Posts

Food for the Soul

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Many people today approach the Bible the wrong way. They see it as an austere rulebook that cuts all the fun out of life. They consider it a dusty, centuries-old collection of fables written by goat herders, irrelevant to modern life. Alternatively, some may view the Bible as a significant tex filled with valuable stories, so they occasionally take it off the shelf, reading a few inspiring verses—perhaps those emblazoned on a coffee mug or recited during Sunday service—but without truly comprehending the immense magnitude and treasure of God’s Word. Undoubtedly, you've heard the phrase "God's Word" or "the Word of God" before in regard to the Bible. But have you ever taken a moment to really reflect on what that means? We have access to the very words of our God, the mighty, holy Creator and Lord of heaven and earth! So many Christians complain that "they're not hearing from God", or "God seems so silent lately". But they forget that ...

God is Truth

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  New Year, Same Truth A new year is a good time for we as Christians to remember Who our unchanging, unshaking foundation is in a world that grapples with such seemingly basic questions as what is truth? Jesus Christ- the Way, the Truth and the Life- is the same yesterday, today and forever. We can rest assured in that promise. Even when we are amid uncertain circumstances, deserted by people, or confused by what our culture throws at us, we can always return to God's Word for the truth that will set us free.  In today's world, there is something called postmodernism . Postmodernism, basically explained, is a philosophy that says that absolute truth and solid concrete values do not necessarily exist .* The postmodernist operates on the basis that truth is relative- it varies from person to person, and there's no way to measure right from wrong- moral values are nugatory. There is an enormous amount to be said on the philosophy of postmodernism that I cannot include in this...

God's Generous Heart On Display

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  As my pastor Dr. Jon Morales says, advent is nothing if not God's generous heart on display. This Christmas take a moment to reflect on the gift that God gave to humankind- Jesus Christ, our Savior. The Promise of Salvation “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” -Genesis 3:15 “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. -Isaiah 7:14 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." -Isaiah 9:6 The Incarnation: God With Us “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” -Mathew 1:23 "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and tr...

Giving Thanks Always

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"...Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ," -Ephesians 5:20 Tomorrow is Thanksgiving in the U.S, a time to count your blessings, spend time with family, and eat good food. But amid all the holiday hype, what does it really mean to give thanks biblically? Our verse says give thanks always for all things. The Greek word there for giving thanks is eucharistountes . The meaning of the word goes beyond mere thankfulness; it embodies a sense of gratitude and a recognition of grace . The word used for always is pantote , meaning, obviously, at all times . It is also used to express the idea of continuity or perpetuity in time, signifying that we are to give thanks -recognize God's grace- continuously, without ceasing. We often forget these truths. But biblical gratitude is more than just saying "thank you" to God once a year for the good, pleasant things in our lives. Rather, it is an acknowledgement of God...