What’s on My Mind
-
Following Jesus is Lifestyle, not Academic
“The spiritual life is first of all a life. It is not merely something to be known and studied, it is to be lived.” -Thomas Merton, Thoughts In Solitude “Superficiality is the curse of our age… The desperate need today is not for a greater…
-
To whom did Paul write his letters?
A question I’ve had recently is, “Were Paul’s letters written to me or others?” I’ve wondered, “Am I reading someone else’s mail or are Paul’s writings general information relevant to all believers?” Let’s start with who Paul himself said his letters were written to: Romans…
-
Are There Temptations Stronger Than We Can Bear?
The problem with temptations is that they are so tempting. C. S. Lewis once wrote, “A silly idea is current that good people do not know what temptation means. This is an obvious lie. Only those who try to resist temptation know how strong it…
-
Elders, Deacons, & Church Leadership
How many leadership offices were there in the 1st century church? How were these offices appointed? What were the differences in duties and qualifications of these offices? And what’s more Biblical anyways: Pastors or Elders? These were only some of the questions we looked at…
-
The Impact of Our Thought Lives
Perhaps you’ve heard the pithy ditty: “Sow a thought, reap an action. Sow an action, reap a habit. Sow a habit, reap your life. Sow your life, reap your destiny.” These days I’m becoming increasingly convinced of the truth behind that saying. Of course, Jesus…
-
Not Being a Hypocrite
Lesson 7 from Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 Here is the question this weeks’ study starts off with: “Which of my words or actions might a person find hypocritical?” For me, reflecting on that question is convicting. Jesus says we are not to: do our acts of…
-
Fellowship of the Unashamed
I just ran across this “pep talk”. It is really inspirational. It is attributed to Bob Moorehead, former pastor of Overlake Christian Church in Seattle. Ironically and unfortunately, Moorehead stepped down in 1998 due to the surfacing allegations of improper sexual conduct. Who knows if…
-
·
Mental Health & Weighted Jackets
I learned in this education class I’m currently taking that children suffering from certain mental issues (such as autism) can benefit from wearing a “weighted vest” or sleeping under a “weighted blanket.” This gives them what is called Deep Pressure Touch Stimulation (DPTS). Ok, got…