Tag: christian
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The Strong Tower
10The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.–Proverbs 18 Here is a photo I took of one of the towers of Blarney Castle outside Cork, Ireland. To kiss the famous Blarney Stone you have to climb a couple of tight, winding stairways up and up.…
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A Reason You Go Through Hard Times
3The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,and the LORD tests hearts.–Proverbs 17 It’s been years since I have taken a chemistry class, and so I brushed up with a little online research regarding crucibles this morning. Crucibles were a way for metals to be purified. Say an ancient culture mined gold or silver.…
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A Quarantine Memory
20Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.–Proverbs 16 I recall during the quarantine of 2021 being a substitute ‘teacher’. I oversee support groups at my church and during that season, we ran them on zoom. I recall that our DivorceCare men’s leader had a…
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Your Speech Matters
1A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. 2The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool spouts folly. 3The eyes of the LORD are in every place, observing the evil and the good. 4A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue…
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When to Flee, When to Fight
10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. 11But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12Fight the good fight of the…
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Can Churches Have Paid Staff?
17Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. 18For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”–1 Timothy 5 The first honor is the respect and spiritual submission due to the church…
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Go to the ‘Gym’
….train yourself for godliness; 8for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.–1 Timothy 4 The Greek word for train is gymnaze and is related to the word translated today as gymnasium. People who wish…
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The Difficult Choice
1First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4who desires all…
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Saul and Suicide
1Now the Philistines were fighting against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. 2And the Philistines overtook Saul and his sons, and the Philistines struck down Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul. 3The battle pressed hard against Saul, and the archers found him, and he…
Joel M Bradshaw 