Jesus. The Way, the Truth, and the Life.
A poem about death – from the perspective of a Christian.
Death. When it strikes, we grieve.
But for Christians, rejoicing goes hand in hand with death. Why? Because Jesus has conquered death and we have nothing to fear – only something to look forward to.
This poem helps us see both sides.
Read Departed for Glory.
Should Christians keep the Sabbath?
Sabbath keepers and non-Sabbath keepers regularly spit fire back and forth.
The Jesus of the Bible calls for unity among believers. Whether you keep the Sabbath or not, avoid judging those who believe differently.
5 One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.
6 The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.
Romans 14:5,6 (ESV)
16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath.
Colossians 2:16 (ESV)
Check out what the Bible says to us about keeping the Sabbath. Read the following article and keep your Bible in hand . . .
The Bible makes it clear that Christians will experience suffering.
Jesus came to earth to deliver Christians from suffering.
I’ve heard that one before. In fact, I’ve heard it quite often. My question to those who think that is, “Where in the Bible are you getting your information?” Since the dawn of time, Christians have suffered. Scan the list of God’s saints and find one who didn’t suffer. Noah. Joseph. David. Job. Hosea. Isaiah. John the Baptist. Paul. Peter. I could go on.
Why do Christians suffer? Find out what Scripture says about it.
Psalm 18 gives us some insight into David’s thinking.
I find five easy divisions in this Psalm.
This Psalm reminds me that God isn’t always peaches and cream. He love us, yes, but He can be destructive, angry, judging.
7Then the earth reeled and rocked;
the foundations also of the mountains trembled
and quaked, because he was angry.
8Smoke went up from his nostrils,
and devouring fire from his mouth;
glowing coals flamed forth from him.
9He bowed the heavens and came down;
(N) thick darkness was under his feet.
10He rode on a cherub and flew;
he came swiftly on the wings of the wind.
11He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him,
thick clouds dark with water.
12Out of the brightness before him
hailstones and coals of fire broke through his clouds.
13The LORD also thundered in the heavens,
and the Most High uttered his voice,
hailstones and coals of fire.
14And he sent out his arrows and scattered them;
he flashed forth lightnings and routed them.
15Then the channels of the sea were seen,
and the foundations of the world were laid bare
at your rebuke, O LORD,
at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.
Psalm 18:7-15
I think I’d rather be on His good side.
On another note, I don’t fully understand how David could say that he was blameless and pure (Psalm 18:20-24), unless he wrote this Psalm before the Bathsheba incident. Maybe David just understood that God’s forgiveness surpasses any sin. Forgiven sin, like an expunged crime, vanishes – never to be remembered.
My favorite verses are 20-27. If we live righteously, we can expect God’s favor. Haughty and crooked people should have no expectation of salvation. As Christians, we should live as David describes in verses 21-23. And then, as we strive to serve God, He makes us righteous (Psalm 18:24), which is something only He can do.
21For I have kept the ways of the LORD,
and have not wickedly departed from my God.
22For all his rules were before me,
and his statutes I did not put away from me.
23I was blameless before him,
and I kept myself from my guilt.
24So the LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness,
according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.
Psalm 18:21-24 (ESV)
The rest of this Psalm David rejoices in how he pounds his enemies into dust, and I appreciate him sharing such things, but I’m not sure that we, as Christians, should follow his example in this. If anyone disagrees with me, I’d love to hear about it.
Christians should be set apart. Does this mean we shouldn’t wear jewelry?
A reader mentioned that she didn’t think Christians should wear jewelry because we should be set apart – not of this world. We agree that Christians should be set apart. But do we agree that Christians should avoid jewelry altogether?
Should Christians meet on Saturday or Sunday? Does it matter? Should we keep the Sabbath?
Recently Tim sent me an article he wrote a few years back. He’s updated it a little, and now it’s ready for publication! The topic? The Sabbath. Do we, as Christians, need to keep it? Should we be meeting on Saturday instead of Sunday?
A collection of Easter poems reminding us of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection.
As Christians, Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection remain fixed in our minds. But as Good Friday and Easter approach, it’s good to remember the price Jesus paid for us. Mark has written some thought-provoking poems reminding us of Jesus’ sacrifice.
The Servants Way
Prelude to the Cross
A Lamb Among Wolves
Thanks you Jesus! And thank you, Mark, for the reminders.