It…