Growing in Grace

In John chapter 10, Jesus teaches about the difference between the false shepherds (the Pharisees) and the True Shepherd (Himself). Shepherds were common during this time in history, so the people could easily understand what Jesus was speaking about. Jesus begins by talking about the characteristics of a true shepherd. First, the true shepherd enters through the gate (or door). The watchman at the gate recognizes the shepherd and allows him to come in. Second, the sheep know the voice of the shepherd. Because the shepherd spends so much time with the sheep, the sheep learn the voice of the shepherd and respond only to it and no others. Third, the sheep will follow the shepherd because they trusted him. (It is interesting to note that shepherds in this area “led” their sheep; they did not “drive” them.) “To a sheep, a stranger is anyone they do not know, someone who could possibly do them harm.” (Harvest study) Jesus also shared what the signs of a false shepherd were and the poten...

"What encourages us to preach the gospel in captive nations is that there those who become Christians are full of love and zeal. I have never met one single lukewarm Russian Christian. Former young Communists and Muslims become exceptional disciples of Christ. . . Whoever has known the spiritual beauty of the underground church cannot be satisfied anymore with the emptiness of some Western churches. . . One out of every five people in the world live in Communist China, where thousands of lay Christians evangelize without 'permission'. Persecution has always produced a better Christian - a witnessing Christian, a soul-winning Christian. Communist persecution has backfired and produced serious, dedicated Christians such as are rarely seen in free lands. These people cannot understand how anyone can be a Christian and not want to win every soul they meet . . . These millions of dedicated, true and fervent believers in the lay church have been purified by the very fire...

"There is truly no more revolutionary action than to love those who have persecuted you and forgive them." -Jesus Freaks II, Revolutionaries "But I tell you who hear me:Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who are cruel to you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic.Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back Do to others as you would have them to do to you. . .  But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without excepting to get anything back. Then  your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High,because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven." Luke 6:27-31, 35-3...

"Sometimes as Christians we forget how revolutionary what we believe truly is. That Jesus was crucified and rose from the dead on the third day? No other religion in the world has a founder that doesn't have a tomb somewhere that is kept in honor of his memory. In the Holy Land there are a few places where it is believed Jesus may have been buried, but no one can be sure, as they are all empty. The idea that the God who created the universe can live within a person's heart is simply incredible. That we can be strengthened from within by His Spirit and walk in the light of His advice through our consciences is equally amazing. And to say that we have yet to understand even one-millionth of what that means is an amazing understatement. The adventure of being a Christian, however, is not so remarkable if it is not consciously lived. Walking daily with Jesus shows . It creates a confidence and boldness in a person that is simply supernatural. But, strangely enough, it is e...

"Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. . . They said to each other, "Come, let's make bricks and bake them thoroughly." They used bricks instead of stones, and tar for mortar. Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth." But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower that the men were building. The Lord said, "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other." So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. That is why it is called Babel -because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world. From there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole ...

John 11 opens with Jesus being informed that his dear friend, Lazarus, is sick. Jesus sends word to Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus, that “this sickness will not end in death.” (v.4) While the messenger is traveling back and forth, however, Lazarus dies. After two days, Jesus tells His disciples they will now travel to Bethany to the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus. The disciples are concerned and remind Jesus that the Jews there wanted to kill Him. Jesus tells them that “Lazarus has fallen asleep” (v. 11) and He is going there to wake him up. The disciples mistakenly think that Lazarus is only sleeping and will get better. Then Jesus informs them that Lazarus has, in fact, died; but that his death will be an opportunity for the disciples to believe in who Jesus was. Thomas, who is known for his doubting, showed great courage and faith by saying that they should “also go” and die with Jesus. So our first thought might be why didn’t Jesus keep Lazarus from becoming sick in th...

Today was the anniversary of the infamous Roe vs. Wade decision to legalize abortion. It's been on my mind that language plays a big part in the debate over this topic. What I hear from the Pro-Choice side is that, "it's a woman's right to choose what she does with her body." But I wonder if those who say and believe this really stop to think about what it is they are saying a woman has a right to do. I was curious, so I pulled out a medical dictionary. I have an old copy of "The Bantam Medical Dictionary". It's old and I suppose the definitions might have changed, but here's what I found when I looked up some terms: First of all, abortion is defined as "the expulsion or removal of an embryo or fetus from the womb." The term pregnancy is defined as "the period during which a woman carries a developing fetus . Pregnancy lasts for approximately 266 days, from conception until the baby is born, and the fetus normally develops...