Month: May 2016

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The Muslim Jesus – Part 2

banner-1248181_1920In one of the most profound and important moments in the Bible, Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” (Matthew 16:13) Responses included, John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, and one of the prophets (v. 14). At this point Jesus asked a pivotal question that all of us must eventually answer, “But who do you say that I am?” (v.15)

Peter’s response was praised by Jesus as God inspired. His answer, “You are the Christ the Son of the living God.” (v.16)

In my last blog, I began discussing how Muslims and Christians answer this question differently. We looked specifically at Jesus as the Son of God and the idea of God made flesh. If you missed it, you can read part 1 here.

Today we take a look at the idea of Jesus’ death on the cross, the Resurrection and the Ascension to Heaven.

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The Muslim Jesus – Part 1

bibleMost of you probably already know that Muslims believe in Jesus, but do you know the differences between what they believe about Him and what Christians believe?

While many seem to believe that Islam and Christianity are pretty much the same, there are actually very marked differences that people – especially believers – should understand if they are to make an honest assessment of their beliefs.

Here are several beliefs about Jesus and how they compare and contrast between Christianity and Islam:

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Lighthouses and Mixed Messages

lighthouse-168132_1920I love lighthouses. There is something fascinating about those tall towers that provide guidance and hope to travelers tossed around on the waves of the sea. Unbeknown to the casual observer, lighthouses do much more than serve as interesting tourist attractions and beacons of light.

Each individual lighthouse can be configured to emit a specific pattern of light that synchronizes it with navigational charts. Without any other instruments, sailors can determine their position simply by observing the light. Each lighthouse is also painted uniquely in case the light is not easily seen or is broken. And in the case of very poor visibility, a unique foghorn signal conveys the same unique information.

As the United Methodist Church (UMC) struggles with its spiritual identity, I can’t help but wonder if they have forgotten that they are called to be a lighthouse. In one of the most famous passages of scriptures, Jesus related the idea of the importance of our uniqueness:

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A Word About God

faith-507810_1280It’s a huge risk! I could lose half my readers in the very first paragraph of this blog. But, still, I have to say it! THEOLOGY! I know that many people avoid that word like the plague, but the truth is, you are already learning and practicing theology every day of your life – even when you don’t know it. The important questions are, what is the brand of theology? Is it correct?

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Are You Boring Your Angels?

angel-428077_1920One of the great promises of God is that He assigns angels to watch over and protect us:

For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways.  In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.  You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot. Psalm 91:11-13 (NKJV)

Have you ever questioned where angels were when you needed them the most? Be assured that they were there keeping even worse things from happening. But perhaps they could have accomplished even greater things, if you had just known how to activate them.

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The Not-So-Good Samaritan

file000827134112While traveling in South Carolina last week, I had the opportunity to watch a few minutes of the local news. One of the stories was about a tow truck driver who responded to a stranded motorist. Upon arriving on the scene, the tow-truck driver began the process of hooking the woman up for the tow when he noticed a Bernie Sanders for President bumper sticker.

In an interview with WLOS-TV, the tow truck driver said, “Something came over me, I think the Lord came to me, and he just said get in the truck and leave.” He went on to say how good he felt about his decision to leave the handicapped and infirmed woman to fend for herself.

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Magnificent Moms: Ten Biblical Attributes

mothersdayHappy Mother’s Day to all the great Moms! You make us who we are and we are grateful!

Today we are going to take a look at some of the Biblical attributes of Magnificent Moms. I doubt anyone hits all of them perfectly, but I know a lot of Moms – including four very special ones in my life – that get awful close. (Four? – For those wondering, I have a great Birth Mom, a wonderful Adopted Mom who married my Dad, A Blessed Covenant Mom I got when I married my Wife and of course my Wife – and Mother of our two girls – is one of the greatest Moms I know.)

Now that we got that complicated explanation out of the way, here are Ten Biblical Attributes of a Magnificent Mom:

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The Things that Moms Do

flowersAs we prepare for Mother’s Day this coming Sunday, it is appropriate to reflect on the importance of Moms. Through many counseling sessions with both men and women over the years, I have learned much about the positive and negative effects of Mothers. George Washington also seemed to grasp of how important Mothers are. He once said,

“My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her.”

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