All posts filed under: z16

And Jesus wondered at their unbelief. Modern-day Nazareth. Photo: Adam Jones/Flickr/Creative Commons

Has this punctured a hole in your faith?

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When we study the New Testament, one of the major themes is faith. But equally as prominent is the concept of unbelief that is a major hindrance to miracles. Unbelief basically cuts a hole in our reservoir of faith allowing it to seep away. There are many things that can cause such a rip. One of them is offense. In Mark 6, we read how Jesus had arrived at His home town, Nazareth, and on the following Saturday popped into the local synagogue where the leaders invited Jesus to teach. At this point, Jesus’ reputation was starting to grow. From the congregation’s reaction, it was clear people were aware of the reports circulating about His miracles. Now as they listened to Jesus teach, they were “astonished” by what Jesus had to say. But not everyone. Some were offended. They had been attending the synagogue faithfully for years and now “this man” a carpenter, the son of Mary, was teaching their congregation. They had been attending this synagogue for years and now this upstart was teaching …

Dealing with the pain of grief.

How grief tilted my world

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My first-born son, Graham, died on January 15, 2004. He was 18 years old.  He took his own life while stranded on a country road in his own vehicle. My world took a serious tilt. My perspective on life shifted to the dark side. Everything and everyone changed as I viewed them through the eyes of grief. I didn’t know what to do with the people who surrounded me and engaged in life with me. I was terrified to talk about the loss of my son. Not feeling free to share feelings and thoughts hindered my grieving process.  I read the Bible and books on grief and suicide hoping this would help me deal with people’s questions and comments. Nothing could prepare me though. I had to face it alone and walk through the unknown waters of grief and let the waves splash over me. People meant well and out of the uncertainty of what to say their comments sometimes came across the wrong way — like my son’s suicide was probably for the best …

Why do people believe the lies? Photo: Wojciech Staszyczyk/Flickr/Creative Commons

The age of delusion

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We are living in a bizarre world. Progressiveness and political correctness rule the day. It is a powerful delusion, almost a drug to many. Perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised. The Apostle Paul warned of just such a time when delusion, not truth and common sense, would rule the world. 10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. 11 For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false [lit the lie].(2 Thessalonians 2:10-11 NASV) Paul warns that because people have chosen to ignore the truth they are now vulnerable to believing a lie. Not only are they more susceptible, God will also send a spirit of delusion so that people will believe what is false. A similar pattern took place during the Exodus. When Moses approached the Pharaoh about letting Israel go he hardened his heart (Exodus 8:15, 32; 9:34) and then at other times God hardened the Pharaoh’s …

Was Gary, Indiana’s ‘portal to hell’ finally destroyed?

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The Dailymail is reporting that a home in Gary, Indiana described as a ‘portal to hell’ was finally razed to the ground earlier this year. This description of the house was not uttered by a pastor or religious person, but rather by a police officer who visited the home. Neither was it a metaphorical description, but rather reflected the beliefs that it was a place where demons and evil spirits manifested themselves. Located 25 miles from Chicago, Gary, Indiana is a city in decline. With a population of about 80,000 it has 10,000 abandoned homes, businesses and industries and according to one report is a serial killer’s playground. The story about this house started in 2011, when Latoya Ammons and her three children rented the house. Shortly after they moved in Latoya reported that her family was being tormented by evil spirits. Bizarre things began happening in her home including hearing strange sounds and even seeing a presence in the house. No one other than family members could verify this and if these manifestations had …

Open door Kreg Steppe/Flickr/Creative Commons

The open door that was there all the time

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Recently, I read an article with a great analogy regarding personal breakthrough in our lives. The author had been exploring an old abandoned house and heard a frantic buzzing sound coming from the living room. He entered the room to witness a frustrated fly banging its tiny body against the living room window again and again determined to get to  the other side. Its perseverance was admirable.  The  fly could clearly see what it wanted through the window — green grass, flowers and sunshine. The frustration of being trapped inside the house fueled its endless attempts to get out. In an effort to free the fly from its prison the writer opened the front door to let it out. The frantic insect remained unaware of the golden opportunity just a few feet away and the efforts being made to redirect its attention to the open door. There is a very simple truth here. I am sure that I am not the only one who has been so intent on one thing or one way to …

A photo taken somewhere in China entitled "Finger of God." Chez Andre 1/Flickr/Creative Commons

The God of atheists?

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Elizabeth King wrote an interesting article for The Washington Post in early February 2016. An atheist she states in the title: “I’m an atheist. So why can’t I shake God? King says she grew up in a Christian home with her mom and step dad. She called herself a born-again Christian who went to Church twice a week. But that all changed when she turned 16 and she began to question all things God and Biblical. In the end she seems to blame her youth pastors who were unable to provide satisfactory answers as to why homosexuality was a sin or why premarital sex was wrong. From these unanswered questions, King slowly graduated to becoming a full-blown atheist. But psychologist Paul Vitz has a different opinion on what causes atheism. In 1999, he wrote a controversial book,  Faith of the Fathers: The Psychology of Atheism. He believes that people’s atheism is based on a person’s relationship with their father. Poor or absent fathers create many atheists, he believes. In his book, he delves into the …

Roaring waves on Lake Michigan Photo: Mic Stolz/Flickr/Creative Commons

Be still and know that I am God

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When we look at the chaos and craziness enveloping the world, it is easy to react. But in the midst of this Psalm 46 urges us to do the exact opposite of what we feel. The Psalmist writes: “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10 NASV) The writer starts out in verse one: God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Though we are not told what “trouble” inspired this Psalm, the writer speaks of a world in utter collapse — natural calamities beyond human control were happening all around. Mountains were quaking (earthquakes v 3). Oceans surging (tsunamis v 3) The nations were in an uproar and some were tottering on the verge of being obliterated (v 6). Everyone was angry and fighting. This Psalm could have been written in 2016. And in the midst of this God tells His people to do the exact opposite of what their body is screaming out for them to do. Instead of responding with fear and anger, God says “Be …

Daniel and Amy McArthur Photo: YouTube Capture/The Christian Institute

Gay activist supports Irish Christian bakers

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A strange case emerging in Northern Ireland has a prominent gay activist supporting a bakers decision not to produce a cake promoting gay marriage. The issue involves evangelical Christians Daniel and Amy McArthur who manage a family-owned business: Ashers Baking Co in Newtonabbey, Northern Ireland. In the summer of 2014, they were asked to create a cake for an event supporting the push for the legalization of gay marriage in Northern Ireland. The cake was supposed to have the images of Sesame Street’s Bert and Ernie on it along with the words “Support Gay Marriage.” The order was initially accepted at the store and later cancelled because the McArthurs did not feel comfortable supporting gay marriage. When they cancelled the order, Gareth Lee, who had requested the cake on behalf of the group Queerspace, took the McArthurs before England’s Equality Commission claiming discrimination. In the court case that followed, lawyers for The Christian Institute representing the McArthurs argued this was not a case of discrimination because the McArthurs did not know Lee was gay. Rather, …

Let there be light Photo Nima; hopographer/Flickr/Creative Commons

Does science make a case for God?

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On Christmas day in 2014, an article appeared in the Wallstreet Journal (WSJ) entitled “Science increasingly makes the case for God.” Written by Christian apologist and author Eric Metaxas, the article caused a firestorm on the internet. It received an incredible 550,000 Facebook shares. This along with nearly 9,500 comments made it one of WSJ’s most read articles in its prestigious history. In the article, Metaxas starts off writing how science has been desperately looking for life on other planets. He cited an article written in 1966 by Time Magazine entitled “Is God dead?”. In it, astronomer Carl Sagan suggested in the vastness of the universe there were a septillion number of planets (1 plus 24 zeros) capable of life. Sagan believed all that was needed was a decent sun with a planet the right distance away and presto life will spontaneously appear. A number of government and private organizations popped up to track down these aliens. They organized into a group called the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence. But Metaxas points out it has been …

God ordained one man, one wife. Photo: Jose Carlos Castro/Flickr/Creative Commons

Was it Christianity’s insistence on monogamy that led to successful societies?

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In a recent article in the National Post, Barbara Kay discussed a book, Marriage and Civilization, written by William Tucker. In it, Tucker argues that what made certain civilizations more successful than others was their insistence on monogamous marriage — one husband and one wife. He does not suggest that nations pushing monogamous marriage were perfect, but they tended to be more successful than those that practiced polygamy. He attributes Christianity for being the major reason for the acceptance of monogamy. Despite having a secular view, he described Christianity as “the most powerful force for implementing monogamy in Western Civilization.” Tucker states one of the hallmarks of a polygamous society is that it is often in conflict. He says “everywhere polygamy is practiced it creates conflict” which hindered the culture’s development. And there is a very good reason for this because “there is always a shortage of women” in a polygamous society. As a result, men would raid other groups in search of women for marriage. A second thing also happened. Due to the lack of …