I Don't Think That Word Means What You Think It Means

I recently ran across this article that told about a recent traditional Christmas Nativity play at St. Stephen's church in Tonbridge, England. It centered on music from the Beach Boys, with Mary turning into a "surfer girl" to sing "God Only Knows" and the Three Wise Men portrayed as Brian, Carl and Dennis Wilson performing such favorites as "Fun Fun Fun" and "Good Vibrations". The reason given by the pastor was that, "Nativity plays ... can just be a bit dull. This made it more realistic." When I read this article, I was dumbfounded in the audacity of the whole production. But it was the line about the play being “more realistic” confused me the most. Anyone with any Bible knowledge would realize this is absurd. The only thing I can figure is the “pastor” meant it was more real in feeling not it fact. This is a common false assumption in many religions today that if something has the right feeling than it makes any mistake or error acceptable. Jesus said the true worshipers of God must worship in Spirit AND in truth. (John 4:23-24) Worship must not only have the right spirit but also be done according to the truth of the Word of God.

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Mysterious Ways

William Cowper didn’t see any reason to live. He decided that he’d jump off the bridge over the Thames. So, he called a cab to take him there. But that night in 1763, a thick fog enveloped London. It was so thick the cab driver couldn’t find the bridge and couldn’t even find the way to take William home. In frustration, he ordered the driver to stop and get out to get his bearings. He walked up to the nearest house to read the number and it was William's house. Gone now were William’s thoughts of suicide and instead a new idea came into his head. So, he went in and wrote these words: God moves in mysterious ways His wonders to perform. He plants his footsteps in the sea And rides upon the storm. You fearful saints, fresh courage take; The clouds you so much dread Are big with mercy and shall break In blessings on your head. I sometimes wish we could see all the ways God watches over us when need it. There are...

The Gift You Give Yourself

I always hated buying gifts for my Mom. If I got her something like a new set of pans, it was like saying “Here’s something you can use to go make me something to eat”. A gift for her was seemingly a gift for me. There are however gifts you give that benefit you more than the receiver. For example, forgiveness. When you give it, you are giving it to yourself as much as you are giving it to them. Jesus said that when we forgive others it means God is forgiving us our wrongs (Matthew 6:14-15). I once read: “ Heaven is where everyone's forgiven. Hell is where nobody's forgiven. So, when we forgive we pull heaven down into our lives. When we withhold forgiveness, we pull hell up into our lives ” Give yourself something nice today, Forgive.

Canned Faith

As Dale Jenkins wrote: “Faith is a little like paint. As long as it’s in the can, it isn't much. Left in the can long enough a gallon of paint will ruin. Faith left unpracticed and unexercised will too…. You can’t just talk about faith. To be effective, you must be living it out. So take the paint out of the can and start painting.” The Bible says in James 2:18,” But someone may well say, "You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works . " Faith is something that only works when it is used. If our faith doesn’t do anything, is it really there at all? Truly “ living by faith ” isn’t just a proclamation we make but one we live in how we walk and talk, how we live and interact, and what we say but also what we do. Is our faith canned? Is it something we have if we go looking for it? Or is it something that is being used daily in our lives? Does your faith color eve...

Ecclesiastes 12:10

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