The confusion surrounding Christ’s view of self-defense is almost unavoidable.  Christ certainly does tell his followers to “turn the other cheek,” but at the same time, the same man told his disciples to buy swords (Luke 22:36).  Is this a scriptural contradiction, coming from the same source?  At first glance, it would appear to be; however, there are some biblical concepts that don’t always make it through the confusion caused by changing culture, languages, regimes, and histories over the course of the last 2,000 years.  Needless to say, it does take some explaining to get
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The Protest of the Boston Tea Party of 1773 was a terrorist act comparable to 9/11. Allah is the Almighty God. This revisionist history is being taught to Texan students under CSCOPE. Federal and state tax dollars were used by a private group to develop CSCOPE, a new program designed to make Texan educators change their focus from basic skills to problem solving. However, basic facts are being replaced with radical perceptions about American history, traditions, values, and literature. Revisionist history is moving with lightning speed. Teachers who claim that the curriculum has been diluted
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I prayed and God started the airplane motors.  This is prayer, this is what it is supposed to be. —Francis Schaeffer, Death in the City (1969) Thus, Christian faith is a religion primarily of submission, not of stimulation.  —James Jordan, Judges (1985) Does Prayer Change Things? Materialists don’t believe in prayer.  Christians are supposed to because Scripture reveals a personal, covenant-keeping God who hears the prayers of His people and responds with Fatherly love and divine power.  His answers, of course, are of different sorts.  Sometimes His answers lie in the realm of the heart
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We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against thy holy laws… And there is no health in us. —The Book of Common Prayer (1552) Where the heart is changed, the life and actions will be changed too. —Matthew Henry, Commentary (c. 1710) A House of Prayer for All Nations The people stood hushed as Solomon finished his prayer of dedication (2 Chron. 7). Then fire fell from heaven and consumed the sacrifices on the Temple altar. The glory of God filled the Temple. The people bowed
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Hanging onto resentment is letting someone you despise live rent-free in your head. – Ann Landers Resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die. – Carrie Fisher The reason we don’t understand other people is often because we don’t really understand ourselves. Everyone can and should improve themselves in many ways, but God has allowed some things within all us that just are. Finding peace with God in those unchangeables is essential to having healthy relationships with others. Look around you. Think about people you know at work, at school,
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…The top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee said Tuesday he’s investigating the finances of six well-known TV ministers. —“Sen. Grassley probes televangelists’ finances,” AP (2007) The Great Commission is not a marketing manifesto. Evangelism does not require salesmen, but prophets. —John MacArthur, Ashamed of the Gospel (2001) The Root of the Problem          The Book of Judges gives us a repetitive cycle of apostasy, oppression, repentance, and deliverance.  Each new generation falls into apostasy and idolatry.  Each embraces foreign gods and then feels the full weight of an invading foreign army.  Each generation cries out
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11 Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the
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Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2) Many of us already live in ways that do not conform to the pattern of this
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As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me
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See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. –James 5, 7b-8 I’m a farmer myself, and when I think about farming I think first of work, the constant round
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