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April 1, 2013

Blew It Again

frustrated

Every Monday we’ll post something to do with maintaining sexual purity. Hope it helps. — Blew It Again Day has begun and I’m already sinning Help me to change this heart that I have Lord, help me taste of the grace that You’re giving. I want to be a spiritual man. - from “Let the Old Man Die” lyrics by Chuck Butler When God puts His finger on a part of your life needing change, a new standard is birthed. Something you may have found acceptable is unacceptable now, making abstinence from that “something” a Continue Reading

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March 29, 2013

Tears of Remembrance On Good Friday

crown of thorns 2

Every Friday we’ll take a break from topical posts and will post some random personal thoughts. — Tears of Remembrance on Good Friday I cried when I saw Schindler’s List, copiously and without embarrassment. The film taught me nothing new about the holocaust, so it didn’t educate me. But it reminded me, via graphic story-telling, of something unfathomable, something that should regularly be remembered and grieved. So weeping was called for. But afterwards I had to ask myself So what? Would crying erase the suffering, much less Continue Reading

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January 11, 2013

Random Ramblings #47: A Tale of Two Pastors

Luis

Every Friday we’ll leave the topic oriented post, and instead post some personal comments. — That whoosh you’re hearing is the sound of the world spinning around you as it continues going upside down. Listen to the news and you can’t help but hear it. Today’s reminder concerns Pastor Luis Giglio, an accomplished and widely regarded minister who was scheduled to deliver President Obama’s benediction during his inaugural ceremony. Scheduled, as in past tense, because it recently came to light that a decade ago the reverend Continue Reading

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December 25, 2012

And the Soul Felt Its Worth

Christmas Scriptures

If I tell myself I’m wonderful, I’m deluded. If I tell myself I’m valuable, I’m spot on, and attuned to one of the most important aspects of what we’ll celebrate this Sunday: the immeasurable worth God places on us, expressed that first Christmas. Christmas is about Christ, of course, but it’s not about Christ in a vacuum, since He existed long before the nativity. (John 1:1-2) It’s about Christ in relationship to the people He came for, and their value in His sight. Angels said as much when they heralded the shepherds with Continue Reading

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November 15, 2012

With Love, Disappointed

disappoint

Every Thursday I’ll post an article having to do with either relational or emotional matters. Hope it helps. — With Love, Disappointed “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia --- At my first answer no man stood with me, but all forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.” - II Timothy 4:10-16 “For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's.” - Philippians 2:21  Live enough years and Continue Reading

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September 12, 2012

The Cruelest Lie

arbeit macht frei

Every Wednesday we’ll post something to do with doctrine and purity. Hope it helps. — The Cruelest Lie It hung over the entrance to Auschwitz, a large metal sign handmade by prisoners, offering a last shred of false hope to the doomed: “Arbeit macht frei” (“work makes you free”). Some have argued it was placed there to deceive inmates into thinking hard work would earn them a release, while others argue the saying was a common slogan extolling the virtue of labor. Either way, it was damnably false, a sick joke and the Continue Reading

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September 4, 2012

Personal Worship & Healing

forgiven

Guest posting by Renee Dallas Note from Joe: I’ve received a number of messages from wives asking for help dealing with their own pain over their husband’s behavior, so  thought I’d let my own wife Renee respond with some ideas she has on the subject, since she runs a ministry to wives. For more articles by Renee, and for more information on her work, go to wifeboat.com. ---  Personal Worship and Healing I have taught on the subject of worship and healing ever since I worked for a Christian music company that specifically focused on Continue Reading

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August 17, 2012

The Gay Marriage Debate: Winning, Losing or Dropping Out? (Part 7)

marriage bands

The Gay Marriage Debate: Winning, Losing or Dropping Out? (Part Seven or an Eight Part Series. Full list of links to all posts in the series at the end of this article.) From Apologies to Apologists It seems we’re forever swinging to or from extremes. That’s true of much of life, church life in particular. At times we see the Christian population with its nose buried in End Times writings; other times you’d think, by the lack of attention paid to it, that the Second Coming was a discarded myth. Sometimes we’ve sought political Continue Reading

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July 9, 2012

My Move

faith

Every Monday we’ll post something to do with maintaining sexual purity. Hope it helps. — My Move Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. - Jude 1:21 At first glance Jude’s commandment here is unsettling. If I’m to “keep myself” in God’s love, I might conclude His love is contingent on my somehow remaining within it, making it conditional. Scary thought. Scarier still is the blank I draw when asking myself exactly how I’m to keep myself in someone Continue Reading

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April 27, 2012

Random Ramblings #41: A Strong Foundation of Grace

grace building blocks

Every Friday we’ll take a break from topical posts and will post some random personal thoughts.  — A Cuppa Joe - Random Ramblings from a Fellow Struggler A Strong Foundation of Grace “There is now therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1 “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” -Philippians 1: 2 No condemnation, performance (or lack thereof) notwithstanding. God’s grace – His unmerited favor - will endure because It Is Finished doesn’t mean It’s A Continue Reading

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