Being Christian Without Losing Your Mind
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Then [Aaron] made a metal image of a bull calf, and the people declared, “These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” — Exodus 32:4 I think we have it backwards when we think of idolatry. The Hebrews, scared that Moses wasn’t coming back, made a golden idol. …
Now we see a reflection in a mirror; then we will see face-to-face. Now I know partially, but then I will know completely in the same way that I have been completely known. — 1 Corinthians 13:12 An influential book I read in seminary dealt with faith development. It linked our faith to our physical/mental development. …
Tell the older men to be sober, dignified, sensible, and healthy in respect to their faith, love, and patience. — Titus 2:2 Approaching the tracks, I heard the horn of a freight train as the protective arms lowered across the road. No problem, I thought as the train slowly passed by. What could spoil the sunshine …
The devil brought him into Jerusalem and stood him at the highest point of the temple. He said to him, “Since you are God’s Son, throw yourself down from here; for it’s written: He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you and they will take you up in their hands so that you won’t hit your foot …
“Now when the Human One comes in his majesty and all his angels are with him, he will sit on his majestic throne. All the nations will be gathered in front of him.” — Matthew 25:31-32a When the Hebrew slaves were liberated, they were led to the Promised Land. There they formed a nation, installed …
The Word became flesh and made his home among us. — John 1:14a Just then, Jesus’ disciples arrived and were shocked that he was talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?” — John 4:27 My earliest understanding of Jesus was “vertical.” He came …
I’m already being poured out like a sacrifice to God, and the time of my death is near. I have fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith. — 1 Timothy 4:6-7 Life is like driving a car, isn’t it? You’re focused on looking ahead, mapping out where you’re going, making sure you …
Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” — John 6:35 Jesus tapped human experiences as a way of teaching and of connecting us to a deeper side of life that we may too often ignore. Thirst is one …
But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to abandon you, to turn back from following after you. Wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.” — Ruth 1:16 Last fall there was a special election to decide whether …
Look at the birds in the sky. They don’t sow seed or harvest grain or gather crops into barns. Yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth much more than they are? — Matthew 6:26 I have no scientific proof of this but, based on personal experience, we grow fonder of birds the older …