A Day of Rest (For the Weary) Newest Article October 22, 2023

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 “And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done” (Genesis 2:2).

According to a 2017 study by the World Health Organization, an estimated 264 million adults worldwide are negatively affected by anxiety in some form or fashion. In the United States, anxiety is the most common mental disorder affecting 40 million people (Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 2020). Finally, the WHO found that the prevalence of all mental disorders increased by 50% worldwide from 416 million to 615 million people between 1990 and 2013.

You = Your Pastor = Jeffrey Dahmer = Adolf Hitler September 28, 2023

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"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus…” (Romans 3:23-24).

What do the following people share in common: you, your pastor, Jeffrey Dahmer, and Adolf Hitler? Yes, we are all human, and because we are all human we also share in the same guilt before God because of our sin.

Fight the Good Fight September 06, 2023

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“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the tearing down of strongholds, as we tear down speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is fulfilled” (2 Cor 10:3-6, LSV).

Gender Roles: Titus 2 May 18, 2023

 

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"But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled.... For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions.... Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you" (Titus 2).

First of all, let me say the obvious: don't be mad at me. I didn't say it, God did. God is very clear in how he defines the functions of men and women. Today, however, we don't live according to the Word of God. It's not that the teaching isn't clear; it's just that we don't like it. Our culture has been influenced by feminism is so many ways that we can't help but be in opposition to God's Word. We need to be instructed in God's ways and have our thinking transformed (see Romans 12:1).

Let me be clear: feminist ideology embodies one of the greatest lies of hell and is one of the most destructive forces in our world today.

Scandal of Grace May 16, 2023

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I was reading Psalm 94 this morning. Here are the first few verses:

O LORD, God of vengeance,
O God of vengeance, shine forth!
Rise up, O judge of the earth;
repay to the proud what they deserve!
O LORD, how long shall the wicked,
how long shall the wicked exult?
They pour out their arrogant words;
all the evildoers boast.

When we as Christians read this, it makes us feel funny, doesn't it? The Psalmist, like us, is calling on the God of judgment to judge the wicked. Through this psalm, we are calling on God to bring forth his wrath, his vengeance, against all those who do evil and who are proud.