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Why Good Things Happen to Bad People
One cannot ask why bad things happen to good people without also feeling the same tinge of injustice when we contemplate why good things happen to bad people. This is the question that anguished the Psalmist. He found himself in terrible distress and agony of soul.
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Salvation: The Divine Imperative
Paul and Silas were escorted to the lowered dungeon, uncomfortable, in chains, mistreated, hurting and still probably bleeding from the beatings. One would expect them to be belligerent, angry, complaining but instead we find them singing and rejoicing. At midnight when it would seem they would have been trying to rest and soothe themselves, they prayed and sang praises to God.
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No Star-Studded Career
Let us grasp from the outset that success as understood in the usual secular sense of the word is not promised in the kingdom of God. God never promised anybody a star-studded career. He never promised achievement in the worldly understanding of the word. In fact, He seem to promise the exact opposite.
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I Helped Exorcize a Spirit
Actually I have 'helped' exorcize spirits more than once but this particular one could have beeen taken by science to prove that exorcisms are not weird and do not need dogma or fear to be used with them.
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Do You Really Want to Know the Truth?
Conflict arises solely from the refusal to shift the point from which one views: What you see depends on where your looking from. An interesting exploration of why people perceive so many different versions of truth.
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White Sun - Tao of Heaven. Showers of Wisdom ( Part 2 of 3 )
A thought of joy is stars in panorama and clouds in celebration. A thought of anger is ear-splitting thunder and torrential rain. A thought of loving kindness is caressing breeze and sweet dew. A thought of dignity is scorching sun and autumn frost. This is a poem by JiGong, my Heavenly teacher.
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Trust in God
Ecclesiasts 5:18 Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the
sun during the few days of life God has given him-for this is his lot. 19 Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables
him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work-this is a gift of God. 20 He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.
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What Does Jesus Expect?
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. --ROMANS 5:8
Expectations create conditional love. “I love you, but I’ll love you more if.” Now I know what you’re thinking. Shouldn’t we expect the best out of one another? Shouldn’t we encourage each other to strive for excellence and never settle for anything else? Absolutely. But it was Christ who taught us how to use expectations. Does He demand a lot? You better believe it. Does He expect much? Only our best. Does He have expectations? Just that we leave everything, deny all, and follow Him. The difference? Jesus’ expectations were accompanied by forgiveness and acceptance.
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Formula for Spiritual Growth
The Bible maakes it plain that we must become mature. We are not to be like the Hebrew Christians who remained at the same place they started. They were instructed to leave the first principles and go on to maturity. The formula for growth is laid out concisely in Second Peter 1:5-7. We must be careful to follow the exact order given. Skipping steps will give us in trouble in a hurry. Spiritual maturity requires all the faith and patience we can muster.
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An Open Invitation
An Open Invitation
“All you who are thirsty, come and drink.”
ISAIAH 55:1, NCV
The most incredible invitations are not found in envelopes; they are found in the Bible. You can’t read about God without finding Him issuing invitations. He invited Eve to marry Adam, the animals to enter the ark, David to be king, Israel to leave bondage, Nehemiah to rebuild Jerusalem. God is an inviting God. He invited Mary to birth His Son, the disciples to fish for men, the adulterous woman to start over, and Thomas to touch His wounds. God is the King who prepares the place, sets the table, and invites His subjects to come in. In fact, it seems His favorite word is come.
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Loving Your Neighbors
Loving Your Neighbors
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
1 CORINTHIANS 13:1–2
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Become Enlightened
In order to start living the life of your dreams, there are a few things you have to do first. One of the most important things you must do is become enlightened. What does that mean? Well, read on...
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