Relational Bridges

  In Word and Deed 1 Thessalonians 1:5 “ For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance  that what we said was true.  “ God validated His Word to the pagans in Thessalonica as He did to the pagans in Corinth. 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 “ When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan.   For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified.   I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling.   And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit.     I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.   The Gospel came not just with clear declaration of the Truth about Who Jesus Christ is and what He has...

  Take Care Lest You Be Deceived And in the last days many will depart from the Faith, giving heed to the doctrines of demons. There is salvation in no other, for there is no other name given among mankind whereby we might be saved, but the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the Holy One of Israel, the Lamb of God Who alone can take away the sin of the world. Only He has died bearing the sin of the world. Only He has risen from the dead triumphant over sin, death, hell and the grave. All other religious systems that deny that Jesus of Nazareth is the Word of God made flesh, God Incarnate, the Eternal Son of God are demonic deceptions, regardless of how much they might appeal to humanity's lust for wanting to be able to make themselves acceptable by their own finite, limited and utterly flawed efforts. There is salvation in no other, save Jesus Christ. Do not be deceived! Satan will make you "feel at home" right away if you embrace his lies. For the true follower of Jesus C...

  Lenten Journey Without the Lord Jesus living His Life within you, you are merely existing; not fully human. But when the Holy Spirit lives within you transforming you and lives through you bringing the Kingdom of God to bear in the life of others, you are a "Light & Life" bearer. The "light" that the world has is but darkness, thus the darkness of the world is profoundly dark. The Light of Christ Jesus in you will dispel the darkness revealing with is truly there. This season of Lent is a time to turn your hearts toward the Lord Jesus for His Light and the Holy Spirit's transforming power. It's not meant to be a journey "inward", for you will never affect you own salvation via "inner knowledge". Remember, guilt in search of a reason will find one. Spelunking one's own soul without the Lord leading you there will not be helpful in the long-run and can be stunting in the short-haul. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you what He wants yo...

    New Nature Jeremiah 17:9 “ The human heart is deceitful above all things,   and desperately sick; who can understand it? ” THIS is a very strong and clear statement from the Lod God concerning the heart and spirit in anyone estranged from Him. Adam and Eve had deceitful and desperately sick immediately after their rebellion against God’s clear warning. They lied, blame-shifted and tried to hide from the One Who alone could be life within them. Sin had its immediate effect on them and the whole human race.   But God…what a statement of hope. But God didn’t leave us utterly estranged, lost and doomed, He promised those fort two rebels that He was going to intervene with a miraculous birth and Lucifer would have his head crushed in complete defeat. What was to happen to people after Jesus Christ was raised from the dead? What would happen when people believed God, put their trust in the Risen Savior, turned from sin and turned back to God for forgivenes...

  “For such is the power of love, it embraces, and unites, and fastens together not only those who are present, and near, and visible but also those who are far distant; and neither length of time, nor separation in space, nor anything else of that kind can break up and sunder in pieces the affection of the soul."  St John Chrysostom

  Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we have hoped in Thee. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, teach me Thy statutes. Blessed art Thou, O Master, give me understanding of Thy statutes. Blessed art Thou, O Holy One, enlighten me by Thy statutes. O Lord, Thy mercy endureth forever; disdain not the work of Thy hands. To Thee is due praise, to Thee is due a song, to Thee glory is due, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

  DECEIVED AND DECEIVING Grieving over the Church of England’s surrender to the spirit of the age. It was prophesied that there would be a falling away. It reminds me of a book title from years ago: “Slouching Towards Gomorrah”. When lies become the arbiter of truth and opinion derived from demonically influenced human emotion becomes the benchmark of sanity, the stage is set for the entrance of the one that is called the Antichrist.

  Leprosy Leprosy is a disease of the nerves. Nerves die and there is no feeling of pain. A person can step off a curb and break their ankle and not know it until the foot becomes gangrenous. One can lean on a furnace without ever knowing it was hot and end up with a limb-threatening burn. Sin is like leprosy. It destroys any sensitivity one's conscience might still have, till things that might have shocked someone over 50 years ago have become so pervasive in culture today that no one even identifies these things as being life threateningly wrong. St. Paul writes to a group of Jesus Christ followers about the leprous effect of sin on human life in the first century AD. Romans 1:28-32 "And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God as God, God gave them up to the debased mind they had chosen to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are ...