Category: Church

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Defective Lighthouses

lighthouse-2372004_1280In 1970 the teenage son of a Pastor from California emerged triumphantly from the basement of The Pentecostal Tabernacle church. His family was scheduled to sing there that evening and realized they needed more material. Ronnie had excused himself for several minutes and returned carrying a trail of toilet tissue. On that unceremonious paper, were the lyrics to a brand-new song titled, “The Lighthouse.” After a little refinement in collaboration with his brother Kenny, the song was first recorded by The Happy Goodman’s and later by Elvis Presley.

Since that time, thousands of groups and soloists around the world have performed the song – including me. Although Ronnie Hinson has written many chart busting songs since that time, none have reached the awards, accolades and success of “The Lighthouse.”

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Exposed!

wellWhat was the woman thinking as the Jewish man moved closer to her? She knew that Jews considered her kind untouchable merely for their ancestry. Her personal secret life took her discomfort and shame to an even greater level. As he opened his mouth to speak, she was most certainly expecting some kind of put-down or curse. Instead, he asked her for a drink of water.

What was the woman’s attitude? Was she merely surprised by the unprecedented request, or was she belligerent at the audacity of a man – from a group of people known for always looking down on her race – asking her to serve him?

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Is Truth Dead

IsTruthDeadLast month, Time Magazine revisited their 1966 cover design where they asked, “Is God Dead?” This time the question, in the same red lettering on black background, was, “Is Truth Dead?” It is obvious to most of us that the execution of God by our culture would inevitably lead to the disappearance of truth.

Indeed, the murder of truth didn’t take place fifty-one years later, it happened the very moment that culture rebelled against the Sovereign God who is the very person of Truth. Like cut flowers, however, the full effect of the pruning would take some time before the beauty of truth faded and decayed.

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Singing in the Storm

Woman and rain showerIt seems that every day I peruse Facebook, I see posts claiming health, wealth and prosperity to everyone who is reading. Some preachers even teach that if you are suffering, you are falling short of God’s will for one reason or another. I was even at a funeral once where a “Prophetess” told the daughter of the woman who died that if she had had enough faith, her Mom would still be alive. I have addressed some of this before, but today I would like to take a little different approach.

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Does Jesus Need a Marketing Coach?

Benchmarking and market leader concept. Manager (businessman, coach, leadership)If we are to believe many of today’s top Church Growth experts, Jesus could have used a lot of help when it came to marketing and branding. Instead of capitalizing on His core strengths, successful resume and off-the-chart popularity, He can be seen time-and-again sabotaging His opportunities and alienating potential followers. Here are a few areas where a good marketing coach would have done things differently:

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The Source of Life

sunrise-1756274_1920In the 17th century, a French mathematician and philosopher asked himself a perplexing question, “Do I really exist.” After considerable thought, Rene’ Descartes concluded that since he was the one asking the question it was only logical that he must exist. After all, if he didn’t exist he couldn’t have asked the question. His summation, “Cogito ergo sum” translated, “I think therefore I am.”

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Reflection on “The Case for Christ” Movie

photo-1886443_1920Although Resurrection Day 2017 is now behind us, the resurrection of Jesus the Christ remains central to the everyday lives of His followers. The death, burial and resurrection of Christ is proof of God’s promises in ancient scripture and the modern reason for our future hope. The Apostle Paul was so adamant about the centrality of the Resurrection to the Gospel that he said, “… if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.” (1 Corinthians 15:14). This is one of the many reasons I love the newly released movie, “The Case for Christ.”

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The Past is the Future

As we prepare to celebrate the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross this Friday, a great way to look forward is to first look back. About 2000 years before Christ, Abraham the Father of Faith, was commanded by God to sacrifice his only begotten son, Isaac. Coincidence? Absolutely not! God was setting into motion prophetic symbolism that would verify the authenticity of Jesus Christ as Messiah. Continue reading “The Past is the Future”

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The Failed Priesthood

adult-1869621_1920When modern Christians think of the Priesthood, many imagine long robbed old men with long gray hair and long gray beards standing in front of a huge altar with smoke rising from a fresh sacrifice. The image that most contemporary Children of God fail to see, is one that is far more important; it is the image of ourselves walking out our daily lives in harmony with the Holy Spirit.

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